{WATTYS 2021/2022 SHORTLIST}{Editor's Pick} {Featured Story}
One girl. Two boys. An impossible choice.
Stella LaFever, a theatre student from California, can't wait to spend a summer in Newport, Rhode Island, with her best friend. She is in despera...
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As I watched Stella walk towards the bathroom, I realized that in my attempts to keep her from being hurt by my father, I'd put her in a shitty position.
I should've known it would be impossible to hide the way I felt about her, especially from my friends.
I'd have to find another way to protect Stella from whatever my father would try and do to get me back at the Naval Academy instead of ignoring the problem. With this in mind, I tapped Spencer on the shoulder.
"There's something I need to tell you, and I'm sorry for not telling you two weeks ago."
Spencer mussed his dark curls. "You're dating Stella."
The awkwardness of the truth was difficult for me to handle. My fight or flight reflex kicked in, and my body was telling me that this truth would get me in trouble or hurt—which still might be true—but I couldn't run away from it anymore.
I tried to hold Spencer's steady gaze when I said, "Yeah, we're dating."
Spencer downed the last of his drink and then set it on a cocktail table. "You know, on some level, I knew that's what was going on, but I didn't want to believe it." He sighed. "You better treat that girl right, Joon. She deserves to be worshipped."
I nodded, feeling an odd mix of relief and guilt. "I will. I swear."
"Good." He looked around, then rolled his shoulders back. Each of his movements exaggerated and influenced by all the alcohol we'd drunk. "I'm going to leave."
"Wait." I caught his arm. "You can't drive. You've been drinking."
Spencer just grinned. "I'll call Turner. He'll drive my car home. It's not an issue." He shook my hand before leaving. "Until next time, Joon."
I watched him exit the club like he was ice skating over a frozen pond, effortlessly graceful as always, parting the crowd with long strides.
There was a reason why Spencer Fredericksen had been my best friend for all these years, and it was because he was a good man.
Graham sidled up beside me. "I'll go with him. I don't think Spencer should be alone." He handed me his set of keys. "Tell Leona she can take my car home."
I didn't take the keys. "None of us should be driving. I'll make sure they get a ride."
Graham chased after Spencer, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the beat of the music.
My phone vibrated in my pocket. I glanced at the screen, hoping it was a text from Stella, but it wasn't.
It was from my dad.
I clicked on the message and saw that it was a picture. A picture that I didn't take, and I knew Stella didn't take either.
I stared at the picture on my screen for a full minute, trying to comprehend what I was looking at and how it was possible. It looked like a still frame from a surveillance video camera of the two of us naked in our hotel room bathroom at Castle Hill Inn.
