Young Writers Society

I turned to see a blonde-headed boy staring at us with crossed arms. Hmm, was this her boyfriend? His blue eyes stared a hole through me, but I smiled boastfully as Abigail walked to him, her back turned toward me. This douchebag was like a textbook version of Mr. Perfect. I bet he ironed his underwear. He definitely had to be her boyfriend.

"Can we talk in private?" Extending his arm, he gestured towards the deserted wooden bookshelves behind our table.

Looking apologetic, she glanced back at me, and I waved her off with a half-hearted smile. "Go on; I'll be here stargazing." I tried to sound nonchalant, though the idea of this idiot being hers pissed me off to no end.

They walked down an aisle, and I definitely couldn't just sit there. To hide my eavesdropping, I strategically placed myself against a bookshelf and pretended to be absorbed in browsing through the books.

"Did I interrupt something? What is going on? We've barely talked to each other, haven't seen each other in weeks, and now you're here with someone else."

A heavy sigh escaped her lips, carrying with it a mix of frustration and resignation. Her shoulders slumped as sadness overcame her eyes. "Jake... It's just... I've been trying to figure things out."

"Flirting with someone like him helps you 'figure things out'?" When he spoke, his tone carried a bitter edge.

"Well, no, not exactly. I don't know," she hesitated. "I don't know what that is."

I felt like an intruder, listening to something I shouldn't. But I couldn't help myself; I needed to know what she said next.

"I care about you, but can't ignore my feelings anymore. "

My mind raced, trying to process what I was hearing. Did that mean she had feelings for me too? God, I was in way too fucking deep, way too fast.

"What does that mean?"

"It's complicated. I don't fully understand it myself, but there's something there..."

"What about us? All that we have?" He reached out for her, but she turned away from him, a tear rolling down her cheek.

"I don't want to hurt you, Jake. While you've been good to me, be honest with yourself. We have never had a spark between us. You deserve to be with someone who gives you that."

"So, you're breaking up with me?" He practically stamped his foot like a spoiled child denied a candy bar in the checkout line. "For a guy who thinks he's too charming for his own good?" He pointed behind him at me. Fuck this prick. He didn't know me.

"This isn't easy for me to say… I'm sorry I'm saying this, but it's over. I can't do this anymore."

"He's going to hurt you, and I won't be around to pick you up when he does." With a scolding tone, he left in a hurry. What an asshole. He had the charm of a politician and the personality of cardboard. She was probably better off without him. He walked away in anger, and she looked up. Before she could spot me, I put a book in front of my face.

She rounded the corner, and I tried to act indifferent, pretending to be engrossed. "How much did you hear of that?"

I lowered the book slightly, peering at her over the top. "Hear what?" I heard it all, but I didn't want to worsen the awkwardness.

She let out a nervous laugh, catching onto my game. "Right, you were too busy pretending to read."

I placed the book back where it belonged. "Yeah, I heard it all. I couldn't help myself," I admitted, trying to be honest without sounding too serious.

"I'm sorry about that," she said, her cheeks reddening. "I didn't mean for you to get involved in any drama."

I shrugged. "No worries. It's not like I had much choice when I kissed you without knowing you had a boyfriend. I've got a talent for stumbling into complicated situations."

With a momentary look of surprise, she burst into laughter. "Well, it's not like I pushed you away."

"Yeah, I guess you didn't. Guess we're both guilty then."

What the fuck were we doing? Here I was, caught in my very own rom-com dumpster fire. Goals? Ambitions? Let's toss those into the melodramatic plotline, where the brooding bad boy falls in love with the quirky girl. Maybe I would even write her a song and serenade her under the damn stars. Jesus Christ, I couldn't resist whatever the fuck this was.

Her smile grew, and I changed the subject. "Anyway, let's head back to the table before someone else interrupts us."

"Good idea," she said, falling into step beside me.

"So, what's your favorite color?" I asked, trying to lighten the mood.

"Hmm… probably light-pink or mauve," she answered as we returned to our seats.

"Really? How boring! Those are forgettable, unadventurous colors—a shade that doesn't match the radiant canvas someone like you should possess," I said, half sarcastic and half serious.

She playfully shoved my arm, and I responded by pushing hers right back. It became a back-and-forth game, and soon we were both laughing uncontrollably.

But then, in a surprising twist, she grabbed my arm, her fingers interlocking with mine. It caught me off guard, and I wasn't sure how to react for a second. I wanted to say something clever, but the words escaped me. Wonderful. My heart did the cha-cha while my bank account flatlined. But I couldn't control myself as I looked into her eyes, a silent message passing between us.

As we sat there, our laughter subsiding, I could no longer lie to myself or fight a losing battle. She had a knack for getting through to me. Whatever this was, it felt worth the risk. Welcome to the shitshow that was the battle of Captain Logical and his arch-nemesis, First Mate Fuck-up. While the captain had mapped out a journey straight to success, in came Fuck-up, ready to derail the entire plan by falling for an auburn-haired girl.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady the madness within me. I knew little, but I knew there was no going back now. Closing the gap between us, I leaned across the table and cupped her face in my hands. Her innocent and expectant gaze drove me fucking crazy. In the depths of her eyes, I could see the mutual desire between us - she wanted me as much as I wanted her. I slowly pressed my lips against hers. The intensity of the kiss lingered, leaving me with a craving for another taste. I realized I could spend forever like that, and it wouldn't be long enough.

As our mouths slowly separated, our foreheads rested against each other. She looked up at me, and I saw my own feelings reflected, knowing she was feeling it, too. I made a promise to myself and to her. Fuck being professional. This girl had me wrapped around her finger, and I was absolutely okay with it.