"I made a fruit salad for breakfast today. I hope you don't mind," he said, lying down and continuing to look at me.
"Anything you make is fine," I answered quickly. Even though I said that, I've never liked fruit salad before... But when I tasted Miguel's, I realized he'd only included fruits I liked, blended with such perfect balance that it felt curated for me. The subtle sweetness, the crisp textures, the cool freshness—all of it stirred an unexpected warmth in me. That little bowl of fruit made me feel light and cared for.
My walk to university felt easier, my step lighter. That is, until I saw Jack waiting near the entrance. Miguel's face twisted with a mix of rage and something I hadn't noticed before—jealousy. I decided to act before Jack could speak.
"Hey, Lemon," Jack said, smiling.
"Before you start," I interrupted, standing tall, "I need to be clear. I've moved on. The chances of us getting back together are nonexistant."
My words hit like a slap. His smile faded.
"What? Why? I went through so much to be with you. I even tried to respect you, to wait for you," he argued.
"Respect? You cheated on me. That's your idea of waiting?" I shot back.
Jack's eye twitched. He reached out, touching my shoulder.
"I cared too much about you to push you. That's why I... found an outlet. But you're the one I want. No one else."
Before I could respond, Miguel appeared beside us, his face dark and furious. Jack yelped, pulling his hand back as if burned. Miguel had grabbed his wrist, hard. Jack looked around trying to figure out where the pain came from, but I continued the conversation as if I knew nothing,
"Then why Amber?" I asked, pushing forward. "She was my best friend. You couldn't find someone unrelated?"
His face contorted. Clearly, I'd hit a nerve.
"Please... forget that one mistake. Lemon, I love you," he said, eyes searching mine.
I slowly brushed my hair aside, exposing the side of my neck.
"I'm with someone else now. You should give up."
His eyes widened in shock. "You let someone else kiss your neck? I haven't even agreed to us breaking up yet and you're already with someone else?"
"It doesn't take both sides to end something. I left three years ago. That's enough."
I turned to walk away, but he grabbed my shoulder. I flinched, and before I could react, he yanked me toward him and kissed me. Hard. I struggled and screamed, the shock and violation knotting in my chest. Then the world around us changed, the temperature plummeted, and a flurry of frost spiraled around us in a sudden, unnatural chill. Miguel was enraged.
"Just ignore your inconvenient feelings. Let him have her." ☻
I shoved Jack off and ran into the bathroom, furiously wiping my lips and splashing cold water on my face.
"I'm going to kill him," Miguel growled. "It would be so easy to reach in and crush his heart."
"Don't," I said, turning to him. His fury was palpable. "I don't like what he did either, but it's not worth killing someone."
Miguel scratched his head. "If he won't give up, more of these stunts are inevitable. Killing him would be easier than enduring more of this."
His logic was unnerving, but not exactly wrong.
"Lemon, are you okay?" Amber asked, entering. She paused when she saw me with wet cheeks and reddened lips.
"That bastard," she growled. "I'm going to kick his ass."
"Wait!" I stopped her. "Tell me why you care. Why can't you just leave it alone?"
She hesitated. "Because... even though I don't deserve to be your best friend anymore, you're still mine."
I stood speechless. She rushed out before I could respond.
"So she's not just some girl you know after all. You're besties," Miguel mocked.
"Oh, shut up," I snapped, rinsing my mouth again.
Miguel snickered behind me. "What's so funny?"
"You're cute. I like seeing that another guy kissing you bothers you so much."
His teasing made my cheeks flare.
"That's not why I'm upset. It has nothing to do with you," I mumbled.
"Oh really?" he whispered, stepping through the sink and wrapping his cold arms around me. His lips met mine—cool, demanding, familiar. I melted into the kiss, wrapping my arms around him, feeling his chill seep into my skin while the fire he sparked burned within me.
Every touch was electric. My fingers tingled. My breath hitched. The contrast of his cold touch and the heat flooding my chest was intoxicating. I could drown in it.
A loud knock on the door interrupted us.
"Open up! Why would you lock the bathroom?! Oh my God, I gotta pee!"
Miguel sighed and snapped his fingers. A girl tumbled in, grumbled, and darted into a stall.
"Guess this isn't the best place for your first time anyway," he muttered.
My heart jumped. How far was he planning to go?!
Miguel took my hand—just that simple touch sent shivers through me—and led me toward Geology class. But the classroom was already locked.
"You're going to listen through the door and take notes. Come on," he said, ever the ghostly tyrant.
After class, my professor found me outside and scolded me. I had to apologize repeatedly.
Still, the warmth lingering from Miguel's kiss stayed with me—fire under my skin, echoing through my heart.
On the way to lunch I saw Jack standing by the cafeteria entrance. I made a U-turn but unfortunately he saw me anyway.
"I came all this way to meet you, so don't ignore me." I froze in my steps and looked at him then I burst out laughing at his swollen cheek, with a large hand print stamped there, glowing bright red. "Don't laugh! This is your fault. Thanks to you Amber slapped me." I only laughed harder. "I... guess laughing is fine..." He mumbled in a low voice. "If it means you'll take me back, you can slap me too." He declared, he was beginning to crack a smile himself.
"I told you; that's not possible." I replied frowning at him.
"If you're really with someone else, tell me their name." I hesitated. Miguel is dead; can I really say his name? Though, Jack doesn't know that.
"Miguel." I declared confidently.
