Brighter Than Summer

because I resembled his "first love" – the girl w

ate had somehow managed to dig up, and compa

at similar, but I couldn't quite imitate

he kind of person who'd light up a room with not

ured Evan and I made

erever he went. When he flashed that sly smile and his eyes

him could have the patience to comfort a gi

van was during Homecom

everything from the artsy to the quirky. As for me, I'd rather join a "Nap Club" than waste my tim

the only one who

, the Literature Club's room was quiet a

but when I opened the door, I saw someone leaning back in a chair, his head tilted

tilted his head slightly, and the

g half of his face in a warm, amber light. His eye, just barely visibl

yes for a l

pull your gaze away from Evan

didn't look

ng in to grab a book," I s

hifting his legs and gi

ah

d to find it, since the shelves were orga

still watching me, his chin resting

wkward silence se

y to make you feel nervous a

, he probably didn'

?" he asked with a slight

e. Without much thought, I walked out of the room, s

call out from behind me, his v

n. A first-year

to sink in, and then I realiz

ist a good-looking guy flas

Pearson's name was firm

to realize he was a bit of

rcle back to him. He was always popping up on the school gossip website,

n was the type who kept to himself

in a relationship with a

separable. Their relationship was widely known, and there were rumors swirling around the entire scho

s own, and although some girls tried to get his attention, he turned out to be u

ckstory, I couldn't help but think, "I fe

ted open his bottle of water, took a sip, and conti

ion in the bottle of soda. To be honest, I'd hear

look as go

s hand dismissively, clearly disgusted, but the

l, though... No nee

me and Evan would end with

time for our mo

ng as we made our way to our spots. The loud music from the speakers blasted overhead,

s probably up all night playing video games aga

ng games, I was actually going over the endless

en near Evan's, but as we walked, I

s always stirring things up and clashing with teac

ke was t

hough. What mattered was t

one of those people you could nev

king about something, but for some reason, I had

– Joe shot me

van looked

hade, and they always made him look like he wa

ent, he smi

t could outshine the sun even

urned his head back to Joe and they kept walking

falling behind?

exhausted. I sighed and took a step forwar