Colton.
My eyes darted between the two boys. They didn't appear as sudden best friends—far from it, actually. But they both looked at me with a similar light in their eyes. They cared for me, and I assumed that was the only reason they were in the same place again.
My eyes lingered on Fabian for a while, silently asking him if he did this. As far as I knew, Colton didn't have this address. However, all he did was shoot me a wink before leaving the room.
My gaze settled on Colton as he reluctantly crossed the room, and I straightened my back as I rested the remainder of food on the nightstand.
"H-hi," he said with a short wave. I cleared my throat as I returned the gesture.
"When you said you wanted to hang out today, this isn't what I thought you meant," I said, attempting to initiate conversation. The last time we spoke was in Guidance class, and it wasn't even a straightforward conversation.
Why did Fabian bring him here? I wasn't up
I stood outside my house in a nervous mess. I tried to move forward, but my feet wouldn’t go.It was almost one in the afternoon by the time Fabian dropped me off, and I looked back for the umpteenth time to ensure that he was still there. Just like every time I checked, he was sitting in the car under the neighbour’s tree, staring at me. “You can do this, Paris,” I mumbled, trying to give myself a push. Still, I felt stuck. With a deep breath, I grabbed my phone and dialled Cynthia’s number. She picked up on the third ring. “Paris? Where are you?” she asked, sounding distressed. I sighed. “I’m outside. Can you—um—can you meet me by the porch?” “Sure. I’m on my way.” On a typical day, she would’ve made fun of me for being a baby. But she, more than anyone, understood the intensity of the situation and our feelings. As she appeared in front of me, I felt my guilt resurface full folds. Her eyes were red and puffy, and the
For a while, I was frozen in my spot. My dad was… hugging me? His shoulder shook once, and I slowly raised my arms to wrap around his back as sudden remorse swamped my nerves.This wasn’t only hard for Cynthia and me. It must’ve been hell for him too. To call a woman who was in love with another man your wife for two years, sharing a bed that had no comfort and still had to be strong for his kids, couldn’t have been easy.Of course, there were a zillion things they both could’ve done differently, but just like Fabian and that girl who died, some things just happen to slip away right before your eyes.We are mere humans, after all.“I’m so sorry, Paris,” he sobbed as he slid down to his knees before me, keeping his head buried in my stomach. My tears fell involuntarily as I watched the strongest man I know break in front of me. “I failed you. I failed my daughters.”Cynthia ran towards us
*Four Months Later* Being at the end can be sad, but it also can be a good thing. The end, in some aspects, means the beginning of something new. The end of a good meal most times leads to a great dessert. The end of a good movie typically gives a chance to start a new one. As for me, the end of high school opens the door for new opportunities in life. It was a sad moment in some sense. Seven years of high school has been a journey. The nostalgia was almost overwhelming, but it was all worth it. I had good times and bad times. I had tons of fun and shed a lot of tears too. But high school was where I met some of the most important people in my life, and so it will forever be one of my favourite places. University was a big step from high school, but I suppose I was somewhat ready. The months of getting acceptance letters were terribly nerve-wracking. However, it wasn't too bad, because my friends and I wouldn't
Closing Song: I Guess I'm In Love By Clinton Kane *** I pulled away gently to look up at him, and he was already gazing down at me. "Hi, Beautiful," he greeted softly, causing my smile to grow wider. "Hi, Handsome," I returned just as sweet. "Happy birthday." He chuckled with a slight shake of his head. "For the umpteenth time today, thank you." I rolled my eyes at his teasing tone. Okay, maybe I overdid it a little bit. "I know, I know," I defended. "But it is the first time that I get to tell you while doing this…." I pulled on his bottom lip with my teeth, automatically giving me access to initiate a kiss. I moved my lips against his in a rhythmic caress, keeping my body pressed flush against his. "Happy birthday," I whispered as I pulled away, but he quickly reclaimed my lips, showing that he wasn't quite ready for our kiss to end just yet. "
Opening Song: Wonder by Shawn Mendes *** I stood on the Westminster Bridge with the will to jump. I was willing to end it all at that moment because I felt as if my social life was now over. Perhaps I was acting a whit dramatic, but the budding embarrassment from the replaying moment in my head made it quite challenging to think clearly. I couldn’t believe I had done something so impeccably stupid. I felt dumber than a box of rocks, but even they knew to stay quiet. So, I couldn’t even compare myself to lifeless objects. “Paris, get down from the bridge,” my friend, Shanae, instructed with boredom dripping from each syllable. She knew I was bluffing, but I couldn’t bring myself even to face her. “No, I’m going to jump. You can go; you don’t have to witness this,” I screamed dramatically for no apparent reason. I heard a light chuckle from her, but I made no move to turn around. “Get down, mate. You didn’t emb
"I mean, I should've known better right?" I asked Shanae as we hopped from my car."Yea...definitely " She drawled uninterested with her eyes glued to her phone, causing me to roll mine.For the past ten minutes since I picked her up, I've been yapping away about the whole incident last night. I knew she was just answering me for the sake of answering, since everyone who knew me knew that I needed to talk a lot to let something go.I really felt stupid. Of course Colton only saw me as a friend. I was stupid to think otherwise.Well now I know where we stand and I won't make that mistake again. I knew it would be hard to let go of my feelings, but oddly I didn't want to. Stupid, stupid Paris.
