Seventeen-year-old Lily Martinez had by no means been the kind of woman who idea she’d end up in the center of a love triangle. She became targeted at getting excellent grades, getting into her dream college, and perhaps journeying the arena. However, within the small town of Clearwater, nothing appeared extra not possible than maintaining lifestyles easily—in particular, whilst it came to matters of the heart.
The summer time before senior 12 months, new faces entered her global, and unexpectedly, the whole lot changed. Between Two Stars
First, there was Nick Carter.
He became the brooding, mysterious boy who had simply moved to Clearwater from Chicago. Together with his dark hair, smoldering eyes, and a motorbike that made all of the ladies swoon, Nick changed into the definition of horrific boy charm. He had a beyond—everybody may want to sense it—however no person knew the info, and that best made him extra fascinating. Between Two Stars
Lily’s first stumble upon Nick changed completely via accident. She was riding her motorbike close to the seaside, the wind whipping through her long brown hair, whilst her tire hit a bump, sending her crashing to the ground. Earlier than she ought to even pick herself up, Nick had appeared out of nowhere, pulling her to her feet.
“You o.k.?” he requested, his voice low and husky.
Lily blinked, staring up at him in marvel. “Yeah, I’m great. Thanks.”
“That changed into a quite awful fall,” he said, his eyes scanning her scraped knee. “You sure you’re k?”
“I’ll survive,” she stated, giggling a touch, though her heart changed into racing for motives that had not anything to do with the fall.
From that moment on,
Nick appeared to show up anywhere Lily went. They’d run into each other at the seaside, on the town, and at school, once the semester began. Despite his rough exterior, Nick had a smooth side that most effective Lily regarded to see. They’d speak for hours approximately the whole thing—his lifestyles in the town, her dreams of escaping Clearwater—and before lengthy, Lily felt a magnetic pull closer to him, like the of them had been related in approaches she couldn’t explain for. Between Two Stars
But then there was Jake Turner.
Jake had been Lily’s quality friend considering kindergarten. He became the golden boy of Clearwater, together with his sandy blonde hair, warm smile, and easygoing personality. He became the fellow all people favored—the superstar of the basketball team, an appropriate man next door who ought to allure mother and father and classmates alike. Jake and Lily had usually been close, but somewhere along the way, things had begun to exchange.
It occurred progressively. Jake’s casual touches lingered longer than before. His jokes approximately them being “a vintage married couple” started to feel less like jokes and extra like tips for something deeper. One afternoon, as they were sitting at the dock looking at the sunset, he finally said what Lily was sensing all summer season. Between Two Stars
“Lils,” he started, his voice quieter than typical. “I need to tell you something.”
Lily turned to stand him, her coronary heart pounding in her chest. “what is it?”
“I’ve favored you for some time now,” he confessed, his blue eyes locking onto hers. “more than just as a friend.”
Lily’s breath stuck in her throat. She had usually felt safe with Jake, however, she had by no means imagined him as something greater than her satisfactory pal. Now, as she checked out him, she realized how a lot he had changed through the years—how a great deal they both had.
“I… I don’t know what to mention,” Lily stammered.
“You don’t have to say something,” Jake said, presenting her a small smile. “I simply wanted you to realize how I feel. Anything happens, we’re nevertheless friends. That won’t change.”
However, it did exchange. Jake’s confession left a lingering anxiety between them, one which made each moment they spent together experience exclusive—charged with opportunities that had in no way been there before. And as tons as Lily tried to ignore it, she couldn’t.
All at once, she observed herself torn among boys who meant the sector to her. Nick, with his darkish intensity and undeniable chemistry, drew her in like a force of nature. Whenever they were collected, it felt electric, like they were standing on the edge of something exciting and perilous. However with Jake, the whole thing became smooth, familiar, and safe. He knew her higher than all of us, and there was a consolation in that—like being wrapped in warmth on a cold day.
As homecoming approached,
Lily’s indecision became even more complicated. Jake had asked her to go with him weeks earlier than, and he or she had agreed, not thinking twice about it. But now, as her feelings for Nick grew more potent, she observed herself wishing she should go together with him instead.
One evening, a few days before the dance, Lily located herself at the beach once more, sitting on the sand because the sun set over the horizon. She heard footsteps behind her and began to look at Nick walking closer to her, his palms in his pockets.
“I thought I’d find you here,” he said, sitting down beside her.
Lily smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I needed a while to suppose.” Between Two Stars
“About Jake?” Nick requested, his voice laced with anxiety.
“Approximately the whole lot,” Lily admitted. She sighed, pulling her knees to her chest. “I don’t know what to do.”
Nick stared out at the sea for a moment before turning to her, his eyes extreme. “Lily, I’m no longer true at this sort of thing. I’ve in no way been the man who says all of the right matters, and that I don’t have an ideal song file. However, I realize one thing—I want to be with you.”
Her coronary heart skipped a beat at his phrases, but earlier than she should have responded, Nick stood up.
“I’ll be at homecoming,” he stated, his voice low. “if you want me, you realize in which to discover me.”
With that, he walked away, leaving Lily more conflicted than ever.
When the night time of the dance arrived, Lily stood in front of her replicate, her coronary heart racing. She had made a decision—a choice that had weighed on her for weeks. Jake arrived at her house right on time, looking handsome in his shape, but as they drove to the college, Lily couldn’t stop thinking about Nick.
The gym changed into filled with lighting fixtures, track, and laughter, but Lily should be cognizant of the change in the choice she had to make. As the night time went on, Jake smiled at her, completely blind to the storm raging inside her. Whilst he in the end led her onto the dance ground, Lily felt her coronary heartache.
“I’m sorry, Jake,” she whispered, preventing inside the middle of the dance. Between Two Stars
He frowned, confusion flashing in his eyes. “What’s incorrect?”
“I’m able to do that,” she stated, tears welling up in her eyes. “I’m so sorry, however, I’m able to be with you want that. You’re my fine pal, and I care approximately you a lot, but…”
“you adore him,” Jake completed for her, his voice quiet but packed with expertise.
Lily nodded, tears slipping down her cheeks. “I didn’t mean for this to manifest.”
Jake took a deep breath, his expression pained however resigned. “I am getting it, Lils. I just… I am hoping he’s worth it.”
With a heavy heart, Lily left the dance floor and rushed out of the doors, attempting to find Nick. She located him leaning towards his bike, searching as he changed into approximately to depart.
“Nick!” she referred to as out, her voice shaky.
He grew to become round, his expression unreadable. “I wasn’t positive if you’d come.”
“I’m here,” she said, stepping closer. “I’m right here because I choose you.” Between Two Stars
Nick’s face softened, and without another phrase, he pulled her into his arms, pressing his lips in opposition to hers in a kiss that felt like the whole lot she had been awaiting.
At that moment, status under the celebrities with Nick, Lily realized that love wasn’t about deciding on the safest option—it was about choosing the one that made her heart race, even though it was supposed to risk the entirety. And with Nick with the aid of her side, she knew she had made the proper choice.