chapter one: high school

*Amora's POV*

An image of the young lady eyed herself up and down. She wore a pair of black sports leggings and a sleeveless white shirt that stated "Just Do it!"

I was then reminded of how I used to look like that year as I continued to stare into a pond.

It's around 6 pm and I impulsively thought it'd be a good idea to go for a jog in the park. I don't know why- I just did. My stupid hair tie broke as I was running and was now I tieing my black medium-length hair with my spare hair tie- I glanced back at the pond and saw thirteen-year-old me with her natural brown hair.

That was the year... I wish never happened.

I shrugged the thoughts away while I started to run again; each stride I took; the springing vibration thumped beneath my feet powered an adrenaline rush. Smiling at the strangers that blurred past me- with the sun slowly setting fire to the sky- I internally sighed in relief for thinking it was a good idea to wear my eye contacts on so I could clearly see in the dark.

It was a Saturday night of a long laborous week at the government research facility, and I would usually be out doing something weird with Evan but he called and pulled out a raincheck on me, saying he had to "suddenly feed his cat"- That's a code for "sorry Amora, I ran into someone and I slept with her so..." I mean, I think he knows that I know what that actually means because number one, he doesn't have even cat and number two, he can't even take care of a succulent yet alone a living cat.

Picking up the speed, I listened to my Spotify playlist through my earphones as I contemplated how I should break the news to John- that I no longer want to work there. And I've been hinting at him for a couple of weeks now, so he should know that it's because I don't possess that much time to work one full-time job plus a side job that no one around me is allowed to know about.

And it's hard to be really discreet whenever a new assignment from that side job comes out and I have to come back to work with my entire body covered in cuts and bruises. As well as that, I think Evan's gonna catch on pretty soon.

Thinking about how Evan is still by my side after all these years had always got me reminiscing back to the summer before we became seniors at our high school. After Addison and Jocelyn left, Evan was always the first one to approach and talk to me.

Then one day a few weeks before school starts, Evan and I were at a playground, on the swings when he asked, "You have to talk, Amora." I remember how confused I acted- hoping he would buy it. "You know, it's been 2 or 3 years we've known each other but something has been bothering you ever since we met..." My eyes widened but I quickly turned so he couldn't see how much I was panicking.

I really did try my best to hide how I really felt all the time. I guess if you spend 2-3 years with someone, they eventually start seeing the real you.

Hesitantly, I stood up from the swing and was prepared to run to the slide- when he unexpectedly grabbed my hand and looked into my eyes and said, "Amora, look you're not obligated to tell me but as a friend who seriously cares about you- I think it would be best if we both shared this burden you're clearly carrying all by yourself..."

I thought if he was going to stick around with me, then he's bound to find out- so I told him all about it. I told him. And the craziest thing happened that night- the vivid fragments of memories that always tailed me around was gone.

Just like that. It poofed. It vanished. Like it was nothing. So ever since I confessed to Evan, those flashbacks were gone. And I think he was partly the reason. From that moment on, we were basically inseparable throughout my senior year.

Went to parties together. Played the same sports. Did pranks on people- Also did pranks on each other- Believe it or not, he also dyed my hair black for me (I thought he was going to prank me- thankfully, he didn't). He knew every time I was hiding or lying about something- which I'm not sure is a curse or a blessing. He somehow still has the brain cells to understand my dirty and cringe-worthy jokes. Most of the time, he's like a brother but sometimes he could also be a dad if he felt like it.

That's why one of the highlights of high school was becoming best friends with Evan- My butt in shining armor. As well as surviving senior year.

It was great with him and I think that helped me heal a bit over the coming years during university.

With high school going on, I'm sure everyone is well aware of puberty and the mushroom-cloud of-an-explosion of hormones that it bombards with teenagers. So throughout the last year of high school, Evan also became quite a cassanova- Basically, he dated and slept with over half the girls in our grade. Though I did warn him of STDs and 100% protection. This is definitely not foreshadowing.

Anyways, he was gone a quarter of the time we usually hang out together so that automatically got me thinking of Luke. How he left just like that and didn't even bother sending an email or text- So, I thought I should just leave him alone, thinking about the promise he told me to make. But that senior year, I figured I should just text him.

I sent a "Hi. How are you doing?" to him. And after a rough training session of judo at "the mall", I checked my phone to see his text. I instantly smiled because I saw that he's seen my message, expecting something weird and dorky from him- but that smile soon fell because he didn't reply.

And he didn't for the rest of the year. Or the year after that. And the next one.

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Hello! First official chapter of this book- what do you think so far?

Just a reminder that words in Italics either indicate a flashback from the past or the thoughts of the character in that chapter.

vote, comment and please stay safe and happy,

ireck_wings