ManyWriters

On graduation night, I gave my first time to Leonardo.
The pain was real, but so was my joy, believing my devotion had finally been seen.
But I never imagined that at the bonfire party the next day, I would hear his teammates joking with him.
That night after graduation, Leonardo took everything from me.
"Nice work, man, you finally sealed the deal with your little shadow."
And Leonardo, who had been so gentle the night before, replied with a lazy drawl.
"Jessica is the real prize. I’m just getting in some practice with Kira, don't want to fumble in front of the queen."
I said nothing, just turned and walked away.
Then, before the final deadline, I changed my college choice from Seattle to Los Angeles.

The Coast Between Us

"It's too quiet over at our place. Mind if we crash your party?"


In the past, our families always spent Christmas together.


This year, because of my situation with Leonardo, my mom had declined Mrs. Rossi's invitation to have a joint dinner.


But now that they were at our door, we couldn't turn them away.


Leonardo naturally sat down next to me, watching my game.


My relatives, who didn't know the full story, kept making jokes about us.


I just smiled and corrected them each time.


Leonardo's expression grew darker and darker.


At midnight, as we all went outside to watch the neighborhood fireworks, he pulled me aside, looking like he wanted to talk.


I felt a slight blush as I pulled my arm from his grasp and answered the call.


It was Noah, a classmate from my film club in LA.


Not in a dark, brooding way, but a bright, smiling kind of handsome.


He was funny and witty and always made me laugh.


Chapter 11