AFL STORY | quickyy2

03

As the weekend rolled in, the weight of the past week's events still hung heavily on my shoulders. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling, replaying every moment with Connor in my mind. The way he said my nickname, 'Livvie,' lingered, stirring emotions I thought I had buried long ago.

"Hey, Livia!" Lily's voice broke through my thoughts, and she burst into my room with her usual enthusiasm. "Lex and I are going shops. Wanna come?"

I hesitated, still wrapped in the cocoon of my memories. "I don't know, Lils. I'm not really in the mood."

"Come on, Liv!" Lexi called from the hallway. "You need to get out of this house. It'll be fun, I promise."

With a reluctant sigh, I agreed. Maybe a change of scenery would help clear my head. I quickly got dressed and joined my sisters in the living room.

The drive to the mall was filled with chatter and laughter, a welcome distraction from my thoughts. As we walked through the bustling corridors, the vibrant atmosphere began to lift my spirits. Lily and Lexi dragged me from store to store, their energy infectious.

"How about this one?" Lily held up a dress, grinning.

"It's cute," I admitted, managing a small smile.

We continued shopping, and for a while, I felt like my old self again, carefree and happy. As we passed a bookstore, I couldn't resist going in. Books had always been my sanctuary, a place where I could escape reality.

While browsing the shelves, my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen and saw a message from Connor.

Connor: Hey Livvie, it was great talking to you yesterday. I hope you have a good weekend.

My heart skipped a beat. I stared at the message, unsure of how to respond. Before I could overthink it, Lexi appeared beside me, holding a book she wanted to buy.

"What's up?" she asked, noticing my distraction.

"Nothing, just a message from Connor," I replied.

"Oh, the ex," she teased, nudging me. "What did he say?"

"Just that he enjoyed talking yesterday."

Lexi raised an eyebrow. "And how do you feel about that?"

I shrugged, not ready to dive into my tangled emotions. "I don't know. It's complicated."

Lexi nodded, sensing my reluctance. "Well, whatever happens, just remember we're here for you, ok?"

"Thanks, Lex," I said, grateful for her support.

After leaving the bookstore, we grabbed some ice cream and found a bench to sit and people-watch. The conversation flowed easily, and I found myself laughing and genuinely enjoying the moment.

Back home, I settled into my room, feeling more at ease. The mall trip had been a good idea after all. I picked up my phone and decided to reply to Connor's message.

Livia: Hey Con, it was nice talking to you too. Hope you have a good weekend as well.

I hit send, a sense of closure washing over me. Whether or not Connor and I would reconnect was uncertain, but for now, I was content with the progress I had made.

Later that evening, my phone buzzed again. Another message from Connor.

Connor: Hey Livvie, would you like to grab lunch tomorrow? I know a great place to go to.

I stared at the message, my mind racing. Meeting Connor for lunch felt like a big step. Did I want to open that door again?

Lexi and Lily were already watching me closely. "What is it this time?" Lily asked, her curiosity piqued.