Once upon a time,
a writer easily wove stories of love, passion, and heartache. But then, she faced writer's block, unable to write anymore.
He came into her life like a storm. With his strong presence, her emptiness lessened. Yet, like storms, thin...
The coffee shop bustled with life, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingling with the chatter of customers. I sat at a corner table, engrossed in my writing, the words flowing from my fingertips onto the screen of my laptop. The clatter of the door opening caught my attention, and as I looked up, I couldn't help but smile at the sight before me. Caden strolled into the coffee shop, his presence immediately drawing attention. It had been a couple of weeks since we last saw each other, and yet, he looked exactly the same—handsomely tall with those beautiful curls that seemed to have a life of their own. It was his eyes though, that always stood out to me—those insanely blue eyes that could make anyone weak at the knees. He noticed me sitting there, a half-smile playing on his lips as he made his way towards me. "Well, well, well, look who's buried in words." His voice was warm and teasing, just like always. I closed my laptop and grinned up at him. "It's been weeks! How have you been?" "Busy, you know, life, school, and all that." He pulled out the chair across from me and sat down. "Still writing, huh?" I nodded. "Yep, it's become my passion." "Remember how you hated to share your work with me back in high school?"
"Yeah, because I was so unconscious about it. And you looked like someone who would straight up tell me that my writing is garbage." Caden laughed, his hearty chuckle echoing through the shop. "So much changed after that one time we were forced into that group project though," I remarked with a hint of nostalgia. He smirked, remembering that particular time. "Yeah, it did. I thought you were a bitch, but turns out, we had more in common than I thought." With a dismissive eye-roll, I recalled the first time I laid eyes on Caden. At first glance, he exuded an air of unwavering confidence, almost as if he believed himself superior to others. His demeanor seemed self-centered, caring little about the feelings of those around him. That ever-present smirk etched upon his face only solidified my initial judgment of him as conceited and stuck up, based solely on his appearance. Yet, as I delved deeper into his world, my perceptions began to shift. Behind that charming and enigmatic exterior lay a person of genuine compassion and thoughtfulness. His ability to grasp the complexities of people's emotions and break through their tough exteriors amazed me. Sarcasm served as a shield to protect himself, but it also revealed his hidden vulnerability. Beneath it all, he possessed the kindest of hearts, proving me wrong in my hasty assumptions. "You were always so blunt." With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he retorted, "I still am." "How's school?" I inquired, genuinely curious about his journey to become a software engineer. With a hint of exhaustion, he responded, brushing a curl out of his face, "It's tiring, but I'm certain it'll pay off." I probed further, "Any cute guys in your class?" Hoping for some fun gossip to liven up the conversation. Caden's eyes sparkled with excitement, unable to contain himself. "Oh, you won't believe it! The teacher in one of my classes could totally be a model. Seriously, he's incredibly good-looking, and his voice is like pure magic." I chuckled, "Another teacher, huh?" He grinned and shrugged, "What can I say? I seem to have a thing for teachers." "Please, don't get in trouble by declaring your undying love for him as you did with our high school principal," I teased, reminiscing about the infamous incident where Caden serenaded our principal with 'Mario - Let me love you,'followed by a bold proposal, 'do you want to be my man.' Caden's laughter echoed through the air as he threw his head back, "Oh my God, I got suspended for that. I'm still surprised how I graduated." Chuckling at the memory, I added, "I think he was secretly flattered, that's why he let you graduate." Caden shook his head, still amused, "That's so not true because that man basically whacked the diploma in my face when it was my turn to receive it. I'm pretty sure he was glad to see me go!" We both burst into laughter. "Anyway, Quinton's throwing a little get-together at his place tonight. You should come!" Quinton and Caden were buddies, and since Caden and I hung out a lot, I often ended up around Quinton too. Initially, it was just random run-ins, but as days went by, we all started talking and hanging out together. Eventually, I became like one of their gang, part of their close circle of friends. I hesitated because, apart from Quinton, there was someone else in our friend circle who would also be present. "I'm not sure. Landon will be there too." Caden raised an eyebrow, a lively spark in his eyes. "Landon, your summer fling? Come on, it wasn't that serious." I sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and