My Last Year

Shattered Confessions

The name was enough to send shivers down my spine.

Jake.

Just four letters. Yet in my heart, those letters weighed more than every sweet word Conrad had whispered or the way Bernice had stared at me yesterday.

“I really do like you.”

Those words still rang like a bell in my head, echoing over and over, refusing to fade. I didn’t know what terrified me more, what Conrad had said before, or the way Jake, my nightmare turned something else, had confessed his feelings.

The emotions swirling inside me felt too heavy to bear. My chest ached, my hands trembled, and before I could stop it, a single tear slipped down my cheek.

That message.

That stupid message was still there.

Should I open it? Or should I ignore it, pretend it doesn’t exist?

Because opening it would mean acknowledging him. Acknowledging the way his lips had brushed my forehead. Acknowledging that maybe, just maybe, I was falling for him too.

And yet, I had just shattered Conrad Fisher’s heart. Conrad, the boy who had stood up for me when no one else did, who gave me my first kiss, who cooked for me, who made me feel safe. My confidant. My anchor.

And here I was, trembling because Jake, the same boy who once tormented me, had confessed his feelings and sent me a message.

Was this betrayal?

With shaking hands, I unlocked my phone.

Are you okay?

Three words. That was it.

But my stomach twisted so hard it felt like knives. Because those words carried something more—something unsaid.

Why did they feel heavier than they should? Why did I feel like they meant more than a casual check-in?

I closed my eyes. His gaze from yesterday flashed behind my eyelids—the way he looked at me with raw sincerity, the trembling in his voice when he confessed, the warmth of his touch, the shocking gentleness of his kiss on my forehead.

Before my brain could process, my fingers betrayed me.

I’m fine.

But that was a lie. I wasn’t fine. I wasn’t anywhere near fine. Inside, I was breaking into a thousand tiny pieces.

And for the first time in my life, I understood why I’d always mocked rom-com heroines who couldn’t choose between two boys. Because now it was me.

Me, stuck in the middle of two hearts.

Me, betraying two kinds of trust.

And I had no idea how to stop myself.

Before my thoughts could consume me, I heard footsteps. The door creaked open, and my mother peeked inside.

“Dear, are you alright?” she asked softly.

I quickly wiped at my face, though I knew my tears betrayed me. “Mom, I’m fine. I just… I just want to go home.”

She stepped closer, sitting at the edge of my bed, her arms wrapping around me in a warmth I didn’t know I desperately needed until now. I clung to her, inhaling her scent like I was a child again.

“Is Conrad still at home?” I whispered, guilty for even asking.

“Yes, he is. And he’s been doing everything to make sure that when you return, you won’t have to lift a finger,” she said with a gentle smile.

Guilt pressed against my chest. “Mom… I messed up. I betrayed him. Do you think he’ll ever forgive me?”

She stroked my hair. “I don’t know what happened between you two, but I know this. Conrad cares for you. Whatever happens, he will always be your friend, your pal, the brother you never had.”

Her words stung. Because Conrad was more than a brother. I didn’t want him as a brother. Not anymore.

“Lily,” Mom whispered, “the doctor will discharge you tomorrow. Get some sleep. I miss you, baby.”

I nodded, letting her go, though my chest ached with unspoken words.

When she left, I whispered to the empty room, Mom, I love you so much.

She heard. She smiled at the doorway before shutting it softly.

And for the first time in a long while, I felt… safe.

The next morning, I was jolted awake by Bernice bouncing on my bed.

“Oh my God, Lily! Thank goodness you’re being discharged today. I missed you so much, and I have so much to tell you!”

I blinked at her. It was only 7:30 a.m. Normally, nothing could drag Bernice out of bed this early, but here she was masking worry with excitement.

“Bernice, you’re such a good friend,” I teased, smiling weakly.

Her grin faltered. “Were you able to sleep last night? I wanted to sneak in, but your mom told me she’d stay with you.”

I reached for her hand. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. I promise.”

