Christina awoke to the soft glow of the clock reading 2 PM. She wasn't near death—she'd just been sleeping, albeit deeply. Paul had seriously misunderstood the nurse; she was just exhausted. But she was fine. After everything with Jack, I had finally been able to reconnect with Will. It felt like the world had reset itself, and everything was how it was supposed to be. I had missed my best friend, and I guess, so had he.
By 6:30, we were supposed to be picked up. The time was now 5:50, and I was in the bathroom of our dorm, waiting for William to walk with us to the courtyard. As usual, Christina was in front of the mirror, doing her makeup. But so was I. Something about today made me feel less confident than usual. Maybe it was because we were dressed differently. Both of us were wearing bright, summery rompers, vibrant and bold, and for the first time in a long time, I felt beautiful—prettier than I'd ever felt before.
Christina broke the silence with a question, pulling my attention away from the mirror.
"So... you and Jack?"
I stopped applying mascara and glanced at her.
"History," I replied softly, continuing with my makeup. "Don't ask."
She shrieked suddenly, making me look at her in surprise.
"Sorry, I just... I knew you and Will would always end up together—"
"We're not together," I cut her off, turning to face her. "He never asked me out."
Christina set down her makeup brushes and walked over to me, placing her hands on my shoulders.
"Why can't you ask him?" she asked, her voice a mix of hope and confidence. I stared at her in disbelief.
"I can't," I said, pacing in the small bathroom. "Because... because..."
"Because what?" Christina pressed, her eyes searching mine for an answer.
"Because I'm scared," I admitted finally, my voice small. "Because I'm scared he might say no. Because I think he's not ready for a girlfriend. Because... boys are supposed to do it, not girls."
Christina's eyes softened as she took in my words. She shook her head slowly.
"Kristen, don't be afraid to try new things. Make a change, or your life will always stay the same. So when Will comes—"
"Speaking of the devil," came a voice from the doorway, and I turned to see William standing there. My stomach dropped at the sight of him. Christina glanced at me, a knowing look on her face, before she slipped past me and out the door.
The silence stretched between me and Will as he stepped closer, holding out his hand toward me. His gaze was steady, unwavering, and it made me feel like I might crumble under the weight of it. But I didn't pull away. Instead, I put my hand in his, and he smiled—soft and genuine. And for the first time in what felt like forever, I smiled back.
"Let's do this," I said, tugging him out of the room.
We ran down the hall, laughing as we made our way to the courtyard. Once outside, Will spun me around and then, just like that, the rain began to pour down, drenching us. But it didn't matter. We danced to the rhythm of the rain, completely lost in the moment. Time seemed to stand still, and for once, I wasn't thinking about anything other than him. I rested my head on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my ear.
"William?" I whispered into the downpour, my voice barely audible.
"Yeah?" he murmured, his chin resting on the top of my head.
"Have you ever seen a heart up close?"
He pulled back, eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"No," he said, his voice filled with curiosity. "Why?"
YOU ARE READING
RUN
AçãoIt was Friday night or Saturday morning I think. But I was was awoken by some snoring. It was loud. I thought it was my broken alarm clock that made a deep alarm but when I opened my eyes I froze. Next to me I saw a huge Black thing that was furry a...
