slowly begun

eepy glow over the now half-empty backyard. Most of our classmates had already left, and

y was over

ade sense that our eighteenth birthday would be one big celebration with all our schoolmates the same ones we'd grown up with since kindergarte

ad been beautiful lavish, like always. Gold-lined cake, live DJ, a backdrop screaming "Eighteen & Glowing,

d me back, her eyes shining a

knew what

he leaned in and added, "Don't forget... tonight. Kendrick's stil

n my stomach like wild fireflies. "You

him since we were twelve. Tonight might be the nig

ke that, sh

me with

led back in a loose bun, and he wore that wide, mischievous smile he was known for the one that made all the girls giggle. Kendrick, who lit

e over. "Don't tell me you're

a little. Or may

a brow. "

d. "About

odded, his grin softening. "You

but he always sai

ege but he never made us feel like little kids. He was always present. My quiz competitions, school e

ke R

re in the country. The media couldn't get enough of him "The Corporate Prodigy," they called him. At

ery way... and so im

illy girl hopeless

I saw him. Like the atm

ub

over his shoulder, and his tie was loosely in his hand. His dark hai

ed... and still,

art s

ling on me and then on Ke

ue," Kendrick said casually, nu

back to me, his voice gent

utifully wrapped, simple and ele

ted to talk. About s

st somewhere in my

shoulder. "Focus," he whis

lly said. "Let'

ness, but it sent shivers down my spine. We walked slowly into the garden, the night quiet and wrap

g out a soft sigh. "Okay, I'm all

er, pulling me gently clos

hool problems? You've submitted your college applica

it!" I cut i

rows

y breath. "I.

ed out before I

I've been holding it in, hop

ocking laugh. Not cru

through this. That whole obsession thin

ike I was some child he'd just

embling with tears. "You knew! You alway

d, but di

I said again,

eadable. "Lia, don't do this.

ust wanted to tell you. That's all. To hope tha

d toward

said at last. "I

That I'm not pretty enough? Not

flickering with some

said quietly. "Turns out, you

hen h

that, the ni