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IRL!
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↳ ❝YOU'RE CUTE WHEN YOU'RE FLUSTERED. ❞

SEPTEMBER:

The August nights slowly turned into September ones, marking the transition from carefree summer days to the bustling energy of college life. Lovette found herself navigating the vast halls and crowded lectures, the new experience both daunting and exciting. Amidst the flurry of classes, new friends, and endless possibilities, one question lingered in her mind: What were she and Chris?

Their connection had grown steadily over the summer, an undeniable chemistry that drew them closer with each passing day. Their hangouts were filled with laughter, shared secrets, and stolen kisses that left Lovette's heart racing. Yet, there was an unspoken uncertainty, an undefined territory that she had been treading with cautious steps.

Lovette didn't want to rush Chris, fearing that her eagerness would push him away. She had seen the flicker of vulnerability in his eyes, sensed the hesitance in his touch. But as the days turned into weeks, and September unfurled its vibrant colours around them, Lovette's insecurities began to whisper in the corners of her mind. What if Chris was content with keeping things as they were?

And so, Lovette carried her insecurities silently, nurturing the hope that someday soon, Chris would take that brave step forward. She held onto the belief that their connection was worth the uncertainty, the vulnerability, and the risk of heartache. As the autumn breeze whispered through the trees, Lovette vowed to remain patient and to have faith that in due time, Chris would reveal his true intentions.

OCTOBER:

Chris found himself in Lovette's room, the air thick with a blend of familiarity and uncertainty. As he waited for her to finish one of her Calculus assignments, he couldn't help but notice the traces of her life scattered across the room. His gaze wandered to her dresser, the surface adorned with photo frames, each capturing a frozen moment of her journey.

His fingers grazed one particular frame, drawn to the image of two young girls. Lovette, unmistakably younger than she was now, stood beside another girl. Lost in his thoughts, he suddenly sensed Lovette's presence at his side.

Her voice was soft as she tapped the glass of the frame, her eyes filled with nostalgic memories. "My best friend, Imani. I've known her since kindergarten," she explained, her voice carrying a hint of wistfulness.

Chris carefully set the frame back on the dresser, his attention now fully focused on Lovette. "You finished your assignment?" he asked, concern laced in his words.

Lovette nodded in response, her relief evident in the weary sigh that escaped her lips.

There was a beat of silence, a pause that hung in the air. Lovette could sense the weight of his unspoken thoughts, his internal struggle to articulate his true intentions. And then, in a moment that caught her off guard, he posed a question that sent a surge of excitement through her veins.

"Do you want to come with me to Leanna's Halloween party?" Chris asked, his words sounding both rehearsed and sincere.

'Do you want me to come as your date?' she wanted to ask, her heart pulsating with hope and anxiety. But she suppressed the words, afraid of unveiling her vulnerability and risking the fragile balance they had established.

With a fluttering heart, Lovette chose to embrace the present, the fleeting moment of vulnerability and connection. She smiled softly at Chris, her eyes reflecting an unspoken longing.

"I would love to come with you to Leanna's Halloween party," she replied, her voice carrying a subtle undertone, a silent plea for something more.

NOVEMBER:

Having spent most of her life in California, Lovette was ill-prepared for the unforgiving Boston winters. The icy gusts seemed to penetrate through her thin zip-up hoodie, leaving her shivering in the foyer of Chris's house. She watched as he stood there, his cheeks still flushed from her earlier compliment, unaware of the internal struggle that raged within her.

"You're cute when you're flustered," she mustered, attempting to distract herself from the cold. Her words were laced with warmth and genuine fondness, a feeble attempt to mask the unease brewing beneath the surface.

She had hoped to embark on a shopping trip with her Maeve to find warmer clothes suitable for the Massachusetts climate. However, fate had intervened, and Maeve's work schedule had forced a rescheduling, leaving Lovette unprepared for the winter weather.

Chris's attention shifted back to Lovette, his eyes scanning her shivering form. "You're shivering," he pointed out, concern etched on his face.  In a swift motion, he closed the front door, sealing out the wintry winds. "Let me give you one of my jackets."

Before she could interject, his determination took hold, and he bounded up the stairs, his footsteps echoing through the house. Lovette stood there, her conflicted thoughts swirling like a winter storm within her.

Chris's actions spoke volumes, but his words remained elusive, leaving her grappling with unanswered questions. Would he offer his jacket to any friend in need, or did his gesture hold a deeper significance? Was it a sign of his affection, or simply an act of kindness? Lovette couldn't help but question if her own feelings had coloured her interpretation of his actions, clouding her judgment and amplifying her internal turmoil.

Footsteps echoed down the stairs, interrupting her train of thought. Chris approached her, a jacket in hand, his eyes filled with a mix of concern and something deeper, something she longed to decipher. "Here," he offered, his voice filled with warmth and sincerity. "I don't want you to freeze, Lovie."

Lovette took a deep breath, her hand reaching out to accept the jacket. With trembling fingers, she slid her arms into the sleeves, relishing the immediate comfort it provided. Perhaps, just maybe, it was a small step towards unravelling the enigma of their relationship, an invitation to explore the depths of their relationship.

DECEMBER:

Lovette's heart skipped a beat as Chris pushed a small gift-wrapped box in her direction, their bodies comfortably nestled in her room. She looked at him, her eyes widening with surprise and a hint of unease.

"I didn't know we were doing gifts," she uttered, her voice laced with curiosity and a touch of apprehension. With trembling hands, she tore away the delicate wrapping paper, her mind racing with questions and a twinge of guilt for not having a gift in return.

