by LK Thompson
My heart thudded loudly against him. Bella. To him, I’ll forever be a caricature of myself—a girl in spandex shorts and a skintight black T-shirt, long hair swaying as I maneuvered quickly around the bar, bowing down to men and smiling perfectly, when warranted. I would always exist in his truck or on the perfect bench at the beach. We spent so many nights in those two places. Because if we went anywhere else, the spell was broken.
I’d never be the strong, independent person I aim to be. The one I am with Craig. Why had I let him touch me? It was too soon. I pulled away, wearing a polite grin and put my hand on the door.
Mike’s stubborn when he wants something—just like Crystal had warned me way back when I started at Jimmy’s. He cleared his throat and asked, “So, that’s it? I’m just never gonna see you again?”
My eyes searched his, what did he want from me? “I don’t know, Mike. Every story has an ending. Even the best ones.” I opened my car door and almost climbed in, but before I did, I took a long hard look at the guy who changed everything. Without him, I’d never be here.
A final goodbye.
6/24
They say real things are worth waiting for.
Real friends.
Real boyfriends.
Real happiness.
It’s impossible to understand until you’re in the midst of achieving it and I think I might be. It doesn’t look or feel how I thought it would, though. It’s lonely at times, but I like it.
I’m a positive person, after all.
Here I am—present for the first time in my life. Senior year will look different than the last three because I’m done hiding on Planet Eleanor. With Craig at college and some distance between my old friends, I can make a new path.
And you wanna know what? I’m excited for next year. Who knows? I might even get a job at a pizzeria.
