Pretending

Chapter 18

Antonio's POV

I am such an idiot. Thinking about what I have done breaks my heart, again and again, she deserves so much better than me, but I can't help but fall more and more in love with her every day, all of this started when her family moved here two years, I remember her coming into Algebra, hair as red and curly as ever, and eyes full of nervousness, once I saw her, I immediately took a liking to her, she was so different than all of the other girls who begged for my attention, she ignored me, and that made me want her even more, she was smart, loved math, and played baseball,  she didn't hate school and didn't beg the gym teachers to put her on the cheer team like a lot of other girls did, she was just so different, unique. I followed her with curiosity, wishing she would talk to me.

She is never afraid to be herself, saying when she wants food, and playfully hitting me when I'm being myself, that is why I fell in love with her, she was never fake and knew herself.

So when Matt came up to me and told me about the dare at the end of March, I wanted to do it. I didn't even care if she did or didn't fall in love with me, I just wanted to be with her, even it was for a fake relationship, I couldn't tell Matt about me wanting to break off the dare because he would call me a baby for falling in love with her, he would mock me. So I kept quiet.

I should have said something.

And now I hurt my whole word, her eyes no longer glistening when she looks at me, now she looks at me with disappointment in her eyes.

Kills me every time.

It has been a week, the Science Fair is this weekend, Matt says I get $70 because it took less than two months for her to fall for me, I can't take the money, my heart won't let me.

It is Friday. I'm laying in my bed looking at my ceiling, tears falling every second, I don't stop them.

I hear my phone ding and I slowly grab it, dreading the congratulations that Matt keeps giving me for making her fall for me. I check the id and it is the one person I love more than anything.

Phoenix.

I quickly sit up and read the text.

"Hey Antonio, so...I got accepted to the University of Georgia...I already finished next year's work, and as you know it was Franklin's dream school... so I'm going. I have to leave this Saturday so only you and Noah will be doing the presentation at the Science Fair, I already submitted my work to Mrs. Albans so I'm done with high school, even though I'm a junior I can go to college because like I said I completed next years work, I'm leaving for Georgia early to get adjusted before the school year. Goodbye Antonio."

I stare at my phone in shock, she is...leaving?

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Phoenix POV

*late Thursday night*

"Hey, mom I'm gonna get the mail, see if my acceptance letter is in there!" I yell to my mom, yes I know it is 9:30 at night but I can't help my jitters, I need to see if I got accepted to UGA.

It was where Frank wanted to go, so at his funeral, I promised him I would get accepted UGA, so I worked hard the first three years of high school to finish early, just like Frank wanted to do. I'm going to be studying neurology, what Frank wanted to study.

I run to the mailbox and open it eagerly. I check all of the mail when I see it, the name of the University.

I run inside, barely containing my excitement, I plop down on the couch, throwing the other mail on the coffee table. I eagerly open the letter, and that's when I see those cherished words every student wants to see.