“Malory!” Claire threw her arms around me, pulling me inside of her house. She texted me immediately and demanded that I come over to talk to her, but I was busy the entire day yesterday, so I told her I’d pick her up for school this morning.
We embraced for a few minutes by her front door.
“I-I’m so sorry. I was such a bitch, and I was only thinking of myself.” She shook her head trying not to cry. “Now I understand why you’ve been acting so weird, it was because of your dad!”
I nodded, kind of confused. But then I realized, every time I had been lying and acting weird to her about Louis, she thought was because it was actually about my dad.
“I’m so, so sorry.” She hugged me tight once again.”
The tears swelled up, thinking about the last time I was hugged this tight, 24 hours ago.
“I guess this is it, then?” I asked Louis silently.
“W-what do you mean?” He asked. Everyone was gone, my mom was at the police station, I was home alone.
My eyes teared up. “I heard you and the officer talking. We can’t make this work, Louis. You don’t know how bad I want it to, but it just won’t. I’m too young for you. And you’re too good for me, anyways, so its oka-“
I was interrupted by his lips softly, yet urgently pressing against mine.
“Don’t you dare ever say that. You’re too good for me.”
I shook my head, but I didn’t want to argue.
“Malory, I’m not giving up on this. I’m not giving up on you.” He looked intensely into my eyes.
“Even I’ve given up on me.” I laughed bitterly.





“It’s not your fault, Claire.” I insisted.
“I know, but I should have been here for you. I’m a terrible friend.” She shook her head, running her fingers through my hair.
This moment defined our friendship. We didn’t have to say a word, just hug. Everything would be okay.
“You’re not.” I finally said.
But she didn’t say anything. She just shook her head, still hugging me tightly.
“I never will give up on you. You’re the most beautiful, intelligent, truly amazing person I’ve ever met.”
My sobs finally broke out, tears streaming down my face.
“You’re Juliet, I’m Romeo, remember? Things will be rough, so hard that it seems like being together is impossible, but we’ll make it happen. This isn’t a tragedy.” He smiled softly, remembering our first conversation about this.
My hands shook as he took them in his own.
“B-but, there is no possible way..” I trailed off.
“It’ll take some time. But we’ll make it work.”
My eyes widened. “A-are you saying… you’ll wait for me?”
He nodded softly, grinning. “I’ll do anything for you.”




She finally let go. “We should get going to school, then, shouldn’t we?”
“Y-yeah.” I said nervously. She took the keys from my hand.
“No, no. Let me drive. You look so stressed. I can’t even believe you’re coming to school today, Mal. I can take you home if you want.”
I shook my head. “I want to go.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Alright.” She grabbed my wrist and walked out to the car.
I shook my head. “I.. I don’t know, Louis.”
He played with my hands. “We can just be super sneaky at school, no one will know. We’ll just hold off like that for a little while, until we’re allowed to be together.”
“A little while? 2 years, Lou.”
He pressed his lips softly to mine. “It’ll be worth it, right?”
“Of course… but… 2 years is a long time. I don’t know if I could just ‘sneak around’ with you for that long. How am I supposed to do that?”
“Then what do you want to do, babe?”
I shook my head. “I- I don’t know.”
“If you… want to take a break… that’s fine. I-if that’s what you want.” He nodded, holding back tears.
“It’s not what I want, it-it’d just… it’d be easier.” I stuttered.
“I understand.”



