♦

he'll never be that guy: captain of the football team, straight-a student, making the entire cafeteria laugh at his punchlines. the popular girls will never make jokes to him about his six pack or compare the size of their hands, laughing and mingling their hair as all of it gets twirled between fingers. he is not a model citizen and my relatives would cringe at his humour, though he accompany it all by playful grins and kind eyes. if i were to say his name to my friends, i would be met with laughter or confused stares, because would i not prefer to fancy somebody popular? and yes, i'm sure all of the populars are lovely, and i'm sure relating to quater-back-x-nerdy-girl stories would be cute, and i'm sure others' approval would make life easier. but him. never mind his status; his smile is what makes my dimples come out to see the sun and my shoulders remember what it's like to not bear their burden, and sure, i know, he'll never be that guy—but i'd like him either way.

♦

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