I waited in anticipation at the diner like Colton instructed me to. He was already ten minutes late, and the cold breeze was becoming too much for me. With a frown, I decided to wait inside for him, since punishing myself seemed irrelevant.I greeted Lukas, the owner, with a huge smile as I waltzed in. He had a big fatherly round belly in front of him that made him seem like a human pillow. He was always nice to me, and since he knew I volunteered at the senior citizen's home where his uncle was at, he would sometimes give me free brownies or muffins with whatever I ordered."Hello Lukas. How are you this evening?" I greeted once I was close enough."Oh I'm quite great, mate. About to close up in thirty minutes. Did you need anything?" I frowned slightly at
Being in the backseat felt so...weird.It was the second time that I was subjected to being in the backseat on Anataisa's report, and I was not happy about it. From the very moment Colton got his license and first car, I had been riding shotgun with him. Anyone else would simply have to take the back. Hell, I was even there when he got them, so it was kind of actually set in stone.I knew it was childish being so fussy about something as simple as a car seat, but being in the middle of two of them while they talked, laughed and teased was really making me know what a third wheel felt like.Of course, they involved me in conversation from time to time, but it was only to ask my opinion on something that they weren't agreeing on. So basically I was the tie-br
Closing Song: I Guess I'm In Love By Clinton Kane *** I pulled away gently to look up at him, and he was already gazing down at me. "Hi, Beautiful," he greeted softly, causing my smile to grow wider. "Hi, Handsome," I returned just as sweet. "Happy birthday." He chuckled with a slight shake of his head. "For the umpteenth time today, thank you." I rolled my eyes at his teasing tone. Okay, maybe I overdid it a little bit. "I know, I know," I defended. "But it is the first time that I get to tell you while doing this…." I pulled on his bottom lip with my teeth, automatically giving me access to initiate a kiss. I moved my lips against his in a rhythmic caress, keeping my body pressed flush against his. "Happy birthday," I whispered as I pulled away, but he quickly reclaimed my lips, showing that he wasn't quite ready for our kiss to end just yet. "
*Four Months Later* Being at the end can be sad, but it also can be a good thing. The end, in some aspects, means the beginning of something new. The end of a good meal most times leads to a great dessert. The end of a good movie typically gives a chance to start a new one. As for me, the end of high school opens the door for new opportunities in life. It was a sad moment in some sense. Seven years of high school has been a journey. The nostalgia was almost overwhelming, but it was all worth it. I had good times and bad times. I had tons of fun and shed a lot of tears too. But high school was where I met some of the most important people in my life, and so it will forever be one of my favourite places. University was a big step from high school, but I suppose I was somewhat ready. The months of getting acceptance letters were terribly nerve-wracking. However, it wasn't too bad, because my friends and I wouldn't
For a while, I was frozen in my spot. My dad was… hugging me? His shoulder shook once, and I slowly raised my arms to wrap around his back as sudden remorse swamped my nerves.This wasn’t only hard for Cynthia and me. It must’ve been hell for him too. To call a woman who was in love with another man your wife for two years, sharing a bed that had no comfort and still had to be strong for his kids, couldn’t have been easy.Of course, there were a zillion things they both could’ve done differently, but just like Fabian and that girl who died, some things just happen to slip away right before your eyes.We are mere humans, after all.“I’m so sorry, Paris,” he sobbed as he slid down to his knees before me, keeping his head buried in my stomach. My tears fell involuntarily as I watched the strongest man I know break in front of me. “I failed you. I failed my daughters.”Cynthia ran towards us
I stood outside my house in a nervous mess. I tried to move forward, but my feet wouldn’t go.It was almost one in the afternoon by the time Fabian dropped me off, and I looked back for the umpteenth time to ensure that he was still there. Just like every time I checked, he was sitting in the car under the neighbour’s tree, staring at me. “You can do this, Paris,” I mumbled, trying to give myself a push. Still, I felt stuck. With a deep breath, I grabbed my phone and dialled Cynthia’s number. She picked up on the third ring. “Paris? Where are you?” she asked, sounding distressed. I sighed. “I’m outside. Can you—um—can you meet me by the porch?” “Sure. I’m on my way.” On a typical day, she would’ve made fun of me for being a baby. But she, more than anyone, understood the intensity of the situation and our feelings. As she appeared in front of me, I felt my guilt resurface full folds. Her eyes were red and puffy, and the
