The Sophomore (College Years #2) - Monica Murphy Page 0,120

me. Her words are like an adrenaline shot straight to the heart.

Damaged. Broken. Blind and stupid

Looking for girls. Losing myself. Drinking too much

Finding happiness in things that don’t matter

Yet there you stood, always by my side. Never wavering

How much did you endure while I was fucking around?

Yet you never left me, yeah you stood your ground

I strum the guitar, tapping my foot, thinking of that night, and how I started writing this song while she was being attacked. And how far we’ve come since then.

When it’s dark and cold, and you’re feeling lonely just know

I see you

When we’re miles apart you’ve still got a piece of my heart

Yeah

I see you

Even before when I took advantage of your faith in me

I saw you

And now we’re together, we’re so much in love, you always know

I see you

I see you

The crowd in front of the stage is swaying back and forth, singing along. I start playing with them, not saying the words but they always scream them back to me, loud and clear.

I see you

I see you

I finish the song, overwhelmed with emotion, which is my usual state lately. I feel like a giant baby, which is not normal. But I’m embracing it, because fuck, I’m feeling everything, and it’s so damn good. I didn’t know my life could be like this, and it’s all thanks to my girl.

My Ellie.

She changed me in so many ways. I was running away from my feelings because they scared me. Ellie made me see that. A relationship doesn’t destroy you. If you’re in the right one, with someone you love and who supports you, it lifts you up.

It makes you a better person.

That’s what Ellie has done for me.

I start to wrap up the song and I glance her way, waving my hand toward her, beckoning her onstage. Her eyes go wide and she shakes her head, but I keep waving at her, mouthing to her come here.

She walks on stage, slowly approaching me, looking so incredibly nervous. But she’s got nothing to fear. The crowd starts screaming. Some of them say her name, which startles her. Of course, they know who she is. We’re a package deal.

The moment she’s close, I launch into a repeat of the chorus, wanting to say the words directly to her. Wanting everyone to see how much this girl means to me.

How much I love her.

“And now we’re together, we’re so much in love, and you always know. I see you,” I tell her, not even singing anymore. I stop playing the guitar, too caught up in the shine of unshed tears in her eyes. “I see you. I love you, baby.”

Swear to God, a collective sigh rises from the crowd.

Just as I end the song for good.

And kiss her.

Thank you so much for reading Jackson and Ellie’s story! Want a sneak peek of The Junior? Keep reading for more!

The Junior Sneak Peek

Prologue

I watch her enter the coffeeshop, her gaze searching the room before it lands on me. Her smile is faint, and it’s not fake, thank God. I know we haven’t always gotten along.

Wait, scratch that. It’s not that we don’t get along. It’s more that we’ve always been wary of each other, thanks to him.

Stupid, frustrating Caleb.

She approaches the table I’m sitting at, that faint smile on her face, though I can tell she’s nervous. Unsure. I explained nothing when I said I wanted to meet with her, and she’s probably afraid I’m going to drop some outrageous verbal bomb on her.

That’s not my plan. It never has been. I’m just trying to clear the air. And I’m trying to figure out what she wants.

Clutching my iced coffee in my hand to stop my fingers from shaking, I smile up at her. “Hey. You’re early.”

“Hi. So are you,” she returns.

“I wanted to make sure I got a table for us,” I admit, glancing around the crowded café. “Are you going to order anything?”

“Oh,” I suppose I should.” She glances over at the counter, where a small line has formed. “I’ll be right back.”

This gives me time to think about what I want to say. As if I haven’t pondered it enough. Ever since I reached out via text to her a few days ago, this is pretty much all I’ve thought about it. Which is so unlike me.

After much consideration, I finally banished him from my life over winter break. Mom always said winter break is where relationships go to die, but she was referring to high school.