I wake up to the sound of my phone chiming. I look at the text name and smile. I’ve been waiting for her to reach out for a long time. I didn’t know how to start the conversation. I was hoping she opens the lines of communication and I’ll take it from there.
I need to play this one right. She won’t give another second chance. I need to make sure that I convince her I’m the guy she needs to be with. I need to show her that I can be the man she wants. If she wants romance I’ll give her that. I can do romance and I can do it well.
I have a favor to ask
I’m not sure if I should even ask this of you
Ry
I don’t even care what she wants, as long as she wants it from me. It’s been hard being on the sidelines, I hate being an afterthought to her. I want to go back to being the only guy she thought about. I want her feelings for me to come back.
You can ask me anything
I’ll give it to you if it’s in my power to do so…
Patient O
As I type the words I know they are true. I will do anything in my power to make sure she’s happy. I know it took a few stumbles for me to realize this but I know it’s true. I want her to have me and everything else she wants. Is that too much to strive for?
I finally got my car and it needs some work
Ry
I smile when I see the text come through. It took her long enough to decide on the car she wants to buy. I guess I shouldn’t judge her because I too took too long to decide on her. I took so long I made it so much harder for f myself. I now need to compete with some random guy for her. I brought this on myself.
What kind of work are we talking about?
Patient O
The paint is terrible
And it has a few dents
Ry
That doesn’t sound so bad
I think I can help you with
Just bring it to the shop and we’ll see what we can do
Patient O
Great!
Am I getting any deals? You know special discounts and stuff?
Ry
I don’t know I only give discounts to people I like very much
Patient O
I type knowing very well I’m steering the conversation in a direction that’s going to work for me. I want remind her of what we had. I want her to remember the feelings she had for me. I’m hoping nostalgia will work in my favor. I want her to think about what it was like when she really liked me. Those feelings need to bring her to me.
If that’s the case, I guess I’m not getting any discounts
I know I’m not your favorite person right now
Ry
Who lied to you and told you that?
Patient O
We both know she’s not wrong. I didn’t like her much when I found out about her new boyfriend. I was hurt more than I imagined I would be. But I don’t care about that anymore. I know better now. I know I need to earn her love; I need to work harder and show her that I really do want her.
It’s just a feeling I have
Ry
We, I would never want to invalidate your feelings in an way
But…
You have the wrong impression
You’re all I can think about right now.
I’m wrecking my brain trying to figure out how to get us back to a week ago
I miss talking to you
Patient O
You can talk to me anytime you want
We’re talking right now
Ry
I want to talk you and not worry about whom else gets to talk to you
Patient O
What we talk about has nothing to with anyone else.
Ry
I wish that was true
Patient O
It is
Ry
A part of me wishes that meant an easy pass. I wish that meant I can have her back. But I know it doesn’t.
It just meant that I have access to her. I know winning her heart and her love is going to be a battle. Her new boyfriend is not going to let me have her just like that. I saw the way he was looking at her on their date. He’s practically in love with her.
I have to put my big boy pants on and fight for her.
A few days later at Oliver’s job
“Congratulations on the car.” Oliver says smiling at me through the driver’s window. I bring the car to a stop in the building’s large garage. Oliver is wearing his work overalls and he still looks good. Who looks good in dirty, oily clothes? I hate that my heart insists on doing this inane flip every time I see him. I shouldn’t be feeling this way about him.
Trevor is the one I should be looking at with this much interest. The Oliver ship has sailed.
“Thank you for helping me. I don’t think I would have found a car if you didn’t help me.” I say opening the door and I get out.
“It was nothing.” He says looking at me from my head to my feet. I can feel his eyes taking in every detail in my body. I feel a little hot at the look in his eyes. He’s never looked at me like this. I don’t know what to do or say.
All I know is my heart is beating too fast; it feels like it’s going to jump out of my chest. He needs to stop looking at me like that or else I’m going to pass out.
“Well I appreciate you all the same.” I say closing the car door. I look away for a moment so I can break the intensity of the moment. “How long do you think it’s going to take to fix.” I say looking back at him. I point at the car so I can remove his attention from me. He blinks a few times looking at the car for a split second. But then his eyes are back on me.
