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Stephanie

The room was quiet, barren except for the wooden shelves and the ses I really loved the library, not only because I loved the books that it housed, but also for the solitude it provided me I looked under the table and noticed next to my pink Chucks with scuffed toes a pair of shiny, black, Italian leather boots, immaculate in every way Even our footwear showed how opposite ere I never knehy he bothered to accompany me to the library He didn’t really read He would just work on song lyrics or melodies that would play on repeat in his mind and wait patiently until I was ready to leave I spent hours in the library just looking at hiering and overindulgent stares He’d always been a gorgeous boy, dark wisps of hair falling into his green eyes, eyes ainst the contrast of his olive coht side of his h hysterically But the quirk I loved ers on the table as he worked on his music, his eyes furrowed in concentration He was so handsoirls crushed on No He had the kind of good looks that would make movie stars weep in envy The worst part was, he didn’t even kno attractive he hich just made him that more desirable

I had no idea why he liked hanging out with ht, Luca and I had been best friends, completely inseparable One look at each other, and ere off laughing and playing from that day forward When I turned thirteen, I started to develop feelings for his thatit was hi me back passionately All of it pathetic childhood crush stuff, really Luca grew more and more beautiful every day, and yet he never left my side

It was in college when he really began to shine All of a sudden, our world of two disintegrated people began to notice what a standout Luca was He was always in the spotlight, and I felt like the understudy, waiting in the shadow of the lead actor It wasn’t just best friends Luca and Steph any for the ride I wasn’t sure whether it was out of loyalty or co out with uessed I was his

He never hung out with the cool kids He chose to come to the library and sit there quietly while I read or did homework I didn’t knohy he was still there beside rateful for his company I pictured , even though he had the designer brands and luxurious cash his wardrobe I was plain Steph, and he was a bona fide celebrity But no ot, he never left me behind

“Party tonight at Alpha Sight me back to the present

“Nah, I think I’,” I said

I really didn’t want to accompany him to another party where he felt like he had to babysit lory No one wanted me there anyway Generally ent to parties, I felt how they looked at ether If it was because he took pity onhiht he felt obligated to carry with him everywhere

“Steph, I’ if you’re not You know I need ood luck charrin Luca was lighthearted, and his confidence was apparent in all that he said and did

“You should go”

“We should go It’s Friday night We’re freshman Just live a little Have soe?”

Easy for hi for Luca was fun and easy For me it was painful and a constant reminder that I didn’t measure up

“You just had to go there, didn’t you?”

“Aw Steph, please I really want you there tonight I need you”

Need He said it so casually, but he didn’t know the beginning of it Need hat I felt whenever I thought of him It was my desire to always be in his life, no matter what, even if it meant in the most minute way