She studied me, then smirked. “You look beautiful when you smile. But before I hug you, please, take a bath. You smell tragic.”

I gasped. “I do not!”

“Yes, you do,” she laughed, darting out of reach as I chased her around the room until my mother and the doctor arrived.

“Miss Lily,” the doctor chuckled, “I see you’re fine now.”

“Emm, yes… perfectly fine,” I said, trying to catch my breath.

Mom smiled knowingly. “Then let’s get you home.”

The car ride back was quiet but comforting. The breeze from the open window kissed my skin, and for the first time in days, I felt free.

“Universe, I’m fine now!” I shouted out the window.

“Lily, stop embarrassing us!” Bernice groaned, but she laughed anyway.

We reached home, and the door swung open before we could knock. Conrad stood there.

My heart skipped.

“Welcome home,” he said, smiling faintly. But I could see it, the anger, the hurt he tried to hide.

Inside, the dining table was laid with dishes that smelled heavenly.

“Conrad, you cooked all this?” Mom asked in awe.

“I just thought… today should be special,” he said quietly.

Bernice gasped dramatically. “Conrad, you’re husband material. Just marry me already.”

He chuckled. “With pleasure.”

We laughed, but when his eyes met mine, the laughter in my chest died.

“Are you fine now, Little Miss Lily?” he asked.

“Just a little pain here and there. But I’m okay.”

We ate. The food was delicious, though every bite felt heavy with unspoken tension.

When it ended, Conrad excused himself. “If you need anything, Lily, let me know.”

And just like that, he was gone.

The next morning, school awaited. My nerves twisted in my stomach.

Conrad pulled up in my mom’s car.

“Hop in. Your mom asked me to drive us,” he said, smiling.

I climbed in, but the silence in the car suffocated me. Finally, I broke it.

“Conrad, about the other day…”

“What about it?” His tone was sharp.

“The whole Jake situation… I didn’t mean for any of it to happen.”

He stopped the car abruptly. My breath caught as he stepped out. I followed, my chest pounding.

“You may think I’m fine, Lily. But I’m not. My mom chose death over me. My dad chose work over me. And now… I fall in love, but you’re choosing him over me.”

Tears blurred my vision. “I didn’t choose him. I choose you, Conrad.”

He shook his head. “Your words say that, but your heart doesn’t. Still… I don’t care. I’m madly in love with you. With the way you smile, the way you look at me. No one has ever looked at me the way you do.”

My heart broke. “I love you too, Conrad. Since that kiss at the beach… I haven’t been able to forget.”

His arms wrapped around me, crushing me to his chest. And for a moment, the world felt right.

We got back in the car, hands entwined, singing along to the radio like nothing could break us.

But when we walked into school together, Jake was waiting. His eyes locked onto mine, and my heart skipped, traitorous and uncontrollable.

By lunchtime, a note slid across my desk.

Meet me at the balcony. Please. —Jake

My heart hammered. I should have ignored it. But I didn’t.

When I arrived, Jake was already there.

“Thank you for coming,” he said.

“I don’t have much time. Say what you need to.”

His eyes burned. “About the hospital… I meant every word. I love you, Lily.”

I folded my arms. “Are you done? I need to find Conrad.”

“Is being with me so awful?” His voice cracked. “Yes, I was a jerk. Yes, I hurt you. But I’m hopelessly in love with you. If you want me gone, I’ll leave. I’ll leave California, I’ll leave Evermore, I’ll disappear from your life completely. Just… tell me how you really feel.”

My hands trembled. My throat closed. I couldn’t breathe.

He turned away, hurt etched across his face.

And in that moment, panic surged. I couldn’t let him walk away. Not him. Not now.

“Jake, wait!” My voice broke. “I love you. I’ve always loved you. Since elementary. Please… don’t leave me.”

Tears streamed down my cheeks.

In an instant, he pulled me into his arms, his lips crushing mine.

And for the first time, I let go of everything else.

The world disappeared. There was only Jake.

Only us.