The box revealed the iconic Pandora logo, the name of the jeweler catching her off guard. Lovette's fingers trembled slightly as she opened it, revealing a breathtaking necklace adorned with a firefly charm. Her breath hitched, caught in a swirl of emotions—amazement, gratitude, and a tinge of vulnerability.

"Your favourite movie is 'Princess and the Frog'," Chris began, his voice gentle and filled with sincerity, "and I know your favorite character is the firefly." He paused, attempting to recall the character's name, but Lovette's mind was already ahead, eagerly supplying the answer.

"Ray," she interjected softly, a fond smile tugging at the corners of her lips. Her fingertips danced along the edges of the charm, marveling at the intricate details and the thoughtfulness behind the gift.

"Yeah, because you said you love how he loves Evangeline," Chris explained, his eyes fixed on Lovette's face, as if searching for a glimpse of her reaction. The significance of his words struck her deeply, resonating with her love for the heartfelt connection depicted in the movie.

Lovette took a moment to gather her thoughts, her fingers gently cradling the necklace in the box. She wanted to convey her appreciation, her gratitude for his attention to the smallest details that meant so much to her. "Thank you, Chris," she murmured, her voice filled with warmth and genuine appreciation. "It's beautiful."

A surge of vulnerability washed over Lovette as she removed the necklace from the box, her fingers delicately tracing the contours of the pendant. Her heart fluttered, realizing the weight of the gesture, the subtle message it carried.

"Do you mind helping me put it on?" Lovette asked, her voice a mixture of timidity and longing. She knew that in asking him to assist her, she was inviting him into her personal space, breaking down the barriers that separated them. It was a small step, but a meaningful one—a gesture that held the potential to bridge the gap between friendship and something more.

Chris nodded, a soft smile gracing his lips, as he moved from the other side of the bed to stand behind Lovette. His touch was gentle as he helped her gather her hair to one side, creating an unobstructed path for the necklace to rest against her skin. Lovette's pulse quickened, feeling the warmth of his proximity and the subtle brush of his fingers against her nape.

The necklace rested against her skin, a tangible reminder of the unspoken emotions that now lay between them. It was a delicate balancing act, navigating the uncharted waters of their evolving bond while wrestling with her own growing insecurities.

Once he finished, Chris settled back beside her, his touch lingering for a fleeting moment as he gently adjusted the pendant. The weight of the necklace against her chest served as a tangible reminder of their undefined relationship—one that defied categorization yet held the promise of something deeper.

JANUARY:

The breaking point arrived on a cold January evening, casting a shadow over Lovette and Chris's fragile connection. In the dimly lit kitchen, they waited for Chris's brother, Matt, to arrive. Chris couldn't resist tugging Lovette's belt loop, stealing a fleeting kiss.

"God, please no PDA in the common area," Levi interrupted, grabbing himself a drink from the fridge.

Lovette retaliated with her middle finger, ignoring her brother's comment, but the discomfort lingered in the air like a heavy fog.

Chris's phone lit up with a message from Matt, announcing his arrival. They both found themselves at Lovette's front door, where Chris leaned down for a parting kiss before leaving.

Now alone in the kitchen with Levi, Lovette joined him, nibbling on the chips he had paired with his soda.

"Boyfriend gone?" Levi teased, raising an eyebrow.

"He's not my boyfriend."

Her words puzzled Levi, his playful expression morphing into confusion. "You kiss all the time, you never take off the necklace he gave you, and you're not dating?"

"No," Lovette replied, her disappointment palpable.

"Are you sure he has any intention of actually asking you to be his girlfriend?" Levi probed,  desperate to protect his sister from another heartbreak

With that piercing question, Lovette's insecurities erupted like a volcano, engulfing her in a whirlwind of doubt. Her once-confident demeanour crumbled, leaving behind a fragile shell.

Levi's words continued to echo hauntingly as Lovette found herself alone in Chris's room. In the depths of her mind, a storm raged, tearing apart her perceptions and questioning every shared moment

"What are we doing here, Chris?" she abruptly asked when he joined her in the room, frustration finally taking hold of her.

Chris gave her an odd look, seemingly caught off guard by her question. "What do you mean?"

Lovette gestured to the space between them, the emotional chasm widening. "What is this? What do I mean to you?"

Silence was his response, as Chris avoided meeting her eyes, making her heart sink.

"Can we not talk about this right now?" Chris replied, hoping to evade the uncomfortable conversation.

She scoffed, frustration boiling over. "And when would you like for us to talk about it? Six months from now?" Her sarcasm pierced the silence like a blade.

"Do you want to be with me?" Lovette prodded, her voice trembling with a mix of hope and desperation, her vulnerability laid bare.

"I don't know, Lovette," Chris responded with unexpected harshness. "Does this have to be something?"

Awkward silence enveloped them, magnifying the growing void between them. Each passing second chipped away at the flickering embers of their connection. He had forsaken the endearing nickname 'Lovie,' replacing it with her full name, an emblem of their emotional distance.

"If you want to be with me, then be with me. But the fact that you don't know, clearly means you don't want to," Lovette said softly, trying to hold back tears. Before he could say anything else, she gathered her belongings, wanting to escape the raw vulnerability that had enveloped them. "I'm gonna head home."

As Lovette stepped outside into the chilly January night, the weight of the unresolved conversation burdened her heart. The bitter cold seemed to mirror the icy silence that had settled between her and Chris. Each step she took felt heavier than the last, as if she were carrying the weight of their undefined relationship.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:
rule of thumb is if they're too happy, then something probably terrible is going to happen!

also! you will meet imani (and other characters) in the second act :)

but what do you guys think so far? i really liked shifting the perspective to Lovette's so you could see how much she'd actually been struggling with this

until next time <3!