All Chapters of My Enemy [BL]: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The sun was dipping low behind the diner windows, casting that warm, syrupy glow that always seems to make time slow down. Frank and I had been in the same booth for nearly two hours, half focused on work and half caught up in random chats and silly jokes. My milkshake was melting into a puddle, his laptop screen softly lit between us, and every now and then, his arm would brush against mine. It was a small thing, but it sent my nerves into a frenzy.He was sitting way too close. I could actually catch a whiff of his cologne—something warm, like cedar and sunshine. I was trying to concentrate on the short story we were supposed to be editing, but it was tough with him leaning in to point out lines or laugh at my suggestions.I kept reminding myself not to read too much into it. Frank was just being friendly. That was all he ever was.I was in the middle of texting my mom to let her know I’d be home late when he blurted out, "You’re really pretty, you know that?"The words hit me like

The next day, I struggled to concentrate in class. I couldn’t shake off Rowan’s words from the previous night. They echoed in my head like a nasty tune that wouldn’t quit: "Frank would never like someone like you. Get your head out of the clouds."I tried to convince myself that it didn’t matter; that Rowan was just being his typical jerk self. But deep down, it felt like he had planted a seed of doubt that I just couldn’t shake off no matter how hard I tried.When the final bell rang, I found Frank waiting for me at the library, just like we had planned. We worked together in silence for about an hour, wrapping up the climax of our short story. It was supposed to be a dramatic and tragic moment—Cecile and Damian confessing their love right before she dies. Maybe that’s why I felt this weight in my chest while I typed. Each word seemed to reflect the chaos I felt inside.Frank leaned closer to read our work on the screen, his arm brushing against mine. "That’s... really good," he said

For the first time in what felt like ages, I was actually enjoying myself. I mean, genuine fun—the kind that made my chest feel light and my cheeks ache from smiling so much.Frank and I had just wrapped up our third round of this ridiculous balloon-popping game, and I was laughing so hard my stomach hurt. The air was filled with the smell of popcorn, sugar, and that faint metallic tang from the nearby ferris wheel.In that moment, I forgot all the noise—those whispers at school, the way Rowan’s words used to ring in my ears like a curse. Here, under the twinkling lights and the fading sky, I just felt... normal.Then Frank nudged me gently. "Hey, thinking about grabbing a funnel cake before we head out?""Only if you promise not to scarf most of it down this time," I joked, but before he could reply, a voice—sharp and too sweet to be sincere—sliced through the chatter around us."Well, well, well... if it isn’t Atlas fucking Loren."I froze. My grip on the penguin plushie tightened i

Frank’s hand felt warm against mine as he guided me through the thinning crowd, away from the laughter and bright lights, toward the towering ferris wheel that sparkled like a crown in the night sky. The air carried a hint of fried dough mingling with the chill of autumn, and my nerves danced wildly the closer we got."Frank," I said, slowing my pace as I gazed up at the massive spinning structure, "I honestly don’t think I can do this. It’s just way too high."He chuckled softly, glancing back at me. "You’ve mentioned that before.""Well, it’s still true," I replied, crossing my arms tightly even though my heart was racing for a whole different reason.Frank handed our tickets to the ride operator, his fingers brushing mine again as he turned to smile. "Hey," he said quietly, "you’ll be alright. I’m right here."The way he said it—steady, calm, so sure—made me nod before I even realized it. My stomach twisted as we climbed into the small open carriage, and as soon as we started to as

The week that followed felt like something you’d read in one of those cheesy romance novels that Millie always teased me about. I was actually dating Frank Carrington. Every morning, I’d wake up with a goofy grin, checking my phone before brushing my teeth because he always sent me a "good morning, beautiful" text. Sometimes he’d even throw in a photo of his breakfast with a caption like, "You’d make this boring cereal look better."I learned more about him in just a few days than I thought I ever could. He mentioned that his dad owned a car dealership downtown and that he had a younger brother named Logan, who apparently thought Frank was the "lamest cool guy ever."He had this whole collection of superhero comics and a weird obsession with race-car movies. I’m not even into cars, but when Frank dragged me to the cinema on Wednesday to see Fastlane Fury 8, I found myself laughing the whole time just because of how excited he was about it.He had a knack for making everything he liked