Mirage

Chapter 1: The Palo Alto Guy

Luna's POV-

I gulped," I'm sorry, Cole."

I don't know why I felt nervous while saying this. It wasn't the first time I was declaring a breakup.

"Why are you doing this? Did I do something wrong?" Cole's broken voice was heard over the phone.

"It's not you, it's me," I said, running a hand through my wavy caramel hair.

"Luna, I--" he started, but I hung up on him and tossed the phone into a drawer. I didn't want to deal with guilt. Why was I doing this? I had no idea. I fiddled with my locket hanging loosely from my neck, I did it whenever I felt upset or nervous. It was a two-sided photo locket and was heart-shaped. Don't even get me started on whose photo I kept inside it. My former crush. Or so I thought.

After a few moments of debating, I picked up my phone again and dialed a number. This time, it wasn't Cole's, it was my best friend's. Brooklyn Armastus. She wasn't exactly the consoling type but was a box of craziness and an expert in cheering people up.

"Hey!" Brooklyn chirped," I was about to call you. How was your date with Cole? It's your two month anniversary, right?"

"I didn't go," I explained," We aren't together anymore."

"What? Did he dump you? I'm seriously gonna kick his--"

"Brooke, stop. I was the one to dump him"

There was silence on the other side before Brooklyn finally spoke up," Is this about the Palo Alto guy?" she asked.

"Palo Alto guy? His name is--"

Brooklyn cut me off, "Just say yes or no." 

 After a moment of hesitation, I sighed," Yes."

"But why?" A different voice spoke on the phone. I was pretty sure it was Armelle.

"Elle?" I asked for confirmation.

"Yeah, I'm at Brooke's right now. But that's not the point. Luna, no offense but the Palo Alto guy doesn't know you exist and possibly never would. Look at what was in front of you, Cole looked like a Greek god, he was smart and charming. He was like every girl's dream," she said. There was a slight pause and I heard muffled noises of Armelle's boyfriend, Kevin, dismissing Armelle's opinion. 

A sigh escaped my lips. I knew she was stating a true fact, but I couldn't help feeling a slight ache in my heart.

Jayden Carter.

North Ridge High's heart charmer, a typical bad boy that one could find in cliche books and movies. Jayden and his brother basically ruled the whole school. Of course, that works because his dad is aboundingly rich. Everything was so much better when I lived in Palo Alto. I could see him every day, drool over him without getting noticed and what not. But now, things are different. I lived in a different place altogether. New York was miles away from California and I'd never see him again. But what's worse is I don't even know why I care so much.

Within a few weeks of moving here, I met Brooklyn, Armelle, Kevin and Robert. Kevin is Armelle's boyfriend and Robert's best friend. They were the first people to whom I revealed my secret crush. Well, obviously, I didn't have many friends back in Palo Alto. There was one but she was kinda unreliable with secrets so our bond wasn't what we called 'BFFs'. Back to my present life, Brooke set up many dates for me, but me, being an ungrateful person rejected most of them. I tried everything I could to forget Jayden, but every relationship of mine felt wrong without him in it.

"Want to come over?" Armelle offered, her voice bringing me back from my wavering thoughts "Robert and Kevin are here too."

"Fine, I'll be there in ten," I said, "I can only stay for a little while though. My shift begins at 7."