I feel hot everywhere, I can feel my mouth go dry. I need to get out of here. This boy is looking at me like I’m a whole woman and I’m not ready for him to look at me like that. I don’t know what to do with that.
“We have to do a thorough inspection first; I can’t really tell you an accurate timeline without really looking at it.” He says walking closer to the car. He places his hand on it, touching it delicately. “But if I were to guess, I would say a week maybe.” He says and I groan. I was hoping it would take less than a week. I’ve had the car for a few days but I already feel like it’s a part of me. It’s been good to have the convenience of having a car.
“Okay, I just hope you won’t break my bank with the repairs.” I say and he smiles shaking his head.
“I’ll make sure you don’t get ripped off.” He says taking a few more steps closer to me. “You look beautiful.” He says taking me by surprise. I was sure he was going to give me a quotation or something. I didn’t think he wanted to say that. It still feels weird to hear him call me beautiful. I don’t think I will ever get used to it.
“Thanks?” I say and he closes the distance between us. I look up at him wondering what he’s planning on doing next. I say a little prayer hoping he doesn’t kiss me. I’m meeting Trevor for a date in a few minutes and it would be awkward if Oliver kissed me right now.
“What’s the occasion? Do you have a date?” He asks half smiling, half frowning. I don’t know how he does that. I can tell he’s sad but at the same time he seems happy. I don’t know what to make of this. My emotions are jumbled up from the intensity of the moment. I don’t think my brain can process anything right now.
“Yes.” I say and the rest of his smile turns into a full frown.
“That’s a bummer. I would like to take you out on a date.” He says looking from my lips to my eyes. His gaze keeps going back and forth making me smile. I know exactly what he’s feeling right now. I want to kiss him as much as he wants to kiss me, but it doesn’t mean we should do it.
“Unfortunately I’m too busy today.” I say taking a step back from him before I kiss him. I don’t want to complicate things.
“That’s okay. I know you’ll make time for me when you can.” He says smiling confidently.
“When will I be getting the quotation?” I ask changing the subject. I don’t know why we’re talking about dates when we should be talking about my car. I can’t take his non verbal flirting anymore; he’s too close to me. He’s staring at me too much and his smile is too bright for my liking. I hate that he can get me all hot and bothered with such simple gestures.
“Right now.” He says looking behind me. “I think Frankie is done inspecting the car.” He says waving to someone behind me. I turn to look in the direction he’s looking and see a guy holding a piece of paper.
“That was quick.” I say when the guy walks towards us and he hands Oliver a piece of paper. I sigh in relief that I can leave now. I need a breather from this guy. “Do I owe you a lot of money?” I ask when he hands it to me.
“I don’t think it’s too bad.” He says looking at me closely.
“It’s not that bad.” I say looking at my car. “Do I just leave it here?” I ask looking back at the total. I can afford the repairs. I was sure it was going to cost an arm and a leg.
“You have to pay the deposit and then you can leave the car.” He says looking at me closely.
“Okay. Let’s do that.” I say and he smiles. “This paper says my car will be done in five says. How accurate is that estimation?” I ask as he leads me to the front desk.
“It’s very accurate. We wouldn’t right it there if we can’t deliver you repaired car in five days.” He says confident.
“Okay, I’ll be back in five days to get my car then.” I say and he nods smiling.
“About our date.” He says and my heart jumps into my throat. I was hoping he doesn’t bring that up again. “How about we do something fun on Wednesday?” He says staring at me.
“I don’t know if this is a good idea.”I say and he looks at me sadly.
“Ryo please.” He says smiling at me with that sexy smile of his. “I’m asking for one date. I won’t ask again after this.” He says and I sigh.
“One date?” I ask and he smiles nodding. “Okay.” I say and he nods happily.
“Great.” He says kissing e softly on the cheek. “Have fu on your date tonight.” He says looking at me for a few seconds.
“Thanks.” I say touching where he kissed me. I can still feel the warmth of his lips there. Why am I happy that he did that? Why am I giddy from the feel of his lips on my skin? I’m not supposed to want this. I need to want someone that wants me.
And that someone is Trevor not Oliver.