Colton.My eyes darted between the two boys. They didn't appear as sudden best friends—far from it, actually. But they both looked at me with a similar light in their eyes. They cared for me, and I assumed that was the only reason they were in the same place again.My eyes lingered on Fabian for a while, silently asking him if he did this. As far as I knew, Colton didn't have this address. However, all he did was shoot me a wink before leaving the room.My gaze settled on Colton as he reluctantly crossed the room, and I straightened my back as I rested the remainder of food on the nightstand."H-hi," he said with a short wave. I cleared my throat as I returned the gesture."When you said you wanted to hang out today, this isn't what I thought you meant," I said, attempting to initiate conversation. The last time we spoke was in Guidance class, and it wasn't even a straightforward conversation.Why did Fabian bring him here? I wasn't up
Song For Chapter:Shallow by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper***I wrapped the blanket tighter around my shoulders as I struggled to find sleep. I had been in bed for the past hour, yet rest would not relieve me.Maybe it was the fact that my life had just been turned upside down or that Fabian had been gone for that entire hour, knowing how upset I was. I don't blame him, though. I was probably making him uncomfortable with my mood swings. One minute I was fine, then in a second, I was a bawling mess again.It had only been two hours since I saw my mother cheating on my dad, yet it felt like it was two seconds ago. Then, to see him so nonchalant and unresponsive to it was my literal breaking point. I knew there was no way I could take it back, and maybe it was good that I actually saw it tonight. Perhaps it was for the best. We all knew that it was bound to happen eventually, after all. Now that her secret is out, they can go on with th
Fabian's POV I couldn’t believe my eyes. I figured I was seeing things, but one glance at Paris, and I knew I wasn’t. My heart instantly shattered as I watched her stare at her mother in disbelief. Behind her beautiful eyes, the turmoil was evident. I hated it. I hated watching her heartbreak before my eyes, yet I didn’t know what to do or say to her. She was so happy today. Though she had a bad week, I was glad that her weekend started off well, seeing that she really enjoyed visiting Dad. If only we were a little bit later or earlier, then she’d go to bed happy and send me one of those adorable pictures from under her covers, with her purple bonnet over her head and her retainer against her teeth. But one simple thing at the wrong time ruined her night, and by the looks of it, it would leave a permanent stain on her view of life. I’ve had my fair share of family drama. I know what it’s like to wake up one day, and your entire world crumbles
After thanking me and patting Fabian on his shoulder with a proud gaze, Jim led us inside. I don’t know what I was expecting, but I was blown away by the interior. It was simple and homely, yet was so modern and beautiful. I got cosy in his surprisingly excessive couch as he rested the lily on a windowpane. Fabian sat beside me and immediately wrapped his arms around my shoulder as his dad fetched us sodas. I relaxed in his arms as his dad returned and handed us the drinks. “Thank you,” I smiled, and Fabian rested his on the coffee table. “So,” Jim said as he relaxed in the chair across from us. “My boy has a girlfriend. I thought it would’ve never happened.” I spitted a little of my soda on my lap as I tried to suppress a laugh. Fabian? Never getting a girlfriend. It seemed so unlikely to me. “I’m sorry,” I giggled. “It’s just hard to imagine Fabian without a girlfriend.” Seeming offended and amused at the same time, Fabian na
If I could choose between a car ride or motorcycles with Fabian, I’d definitely choose cars. Why? Because being in a closed space when he drives makes him a different person. On his bike, he had a certain mischievous aura, but in a car, he’s definitely a sweet boyfriend type.For the past hour, we’ve been playing corny car games to pass the time. Eventually, they evolved into our own version of games, and it was hilarious.“Okay, okay. I have another one,” I cheered as our laughter died down. “What’s the most confusing way a girl could break up with someone?”“I don’t know, but I sure do hope it doesn’t happen to me,” Fabian said with a chuckle. I got excited to share my lame joke, so I spun in my seat as far as the seat belt would let me so I could see him better.“Leaving a note on your old car she borrowed saying, ‘this isn’t working.’”Out of m