(TODD’S POV) I've always been extremely careful around Rory's dad. And when I say careful, I mean I was, and still am, more than a little scared of him.Don't get me wrong, he wasn't always this intense. Last night was the very first time he ever raised his voice at me, or at Rory in my presence. I know Rory and her dad have a complicated relationship, they don't exactly get along easily, but usually, all I ever get from him are suspicious glares and grunts that somehow acknowledge my greetings. I know he's very curious about me. He's never asked me any direct questions, but I know Rory has told him a lot about me.So, he knows exactly who I am to his daughter. What he absolutely doesn't know is that I have feelings for her. Deep, undeniable feelings.Now, about what happened last night. Honestly, I'm not really surprised. Mr. Davis is fiercely protective of his daughters, especially his youngest. He must have arrived home and been completely shocked, and very disappointed, to find o
The new morning arrived, stirring a mix of emotions within me. My first waking thought, a warm and welcome embrace, was of Todd, my new boyfriend. I wanted to scream it, shout it from the rooftops a thousand times over! Todd was finally mine, and he felt deeply for me, cared for me immensely. The thought alone sent shivers of pure joy through me.But a tiny, unsettling tug pulled at my chest. We had to keep our relationship quiet for now. As the warm water of my shower cascaded over me, I replayed the reasons in my mind. High schoolers. That was it. I knew all too well the cruel games high school kids played, how they could turn on each other with devastating precision. I couldn't bear the thought of them mocking me, their laughter echoing until our new love withered and died. Even worse, I dreaded the possibility of Todd regretting us, of their taunts pushing him away. And then there was Leslie. Her "evil eye" was a force to be reckoned with, and I knew, without a shadow of a doubt,
Have you ever held a balloon in your hand, buoyant and full, and watched someone deliberately, maliciously, prick it with a needle? It’s never happened to me before, but I can vividly imagine the sudden, disheartening deflation, the abrupt end to something so light and airy. That's exactly how I felt in that moment. My balloon was the peaceful, loving evening I'd just spent with Todd, an evening I wished could stretch into eternity. The way Todd had looked at me, his eyes overflowing with adoration, his words a soft symphony of affection – it was perfect. The sharp, unexpected needle was the rapping on Todd’s car window.My Dad.My heart leaped into my throat and then plummeted to my stomach. Shock coursed through me as I saw him, his face a mask of fury as he glared at Todd through the glass. I scrambled out of the car, practically tripping over my own feet in my haste.“Dad! When did you get back?” I blurted, rushing to his side, my voice a frantic whisper.He didn't budge. Not an
(TODD’S POV)This was supposed to be funny! I really thought it would be, but something in my chest was telling me it wasn't a joke to me anymore.I opened the box, revealing the beautiful diamond-shaped butterfly necklace resting inside. My plan was to chuckle and say, "It's not a proposal, Baby." But my throat went completely dry. I saw Rory’s eyes widen in fear, genuinely scared I was about to propose. Then, as her gaze landed on the shining jewelry in the box, a wave of relief washed over her face. And that's when I felt it—a sharp, unwelcome pang of jealousy."Is marrying me so bad? So scary?" I asked, my shoulders slumping. Yeah, I know. I sound like a total crybaby. But honestly, I didn’t care right then.Rory’s eyes widened a bit again, this time in surprise. "What?" she whispered, clearly caught off guard.I just shrugged, still holding the box open for her. "You looked so against marrying me," I muttered, my voice a little rougher than I intended.Rory leaned closer, inspec
(RORY'S POV)“Todd…..” I whispered in disbelief. My breath hitched in my throat and I could feel my body trembling. We were beneath a little hill and from where we were, I could see lights. Todd had gotten out of the car and he rushed around to my side.He opened the door and had his hand held out for me. I placed my hand in his shyly avoiding his admirable gaze as I stepped out of the car.I liked the way his hand grasped mine tightly as if to remind me that I was now his.I let him lead the way until we stopped. We were standing on a small, secluded hill overlooking the entire city. Below us, the lights twinkled like a scattered handful of diamonds on black velvet. But it wasn’t just the view that took my breath away. Todd had transformed this ordinary hill into a fairytale.Soft, warm fairy lights were strung between two ancient, gnarled trees, casting a gentle glow on a beautifully set table for two. A crisp white tablecloth draped elegantly, adorned with a delicate bouquet of
Sure, I can definitely make the chapter much longer and more detailed for you, focusing on the romantic tension and Todd's sweet, romantic nature. Here's a revised and expanded version:Rory and I had shared countless rides, our bikes side-by-side, the wind whipping through our hair as we chased sunsets. But tonight, in the cozy confines of my car, with the soft hum of the engine as our soundtrack, everything felt profoundly, beautifully different. It was a rare, once-in-a-lifetime kind of feeling, the sort I’d only dared to dream about in the quiet moments before sleep claimed me. And now, those dreams were real, tangible, sitting right beside me. She was my girlfriend, and I was her boyfriend. My girlfriend. The smartest, most beautiful, most captivating girl in the entire world. The thought alone sent a shiver of pure joy through me.I risked a quick glance at her, my heart doing a little flutter against my ribs. She was staring out the window, her profile silhouetted against the p