PTE

RY'

kid, full of energy and curiosity. I suspected the crush thing, you know, the typical teenager stuf

this was a lot and the thought she put int

o bright, so intel

sure, I cared about her. She was practically like family, given her dad was my best frien

not some young stud anymore. I've got my fair share of gray hairs, and she was; well, she was vibrant and you

to get in trouble because of this. Collins would have my head if he found out. I didn't want to drag her

a deserves a response, and I couldn't avoid the fact that I need to address this, face-to-face. This wasn't somet

ophia's school. Who would've thought I'd be playing the role of a concerned poten

ng curveballs. Let's just hope I coul

*

e. But today, the air seemed thick with tension. I leaned against my car, taking a deep breath to steady myself. This was not going to be an easy c

rowed a bit as she approached, her usual cheerful smile replaced with a neutral expressio

perhaps a bit gruffy than I intended.

ere and I was sure she had already read the expression on my fac

houghts. "Listen, I wanted to talk

es flickering, she knew what I wanted

ng face as her eyes where on the ground, waiting for me. I sighed, rubbing my n

t was like she knew what was coming because she crossed her arms around her stomach. I didn't

to myself as I wanted to pat her shoulder as usual. "

was as if I had just struck a blow to her heart. I felt a pang of guilt, but

and I'm-" I trailed o

enry, this isn't just some silly crush. It's real. I know wha

Sophia, I'm not trying to dismiss your feelings.

I've thought about this. I've thought about you." She was still t

. Instead of putting your energy into pursuing something like this, why not focus on your schoolwork? Your grad

isn't about grades or school. It's about what's in my heart." she moved closed but I pulled mysel

w it feels that way now, but trust me,

s, her voice cracking. "Yo

d. There's a lot you haven't experienced yet. This will pass." I have had a lot of women crush head over hills for me, there

ce shaking as she protested, "

u to listen. You're young, and what you're feeling is intense.

rustration and hurt in her eyes.

to process, time to come to terms with what I had said. Without anot

d me, a reminder of the difficult decision I had made of keeping my distance from her. i

just had to do was to leave this town.

RESEN

Collins, it is always

hat's up,"

ming to stay with you, she got into UCLA and would need somewhere to stay and I suggested your place

ith me, what an epic di