Page 69 of We're At It Again

“I love you, Hudson Wilder.”

He leaned down and kissed me, pouring all his love and passion into the kiss. When we pulled apart, he gazed at me with adoration. It made my heart backflip.

“You’ve stolen my heart, Luna Delgato. It’s yours forever, and I never plan to collect.”

I bit my lip, a smile spreading across my face. Hudson showed me what love truly is. Love isn’t definitive. We see it differently. Feel it differently. Express it differently. But when we have our version of love, we’ll know it. Hudson was the love I longed for.

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40

HUDSON

THE DAY HASN’T EVEN STARTED and I’m already sick of everything. I was lounging in the hallway, leaning against my lockers, minding my business. My thoughts drifted, a rare moment of peace in the bustling school. Until Cynthia strode towards me with a smug expression. She stuck a brightly colored poster on the wall beside me. I watched as she took a step back to admire her handiwork, before giving me a sidelong glance. Curious, I glanced at the poster and saw her campaign for prom queen, her narcissistic face plastered across it.

“No one’s going to vote for you.”

She placed her hands on her hips with a sneer.

“It’s not like there’s anyone else to vote for. I’m the only option, and everyone knows it.”

She turned and sashayed down the hallway, confident in her inevitable victory. Once she’s out of sight, I yank the poster off the wall and crumple it in my hand. I tossed it in the trash with a satisfying flick. Eli approached, a grin spreading across his face.

“I saw that.” He said, nodding towards the trash can.

I shrugged, feigning innocence.

“What are you talking about?”

He smirked and shrugged his backpack off his shoulder before opening it and revealing a stash of crumpled-up posters.

“Looks like we had the same idea.”

We laughed, reveling in the moment of rebellion. After discarding the evidence, he turned to me with a knowing look.

“When are you asking Luna to prom?”

I leaned back, one foot crossed over the other with a thoughtful expression.

“Soon. I have an idea. I need to make it perfect.”

He raised an eyebrow, a hint of concern in his eyes.

“Don’t take too long. She might think you’re trying to get out of it.”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair, as it had almost grown over my eyes. I needed a trim.

“She already thinks that.”

He clapped me on the back.

“This better be good.”

“It will. Luna deserves the best.”

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It was late at night, nearing midnight, as I waited under the treehouse, my breath visible in the crisp air. A trail of twinkling lights led from the edge of the woods to the treehouse, casting a magical glow through the trees. I adjusted the collar of my leather jacket, surveying the area to ensure everything was perfect.

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