LOGINRiley“I know you’re scared.” I said quietly, holding his gaze. “But it’s alright, I’m giving you permission, Carl…” His breath caught. I kept looking at him so he could see I meant it with ever breath I take.“I love you,” I told him. “I’m in love with you, Carl, only you.” He hesitated. His eyes searched mine like he was looking for any sign I might take the words back. I didn’t. Instead I leaned in and kissed him again. This time he didn’t pull away. His hands came up on my waist and pulled me closer on the couch. The kiss deepened. I parted my lips and felt his tongue slide against mine. Heat rushed through my body. We were both breathing harder already.Carl broke the kiss, his lips still against my mouth. “I tried to suppress it,” he breathed. “God, I tried so hard, but you… you’ve been driving me insane Riley!”I let out a relief chuckle and kissed his lips softly. “Don’t suppress it anymore.” I whispered.That was all it took, he pulled me tighter against him. Our mouths m
RileyI closed the door behind me and leaned against it for a second. The plastic crown was still in my hand. I didn’t know what to do with it, my heart was already racing from what he had just said, but I tried to calm my beating heart.Carl’s eyes moved over my face, then the dress, then the crown. He didn’t ask how the night had gone, he just waited.I walked farther into the room and sat on the couch. My feet hurt from the heels I had worn half the night, I kicked it off. “Prom’s over.” I said.“I figured.” I looked at the glass on the table. Carl rarely stayed up this late with a drink, something about the way he watched me made my heart race again.It felt awkward just staring, so I decided to say something. “Neil took me home,” I said. “We… talked.”Carl nodded, he just kept looking at me the way he always did when he was trying to decide how much space I needed.I licked my dried lips and set the crown on the coffee table. It looked ridiculous there. Carl looked away from
RileyMusic thumped through the speakers, and people laughed and dance all around me. Neil held my hand as we walked in. He smiled at everyone we passed. I tried to smile back, but it felt unreal on my face.I wasn’t really there. My mind kept drifting somewhere else. Ava found me near the punch table. She linked her arm through mine and leaned close. “You okay?” she asked. “You’ve been quiet all night.”I forced a smile. “I’m fine, just tired.” I lied.Eve searched my face for a second, then nodded. “Okay, if you need to talk later, I’m here. Between, you and Neil look so good together, everyone is talking about the both of you being the perfect couples.”I glanced in Neil’s direction, he was talking to few boys from basketball team, his gaze flickered toward me and he smiled, I could see those boyish grin on his face, he was handsome, and I felt they were talking about us, complimenting.“Thank you,” I told Eve and watched her disappear back into the crowd, her date was Edwin, our
CarlI stood in the living room, staring at the clock on the wall as I sipped my coffee slowly. It was prom night. Three days had passed since Riley’s birthday party and I had tried my best not to think about Riley.I had kept my mind on Nora, called her more, talked about the wedding plans, even forced myself to think about the future together with Nora.None of it worked, Riley still filled my thoughts.The way she used to look at me was gone after I had pushed her away and rejected her. She had stopped trying to get my attention, she stopped dressing seductively, and she stopped looking at me like I was the center of her world.I should be relieved, I should be happy my rejection had made her lose interest completely, instead I felt emptiness inside my heart and I wish I could ignore it, but I couldn’t.I heard the door bell ring and set my coffee down. Nora had told me she was going to dinner with her sister and was catching an early flight tomorrow for work, so I knew she wouldn’
RileyAfter school I walked home the long way. I thought about texting Carl to know if he would be home early, he had walked out that night, and I haven’t seen him till today.I shook my head, my fingers hovered over his number. I thought about deleting his number. I did neither and tucked the phone in my pocket, exhaling sharply.I got home and pushed the front door, the smell of cooking hit me right away. my stomach have felt hungry after school since I skipped lunch, but it just twisted instead.I was surprised to see Carl in the living room. He was home early today, and he sat on the couch with his elbows on his knees, phone in his hands.When he looked up, our eyes met. I let out a short breath through my nose. He had rejected me last night, I thought he would be away for three days, but he was here.I swallowed hard and wanted to take another step forward when I heard the sound from the kitchen, I froze.I turned to see Nora stirring a pot, she stood at the stove, and wore one o
I walked into school with my head down. My heart still ached from Carl’s rejection. I had expected him to say yes, to kiss me and say he also love me, to say he was going to fight for us, but he had still looked at me like I was a kid who didn’t understand anything and said no.I told myself I wouldn’t cry at school after crying for two days at home. I almost made it.The hallway was loud already, lockers slammed, and I stopped at mine and spun the combination. When the door opened, something soft fell out and landed on my shoe.I lowered my gaze to see a single red flower, the stem was wrapped in a little strip of paper.I picked it up, the note was folded twice. I opened it and read it.“Riley, I’m sorry about the party. I was drunk and stupid. I shouldn’t have tried to kiss you. Please forgive me. – Neil.I closed my eyes, it was the first time recalling Neil after the party, but now my mind turned back to when Carl had rushed forward and pushed Neil away saying I didn’t want him.







