"Uhhh, may I inquire what on earth you think you're doing?!" Buffy's voice continues to berate me as I head over to Campus Point Beach.I've already told you, I did what I should've done from the start. I can't believe it took me so long to figure it out. How could I have been so foolish?! DON'T. UNDERSTAND! HOW ON EARTH DO YOU GO FROM PRACTICALLY DECLARING HIM THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE NOT EVEN AN HOUR AGO TO BREAKING UP WITH HIM IN FRONT OF THE ENTIRE STUDENT BODY?!You know what I don't understand? How you can continue to be my conscience without grasping my true intentions? What's the point of guiding me if you don't even seem to know me?What are you—Buffy stops her own thought as I imagine her gears finally starting to turn. Well, you little...WEASEL!I can't help but let out a laugh as I thank the heavens that I'm currently the only person on this beach. Imagine taking a peaceful stroll along the shore and suddenly running into a certified lunatic laughing at her own thoughts... n
Spring Break"Max broke the silence once we entered his room, perched on the edge of his bed while I stood there, deep in thought.I couldn't help but reflect on the whirlwind of our relationship. It had been a thrilling ride, especially with the added secrecy we'd maintained over the past month."Are you okay?" Max sensed my sudden change in demeanor and asked.I couldn't deny it any longer. "You know what, Avery was right," I confessed, speaking my thoughts aloud. "Those four words, 'We need to talk,' are the last ones any girl wants to hear from her boyfriend." Max chuckled and extended his hand, a gesture of courtesy that I appreciated."Slow down a bit, would you?" he asked rhetorically, taking my hands and pulling me gently between his legs. "I'd be a fool to let you go.""You're a fool either way," I teased, and he rolled his eyes. "But you're my fool," I added with a smile and a wink."That's more like it," he playfully retorted, making me laugh. But then he grew serious, and
"Please be cautious," Max reminded me, gently stroking my cheek as a reassuring gesture."Now, when you mention 'cautious,'" I playfully began, chuckling when he shot me that 'don't even think about it' look. "I'm just teasing," I added, genuinely meaning it this time. "I'll be careful, don't worry.""Well, it's easier said than done," he replied, adjusting the collar of my leather jacket. "Good luck, baby. I'll see you soon."With one more quick peck on the lips, we went our separate ways – a twist of irony, just in time for Ryan to join me at the front."How did you even get the keys to this place?" I asked Ryan once he unlocked the massive garage, revealing ten impeccably maintained cars preparing for tomorrow's race. The dark gray 1969 Pontiac Firebird immediately caught my eye; Max had been showing me pictures of it ever since he began working on it.It had truly become a work of art."I know the owner. Told him I needed some tools from his garage," he replied, grabbing a mechani
Not long after Max's last text, I discreetly passed on an anonymous tip to the event announcers, specifically a handwritten note, just before the final race began. The note hinted that someone might have been inspecting a particular vehicle in the garage.The announcers promptly informed the event organizer, who, in turn, alerted the owner of the track about a possible trespasser. What neither Max, Kalix, nor I knew was that the track owner, whom Ryan claimed to know, happened to be a close friend of our honored guest for the evening, none other than Christian Cantarella.The significance? It made exposing Ryan and getting him into trouble that much simpler...."Christian, I can explain," were the words that escaped Ryan's mouth, his expression horrified, as he realized he'd been caught. If I weren't hiding behind the door in this crowded storage room, I might have considered recording this moment for a potential entry on "Philippines's Funniest Home Videos."Don't ask how I ended up
Indeed, they had overlooked the balcony attached to Max's bedroom. This oversight explained how I ended up concealed in a bush just outside 1648 W 54th Street, one hour and thirty-seven minutes later."Come on, Max. Reveal yourself already," I murmur to myself, focusing on the living room window while battling the rose thorns that are determined to prick every inch of my body.I still can't believe you managed to find this place, not to mention shelling out $130 for that Uber. By the way, Kalix is going to be furious, and don't even get me started on Max.It pays to have the right connections, Buffy. You, of all people, should understand that. Plus, what the guys don't know won't hurt them; in their minds, I'm snugly asleep at the moment.I'll keep you in my prayers.Please do, because suddenly, I have a pressing need to urinate.Choosing to focus on anything other than the water trickling from the front lawn's fountain, I carefully scrutinize the gang leader's residence, hoping to fi
Our inaugural public lap dance marked the beginning of a wild adventure, all sparked by Avery's audacious acceptance of Kalix's karaoke dare."Count me in," Avery exclaimed, taking a sip of her drink. Then, she glanced at me and added, "but only if my partner-in-crime joins me up there." Before I could respond, Max and Kalix burst into laughter."What's so amusing?" Avery inquired, her brows furrowed, mirroring my expression."Oh, come on," Kalix chuckled. "We've endured Isabella's singing before; we're among the few survivors with tales of that excruciating experience."Oh, he didn't just say that.Oh, yes, he certainly did, Buffy. He absolutely did.I scoffed, not with malicious intent but in a playful challenge. Arms crossed over my chest, I turned to Max."Don't expect me to come to your rescue here," he said, raising his hands in surrender. "We promised to be brutally honest with each other, remember?"I squinted at him, acting like a child and mocking, "Remember?"To my amazemen
I used to believe that this would always be one of those moments that the three of us would fondly reminisce about and laugh someday – one of those moments where I found my "mister" and gained a sister. Little did I anticipate that I'd lose my "mister" even before the "sister" part became official.Nevertheless, here's the second memory that I'll treasure for as long as I live...…"Are you feeling nervous?" Max smirks at me as he entwines our fingers before placing both of our hands on the gearshift."Do I have a reason to be?" I grimace, hoping that's not the case. If Riley's and Max's relationship is anything like mine and Alex's, which it seems to be from what I've heard, then I can't help but wonder how this weekend will unfold."Well, considering she's been eager to meet the girl who, and I quote, 'turned her brother into a lovesick fool,' I'd say not at all." Smirking, I shake my head as I gaze out at interstate US-101. That smirk, however, transforms into a warm smile when Max
Do you want to know what made that night even better than just "good"? It was accidentally overhearing the conversation between Riley and Max in the middle of the night while I was on my way to the kitchen for a cup of water. Okay, I admit, overhearing it at first was accidental, but my choice to continue eavesdropping when I heard who the conversation was about was entirely intentional. I couldn't help it; it had me grinning like a fool.From behind the wall, I saw Max nod slowly, turning to look at his sister."She's known everything since February. But right before we started dating, we shared some things we didn't already know about each other. I told her about you and mentioned my past, which I couldn't reveal right away. But she understood and let me share the rest when I was ready. The time to tell her came sooner than I thought, but at that moment, I knew it was now or never.""Wow," Riley said, sounding surprised. There was a brief silence before she asked, "So, you know what