dulce.

[ongoing - irregular updates // on hiatus]

short story // romance // teen fiction

A collection of interrelated short series and one-shots.

•••

"You're that boy, right?" She sounds like she's out of breath, the words rushing past her lips in quick succession. "The one from the underground subway? Blue hoodie, earbuds in?"

Closing my eyes, I let out a silent, shaky breath of air. It doesn't really help with anything, but it does give me some kind of courage to turn around and look at her.

Eyes like discs of hardened candy, reflecting the sun's rays off their surface. Strawberry on her breath, mirroring the color of her hair, the color on her cheeks. The color on my cheeks.

I can't get enough of it.

"The truth is -" she bites down in her bottom lip, and my eyes follow the movement. "I-I've never gotten to say 'thank you' for the compliment. It's the first time someone has ever told me that - someone besides my brother at least. And I don't really know how to say this, but -"

The words die in her throat when my fingers come up to her face, brush a few bubblegum strands behind her ear. I'm on autopilot now, my emotions taking over. Her face flushes even deeper. I can feel that same heat on my cheeks, and even though it's below zero outside, it's like I'm burning in a furnace.

And I don't know what to say.

•••

note: This book contains themes of depression, death, and bullying that may be potentially triggering to some readers. Although none of these is the main focus of the story, viewer discretion is advised.