I had very strong feelings for Naimh.

I had very strong feelings for Alice.

I had very strong feelings for Belle.

I had very strong feelings for Mari.

I had very strong feelings for Zofi.

And I had very strong feelings for Sam.

Love?

I had no fucking clue what Love really was. I'd thrown around the words like they were gummy bears -- and I had a whole barrel full of them in my house.

Love? Infatuation? A simple crush? Lust? Affection? Concern?

Responsibility? Fondness? Attachment? Possessiveness?

I was an 18-year-old boy only a couple of weeks into my very first real dating relationship. What the fuck did I really know about Love?

But whatever I felt, I knew I felt it for Sam.

“Zofi..." I began in a low, intense tone.

“IS there another guy involved?"

Zofi winced. "It's not what you think.”

I raised my eyebrows, my voice a warning, “Zofi...”

She quailed before me, looking both scared and apologetic at the same time. "I... uhhh..."

"Tell me there isn't someone else."

Zofi clenched her eyes shut and cowered.

I got off the bed and turned around, staring at her with both hurt and shock on my face.

“Zofi, please."

Finally, in a quiet voice, she admitted, “Sam went out with a guy last night."

I at least remembered to politely thank Zofi's parents for letting me join them and kept my cool until I got to the van. But although I left

Zofits house intending to drive straight over to Sam's place, by the time I came to my senses I found myself pulling into my own garage. I must've driven all the way home on autopilot, my mind elsewhere pondering ramifications and alternative scenarios and every last possible nightmare about what Sam and her mystery date had been up to last night.

Had they kissed?