Degrees of Love (2nd Book)

PROLOGUE

The stars above the open field twinkled faintly, their soft glow nearly lost in the haze of distant campus lights. Lisa lay on her back, her camera resting on her chest as she stared up at the night sky. Beside her, Jennie nestled into her side, her head resting gently on Lisa's shoulder. They were wrapped in a blanket they'd borrowed from Jennie's place, the warmth of each other's presence more comforting than the chilly air around them.

"Do you think we're like that?" Jennie's voice broke the silence, soft and thoughtful as her eyes traced the constellations above.

"Like what?" Lisa turned slightly, already knowing where this was going.

Jennie lifted her hand to point at the sky. "Like the stars. Always there, but never truly touching. Moving in different directions, but always in each other's orbits."

Lisa's breath caught at her words, the weight of them sinking into her chest. "That's poetic, but... not entirely true."

Jennie turned her head to look at Lisa, her eyes curious. "What do you mean?"

Lisa smiled softly, lifting her camera and pointing it toward Jennie. "Stars don't just orbit. Some collide. Some burn brighter when they're together." She pressed the shutter, capturing the gentle blush on Jennie's cheeks before lowering the camera. "Maybe we're just waiting for the right moment."

Jennie didn't respond right away. Instead, she laced her fingers with Lisa's, her grip warm and reassuring. "I don't need a moment," she whispered, her voice barely audible, but full of certainty.

Lisa's heart fluttered in her chest, and before she could say anything, Jennie shifted, her face inches from Lisa's. Without a word, she leaned in, her lips capturing Lisa's in a kiss that felt like it had been waiting to happen all along—soft at first, but then deepening, as if the kiss itself had its own gravity. Time seemed to stop as their worlds collided, the stars above them twinkling in perfect harmony.

When they finally pulled away, Lisa rested her forehead against Jennie's, her breath shaky. "Maybe we're not just in each other's orbits," she murmured, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Maybe we're meant to burn together."

Jennie's fingers tightened around hers, and she smiled back, her gaze full of affection. "I think we already do."

That had been months ago, back when they were still navigating the hallways of high school, their love blossoming in stolen moments. Before graduation had pulled them in different directions. Lisa had chosen to follow her dreams of becoming a photographer, enrolling in a prestigious university, while Jennie pursued her passion for business, both of them quietly hoping the distance wouldn't break the bond they had built.

But now, as Lisa stood in the crowded quad on her first day of college, her camera slung around her neck like a trusted companion, she felt that familiar pull again.

The crowd parted, and there Jennie was, standing in the sunlight. Her hair glowed golden, her smile bright and full of life as she waved at someone behind Lisa. Her laugh echoed across the space, and for a moment, Lisa felt herself transported back to that night under the stars.

Jennie hadn't noticed her yet, and Lisa stood still, caught between stepping forward and staying hidden in the safety of her uncertainty.

This wasn't high school anymore. This was college. A new chapter, a new world, with its own shifting constellations and uncharted paths.

Lisa's fingers grazed the edge of her camera, her heart steadying as she gathered the courage to take the first step. Whatever the future held, one thing was certain: Jennie had always been her brightest star.

When Jennie's gaze finally met hers across the quad, a smile spread across Lisa's face, the pull between them undeniable.

Maybe college wasn't about losing orbit after all. Maybe it was about discovering new degrees of love—layer by layer, until the gravity between them became impossible to ignore.

A/N: Welcome to the second book, Degrees of Love! In this next chapter of Lisa and Jennie's journey, we delve deeper into the complexities of their relationship as life tests their love in unexpected ways. With new people entering their lives, old insecurities creeping in, and the weight of unresolved pasts threatening to unravel what they've built, the couple faces challenges that will push them to their limits. Can they stay true to each other in the face of growing uncertainties? Will the emotional baggage they've kept hidden resurface, shattering the trust they've worked so hard to build? With every step, they'll be forced to confront their fears, question their choices, and discover just how much they're willing to fight for the love they share. Will their bond grow stronger, or will it break under the pressure? Stay tuned, because the journey is just beginning, and the gravity of love has never felt so intense.