IN LOVE WITH A TOMBOY

PROLOGUE Breckyn's pov I decided to become a tomboy. It was my way of keeping the boys at arm’s length, of not letting anyone get too close to me. After all, who would want to fall for a girl in baggy jeans, oversized hoodies, and sneakers? No one. At least, that’s what I thought. But even in my oversized clothes, there was Enzo. He had a thing for me. I couldn’t quite understand it—how could someone like him, the basketball captain, the school hottie, the boy every girl had a crush on, even think about me? I mean, who wouldn’t want to fall for a guy like Enzo? He was everything girls dreamed of, and yet he chose me. He was my knight in shining armor in a world full of bullies, especially Aiden and his new girlfriend, Brynna. Every day was a struggle with them, and somehow, Enzo was always there. Standing by my side, protecting me, even when the rest of the world seemed to turn a blind eye. I had never asked for his protection, but he gave it anyway, without hesitation, without expecting anything in return. But honestly, enough about my sorry excuse for a love life. I’m in university, and graduation can’t come fast enough. I just want to get out of this hellhole and focus on my future. I’ve always been the studious type, always burying my nose in books. I don’t care about the drama or the boys or anything else. I just want to finish my studies and help my brother Shane and my dad manage the Anderson Group, our family’s business. I’m not an introvert, but I prefer the quiet nights at home—Netflix, books, and the occasional hangout with my best friend, Presley. I don’t need the chaos of university life. Not when I’ve got enough of my own mess to deal with. But here I am, telling you the story of my life, and I’m asking you to follow me through it. Will things change when Enzo and I reconnect? Will I finally stop being the tomboy and return to the girl I used to be—the one who believed in love? Or will I stay hidden behind my baggy clothes and tough exterior? Follow along as we unravel the story of Breckyn Anderson. A story of heartbreak, healing, and maybe, just maybe, finding love again. Chapter 1:The mask I wear Breckyn's PoV I used to be someone who wore her heart on her sleeve, who danced with life and laughed louder than anyone around her. But after everything that happened, I’ve changed. I’ve become someone different, someone who hides behind baggy clothes and a constant sense of distance. I didn’t ask for this change, but it came with a promise I made to myself—never again would I allow someone to hurt me the way Aiden did. I get out of bed, feeling the cold floor beneath my feet. The stillness of the morning is comforting, and for a moment, I allow myself to just breathe and exist in the quiet. It’s the only time of day when I feel like I have control over anything. Once I step outside of this room, I know the world will throw its judgments, its expectations, and its chaos at me. But for now, I can just be. The mirror in front of me shows a girl I no longer recognize. The Breckyn I once was—loud, energetic, and full of life—is hidden beneath oversized sweaters, baggy jeans, and the constant shield of my tomboy persona. I don’t want to be seen. I don’t want to be admired. I don’t want anyone getting close enough to see the cracks in the facade I’ve carefully constructed. I pick up my phone, seeing a message from Presley, my best friend. "Breckyn! You better not back out of today’s plans. You’re coming with me to the coffee shop. No excuses!" I smile to myself. Presley always knows how to get me out of my head. She’s the only one who doesn’t care about my baggy clothes, the only one who doesn’t judge me for trying to hide from the world. But even Presley doesn’t know the truth. She doesn’t know why I dress this way, why I’ve turned myself into a shell of who I used to be. She doesn’t know about Aiden. But I’m not ready to tell anyone. Not yet. After a quick shower, I pull on my usual uniform: oversized hoodie, black jeans, and sneakers. I grab my bag and head out to meet Presley, trying my best not to attract too much attention. I know it’s pointless. People always stare, even if I try to blend in. They always want to know why I look the way I do, but I’ve gotten good at ignoring their stares. I meet Presley outside the café, and she immediately pulls me into a hug, a little too tightly, almost as if she’s trying to remind me that I’m still here. Still alive. “You ready to face the world?” she asks with a teasing grin.I nod. “Sure. Coffee sounds good.” Presley’s been my best friend for years. Though she’s at a different university—studying fashion design at Brook University—she makes the effort to keep in touch, even if it’s just texting or calling between classes. I, on the other hand, am a student at Nexus University, buried deep in my business courses. Both schools are well-known, and both have their own unique reputations. While she’s the glamorous, outgoing model, I’ve kept to myself, blending in and staying under the radar. As we walk to the coffee shop near campus, I can feel the weight of the world pressing in on me. It’s like I’m carrying an invisible backpack full of secrets, fears, and memories I don’t want to unpack. But Presley isn’t about to let me slip into my shell again. She starts talking about her classes, about her latest modelling gig, and about how she’s been trying to convince our mutual friend to stop procrastinating on his assignments. I listen, but part of me is lost in my own thoughts.It’s then that I see him. Enzo Damien. The one person I’ve been trying to avoid, the one person who still makes my heart skip a beat even after all this time. He’s standing by the coffee counter, talking to a couple of his friends, and I can’t help but watch him. His tall frame, his messy brown hair, the way his blue eyes seem to shine even in the dim light of the café—it’s impossible to ignore him. I quickly look away, pretending like I didn’t just catch myself staring. But my heart betrays me. I feel a familiar pang in my chest, like a small tug, a reminder of everything I’ve tried to bury. “You okay?” Presley’s voice snaps me out of my daze. I force a smile. “Yeah. Fine.” But Presley isn’t buying it. She follows my gaze and sees who I’m looking at. “Ah, I see. Enzo Damien. The basketball god of this university. Tell me, are you still pretending you don’t care about him?” I laugh awkwardly, not knowing how to answer. “I don’t care about him, Presley. He’s just… he’s just some guy.” But Presley knows better. She’s known me long enough to see through my lies. “I think you’re lying, but okay. I won’t push it.” We sit down, and the conversation drifts, but I can’t shake the feeling that something is changing. The past I thought I had buried is coming back, and no matter how hard I try to ignore it, I can’t escape it. Enzo is here. And as much as I want to pretend he doesn’t matter, deep down, I know he does. Maybe I’m not as good at hiding my feelings as I thought.