Sixteen-year-old Yasmine Emori Sanders was getting ready to start at a new high school. She recently moved in with her sister Charlie after her mother's death. The death ultimately took a toll on her. She didn't eat or sleep for weeks. Her mother wa...
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October 5th, 2024
Noah sat there in his car for a while longer, staring out into the night, thinking over what Soreia had said. He didn't like it, but she was right. Yasmine had a lot going on, and the last thing she needed was him complicating things more. But that didn't change how he felt about her.
He started the car and headed home, his mind still racing. He couldn't shake the feeling that he had to do something, but he knew he had to tread carefully. If he pushed too hard, he could lose her completely.
The next day, Noah found himself checking his phone again, hoping for a message from Yasmine. Nothing. It was getting harder to sit still, so he threw himself into anything that could distract him, but every time his phone buzzed, his heart jumped.
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Meanwhile, Yasmine was at the hospital, still in her thoughts. She hadn't texted Noah back, and she wasn't planning to. The guilt of their kiss was weighing on her. She had let her emotions get the best of her when she was vulnerable. It felt wrong, especially with him still being with Kataleya, even if he made her feel like she was the one he wanted. Her thoughts were interrupted by Charlie stirring beside her, waking up slowly.
Yasmine rubbed her eyes, trying to push away the fatigue and guilt. She watched Charlie blink awake, her expression dazed but alert. "Hey," Yasmine said softly.
Charlie looked over at her sister, her face a mix of sadness and something else Yasmine couldn't quite place. "You stayed?" Charlie asked, her voice hoarse.
"Of course, I stayed. You scared me half to death last night," Yasmine said, trying to smile but failing. "How are you feeling?"
Charlie looked away, her eyes welling with unshed tears. "I don't know... everything feels messed up." Her voice cracked, and Yasmine's heart broke a little hearing her like this.
"You gotta take better care of yourself, Charlie," Yasmine said gently. "I need you. We're all we've got left."
Charlie didn't respond at first, just stared at the ceiling. "I want to do better," she finally whispered, her voice trembling. "But... I miss Mom so much, Yasmine. I miss her every day, and sometimes I feel like I can't breathe. She was the only one who understood me. I don't know how to move on."
