Met You When I Was Sixteen

7.

I had this confidence boost, the type of boost I always get when I'm with Atlas. He makes me feel confident, he makes me feel worth it... While Sem makes me feel scared, insecure, and maybe even slightly worthless.

We planned to get to the airport at 8 PM, which meant that we still had loads of time. Atlas and I immediately looked at each other, a smirk forming at the corner of his mouth. We both knew exactly what we both were thinking. Atlas ran towards his car, laughing softly while I ran towards Sem. I met his height and gave him a short but passionate kiss on his lips, his hands meeting my waist. ''I'll see you at the airport. Okay?'' I pulled away from his grip while rushing towards the door, getting a hold of my suitcase and running through the front door. I just kissed Sem and he didn't push me away or get mad. Why did I kiss Sem again? I think it was the moment, i think i forgot every incident that happened between us and just wanted it to be like old times, cause i want it to be like old times. and at this moment it felt like it would be. Atlas and I were going for a drive in his car. I was saying goodbye to Sem while he watched me take off. It was just like old times.

Atlas was quick to open his trunk, standing there, leaning against his car. He took the suitcase from me and placed it in the back of his car. ''Such a gentleman,'' I started to chuckle. A shadow formed itself in the light of the sun, which was now spreading itself on the sidewalk. A warm but strong grip could be felt against my waist as I got turned around and pushed against Atlas car. Sem was pressing his lips against mine with force, biting it softly.

''Don't think you can just go off like that, teasing me and walking away,'' he mumbles under his breath and the number of kisses that form itself on my bruised lip. What the hell? I was kissing my boyfriend, or my boyfriend was kissing me against my best friend's car. It felt kind of wrong, this wasn't supposed to happen. This didn't happen in high school years.  but I was blinded by the situation, not realizing that I missed this. Not the kissing against my best friend's car part, but the randomly kissing at random times. The amount of touch starved, I didn't even realize I was felt unreal, was unreal.

My cheeks felt like they could explode any second as a tint of pink that is closer to red spread. Our kiss got forced apart by Atlas, who was impatiently slamming his horn. ''Alright, alright, we get it: love birds.'' We both looked in the direction the voice came from only to see atlas already sitting in the driver's seat. Sem rolled his eyes once again as I chuckled embarrassedly. ''I- love you, Brooklynn Delacruz.'' What has gotten into this boy for him to suddenly act so differently? We can't forget that he literally pinned me against the wall with his arm around my throat and the bruises he left behind, even this black eye I need to cover up with make-up. Maybe it's his jealousy about me and Atlas being so close, or is he finally realizing his mistakes?

I froze, he hasn't told me he loved me in a literal year, if not longer. words stumbled, my throat felt like it tightened as I just nodded. ''I-I-..'' - ''Love you too... Sem Fisher.'' I smiled fakely, this knot tightening in my stomach. He smiled satisfied, losing his grip around me as he walked away. I stared at him until I saw the door close and he was fully out of sight. Before noticing the red stain that was threatening on my wrist, in the corner of my eyes.

Maybe he's not realizing his mistakes at all.