"Will you go to the homecoming dance with me?"
I'm standing in front of Henry after practice, about two weeks after our first meet, gaping slightly as I process the words I just heard.
"I..." I trail off, not knowing what to say.
Since our almost-kiss a month ago, my feelings for Henry have changed. We still talk and joke at practice, but I've started thinking of him as more of a friend than a crush. He hadn't given any indication that he still liked me, either, so I had assumed we were both past it. Until now.
I try to keep my tone light as I say the terrible words. "Sure. As friends."
"Right." I feel horribly guilty at how crestfallen he sounds. "Yeah. As friends."
"I'm sorry," I almost whisper, feeling terrible about putting him through this.
"It's... it's okay. I understand. I... I'll... See you tomorrow." He slowly walks away.
I feel awful and on the verge of tears. After turning the conversation over and over in my mind, I finally decide it was better for me to reject him now than to accept and lead him on even though I don't like him anymore.
Because, the trouble is, there's someone else. The feeling has crept up on me so slowly I hadn't really realized it until now. But it's there, a secret wish, beating strongly in my heart. Secret because it can never happen. Secret because it's not possible.
I refuse to admit the possibility even to myself. Because this is never going anywhere. Ever. And so I have to simply put it out of my mind and move on.
But it's still there. It won't be ignored. And so I'll hide it deep within my heart, unless by some miracle I can let it to the surface.
YOU ARE READING
Puzzle Pieces (formerly Reach for the Sky)
General FictionAutumn Fletcher's life is a mess. Her mother is gone, her father locks himself in his room when he's not at work and refuses to speak to anyone, and no one but her grandmother believes she can amount to anything. When Autumn's family moves to the sm...
