What began as a childhood bond between two inseparable elementary school kids took a heartbreaking turn when theboy traded their friendship for popularity.Sound familiar, much?They were friends on the cusp of something more, but their relationship ended when he became the bully she never imagined that he could be.
Fast forward ten years—they’re adults, and fate brings them back together when they have a chance meeting at a bar. Even after all the years that have passed by, the guilt of abandoning her still eats him alive. He tries to apologize for his past mistakes, but she refuses to acknowledge his pleas for forgiveness. After a while, their conversation becomes heated, but to both their surprise, no matter how much venom is laced within their words, beneath the bitterness, passion still simmers, leading to a one-night stand. But she hasn’t forgiven him for leaving her.
Despite this, he’s determined to win her back. He goes all out with grand, outrageous gestures—reciting a heartfelt poem dressed as William Shakespeare, stuffing her a car with an overflowing cascade of roses, declaring his love in the middle of Times Square. He even gives her a list of all his regrets, the biggest one of which was treating her so badly. But no matter how hard he tries, she keeps him at arm’s length. Until one day, she doesn’t. She finally lets him in. But their love is fleeting—because the real reason she kept him at a distance all along was that she had a secret: she was terminally ill.
Three hundred pages in, I buried my face in Cleo’s fur. Three hundred and seventeen pages in, I started to picture my face opposite Elliot’s. And three hundred sixty-three in, I knew I had to tell Elliot how I felt…before I lost the chance, just like Jessie lost hers.
All thanks to this goddamn book because popularity be damned, we could literally die tomorrow.
As I closed the manuscript, I realized I would need to re-read the entire thing because her words captured me far too deeply,making me blind to any grammatical errors.Wow. Sarah Taylor struck again. The gentle vibration of my phone signaled a new notification as I placed Cleo down on the sheets.
As soon as she was free from my grasp, she immediately lunged off the bed, scurrying to the opposite side of the room.Welp.I think I had just emotionally scarred a cat. Flipping over my phone, I read the screen. It was a new text message from Kendra.
I sighed, resting my hands in my lap. For a while now, I could feel the metaphorical crown slipping from my head, inching closer to falling completely. I couldn’t let that happen. If I hadto, I’d glue the damn thing to my hair. I was determined to win Prom Queen—but this time, on my own terms.
No fake friends who cared more about their social standing than real relationships.
No shallow boyfriends who only listened when my outfit was revealing enough.
No staying silent while people tore me down with their cruel words.
If Meredith wanted a battle for the crown, I’d give her one. Glancing at my phone, I tapped out a message inThe Breakfast Club 2.0group chat.
My jaw loosened as the muscles on the side of my face went slack.
Elliot lied.
He wanted to spend time with me. The fluttering in my chest picked up, a smile pulling at the sides of my mouth. I placed the flat of my hand on the manuscript my mom had written. So he did feel the same way. My phone jostled in my lap, causing meto tear my gaze away from the unpublished papers. Elliot’s name flashed at the top of the screen.
“Hi, Abercrombie.”
“Hey, Princess.”
“What’s up?”
“I was just thinking—”
“Careful. I know that’s difficult for you. Don’t strain yourself.”
“Wow, and here I thought we were starting to like each other.”
We are. I hope.“Eh.”
“Anyways…I was wondering if you wanted a ride to school tomorrow.”
“A ride?”
“We’re supposed to be dating, right? Makes sense if we ride together every once in a while.”
“True,” I said, tugging at my lip with my teeth. “Sure, why not, then?”
“Great. I have a surprise for you, too.”
“What kind of surprise?”
“Not much of a surprise if I tell you.”
“Lame.”
