Julia – POV
I couldn't stop thinking about the kiss.
Tyler's kiss.
It had been days since it happened, and yet, it lingered in my mind like it had happened just moments ago. The way his lips felt on mine—confident, warm, a little rough. The way his hands cupped my face like I was something precious, fragile even. I kept telling myself it was the storm, the mood, the silence between lightning strikes. But it wasn't. Not really.
And then there was Antwan.
Antwan… who had confessed his feelings like he'd been holding his breath for years. I hadn't even answered him. I didn't know how. Tyler had always been the one who teased, who stayed close but never crossed a line—until he did. Antwan had always been there in this steady, quiet way, and I had crushed on him before. But it didn't make sense to me at the time, so I tucked it away.
Then my phone buzzed.
Antwan.
My heart jumped.
I answered. "Hey."
"I'm outside," he said, voice softer than usual. Nervous. "Can we talk?"
I froze for a second, then glanced at myself in the mirror. No makeup, hair in a lazy ponytail, just wearing sweats. Whatever. I slipped on my sneakers and jogged down the stairs.
Sure enough, his car was parked at the curb. He looked like he'd been sitting there a while, drumming his fingers against the wheel, trying to figure out what to say.
"Hey," I said again as I opened the passenger door and slid in.
"Hey," he echoed, not quite meeting my eyes.
The car started rolling before we exchanged another word. I didn't ask where we were going. I just watched the trees blur past the windows, my fingers twisting in my lap. I could feel the tension coming off him in waves.
Eventually, we pulled up to a quiet overlook spot—a place just high enough to see the city lights shimmering below. He parked and killed the engine. I climbed out and hopped onto the hood of his car, legs crossed, arms bracing behind me. The wind played with a few strands of my hair, and for a moment, we said nothing.
He came to stand in front of me.
"I've always liked you," Antwan said, hands shoved deep into his jacket pockets. "Since we were younger. I thought you knew."
I looked up at him, eyes wide. "I… I didn't."
"I hate seeing you with Tyler," he admitted. His jaw clenched, like the words hurt to say out loud. "You were mine in my head for so long. And then suddenly, you arr gone."
I blinked. "Antwan…"
He stepped closer. "I know I came out of nowhere with it. But I had to say something. I couldn't keep pretending I was okay just being your friend."
Then he leaned in.
I froze.
His lips were inches from mine when instinct kicked in—I pulled back, startled. "I—wait—"
He looked crushed, eyes dropping to the pavement.
But something shifted in me. Maybe it was seeing the hurt flash across his face, maybe it was the ache in my chest, or the truth in his voice.
I reached out, grabbed him by the collar of his hoodie, and pulled him to me.
Our lips met in a sudden, clumsy, heat-soaked crash. This wasn't soft or gentle. It was desperate, bottled-up emotion breaking free. His hands found my waist and I sank into him, mouth opening to taste him, to match the fire in his touch. The kiss deepened, messy and hot, and I could feel him breathing hard against me.
I felt his hand slide just a little too far down my back, and I flinched—not because I didn't want it, but because my head snapped back to reality.
"Stop," I whispered, pressing a hand to his chest. "Take me home please."
He looked dazed but nodded, stepping back with a quiet, "Yeah. Of course with a stutter ."
We didn't speak the whole ride back. The silence was heavy, but not cold.
As we pulled up to my gate, and i got out of the car Antwan kisses me again i didn't strugle i let him but soon i saw a figure standing under the glow of the light.
Tyler.
He was leaning against the stone pillar like he'd been waiting a while. When his eyes landed on me , his entire expression changed. Hurt. Betrayal. Something else I couldn't name.
He didn't say anything.
He just turned and walked away.
I didn't know whether to chase him or let him go. My heart twisted, caught between two beats.
Inside, I tossed my keys on the counter and went straight to my room. My phone buzzed.
Camila 💛
"Girl, i need advice ."
I laughed despite everything
"Okay," but first I have tea I said "So, I kissed Antwan."
She screamed so loud I had to yank the phone from my ear.
"WHAT?! Julia! You kissed him? Wait, no. He kissed you, right? Or—?"
"Both, technically. He tried, I panicked, then I pulled him in."
She was giggling now. "You chaotic queen. What about Tyler?"
"I don't know," I sighed. "He saw us. He was outside when Antwan dropped me off."
Camila's voice softened. "Oof."
"Yeah," I whispered. "Oof."
She didn't push, didn't ask me to choose.
She just said, "Okay. Then I guess we figure this out. One kiss at a time."
She then explained how she felt like Anthony was hurting but kept it to him self and how she wished he would open up
I told her to communicate with him let him know that he had her and that she supported him she told me that was
Rich in my situation
She was right and we laughed about our individual situations