Mia Reeves. My Mimi. The first real light I’ve ever found in my dark world

Since the minute I saw her, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her

She’s different where everyone else is the same

And for the first time in my life

I want to try for more

I want to BE more

Can I be more?

I don’t know if I deserve to be happy, but I want to try

Is it okay to try?

I’ve never been so fucking scared of anything in my life

I’ve spent years touching many so that noONEcould touch me

She’s changed that. I don’t know how, but she’s changed that

Now I don’t want the many

I just want one

Tonight I kissed her and I knew for sure

That the first time she looked at me in class

When I thought

“There’s my girl”

I was right

The truth sits like an elephant on my chest

That this girl could crush me if she finds me lacking

But I’m going to try

Is it okay to try?

I don’t know what secrets Tristan kept inside of him, but what I knew from reading this was that he was as scared as I was. He was scared, but he was also amazing. Clutching the book in my hand, I fell into his arms and hugged him tightly.

I stood on my tiptoes andwhispered into his ear, “It’s okay to try. I’m going to try, too. I got scared. I’m sorry. I saw the lipstick on Trace’s shirt and I lost it. I was a coward and I’m sorry.”

“We’ll go slow, I promise. I won’t push. You tell me when you need reassurance and I’m going to be here to give it to you. I’m not coming home with some other girl’s lipstick on my shirt, Mia. It’s you and me, trying.”

The sound of my car horn honking startled me, and I smiled sheepishly at him. “I’m sorry I ruined a good day by making Darby come and get me, but now that she’s here, I have to leave. Is that okay?”

Setting his forehead against mine, he nodded. “I understand why you got upset and it’s fine. From now on, if something upsets you, talk to me.”

Nodding my head I answered him firmly. “I will, I promise.”

Tucking his finger under my chin, he tilted it up just a bit before settling his lips over mine. I jumped when I heard Trace stompingpast us muttering something about Darby not coming in, but before I could say a word he had slammed out of the house to go talk to her.