Everyone stared at me as I arrived at school. I watched the hallways carefully, looking for him, but he was nowhere to be seen. Claire never left my side, she even walked me to the auditorium, even though she was going to be late.
“If you want to go home, just text me. I’ll ditch and drive you home, okay Mal?”
I nodded. “Thanks, Claire.” I whispered softly, giving her another hug. The bell rang, and we pulled apart.
“No problem, girly. See you after class.” She smiled, running off to chemistry.
“I love you, Louis.”
“I love you more, Malory, more than you’ll ever understand.”
But I did understand. He was the love of my life.
“Not true,” I started to argue, but I just smiled and let it go.
“So… we’re… done?” he looked down at the floor, trying to hide the tears in his eyes.
“No. We’re just… on break.” I tried to smile.
He nodded understandingly.
“The next two years will be hell.” I tried to joke.
“On your 18th, I’m going to take you out for everyone to see.” He smiled.
Please don’t get over me. I thought to myself.
And, like always, he seemed to have read my mind. “I’ll never find anyone like you, got it Mal? I’ll never find someone else. It’ll always be you, don’t worry. But if you find someone else, don’t wait on me. Go out, find a guy. I’ll be fine.” He smiled slightly.
“I won’t find anyone else.” I admitted.
He squeezed my hand. “We’ll make it through, babe. And then, once you’re old enough, it’s going to be even better than we were before.”
As if that were even possible. The last few weeks with him were the best of my life, I could never imagine life being any better, but then I thought about it. Being able to go out in public with him, not having to sneak around. Just the thought of it made my heart pound.
I nodded. “I can’t wait.”
We both stood there, smiling at each other for a while.
“So, I guess this is it.. for now.” I whispered softly.
“Just one more kiss,” He leaned in. “To last me 2 years.”
He pressed his lips against mine, and I don’t know how long we kissed. It could have been an hour. But it wasn’t kisses of lust, just love. Kissing like it was our last, although I hoped it wouldn’t be.
We finally pulled away.
“Promise me, that won’t be our last kiss?” I whispered, eyes tearing up yet again.
He smiled. “I promise.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow at school?” I asked, and then I realized how stupid that sounded, blushing.
He played with my hands, still grinning softly. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” I said as his thumbs wiped the tears streaming down my face.
He opened the front door, sticking half of his body out of it.
“Romeo and Juliet, don’t forget, Malory. We’re meant to be, this isn’t a tragedy.” He smiled. “It’ll all be worth it.”
I nodded helplessly, trying to smile through the tears.
He disappeared and shut the door.
He was gone.




I took a deep breath as I opened the door to the auditorium, heart pounding. I ran to my seat.
“Morning, class!” Mr. Andrews greeted us.
The class quieted down, paying attention to Mr. A. He was holding a stack of papers.
“I have some bad news,” He began. “Mr. Tomlinson will no longer be teaching our class.”
My heart stopped, as the other kids ‘awww’ed and booed.
“He left this for us.” He held up a piece of paper and began to read.
“Hello class! Unfortunately, I will no longer be teaching with you guys. I’m young, like you guys. I don’t really know where I’m going in life. But I won’t be young forever, someday I’ll be stuck here, and not be able to do a thing about it. So I’ve decided to take up my youth and use it to my benefit. I want to travel the world, explore. Teach children in Africa. Learn new languages in Europe. Watch Shakespearian plays in the town they were written in.” Mr. Andrews was smiling, and I realized I was, too. “Take with you what you want, but I hope that in at least one way, I’ve made a slight impact on each of your lives, because you guys have certainly made one on mine. Because of you guys, I am doing what I’m doing right now. I’d rather be living life up than sitting at home, trying to be the adult that I’m not ready to me. Studying abroad will open up my eyes, bring me to a whole new world. If you haven’t gotten anything out of me teaching and spending time with you guys, take my advice now. Live it up, be creative, don’t worry what other’s think. Don’t try to change who you are to please others, don’t fit in to the cliché high school mold, be different. And most of all, don’t try to grow up too fast. When the time comes, you’ll get there, and all you’ll want is to be a teenager again. Make the most out of it now, keep your youth as long as you can. Do what makes you happy.
Thank you all for changing my life, I couldn’t have asked for a better class, Mr. Tomlinson.”
The entire class was silent, and I realized that I was crying. I wiped my eyes quickly before anyone could notice.
Mr. Andrews held up the stack of papers. “He also wrote a small note to each of you, individually.” He walked down the rows, handing the students their notes from Louis.
My stomach clenched and my heart pounded as Mr. Andrews approached me.
“You okay?” He asked and held out a paper.
I nodded and took it gently from him. Hands shaking, I opened it up.
Go out and live up your teenage years, and when all’s said and done, I’ll still be here, waiting. Xx -L