𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒

𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍

As I drove Claire home, my mind was a chaotic whirlwind of emotions. The atmosphere inside the car was tense, but she seemed completely unaware of the internal struggle I was facing. As we chatted about random, I tried to distract myself from the thoughts that kept creeping into my mind.

I couldn't help but remember the passionate night we had shared together just before leaving my house. The way her lips felt against mine, the softness of her skin under my touch—it was all so vivid in my memory, and the sensations kept replaying like a movie in my head. Each time I tried to push those thoughts away, they only grew stronger, and I could feel my body responding.

A part of me wanted to engage physically with her again, to distract myself from the reality of the situation and perhaps find solace in the physical connection. I tried convincing myself that doing so might help me get over her, but deep down, I knew it was merely a feeble attempt to mask my true feelings.

As we continued our drive, I realized how wrong I was. The more I tried to rationalize my decision, the more I knew it was just a way to numb the feelings that were bubbling within me. I didn't want a quick fix to forget about her—I wanted her.

As we reached her destination, I parked the car and turned to face her. "Is everything alright?"

"Yeah." Her tone was neutral.

Our bodies were so close, and I could feel the electricity between us. I desperately wanted to kiss her again, to hold her close, but I knew I couldn't cross that line. I had to respect her boundaries.

As she stepped out of the car, I watched her walk away, feeling a mix of longing and frustration. I knew I couldn't force her to feel the same way about me, and it was time for me to come to terms with that.

᥊

As I stood at the foot of the stairs, tears streamed down my cheeks, mirroring the ache and confusion that swirled inside me. Watching Dante's car disappear into the night pained me. Part of me wanted to run after him, to tell him to come back, to be with me. I felt a deep attachment to him, and the night we had just shared only intensified those feelings. But the guilt gnawed at my heart and regret plagued my conscious.

The internal struggle felt unbearable as I tried to reconcile my feelings for Dante with the reality of the situation. I wiped away my tears, trying to regain some composure. I needed to find a way to sort through this mess and to make amends.

Just as I managed to unlock the door, I heard the faint rumble of an approaching car. I looked up, and my heart skipped a beat as I saw the headlights illuminating the street.

This can't be Dante.

My breath caught in my throat as the car came to a stop in front of my house.

"No, not now." I whispered to myself, feeling a surge of panic.

As the car door opened, I stood frozen in place, unable to move. My heart pounded loudly in my chest as I watched a dark figure step out of the car. He looked just as handsome and charismatic as I remembered, and a wave of nostalgia washed over me, threatening to pull me back into the past.

"Claire," he called, his voice low but his tone determined.

I forced myself to meet his gaze, my heart pounding in my chest. "Michael, what are you doing here?"

𓆩♡𓆪