I'm not in love with you... Right?

Happy Enough

Daphne

I refused to go to school the past few weeks and he hadn't called or texted either. Nothing. No explanation, no anything. Asshole. I don't know why I even noticed. Not like I cared anyways.

I couldn't believe I fell for his act. I took my finals after school hours, because I had a 'doctor's appointment' during regular school hours. It wasn't true, I just couldn't deal with the drama of school. I couldn't stand seeing Britney's face again knowing that she won. I couldn't bear seeing Matteo's face knowing he'd told me from the start what he was after and I still fell for it. For him. Hard.

I watched my lawyer represent his mom in court, watched his handsome face be called to the stand to testify against his abusive father, watched his mom win full custody, because I wanted him to be happy, despite the utter dread I felt inside, the lack of warmth in my core that was usually there, because I promised I'd be there for him, and despite what he'd done to me, that hadn't changed, because of what he'd done for me.

I could stand up to Britney, I had a really good friend that checked up on me twice a week - Brandon really was the best - and I could stand up to my adoptive parents. I knew enough about myself to know that despite their manipulation, I still want to go to Harvard, but not for medicine or scientific studies, but for law. I know enough about myself to know I want to bring my adoptive parents to the ground for my parents murder. I've been recently looking into my parents case, and I'm more than ever sure of foulplay. My bags are already packed, I've been accepted early, even on a scholarship - though I don't need it - but I don't think I want to use a penny of their money ever again.

So for that, I'm grateful to Matteo.

I didn't bother with prom. The highschool phase of my life was over as far as I was concerned, I did see the trending videos of our prom all over TikTok and the highlights of the night - Britney and Matteo winning prom king and queen, surprisingly they hadn't started dating yet, but I knew it was only a matter of time. Another video that was trending was the video of the Matteo's friend group making a bet, that Matt could make the next girl that walked through the classroom fall for him, and that girl was... Me. Funny enough, it had never been about Britney. Just boys being... Toddlers. And he was supposed to break up with me at prom in front of the whole school, so I was pretty happy I saved myself the embarrassment and didn't go.

I did attend graduation, but took my certificate and got out of there immediately. I didn't feel very much like a class of 2023 LAHS student. I caught a few pleading stares from Matteo, but I didn't need whatever stupid explanation he'd failed to give me over the last month. I had a plan and a flight ticket for the next plane to Boston. I was already in the next phase of my life. One that didn't include him.

I sat by the airport alone, listening to Lana Del Rey's heavenly voice on full blast on my ear pods as I waited for by 6pm flight. It was just 5, but it was better to be early than late, plus, I was excited to be out of that house for good.

“Hey, Paper” his voice called out from beside me as he took his seat, and my heart stopped. I went visibly still as I turned very slowly to see him. I gulped and focused on my blank phone screen, the music now a blur in my ears.

“That's pretty cold, Daph. I mean it's not a very nice thing to do to your boyfriend”

The same words he'd said to me when we first started fake-dating and he came to pick me up.

“I applied to Harvard as an Athlete for Varsity sport”

“...”

“And I got in”

Tf?

“Not talking to me, huh?” He paused for a minute, but I gave him no reply. “That's okay. Cuz I just need you to listen” He took a breath “I meant every word I said on our date, Daphne. I do love you, and you drive me nuts and the past month without you has been hell, but I deserve it. Because God handed me the best thing that ever happened to me and I threw it all away. It was a bet - which I'm sure you know already - a bet I made as a terrible person, before we started dating and-”