The next day, Diana woke up to a long text from Zack. He’d stayed at the party later than expected, but he made sure to reassure her that nothing crazy had happened. Still, something felt off to her. She tried to shake it off, telling herself she was being paranoid, but the unease lingered in the back of her mind.
Over the next few days, their texts became a little more sporadic. Zack was busy with classes and his new friends, and while Diana understood, she couldn’t help but feel like something had shifted between them. Their phone calls were shorter, their conversations more surface-level. It was as if the closeness they’d shared was slowly slipping away, and no matter how hard she tried to hold on, the distance kept pushing them further apart.
Finally, after a week of feeling on edge, Diana decided she couldn’t keep pretending everything was fine. She needed to talk to Zack—really talk. One night, after her practice, she called him, her heart pounding as the phone rang.
“Hey, Di,” Zack answered, sounding a little tired. “What’s up?”
Diana took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. “Can we talk? Like... really talk?”
Zack was quiet for a moment. “Yeah, of course. What’s going on?”
“I don’t know,” Diana said, her voice faltering. “I just... I feel like we’re drifting apart. I know you’re busy, and I don’t want to be that clingy girlfriend, but I miss you, Zack. And I don’t know how to handle this distance sometimes.”
Zack sighed, the weariness in his voice clear now. “I get it, Diana. I miss you too. It’s just—things have been crazy here. Classes are picking up, and everyone’s always doing something. It’s hard to keep up with everything.”
“I know,” Diana said, biting her lip. “But I don’t want us to lose what we have. I don’t want to just be another text you respond to when you get a minute.”
Zack was silent for a long moment, and when he finally spoke, his voice was softer than usual. “I don’t want that either. But I won’t lie—this has been harder than I thought. I’m trying, but it feels like I’m stretched in a million directions.”
Diana’s heart sank. She knew this was a possibility—long-distance wasn’t easy—but hearing him say it out loud made the reality of their situation hit even harder.
“So what do we do?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I don’t know,” Zack admitted, his tone heavy with frustration. “I want to make this work, but I also don’t want you to feel like you’re being neglected. That’s not fair to you.”
Diana swallowed hard, feeling the lump in her throat return. “I don’t want you to feel pressured, either. I just... I don’t know what to do, Zack.”
The line went quiet for a moment, the weight of their conversation settling between them like an unspoken truth. Neither of them had the answers, but the fear of losing each other was palpable.
Finally, Zack spoke again, his voice softer. “Let’s not make any decisions right now. Let’s just take it one day at a time, okay? I’ll try harder to stay in touch, and you can come visit soon. We’ll figure it out.”
Diana nodded, even though tears were brimming in her eyes. “Okay. One day at a time.”
They ended the call soon after, and though the conversation had been difficult, Diana felt a small sense of relief. At least they were being honest with each other now. It wasn’t perfect, and it certainly wasn’t easy, but they were both still willing to fight for what they had.
YOU ARE READING
Going after Love
RomanceThe story begins with Zack and Diana, both 18, who initially can't stand each other. Their rivalry is marked by constant bickering and clashing personalities. However, as they spend more time together through shared school activities and mutual frie...
