Love is an exhausting cycle of almosts and bittersweet reunions for our star-crossed couple. The high school sweethearts part ways after a disastrous prom night only to reconnect a few years later in college. Their connection always seems on the ver...
Olivia: *turned back to the busy hallway, hands up in exasperation* "Why is everyone acting like I'm the villain here? Did I miss something?"
Anthony didn't answer, instead dropping back to follow behind Loren, who had started walking away with her head slumped. You didn't understand, maybe she really did have a crush on him but she'd spent so long denying it.
**Loren's POV**
Loren pulled open the door to the side courtyard and stepped outside, inhaling the fresh air like inside had been suffocating her. Anthony followed. He didn't say anything at first, just stood beside her, waiting.
Loren: "If you're here to tell me I'm overreacting, save it."
Anthony: "I wasn't. I was actually gonna ask why you don't just tell them you like Josh."
Loren: *laughing sharply* "That's adorable. Like it's that easy?"
Anthony: "Isn't it?"
Loren: *shaking her head* "It's stupid. I know. It's just- at one point, I thought maybe I had a shot. Josh and I were friends. We hung out. It felt like maybe there'd be something, but the freshman year happened."
Anthony: "And Madison hooked up with him at a party. Yeah, I remember. But it wasn't anything serious. They never even dated. Pretty sure there was booze involved, to be honest. But she's dating Nick now."
Loren: "Yeah, and we all know how that turned out. Nick and Josh don't even speak really anymore. I don't want that to happen to me, Olivia, Mia, and Madison. If they can all get past this I need to just keep it to myself."
Anthony: "But maybe if she knew you liked him, she wouldn't-"
Loren: *interrupting* "We hooked up."
Anthony: *blinking in shock* "You and Josh? When? Freshman year?"
Loren: *nodding* "This past summer. It was just once, okay? After that he kinda ghosted me."
Anthony: "But you see him all the time so why didn't you ever talk to him about it?"
Loren: "He pretended it never happened so who am I to try to force something that obviously meant nothing."
Anthony: "Damn"
Loren: "It's fine if he doesn't like me like that but it just sucks that–"
Her sentence was cut off by Nick strolling up, hands in his pocket and oblivious to what he'd interrupted.
Nick: "Yo. What's up out here?"
**END LOREN'S POV**
**NICK'S POV**
Anthony nodded towards the window and Nick looked up to see Mia with her back against a locker and Josh hovering over her with a smile. Clearly he'd missed a lot.
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Nick: *scoffing* "Please. It's not like they're really gonna date or anything."
Anthony: "Nick, maybe you should just tell–"
Behind him the door squeaked open and Madison and Olivia emerged. Olivia seemed like she was trying to urgently catch Madison. Madison wrapped her arms around Nick from behind, kissing him on the cheek.
Madison: "Tell us what?"
Nick: *turning to kiss her* "Nothing to worry about, baby."
Olivia caught up and Anthony took the opportunity to change the subject.
Anthony: "You good?"
Olivia: *rolling her eyes* "Perfect. Actually Madison, I needed to talk to you. Walk with me?"
Nick: *quickly interrupting* "Actually we need to get to class. Catch you guys later."
Nick quickly opened the door and led Madison away from the drama before a lot more was said than he had any business saying.