I look in the direction he disappeared to and frown. I need to get my sit together before I lose my mind.
As I head back to my room, the cozy feeling from the movie night fades, replaced by a growing sense of dread. I know Savannah won't let this slide. I try to shake off the anxiety, reminding myself that it's not a crime to talk to someone, but deep down, I know this will be more complicated than that.When I reach my dorm room, I take a deep breath, preparing for the confrontation I know is coming. Just as I turn the doorknob, I hear the unmistakable click of heels behind me. I turn slowly to see Savannah, her arms crossed and her expression as icy as ever."Marlene," she says, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "Do you have a minute?"I nod, feeling my heart rate quicken. "Sure, Savannah. What's up?"She steps closer, invading my personal space. "What do you think you’re doing with Adrian?" Her tone is low, but the threat is clear.I take a step back, trying to create some distance. "We were just watching the movie. It’s not a big deal.""Not a big deal?" Savannah repeats, her e
It's movie night and every student in the dorms is summoned to come and watch. I would rather be sleeping right now but the headmistress made it clear that we have to be here. The common room is buzzing with excitement. The lights are dimmed, and the scent of popcorn fills the air. Students are chattering as they find seats, some on the couches, others on the floor, creating a cozy, makeshift theater.I choose a quiet corner, my back against the wall and a thick blanket draped over my shoulders. I prefer this spot for its unobtrusiveness, allowing me to watch without being the center of attention. As the opening credits roll, I relaxed slightly, hoping to blend into the background.But my hopes are dashed when Adrian walks in, his presence immediately drawing the attention of the room. He scans the area, his eyes quickly finding me. With a confident stride, he makes his way towards me, carrying a bag of popcorn and two sodas."Mind if I join you?" he asks,
The first week at St. Hilda’s passes in a blur of classes and unfamiliar faces. I keep my head down, focusing on my studies and staying out of trouble. Despite Adrian’s unexpected attention, I’ve managed to remain invisible, just the way I planned.It’s Friday afternoon, and I’m sitting under a tree in the courtyard, reading a book for my literature class. The sun filters through the leaves, creating shadows on the ground. I’m finally starting to
My parents dropped me off at the school dorms a day ago and I've been layng low since. The girl's accomodations is about 5 km away from the main campus and today is the first day I''m seeing it and the other day students.The bus ride to the new boarding school feels like a journey to another planet. Trees blur past the window, the landscape changing from unfamiliar streets to unknown territories. The thought of starting over terrifies me, and I try to suppr
The sun filters through the café windows, casting a warm glow over the bustling breakfast crowd. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and baked pastries fills the air as Oliver and I walk in, hand in hand. We spot Jameson and Kelly at a cozy corner booth, already settled with cups of steaming coffee and plates of pancakes."Look who finally decided to show up!" Jameson calls out, a wide grin spreading across his face as he waves us over.Oliver laughs, sliding into the booth next to him. "Good morning to you too, Jameson. Ready to celebrate?"Kelly pushes a plate of assorted pastries toward us, her smile warm. "Absolutely. Congratulations on the A in your English assignment. You guys really earned it.""Thanks, Kelly," I say, taking a croissant. "It feels good to see our hard work pay off."We dive into breakfast, laughter and chatter filling the air. It's moments like these that remind me of the importance of friendship, of having people who cheer for your successes and stand by you th
"Forever," I murmur, my lips still tingling from our kiss. Oliver pulls back slightly, his eyes searching mine with an intensity that makes my heart skip a beat. We both laugh, a mixture of relief and joy filling the small space of his car."I have another question," Oliver says, his voice softer now. He glances at his phone, then back at me. "What’s your biggest dream?"I pause, letting the weight of his question settle in. The sunset paints his face in warm hues, making his eyes sparkle. "My biggest dream?" I echo, pondering. "I think it’s to travel the world. To see places I’ve only read about, experience different cultures, and find inspiration in the beauty of our planet. And…" I hesitate, then smile. "To do it with you."Oliver’s face lights up, and he takes my hand, squeezing it gently. "I love that. I want that too." He looks out at the lake, then back at me. "Imagine us, years from now, looking back on this moment. Knowing we had the courage to dream big and chase those dream