“Thank you for coming, I didn’t think you would show up. “ I say to Gina who’s sitting in front of me sipping nervously at her milkshake.  She’s been looking back and forth from me to the door since the moment she sat down.I can tell she is praying Amara doesn’t walk through that door. She would have a lot of explaining to do if her bestie found her here with me. Although I’m pretty sure she reported to Amara the moment I sent her that invite. “I didn’t think I would be here either.” She says looking at anything but me.“I appreciate you being here. I wanted to see you so we can talk. I say looking her straight in the face. I want her to know that I’m here with the truth. I’m not here to pretend and I’m definitely not here to act like everything is okay when it’s not. There’s a war going on and I didn’t know I was being screwed from the insid

2 months later; a week before midyear exams. “I’m so happy you called.” My mother says to me from across the table. I asked her to meet me at a McDonalds’ for coffee. I have been thinking a lot about the conversation that Zach and I had.I can’ help but think that he was right. Since she showed up, I am not the same. I am no longer confident in myself and my decisions. I feel like I am holding on to my old self and I am being left behind.Mina and Jon are growing more and more independent every day. They are starting to need me less and less. This morning Mina asked if they could go to school by themselves. She said that most kids in her class are doing it themselves now and she wants to try get to school without my help.I didn’t have to go to school today since exams are starting soon, so she said I should stay home and study. She’d make sure that they get to school safely. She pro

Cole   I pull into the McDonalds’ parking lot and see Golden and Leo walk out of the restaurant. My heart starts racing at the site of then holding hands. I turn off my car, sit back and watch them, seeing them like this grinds at me. Golden has this beautiful smile on her face. She’s looking at Leo like he’s the most important thing in her life.  I hate that they are being so public and they look like they are having the time of their lives. Her eyes are shining. I don’t how to explain it but she has this glow about her. I watch them start to dance around the parking lot. They laugh together as they go along. They look happy and I hate it. I haven’t been letting myself admit that seeing them happy is bringing out the worst in me. Leo has the one thing I want most in life. He has her love; I don’t have to hear her say the words. I can tell she loves him. It’s written in her face, the glint in her eye

Leo guides me into his apartment, making sure to shake out the umbrella before he enters behind meWhen he turns around he finds me smiling at him. I have this cheesy smile on my face. He has a cute and comfortable picnic setting in the setting in the middle of his living room. He went all out with the blanket, candles and food. He created a moody and sexy setting here.He smile as me and opens his arms like, I know I’m the shits. I nod in agreement, because this is amazing.“I know we wanted to go for a nice picnic but the rain had other ideas. So I thought why not have an indoor picnic?  This way we’ll stay warm and dry” He says smiling at me. He places the umbrella in the corner and guides me to the blanket.I walk slowly toward his indoor picnic set up feeling all giddy on the inside. I take my shoes and sit down. He goes to the kitchen and makes us some tea.“Let me get our drinks.” He says walking to t

3 months into Leo and Golden’s relationship I stand sitting a few feet my fro car as it’s being washed. I’ve been neglecting it for so long, I had to get it cleaned before the week starts again.My mind drifts to last few weeks I spent with Leo. We finally got into the groove of our relationship. We figured out our boundaries, I took my mother’s advice and talked to him about setting them. I know how far we can take everything and I’ve been having fun discovering what I like with him.I smile thinking about the intimate moments we’ve had. We still haven’t gone all the way yet. I still want to so bad but I’m glad one of us had the sense to wait. We’ve had a chance to get to know each other more without the drama.I’m lucky I’m dealing with Leo; he’s so much more mature than I am. He takes his time to so things and he doesn’t make bi