All Chapters of Boys Like Him: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

The weekend flew by so fast, and Monday trickled in like a thief.Mariah kept glancing at me while she got ready.I brushed my teeth, packed my bag, and tied my hair robotically. "You sure you're okay?" she asked, leaning against the doorframe, arms folded."I'm fine," I replied.And it wasn't a lie.It just wasn't the full truth either.~~~~~~School felt different.Eyes lingered longer. Conversations dipped when I passed. Phones tilted just slightly in my direction before being pulled away as if nothing had happened.News traveled fast.Of course it did.I walked through it anyway.Head up.Back straight.Like I hadn't been on a bathroom floor less than forty-eight hours ago, trying to breathe through something that felt like it would kill me.Mariah stayed close.I saw him before he saw me.Or maybe he saw me first.I couldn't tell.He was across the courtyard, leaning against the railing with a few of his teammates. Same posture, presence, and effortless way of existing as the wo

I had expected him to show up last night, the way he always did. Scratch that, I wanted him to show up, not just for the sake of seeing him, but for the chance to confront him, to grasp his shoulders and shake him until the truth spilled forth. My heart screamed for answers, demanding to know why he had chosen to dismantle the love we’d built, leaving me fractured and raw. The pain was a relentless tide, washing over me and dragging me beneath its surface, robbing me of sleep and peace. Every thought of him incited a storm within me, a whirlwind of longing and sorrow that left me restless, tossing and turning in a battle against the memories that clung like shadows in the dark.And while I wanted to tell myself that it shouldn't have mattered, after all, I had made my choice-I felt the weight of disappointment settling in my chest like a stone.Stepping out of my apartment, I was struck by an unsettling chill that seemed to seep into my bones.The world beyond my door felt different s

Mariah's eyes locked on him, and the way she leaned back slightly, crossing her arms, told me everything I needed to know.Assessment mode."Nyelle," she called slowly, drawing my name out. I rolled my eyes, dropping into the seat beside her."Relax," I muttered. "He's not contagious."Malik pulled out the chair opposite us, completely unfazed."Malik," he introduced, offering a small nod. "I'd shake your hand, but I feel like I'd be judged for it."Mariah didn't smile."Nate," Nate chimed in quickly, extending his hand anyway. "Nice to meet you, man."Malik shook it."Likewise."Mariah's gaze flicked between us again."Nyelle," she stated, leaning in slightly and lowering her voice just enough to make it feel private, but not enough that Malik couldn't hear, "is this the him?"I sighed."Mariah, this is Malik. Malik, this is Mariah. And that's Nate.""Best friend," Mariah added immediately, eyes still on him. "Emphasis on best.""I figured," Malik replied calmly. "You have that ener

The car hummed to life the moment he turned the key, that low, familiar growl settling into the quiet like an old friend. I shifted in the passenger seat, angling my body toward him without thinking too hard about it.He reached for the console, fingers grazing the screen. "Don't judge my music taste.""I won't," I shot back, smiling.A corner of his mouth twitched upward. Then the music kicked in.I blinked. "No.""What?" He glanced over, already easing the car out of the parking lot."You listen to Gucci Gang?""Oh Yeah, I do."I stared. "You're joking.""I'm not.""That is... deeply concerning.""Alright," he drawled, nodding toward the console. "Fix it then."I leaned across the table and caught him off guard, gently but playfully snatching his phone from right under his nose. The glass surface suddenly sparked to life, splashing a kaleidoscopic, neon-hued glow across the room and painting his surprised features in shades of sapphire and gold. I started swiping through his music

People were talking over each other, chairs scraping, somebody dramatically falling against a counter, screaming, "THIS SCHOOL IS BETTER THAN NETFLIX."Hensley looked two seconds away from cardiac arrest."EVERYBODY SHUT UP."Nobody shut up."Oh my God, Nyelle, are you okay?""Did he seriously walk in here over YOU?""McAllister lowkey cooked him.""Lowkey?" somebody shouted. "That man got publicly EXECUTED."I covered my face with both hands."Please kill me."Beside me, Malik was laughing, trying to stop and failing every five seconds."You are not helping," I muttered."I'm trying," he wheezed immediately.Looked at me, and started laughing again.I shoved him hard in the shoulder. "Malik!""That geology lab line was insane," he wheezed."Oh my God."The class erupted again.Hensley pointed aggressively toward the door. "OUT. BOTH OF YOU. BEFORE THIS TURNS INTO A REUNION EPISODE.""What did I even do?" Malik asked innocently.Mr. Hensley gave him a deadpan look."YOU EXISTED AGGRESS