sadness bubbling up. "He disappeared without a word, Caden. No explanation. I was deeply into him." He chuckled, as though my words held a private joke only he understood. "Come on, Ella, let's be real. That wasn't love, it was infatuation." How would I know that? I bristled at his dismissive tone, but he had a point. Looking back, maybe what I felt for Landon was more of a whirlwind infatuation than actual love. Yet, at the time, it had felt so intense and real. Or maybe it was just all in my head. "It felt real to me," I said, my voice tinged with vulnerability. "He made me feel special like I was the only girl in the world. And then, just like that, he vanished without a trace." Caden's expression softened as he saw the pain in my eyes. "I get it, Ella. Ghosting sucks, and it's not fair. But trust me, you'll find someone better, someone, who won't treat you like that." I nodded. "I hope so." He smiled reassuringly. "You will. Now, about tonight's get-together—Lan- don might be there, but that doesn't mean you should let him ruin your fun. Besides, I'll be there to protect you from him." I couldn't help but laugh at his protectiveness. "Thanks, but I can handle myself. I'll go because you ask me nicely, something you don't do very often." "That's the spirit!" Caden grinned, giving me a cheerful nudge. "We'll have a blast tonight, and who knows, maybe you'll meet someone new and exciting." No, I don't think I was ready for that. Landon reminded me so much of my first boyfriend. After him, I had built walls around my heart, afraid of getting hurt again. But then again, maybe it was time to take another risk. I looked in the mirror, examining my reflection. The resemblance to my mother was uncanny. Pin-straight hair cascaded down my shoulders, framing a petite figure, and my Asian eyes and pointy nose were undoubtedly inherited from her. Everyone said I was my mother's twin, and I couldn't deny it. Maybe that's why my dad avoided me. Because I look so much like the woman he fell out of love with. As I rummaged through my closet, searching for my ripped jeans, I called out to my mom. "Mom, have you seen my ripped jeans?" I was in a hurry, trying to find something suitable to wear for the night. If I was seeing Landon tonight, I at least had to look half-decent. "It's in the dryer!" she yelled back from her room. I rushed to the laundry room, quickly putting on my pants and grabbing a black hoodie that was also there. Caden was on his way here, and I didn't want to keep him waiting while I scrambled around in my underwear and bra. "I'm going out with Caden," I informed my mom as I walked past her room. She looked up from her phone, and I could see the tiredness in her eyes. I knew she had seen the pictures my dad's mistress had posted a few minutes ago. I had seen them too; his mistress was not very discreet about their affair. "You shouldn't look at those if you know you're not going to leave him," I said, frustration seeping into my voice. "What do you mean?" She asked, pretending not to understand. I let out a deep sigh, feeling a mix of anger and disappointment. "Whatever, I'm out." I didn't want to argue with her about it again. How could she be so blind to the reality of the situation? I would never stay with someone who was cheating on me. Never. Quinton's house was a fifteen-minute drive away, and on the way, we stopped at a gas station to get chips and candy. While Caden drove, I turned up the music, playing "Heartbreak Anniversary" really loud. Caden was focused on the road, and I was singing my heart out, enjoying the drive. When I opened my eyes to encourage him to sing with me, I saw something brown staring at us from the middle of the road. I let out a terrified screech. Caden tried to brake, but it was too late. I was thrown forward, hitting my head on the dashboard since I wasn't wearing my seatbelt. Note to self: always wear a seatbelt when riding with Caden. Instead of being a "passenger princess" in his car, I felt like a "passenger survivor." After regaining my composure, I asked shakily, "Was that an owl you hit?" Caden was driving slowly, probably still in shock from killing a bird. "I thought it would fly away when it saw my headlights," he muttered. "It's an owl; they can't see well when you shine light on them," I explained. "Stupid bird." When we arrived at Quinton's place, I saw him waiting for us on the balcony. Standing next to him was Landon, my summer fling. I felt nervous and wondered if Landon would make things awkward tonight. Landon knew how to say all the right things, and as a writer, I was captivated by his way with words. That was the thing about Landon - his words were like a spell, casting a captivating illusion. He had a way of weaving beautiful tales that made me believe in something that wasn't truly there. He made me feel like the most important person in the world, but as Summer ended I realized that his words were just empty promises. Don't get me wrong, I appreciated the power of language, but I also knew the danger of