Romeo had been out of my mind for the past week, but he had somehow found his way back in. Maybe that had been his goal all along — to make me think about him. Maybe that was why he had helped me out in history class, and why he was staring at me so intently. He wanted to get my attention, to make me think about him.And it seemed like he had succeeded. He had creeped his way into my thoughts, whether I liked it or not. Damn, I didn't like it. I hated that I was thinking about him. It was a little unsettling to think that he had such an effect on me. Just as I was thinking about the devil, Romeo walked into the English class. It was another class we shared. Everyone in the class fell silent as he came in. I was not surprised. He was the school's baddest boy. But, I found the silence annoying.I almost let out a hiss when I saw Samantha walk in too. Honestly, I was not jealous — I just didn't like her.I watched as Samantha took Romeo's hand, a huge smile on her face. She was head ov
"And, who are you talking to on the phone?" Joey's voice cut through my thoughts, making me flinch. I forced myself to look away from my phone and set the phone down on the table. I realized that I had been staring at my phone for longer than I intended. That was the effect Romeo's last message had on me. The thought of whether or not to see him left me torn. A part of me wondered if he was being sincere, probably he needed my help. But, another part of me could not shake the feeling that he was up to something. What if this was all some kind of game to him? What if he was just trying to prove that I was gullible and easy to manipulate? I could not let myself fall for his tricks again. Joey's eyebrows shot up. "You were talking to Romeo, right?" She asked. I shook my head. "No," I lied."Don't bother lying to me," My best friend said, crossing her arms over her chest. "I can tell it's him. Damn, I can see it written all over your face."I drew in a long breath, knowing I had to co
"Oh," James muttered, his tone soft and confused.I avoided his gaze, not wanting to see the look on his face. He must have so many questions, so many thoughts. I didn't know where to begin explaining it all to him. I didn't know if I wanted to tell him everything going on."Should I leave?" He asked quietly. "You have a visitor."He paused, then added, "Your ex, I mean."The tone of his voice told me everything I needed to know. He was hurt, and I could feel the jealousy in his words even though he must be trying to hide it. I didn't know what to say.I swallowed hard and finally met his gaze. He had a blank look on his face, but I knew it was a facade. I knew he had a lot going on in his head. "Actually, I didn't have plans to see him. I have no idea why he's here," I explained. James said nothing, and I hated the silence. "You can stay if you want," I added, feeling the need to fill the void. James ran through his hands through his hair, looking away from me."I don't want to s
I knew the school had a strict no – phones policy in the library. But, that didn't matter to me. All that mattered was talking to James. The library was the only place I could speak to him without being interrupted by other students. It was the only place we could talk without no fear of distraction. We couldn't do it in class, or anywhere else in the school. It was lunch time, and the whole place was flooded with students.I heaved a sigh of relief when I saw that the librarian had left the library. At last, I could relax knowing that I was alone and no one would bother me. Reaching into my hoodie pocket, I pulled out my phone. My heart was racing as I typed out a message to James. "Hey, can I call you?" I asked, then I dropped my phone on the desk.I held my breath, waiting for his response. The seconds felt like hours as I stared at my phone, hoping for a reply. I couldn't help but wonder if he was angry with me. He hadn't called or texted me since the day he dropped me off and R
I looked down at my hands, which were clenched into tight fists on the table. My heart was racing, and my palms were sweating. I couldn't understand why I was so nervous. Maybe it was the thought of having to talk to a guy I liked about my ex. I swallowed a gulp down my throat , trying to calm myself down. I stole a glance at James, who was sitting across from me. He looked completely relaxed and unbothered, while I was struggling to keep my cool. It seemed unfair that he could be so calm, while I was filled with nervous energy. Well, I was the one who was going to have to explain myself, not him. He was the listener. We sat at our table, the chatters of other customers filling the silence between us. We were waiting for one of the waitresses to bring our orders.I hated the uncomfortable silence between us. It was odd. On a normal day, we would have been discussing books, movies or anything. But now, I was wrestling with my thoughts, while James was absorbed in his phone.Things
I chewed on my bottom lip. I could tell that James wasn't happy with my answer, and I scrambled to explain myself. "It wasn't on purpose, I promise," I muttered. "I just grabbed it without thinking. I didn't even realize it was Romeo's. It was too late when I realized it."James forced a smile, running his hand through his hair. "Don't worry about it. You can wear whatever you want. Even if it belongs to your ex," He said, his voice filled with sarcasm. I lifted an eyebrow. "Is it bad that I said the truth ? I didn't mean to upset you by telling the truth. I could have just lied to you and said it was my hoodie, but I didn't. Wearing his hoodie doesn't mean that I have any feelings for him anymore," I rambled. My hand slowly crept down to my lap, bunching up the fabric of my skirt. I curled my fingers into tight fists. I had told him I didn't have feelings for Romeo anymore. Was that a lie? I was not even sure about how I was feeling these days. But, one thing was sure. I was movin
It was official. And just like that, we were official. I was now James's girlfriend.It only took a single evening at the snack restaurant to turn the tide of our relationship. The conversation had taken a new turn after I said "I want you too" to him. He asked me out again and I agreed to be in a relationship with him.It wasn't out of pity for him, or a desire to avoid hurting his feelings. I truly wanted it, as much as he did. I could think of no one who had treated me with the care and respect James had shown me since the moment we'd met.I knew that my relationship with James could work, if I could put the past behind me and stop dwelling on my history with Romeo. And I had been able to do that. I was done with Romeo, done thinking about him and what we had. What we'd had was over, and all that remained were the lessons I'd learned from the experience. Lessons that would help me become a better person, and a better partner to James.I had even gathered up everything that still be
"Do you really think I should let my hair down?" I asked James, a pout forming on my lips as I looked at him through my phone screen. "I think I look better with it in a ponytail." I added. "No, baby, you should let it down," James insisted. "You're gorgeous when it's down - like a princess that you are."A flush crept up my face as I smiled back at him. Was he just saying this to flatter me, or did he genuinely mean what he was saying?I lifted my shoulder in a half shrug, acting like I was not happy by his compliment. Then, I let my hair fall loose my shoulders. "What do you think?" I asked him. A corner of his mouth lifted."You look stunning. Absolutely gorgeous," He said, picking his words one after the other. James and I were video chatting and I decided to get his input on my hair since he would not be attending the party with me. Well, I had agreed to go to the party with my best friend, Joey because I thought James would follow me. But when I invited James, he had explai