"Mr. Anderson would like to speak to you in his office," Ms. Flora said, her voice cutting through the buzz of students in the hallway.
I closed my locker with a heavy sigh, my heart racing at the thought of what this meeting could entail. I could feel the weight of uncertainty pressing down on me as Ms. Flora started walking away, her shoes clicking against the polished floor. Reluctantly, I followed her.
We arrived at the office, and she gestured for me to enter. As I stepped through the door, I was met with the familiar sight of Liam's office, filled with his usual books and papers. Ms. Flora took a seat at her desk, scribbling something on a notepad, and I stood awkwardly, waiting for Liam to make an appearance.
Just then, the door swung open, and I found myself face-to-face with Cayden. Our eyes locked, and I felt a strange mixture of anger and longing welling up inside me. It was hard to believe that just a week ago, we were together. I was the first to break the eye contact, feeling the sting of vulnerability. I muttered an excuse as I stepped past him into his father's office.
"Have a seat," Liam said, motioning to the chair across from him. I plopped down, and he shifted in his own seat, a serious look clouding his features.
"I know you're not exactly thrilled about me marrying your mom," he began, his tone earnest. "And I'm sorry for how this affects you and Cayden."
I remained silent, listening intently, my heart pounding in my chest.
"I love your mother," he continued, his gaze softening. He stood and moved to sit beside me, his presence filling the small office with an unexpected warmth. "And I know you care about my son."
"I don't," I replied, my voice trembling slightly as I struggled to hold back tears. It felt like I had been crying non-stop for a week, trying to ignore the hollow ache in my chest that had come with our breakup. "Not anymore," I whispered under my breath, barely loud enough for him to hear.
Liam's expression shifted to one of concern. "I'm really sorry," he said. I shook my head, forcing a sad smile that didn't quite reach my eyes.
"Don't be. As long as you two are happy, then I'm happy. I just want my mom to be content again, even if it means losing someone from my life," I said, trying to sound stronger than I felt.
He reached out, taking my hand in his, gratitude shining in his eyes. "Thank you," he said, and I returned a weak smile.
Standing up, I walked to the door, twisting the knob to leave. I glanced back at Liam, my heart heavy. "I hope your son learns what love means from you," I said, letting the words linger before stepping out, gathering the remnants of courage I had buried deep inside me.
As I entered History class, the familiar chatter of students surrounded me, but today felt different. My gaze drifted across the room, landing on Cayden and Katie. She was perched on his lap, flirting and laughing, her smile wide and victorious. I felt a pang in my chest, a mixture of hurt and disbelief.
Cayden caught my eye, and I saw something flicker in his expressionâwas it regret? It was quickly overshadowed by Katie's triumphant grin. I rolled my eyes and turned away, trying to focus on anything else.
"What's up?" Logan slid into the seat beside me, a friendly smile on his face.
"The ceiling," I said, feigning nonchalance as I placed my bag on the desk, pulling out my History notebook.
Logan snatched the notebook from my hands, holding it just out of reach. "You know, I never thought you'd have a sense of humor."
"Really? What does that even mean?" I asked, jumping slightly in my seat, reaching for the notebook, but he kept it just out of my grasp.
Cayden walked by, shooting a quick glance in our direction, and I rolled my eyes again. "What's up with him?" Logan asked, looking curious.
"Probably got his panties in a twist," I said, keeping a straight face. Logan let out a laugh, and for a moment, the weight on my chest lightened.
"That's the kind of humor I need," he said, grinning at me, and I couldn't help but smile back, even if it was tinged with sadness.
After class, I stuffed my books into my locker, a mix of exhaustion and despair washing over me. I felt like curling up and disappearing for a while. Instead, I headed to my car, not quite ready to go home yet.
It was already past five in the evening, and the sun cast a golden glow across the parking lot. Instead of heading home, I decided to swing by the library, hoping to distract myself by researching some background information about the Andersons.
As I descended the stairs, a sharp smell invaded my sensesâsmoke. Coughing, I instinctively followed the scent, my heart racing. Turning the corner, I spotted Cayden, cigarette in hand, exhaling a cloud of smoke into the chilly air.
"Are you aware that smoking is banned on school property?" I called out, arching an eyebrow at him.
