What does love look like ?

IT IS OKAY TO CRY

Francesca walks back to her room after a conversation with Olivia, it’s Sunday and Olivia made a surprise appearance and they sat at the cafeteria where Olivia told Francesca she couldn’t be with her anymore because she didn’t want to keep getting hurt.

Francesca’s POV

Maybe it’s for the best I thought to myself, while Olivia cried the whole conversation, I could not shed a tear, I feel sad but I cannot get myself to cry, it’s such an uneasy feeling.

Just as I approached my room door, I thought I heard Claire’s voice, it sounded like she was laughing, I walked towards her room and found her by a corner of the hallway, it looked like she was on the phone.

I didn’t want to interrupt her so I turned around and headed back to my room but she called my name.

“Francesca, is that you”? Claire said

Hey, I saw you were on the phone so I didn’t want to interrupt.

She lifted a hand up with her palm open, like she was trying to tell me to stop, or maybe wait, and it seemed like she was trying to wrap up her phone conversation.

“That was Lawson, and don’t worry he had to get off the phone too”

Oh I responded, it didn’t come out very enthusiastic and she noticed.

“Are you okay, she seem a bit upset”

I’ll be okay, just not having the best day

“I’m sorry about that, anything I could do to help?, do you want to talk?”

I don’t want to talk I replied, but if you’re serious about your offer to help you could spend the day with me I added.

I can’t help how I feel around her, she makes me forget about a lot of things, whenever she’s around me I try to figure her out, and it’s kind of fascinating.

She didn’t expect me to say that so she didn’t know how to reply.

I laughed

You should see the look on your face I said to her, you really don’t have……

“Yes we could do that” Claire responded before I could finish my statement.

Are you sure? I asked

“I am of course, Lawson asked me to thank you for treating me so well, and I think it’s the least I could do”

Lawson, do you always do what he says, I said that but I wish I didn’t, it just came out

“Well most times” she responded and didn’t seem to find it offensive

“So what are we doing first”

Uhhm maybe we could go watch the soccer team training, they have a match with the boys from the college nearby next week so I’m sure they’re playing a match today.

I was going to watch them train because I have friends in the team but Olivia took the fun out of it so I was just headed to my room to sleep.

“Alright sounds fun, lead the way”

Right this way

I started walking to the field, it was a three minutes walk from our hostel, this time me and Claire were watching together.

“Thank you for not letting me fall the other day, don’t think I said thank you”

I’m sure you did

I smiled a little

“Now there’s that smile” she said

And I started to laugh

“Do you have any activities you’re looking forward to this week”

I had a couple of parties in mind, but I’m not so sure anymore

“Why not, what changed?”

I did I guess I said

We got to the field and found the perfect spot to seat at the gallery, we watched the boys play and occasionally laughed at people when they tripped, yelled when the team we were supporting made a bad move and at the end when the team won, we jumped in celebration.

Some of my friends from the team came to say Hi after the match and I introduced Claire to them.

“Oh she’s hot” Luke whispered in my eyes before walking away with the rest of the team.

Ready, I turned and said to Claire

She was staring at the sky

“Can we watch the sunset before leaving, it’s such a perfect view from here, it’s so beautiful.”

Sure I responded and sat down next to her but I couldn’t stop staring at her, the sunset made her hazel eyes glow and her jet black hair was shining

I thought about Olivia for a minute in that moment and how it was so unfair how things ended and promised to be a better person so I don’t ever make anyone else sad.

I didn’t notice when a tear came out of my eyes.

“You are crying, are you okay ?

I touched my face and notice the tears and wiped it off immediately.

I’m fine

“No you’re not, you can talk to me Francesca, I mean I know I might not be of much help but I promise, talking about it would make you feel so much better”

She sounded so soft and gentle

Olivia broke up with me, I said

“Can I give you a hug”

Claire pulled me closer to her and held me tight, I didn’t hesitate but my heart stopped for a second. I don’t know where it came from but tears just started falling down from my eyes

And Claire whispered in my ears

“It’s okay to cry”

After a minute, I sat properly and wiped my tears, we both sat down in silence for another minute or two before Claire got up

“I think you need a drink, and it’s the perfect day, you don’t have to worry about classes tomorrow” Claire said

A drink, I responded

“Yes a drink, I’m sure Fab has a bottle of something somewhere under her bed, let’s go get you drank”

She sounded excited

You know the only way I’m drinking is if you’re drinking too I said to her

“I’m sorry I’m so lightweight” she was laughing

“But I guess I could have a little too”

She took my hand and led me out of the field and towards our hostel.

I was smiling

I’m enjoying this a little too much I thought.