ChristopherAfter my last class for the day, I headed to the coffee shop to grab myself a quick pick-me-up before heading home to do some homework. I liked having homework. I liked having something to do. Olin still wasn’t talking to me, which had kept me up most of the night. It had been a tense morning with him not talking to me but making sure I knew he was there with the constant slamming of doors and banging around.“Christopher,” I heard my name. Leila was waving to me from a bench, a coffee in her other hand.I grabbed my coffee and sat down on the bench beside her. “Hi,” I greeted.“He saw!” she blurted out.“What?”“The dean. He saw the hug.”I nodded. “I know.”“He saw me hugging you and now he wants to see me in his office!”I wanted to be sympathetic and I did understand her plight, but my emotions were already taxed. “Leila, it was a hug, not a handjob. We were fully clothed. I didn’t have my tongue down your throat or my hand down your pants.”Her mouth dropped open. “Yo

LeilaIt was earlier than usual that I was out of the house, but I had a coffee date. I had texted Kami last night, asking her if she could meet me. I needed advice from a neutral party. I felt like I was sinking fast and I needed her to throw me a lifeline. I was on the fence and needed her to push me one way or the other.I felt discombobulated. Like nothing was right. Everything was all jumbled. I wasn’t in the same predicament as Christopher, but we were both facing challenges. Challenges that stemmed from us being together. I knew the quick and easy solution, but I didn’t like it. I wanted Kami to tell me what to do. I didn’t want to make the decision.I ordered my coffee and a strawberry and cream cheese Danish before taking a seat next to the window. I sipped my coffee, staring out at nothing. I saw Kami pass by and a second later a cool breeze flooded the shop. She sat down across from me a minute later with an iced coffee and her own Danish.“You look a little rough,” she com

ChristopherI had decided to go home before meeting Leila for dinner. I wanted to check in with Olin and test the waters. I had almost told Leila I couldn’t meet her for dinner but figured I had better have a conversation with her.I heard the door open and close and sent up a silent prayer that he was in a better mood. He came into the kitchen and dropped his backpack on the counter before tossing his keys on top of it. His body language was telling me he was still pissed.“How was school?” I asked.“Fine.”“Did you get a chance to talk to Jen?”He scoffed. “Why would I talk to her?”“Because you like her and want to find out where she’s at,” I answered.He rolled his eyes. “I don’t care where she’s at. She can keep seeing the other guy. I don’t care.”“You sure about that?”“Yes.”I took a breath. “I have a dinner tonight. I’ll be home by nine.”“Bringing your newest lady home?” he sneered.“No. We’re having dinner.”He shook his head. “Sure. Whatever. Should I run out and buy anoth

LeilaI could just go home, I told myself. I could take a left at the light and never hear what he had to say. That wasn’t exactly mature, and it wouldn’t prevent him from saying what he had to say at some point, but I could put it off.Putting it off didn’t make it go away. I had messed with the guy’s head one too many times. I had tried to be honest with him from the very get-go, but it wasn’t enough. He was not the kind of man that had to wait around for a woman. He was handsome and successful and wealthy. There would be many women lining up to sink their claws into him.I should have seen the prize I had right in front of me instead of diddling around and freaking out about the stupid dean. If only I would have grown some damn balls a week ago. I could have saved whatever it was we had a week ago.I couldn’t now. I knew it as certain as I knew the sun would rise tomorrow.I parked my car in the spot next to Christopher’s truck in front of the marble slab creamery. I had told him I

ChristopherI stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around my waist. Usually, a shower made me feel alive. It was like getting an infusion of the strongest coffee. Not today. I had thought long and hard about skipping class. I didn’t want to get out of bed. I didn’t want to face life. I just wanted to stay in bed with the blankets pulled up to my chin.The world felt darker today than it had in a really long time. The way I was feeling was very reminiscent of how I had felt in the weeks after Carlie’s death. I had felt so empty and alone. I didn’t realize how much I had come to count on the little texts from Leila before we went to bed each night or how good it felt to have another adult to talk to.In many ways, saying goodbye to Leila was a lot like losing another person I cared about. I wasn’t sure if it was better or worse that I would be able to see her on occasion. It would be like rubbing salt in a wound. I couldn’t have her. I couldn’t pop over to her classroom and tal