romeo + juliet ↠ l.h

14

listen to the song it really sets the mood
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"Morgan, I think you just need to tell him straight up." I inform my best friend, who had came to me for advice.

"I don't wanna seem like I'm indecisive. I was the one who told him I didn't want to put a label on anything two months ago." Morgan states, "I can't tell him I love him now! We aren't even dating, he'll think I'm insane."

"Are you forgetting how well I know Michael? I wouldn't tell you this if I didn't think it was the truth. He loves you, Morgan." I take a bite of the mini sandwiches we'd been provided with. "He won't think you're insane."

"Are you sure?" she asks me. I tell her yes. We turn our attention to the auditorium stage.

I had been back from Bermuda  for one day and I was already called to a mandatory senior class meeting. You can probably predict, I was not happy.

But I'd be lying if I said I hadn't been watching the door just waiting for Luke to walk in. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't put a little extra lip gloss and blush on. And maybe I'd spent thirty minutes just deciding what to wear.

He hadn't texted me after the phone call, but to be fair, I hadn't texted him either. I was horrified of the things I said, but there was one word I couldn't get out of my head.

Angel.

The word he had so softly spoken to me just played on replay in my brain for hours. It's all I could hear. It's all I could focus on.

Why is he doing this to me?

I checked my phone for the time. 2:59. One more minute until the meeting started.

He's in student council, I thought to myself. Surely he wouldn't miss something like this.

The doors slowly and quietly opened right before the clock turned to 3:00. My heart started beating. I couldn't wait to see him. It had to be him.

But it wasn't. It was just Michael, who tripped over nothing as he made his way to the chair next to Morgan.

"Michael Clifford? At a school meeting? What?" I joked, trying to hide my disappointment.

"I made him come." Morgan stated, rolling her eyes and intertwining her fingers with Michaels. I watched Michael lean into her ear, probably making an inappropriate joke about her previous statement.

They are so cute and I am so miserable.

I watched the stage as my principal, Dr. Gibson, walked out.

"As you all know, the last few previous senior classes voted to get rid of After Grad and use all that money towards scholarships for our students." Dr. Gibson 
walked to the middle of the stage and gestured off to the side, as if to tell someone to walk out.

Luke and his dad walk out on stage. Luke looks uncomfortable, like he doesn't want to be there, and his dad is grinning smugly.

"We are pleased to announce that we have received a large enough donation from Mr. Hemmings that we can now do both!" My principal shakes hands with Luke's dad.

I lock eyes with his father from my seat. His gaze lingers on me just a little too long. Luke refuses to look at his classmates, he just stares at his shoes and twirls the ring on his right hand.

"So for those of you who don't know, After Grad is a big celebration that takes place directly after your graduation ceremony. It's a big party with lots of prizes, all for the senior class of 2019!" Dr. Gibson excitingly states. He shakes Luke's father's hand, before him and Luke walk offstage.