Maria is crazy. Like insane. Her only solution is much more crazy. I close my eyes once another student walks into the class. The person occupies the seat beside me, I stiffen. His cologne makes it easy to identify him but I don’t glance his way. He kissed her. I am only taking one of the two pieces of advice Maria offered—to stay away from the site until something bigger blows this over. Their kiss is everywhere on the site, they are trending as couple goals. Yuck. As for her other advice, no, never. On our bucket list, item number two is: Tessa will get a boyfriend. And today, Maria changed it to: Tessa will date Benjamin. I almost burst out laughing from thinking about it. I can’t even get a kiss. The guy will not look at me twice. It’s bad enough I have to complete most of the items on the list before the school year runs out, now, she wants me to date Ben. God forbid. Not after he has had his lips on that walking disease called Olivia.

Let: It was okay, nothing like the movies but there was a lot of tongue. Honestly, I regret it. I wish I gave my first kiss to someone I like. Don’t be like me, make sure your first kiss is someone you love or you will spend the rest of your life thinking about it. Anyways... Are you going for the Halloween party? I don’t think I’ll go, I have had enough parties to last me the rest of school year. Parties are a waste of time.Me: I agree. A big waste of time with horny teenagers and loud music. Sadly, I will be going :( because my best friend will be there and I can’t break her heart, she will skin me alive. I have my costume, don’t ask, I’m not telling. Thanks for the advice but why did you kiss someone you don’t like? I can’t do that. I want my first kiss to be special. I want to have my first kiss with my husband. Is that cheesy? I know it is ;) but don’t you dare laugh at me. It’s crazy that we are in the same sc

Outside is less noisy, no one notices me on the gravel path. Maria’s car is gone. My ride home is gone and I am not with my phone. Emotions clash inside me, tears fight to come out but I push them back.I don’t need to cry, I need to find a way to get home in one piece. With that in mind, I start walking. The distance seems to increase the further I walk, my only company is the street lights lining the walkway. The itch worsens, I shiver and sniff as the cold air lashes at me. This night was a mistake. The powerful sound of an engine cuts through the air, a motorbike rolls to a stop beside me but I continue walking. “Why you out here looking like a corpse?” Very funny. I force one foot in front of the other, urging my body to cooperate. I am alone on this street, anything can happen. My heart jumps to my throat as the rider continues at my pace. I refuse to look at him, my eyes focus on the pavement,

Mum must be waiting for me but that knowledge doesn’t stop me from shutting the front door quietly. The living room lights are off, the stairs are illuminated by the ceiling lights on my bedroom floor. Alert, I tiptoe to the stairs. If I can get into my room, then I’m safe from her questions tonight. That woman doesn’t quit and if I prove too stubborn, she will recruit Dad’s help. As a team, they are harder to resist.“Where do you think you are going?”My boots drop, I scream until the familiar voice settles over me. Laughter echoes behind me, I let out my breath. Shit. The light comes on, I frown at my mum doubled over in laughter beside the switch. It feels like déjà vu but this time, there’s no Asher.Mum strolls towards me to wrap me in a hug and my anger disappears as fast as it came. “You should have seen your face,” she says. I huff and she responds with a bigger smile. “How was th

Unknown: Hey, sorry it took so long to text you. I have been so busy with AJ I didn’t have time to read your letters and reply them. I am not ignoring you, I swear. Just busy :( This week has been so hectic.AJ? I know AJ and only one person says AJ. I snatch my phone from the nightstand and begin typing. Me: Hey stranger. What about now? Have you read them? Throwing my legs over the bed, I sit at the edge, back hunched and teeth between my lips. My feet drum into the floor as seconds roll by without his reply. The answer is easy. Yes or no. I toss the phone on my pillow and collapse to the bed. I count to twenty, then peek at my screen. No reply. I cup my face, glaring at the ceiling as I scream. I am dying to talk to someone about Ben. About our kiss.What should I do? I need advice.Maria is a no-no for now. She sure as hell wouldn’t want to hear about boys after getting her heart broken by one of them. Why do boys have t