manipulation through words. Landon's way with words wasn't just charming; it was also deceitful. I had fallen victim to his sweet-talking ways. During that summer, I allowed myself to be swept away by the romance he painted with his words. I ignored the warning signs and the nagging feeling that something wasn't quite right. It wasn't until he ghosted me that I realized how he had manipulated me with his silver tongue. Now that I looked back, I was grateful that our fling had never evolved into something more serious. Ghosting me was a blessing in disguise. "Do you think Landon will make things awkward tonight, or am I just overthinking it?" I asked Caden as he grabbed the chips and candy from the backseat. He thought for a moment and then said, "You're definitely overthinking it. It's been six months, and you told me you were over it." "Yeah, I said I was over it, not over him," I replied. Letting go of feelings was never easy for me. Regardless of how someone treated me, I couldn't help but search for their redeeming qualities. It was both a blessing and a curse, to see the good in people even when they don't deserve it. Caden laughed. "You're a silly girl. I still can't believe he broke your heart when you two weren't even in a relationship!" "Situationships hurt the most because you keep thinking about what could have been," I sighed, grabbing my bag from the backseat as we got out of the car. "Do you think it's a case of the right person at the wrong time?" This time Caden burst into full-on laughter. "Bitch, please! He's not the right person, because if he were, you would have known it and wouldn't be so confused." He was right. I rolled my eyes and followed him up the stairs. As we reached the top of the stairs, I couldn't help but be in awe of Quinton's house. This was my first time here. The beach house exuded a serene and welcoming vibe. The balcony was a sight to behold, adorned with twinkling fairy lights that created a magical ambiance. A gentle breeze carried the faint scent of the ocean, adding to the charm of the place. The lovely garden below was a picturesque setting, with vibrant flowers and lush greenery. To my surprise, it was Landon who opened the door for us. I remembered how I used to be taken by his chocolate brown eyes. But now, those eyes were just brown, without any special meaning. He had a hesitant smile on his face. We hadn't seen each other since last summer, and the atmosphere between us felt slightly awkward. He stepped forward and gave me an awkward hug, as if unsure of how to greet me after all this time. "Hey," he said, his eyes meeting mine for a fleeting moment before looking away. His voice sounded a bit nervous, and I could sense that he, too, was feeling the weight of the past. Despite the awkwardness, I managed a small smile and replied, "Hi, it's been a while." The awkwardness didn't last long, because Quinton ran up to me and took me into a tight embrace. "Ella Bella!" he shouted. "I haven't seen you in ages!" Elliana was my full name, but everyone knew me as Ella. Quinton added "Bella" to it because he said I reminded him of Belle from Beauty and the Beast. "How drunk are you?" I asked, noticing three empty beer bottles on the floor next to him. "The night hasn't even started, and you're already wasted." "I'm not drunk!... Well, maybe a little. Life's been tough for me lately," Quinton admitted as he ruffled my hair. Only Quinton had a free pass to do that. "Who's the person who broke your heart?" I asked. Every time Quinton tells me that life's tough, it meant that there was trouble in paradise. And in Quinton's paradise there were over a dozen girls, waiting to be the chosen one. Quinton sighed. "She doesn't want me, but I want her so badly. Why do bad things always happen to good people?" I looked at Quinton, empathizing with his yet another heartache. He was too good-looking to go through this. "Sometimes life is being a bitch, and it's hard to understand why things don't work out the way we want them to." Caden chimed in, trying to offer some comfort. "You deserve someone who truly appreciates you, Quin. Don't waste your time on someone who doesn't see your worth." Quinton nodded, his eyes filled with a mix of sadness and happiness. "You're right. I need to move on and find someone who loves me for who I am." "That's the vibes!" I encouraged him, giving him a reassuring pat on the back. "And tonight, let's focus on having fun and forgetting about our troubles for a while." "Agreed!" Caden said cheerfully, clinking his beer bottle against Quinton's. "Let's drink, dance, and make questionable life choices. Isn't that what a Friday night is all about?" He flashed a mischievous grin, and we all laughed. As we settled into the evening, the mood lightened, and the awkwardness between Landon and I disappeared. We were talking and passing chips around when a car blaring loud music pulled into Quinton's driveway. "Who's that?" I asked, surprised. I thought it would be just the four of us. "That's my cousin Axel, Ella Bella," Quinton answered, smiling.
