Love, Summer

12: balcony

Summer

It's been a week since my revelation.

I see Luke and Reese everywhere but I don't try to talk to them.

Even though I may be seen as a cheater in their eyes it's sad that they didn't even ask for my side of the story.

Whether he likes to acknowledge it or not Reese and I were in love.

We were going to get married and plan a future together.

It's crazy that all it took was one glance and suddenly I'm not speaking to him ever again.

And Luke, basically my best friend. He was always there for me even when Reese and I were fighting.

How do your best friend and your boyfriend turn their backs on you without even hearing your side?

Maybe it just hurt him so bad that he didn't want to hear from me.

All my thoughts, I bump into someone in the middle of the school hallway.

"I'm so sorry!" I react quickly pulling away from the person.

"It's fine," the voice makes my head shut up and I look into the eyes of my ex-boyfriend.

I clutch my books to my chest and try to not look away. I need to be strong and hopefully, eventually, we can talk.

"Sorry again," I laugh a little to myself. I've always been awkward but that didn't not need to come out right now.

"You're fine I said." He speaks a bit more firmly. I know it's because I'm some backbone-less loser, and I don't speak up for myself anymore.

"Right," I try not to awkwardly laugh again, and instead focus my eyes on the floor.

"So, I actually wanted to talk to you," Reese talks again, and I'm surprised. It's so weird he's not mad. Or maybe he is, I don't really know.

"Oh," I don't know how to respond.

"Yeah, it's um. It's actually about that night." Reese's voice gets dim, like he doesn't want other people to hear what he's saying. Obviously not, because that's the night I, his 'cheating' ex girlfriend, 'cheated.'

"What about it, Reese?" I ask him straight up. I usually would never, but I don't know if he's finally going to go off on me for it, or if he actually wants to speak.

"Just- meet me. Or, I can come to you?" His voice seems unsure for once. Reese is usually super confident and can say what he wants.

Right now he looks like a mess. Not necessarily physically, but I can just tell in his eyes that something is wrong. I don't like that look, and I don't think he's ever shown me it before.

"Yea, sure. Um, you could just meet me on my balcony?" I bite my lip. That may seem way to romantic of a setting, given our previous moments there.

...

I love crispy nights. When it's nice out enough to leave the windows open and enjoy the cricket noises.

Me personally, I love to sit on my balcony with a book, as I'm doing now.

The slight breeze brushes against my tiny pajama shorts, but my crewneck keeps me warm.

I hear some rustling in the corner, and I know it's him coming to meet me.

Eventually a head pops up and I look into Reese's eyes. He looks so happy, and it makes my heart beat harder in my chest.

"Hi," he grins toothily at me, and I put my book in my lap.