Cayden glanced at me, unfazed. "Yeah, well, may you have cancer and die," he shot back, taking another drag. I turned on my heel, frustration boiling within me. Why had I even bothered to say anything?
Just as I reached my car, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I fished it out, seeing a message from Ethan.
Ethan: Are you free?
Ethan: Can we talk? I need to tell you something.
I hopped into my car, firing up the ignition as I typed back. "I'm free. Let's talk."
Ethan: Great. Meet me at the Local Coffee Shop in less than 10 minutes.
I tucked my phone away and prepared to drive. Just as I was about to reverse, I heard a knock on my back window. I turned to find Logan grinning like a fool.
Rolling down my window, I felt an odd flutter in my stomach. "Hey," he said, adjusting the strap of his backpack. "I heard about you and Cayden."
I raised an eyebrow, my heart racing. "What do you mean?"
"It might have something to do with... me," he said, his expression serious. I stared at him, disbelief washing over me.
"What are you talking about?" I pressed, sensing the weight of his words.
"About you and Caydenâhow about we go to the Local Coffee Shop? I can explain everything," he offered.
"Funny," I said, smirking slightly. "I'm headed there too."
"Ha! What a strange world we live in," he replied, pausing for dramatic effect.
"I can't today, though. I have to talk to someone privately, but what about tomorrow?" I suggested, trying to hide the excitement building in my chest.
"Sure thing. I'll see you then," he said, flashing me a smile that lingered in my mind as I drove off toward the coffee shop.
When I arrived, I locked my car and stepped inside, inhaling the familiar aroma of freshly brewed coffee. I settled into a chair and pulled out my phone, scrolling through Twitter. My heart sank as I saw the flood of tweets about my breakup with Cayden. It felt like everyone was watching, judging, dissecting.
I logged out of Twitter, annoyed, and switched to Instagram, searching for distraction. I found pictures of Amelia and Noah, both radiant in their friendshipâor whatever it was. I couldn't quite figure out their relationship status.
"Hey," a familiar voice pulled me from my thoughts. I looked up to see Ethan standing there, a smile gracing his lips.
"Hi," I said, feeling my heart skip a beat. We both took a seat across from each other, and I felt a mix of anticipation and anxiety.
"Do you want to get something first?" I asked, gesturing to the counter.
"Sure," he replied, still smiling as I waved over the waitress.
"I'll have an Iced Caramel Macchiato," I ordered, glancing at Ethan, who opted for a mint lemonade. The waitress nodded and headed off to fulfill our orders.
As we waited, I couldn't help but notice the tension in the air. "So, what did you want to talk about?" I asked, trying to keep the conversation light.
"Remember when I told you that Alissa and I broke up?" Ethan asked, looking at me with a seriousness that made my stomach twist. I nodded slowly, trying to match his intensity, though I felt my gaze wavering. How ironic that I was about to hear about his heartbreak when mine was still fresh.
"It's because of one reason," he continued, his voice trembling slightly.
"What's the reason? Does she know why?" I pressed, curiosity edging out my concern. He nodded but stayed silent, the weight of his thoughts heavy in the air. Just then, the waitress arrived, placing our drinks on the table. I offered her a warm smile, grateful for the distraction.
As I took my first sip of the iced caramel macchiatoâthe comfort drink that always made me feel a little lighterâI glanced back at Ethan. He was fiddling with the edge of the table, clearly nervous.
"She... s-she does," he stammered, and I paused mid-sip, sensing how tightly wound he was.
I reached out, gently resting my hand over his on the table. Our fingers brushed, and I realized there was no electric spark between us. No thrill. Just a familiar comfort that reminded me we were friends, and for now, that was enough. I had moved on from my crush on him, but sometimes the feelings would resurface unexpectedly, catching me off guard.
"Hey, calm down. I'm here to listen," I reassured him, offering a smile that I hoped conveyed warmth and support.
He took a deep breath, his eyes flicking down to our intertwined hands, then back to me. I could see the struggle in his expression, as if he were wrestling with his thoughts. He swallowed hard, the lump in his throat betraying the ease he tried to project.
Finally, the upbeat facade crumbled. His smile shifted to something more somber. "I'm gay," he said, the words tumbling out with a sigh of relief.