"I don't remember agreeing to be your boyfriend." Miguel commented instantly deflating my newfound confidence.
"Miguel...Aguilar Rivera?" I gasped... he knows him? Now that I think about it they did go to the same school. "It's him isn't it?" Jack asked testily. "Out of all the fucking girls in the world he has to.... Arrrrg!" Jack yelled angrily, punching the wall behind him. Then he turned to me and said. "Fine! Whatever, have a happy life together," He stated and he walked past me without saying anything else... I looked at Miguel who was smiling triumphantly.
"Why didn't you tell me you knew him?" I investigated.
"I don't remember you asking." His cold response once again sucked the energy out of me. I thought we were closer but it seems I was wrong once again... Yet what's most surprising is how Miguel's name made him give up instantly.
I had to pack to visit my mom when I got home. Miguel watched me silently, without expression.
"How much longer do I have to wait?" He said, breaking the silence.
"Until I'm finished." I shot back. He moved to my side and closed my suitcase.
"You're finished." He professed, then he moved in to kiss me but I turned away and opened my suitcase to finish packing. "I wish you didn't have anywhere to go." He complained.
"Sadly I do." I retorted.
"Are you still pouting about Jack? It's not my fault you're dense; has it occurred to you that you never told me his name, yet I knew it? It's not my fault you didn't catch on even though I'm dropping all these hints!" I growled at him and he smirked back confidently.
"Well excuse me for being dense," I remarked sarcastically.
"It's fine, that's one of your charming points." It's infuriating how easily he gets out of trouble. "I'm excited to meet your mom, I'm a fan."
"Oh really?" I asked. He nodded... for some reason that pisses me off.
"I'm your fan too." He added, once again coming uncomfortably close to me.
"C-can you move away?" I asked, holding up one of my shirts like a shield. Darn it my stupid heart won't stop pounding, I hate how easily I am swayed by him.
"No, but I can move closer." He whispered, pushing me down onto my back lightly and kissing me. No thanks to Miguel, I barely packed in time to catch the last plane. I got the last available first-class ticket online two nights ago. Unfortunately, since it was so quiet, it was hard to talk to Miguel discretely so I put on my Bluetooth and held my phone whenever he wished to speak. "I hate planes," Miguel mumbled.
"Doesn't your family own a chain of airports?" I commented, looking towards him floating over my head then back to looking out the window.
"That's why I hate them. Any problem my family had, always had something to do with planes." I wanted to ask more on the subject after he said that but was afraid that I would be crossing that invisible line again. "I wonder how your mom would react if I left kiss marks on every visible part of your body." He commented out of the blue. I covered my face blushing. "I don't mean on your face...I'm talking about your neck... your cleavage... your thighs..."
"Can you please stop??" I asked, pressing my face against the window.
"Why would you dress like that if you didn't want me to say anything ?" He teased. "You weren't trying to seduce me?"
"I don't have much else... my mom used to buy all my clothes... and I haven't done much shopping for myself," I admitted.
"I don't know... whether I should thank your mom or be angry with her..." He stated, floating upside down with his face in front of mine. "Hey let's act out that scene from Spiderman, miss actress." I looked at him.
"I hate that scene," I replied, only because I was shy...
"You can hate it all you want, but a good actress plays the role she's given..."He whispered, and then he pressed his lips to mine.
My mom met me at the airport.
"Lemiette!" She shouted rushing towards me and kissing my cheeks. "You look so beautiful and your hair's gotten longer. Oh, how I missed you." Mom stated cheerily while squeezing me tightly.
"I missed you too," I replied, hugging her back.
"You don't know how happy I am to hear that." She sounded as if she wanted to cry then she looked at my suitcase. "Only a weekend," Mom commented, releasing me and wiping her eyes. "Next time you must stay longer, you simply must!" I nodded and smiled in agreeance then I snuck a look at Miguel. He was standing on top of a nearby flagpole. I wonder if I leave him behind, could he find my mother's place? "Drake dear, grab her bag for me." Mom said to a man standing nearby. I hadn't noticed him. He had a tired-looking face but even with that, he was an attractive-looking older man. The knowledge that he was with my mom, bothered me greatly. Mom chatted with me about trivial things on the ride to her house. She basically ignored the man beside her but he didn't seem to mind. "Sweetie, please do tell me, how is Sebastian?" I wasn't surprised to hear my father's name.
"He's fine," I replied quickly.
"Is there anyone new in his life?" She inquired.
"He doesn't discuss those types of things with me so I don't know. Maybe you should ask him yourself." I remarked, knowing full well my voice was filled with malice. Mom looked down sadly, her eyes were moistening and I felt instant regret. I know how sensitive she is, I shouldn't have said that. I was going to apologize but then the man with us grabbed my mom's cheeks and kissed her deeply.
"Can you not talk about another man while you're with me?" He asked after their lips parted. My mouth dropped at how open he was. I'm right here!
"Your jealous tendencies are getting out of hand. Don't think too highly of yourself." Mom's voice was cold and the man grumbled then moved away, glaring out the window. "Anyway, Lemiette, tell me about your last visit. Did he seem well?" I nodded. "Was he eating enough?" I nodded again. "Did he mention me at all?"
"He... told me to tell you that he wishes you well,." I replied, honestly. My words only made her burst into tears.
"That's like him telling me goodbye and that he doesn't want to see me. I don't care for it, not one bit." The limo parked and the driver opened the door for us.
"We've arrived madam." He stated, with his head bowed towards my mom.