Gemotions

Liam drummed his fingers on the countertop, the rhythmic tapping a frantic counterpoint to the quiet humming of the refrigerator. He’d planned to bake a cake for both parties, a gesture of friendship and a way to avoid choosing. Now, his carefully crafted schedule felt utterly useless.

He blinked rapidly, trying to focus on the recipe. The recipe wouldn't come. A strange haze seemed to cloud his thoughts. Sarah’s party was the fun one, the one he'd been looking forward to all year. Chloe's was the glamorous one, where he could hopefully impress a certain someone.

He felt a sudden, inexplicable heat flush his cheeks. Should he even attempt both? Could he physically pull it off? The prospect of juggling two contrasting celebrations simultaneously filled him with a low-grade panic. He hadn't felt like this since the final exam of freshman year.