When Love Lasts: A Sapphic Short Story Collection

🍒 Chapter 20.2's previous draft

The ending of the current chapter 20.2 in Cherry On Top is heavily modified from this chapter in the first rough draft. It is even in a different POV. Again, I changed it because I wanted to have more focus on RJ in the story.

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Chloe

RJ changed class. It was a big shock for the entire school. I'm not sure how her mother managed to pull this stunt off towards the end of the first year, but RJ is no longer in the same class as me.

Whatever. She must have thought we were hanging out in class, but we never did. As long as we can still see each other during remedial lessons...

"Hey, what happened to RJ? Do you know?" Emma nudges my arm.

I sigh as my eyes float to the usual spot I always look at. Her clique looks so empty without the presence of RJ. Huimin and Audrey are whispering to each other, while Jon is staring at the ground. The only person not being gloomy is Logan, who is just loudly proclaiming to whoever sitting around him how much RJ would've loved something that they did, as if she had died.

RJ and I never interact during class, but not seeing her around still leaves a gaping hole in my heart.

"It's her mother," I admit. "Her mother found out about us."

"Her mother?" Emma frowns and turns to Adrian, who is also frowning.

"Her mother so powerful one ah?" Adrian asks.

I lay my head on my hand. "Yeah... She's scary..."

"Oi, RJ!" Logan's voice rings through the classroom.

My head shoots up, and so does everyone else in the class. The previous period has just ended, and everyone was chatting and relaxing, but the moment RJ steps into the room, we all quieten to look at her.

RJ acknowledges her friends with a nod, before walking away—and straight towards me. My breath catches in my throat; I can feel everyone's eyes staring at RJ, staring at me.

"Hey, Chloe." RJ stands in front of my table.

"H- Hey," I whisper, craning my neck as much as my frozen body allows. "W- Why are you here?"

"I miss you." RJ places her hand on the table and leans towards me. "It's weird to not see you in class."

My cheeks heat up, and I'm sure I am as red as a red packet. "We'll- We'll still see each other later, for- for remedial lesson."

I squirm under RJ's intense stare, under Emma's and Adrian's surprised stare, under everyone's stares. I'm not used to all this attention. I'm not even used to RJ speaking to me like that in front of so many people.

"Nah, we don't need to wait for that anymore." RJ's face is now only an inch away from mine."My mother already knows about us, so fuck it. No more sneaking around."

Then, she holds me by my chin, tilts my face up, and kisses me.

The entire class erupts in gasps. I am also erupting—my blood is rushing to my head, and it feels like it is going to burst out like a volcano.

When our lips part, I feel as though I forgot how to breathe. "RJ..."

"Listen, Chloe. I don't know what my mother said to you yesterday, but fuck her, alright?" RJ growls, her breath still tickling my face. "She thinks she can try to stop us from being together, but she doesn't know me. She doesn't know us. We do whatever we want, alright?"

I nod.

"We'll make it work, alright?"

I nod again.

The next teacher walks into class, and RJ promptly leaves the classroom. As the new period starts, my heart is still beating wildly against my chest, and my cheeks are still burning like fire. I can't concentrate, and I know everybody else can't too as they keep sneaking glances at me. But it doesn't matter. I've never been happier in my life.

Love is hard, so, so hard, but we will make it work.