Short stories and poetry

Short story 1

**my amazing best writer friend joqwisha wrote half of this beautiful story**
I was a child he was a child we played kiddish games like hide and go seek but we made them cute. We were the couple that everyone wanted to be. One night we were at a Taco Bell in the middle of nowhere playing truth or dare. After a long night of eating Packets of siracha sauce and putting my hand in public toilets I asked him "what's the biggest lie you've ever told"
He looked at me with something in his eyes something I'd never seen and replied "I love you" and walked away.

(An excerpt from a book I'll never write)

I stood there and watched as he left. Then the tears came. He didn't love me?
"It looks like you might need this." An employee walked up to me and handed me a Quesarito
I sniffed. "Thanks"

I said thank you but I don't know why. Id never lied during a civil gesture before. I never said sorry if I didn't mean it or please if I didn't need to or I love you if I didn't.
But I said Thanks and I didn't mean it.
How in the whole entire world would a quesarito help me. How  would a fictional Mexican food help ease the hurt I felt in my heart?
Thanks I whispered again. Thanks

"What's got you so down?" I thought he was going to sit next to me but instead he started washing tables.
"Nothing." Another lie.
"Obviously not nothing. "You can tell me, we probably won't even see each other again so..."
"I thought I was in love."
"Oh."

He sat down next to me in a restaurant full of empty chairs.
"What's your name?" He said, it was compassionate though. He asked as if he'd cared. Like he wanted to know me.
"Ava" I replied
"I'm jack" he said sincerely
"Hi" said so we could properly start a conversation.
"..."
"..."
"I'm going to fall in love with you. So don't make any plans"
I stopped playing with the sharp edge of the table and just looked at him.
He had freckles across his nose and love in his eyes.
"Okay"

"Okay." I smiled just a little.
He threw me a goofy half grin and then tucked my hair behind my ear. "Goodnight, Ava. Should you find that you are missing my company, you should open up that beautiful Mexican food that i gave you." With that he was gone.
So I did. I unpeeled it and found his number. I smiled. "Thank you." I whispered under my breath. "Thank you."

I meant it this time. I meant to say thank you.
"Good night jack" I said still smiling at the ground.
I walked out of the door and then realized my boyfriend. My.. Ex-boyfriend had the car. His car. I walked up on the sidewalk and up to the door and knocked.
"He took the car" I said with a year in my eye, and a crack in my voice. He just told me to hop in so I did.
Nothing was said for awhile but then he asked
"Why didn't he love you?"
I thought thought that was pretty rude so I just didn't say anything and then I said
"I'm not like the rest of them"

"I guess that makes two of us." Then we pulled up into my drive. "Forget about him. I love you, Ava."
"You barely know me."
"Then I guess we will have to call it love at first sight."
I smiled again. And he looked at me. "You're so beautiful you know."

"I don't love you yet"
"That's okay"
"What if I never see you again?"
"I'll still think about you"
I just sat there. We were close but not kissing close. Just close.
"He's an idiot Ava"
"I love him jack"

"How?"
"I... I don't know." I could feel a sob inching up my throat.
"Listen to me. When I look at you you know what I see? A puppy who's been kicked one too many times. He's just one of the people who kicked you Ava."
"But I love him! You don't understand!"
"No, you love the idea of him."

It was then I truly looked at him. He was handsome with greenish eyes that had gold stars dancing on them. He had enough freckles that it made him appear youthful but not too many that made him look young. His jawline wasn't chiseled, or his biceps pronounced but something about him made my heart skip a beat. I looked down at my lap.
"Now go. Go into your house, and sleep. Meet me at Taco Bell tomorrow okay?"
I nodded and silently got out of the car. He finally left after I got inside.