While Valentine’s Day might be a positive event today, the bloody origins and dark backstory haunt the holiday from centuries long ago.

Wait, there’s more than one Saint Valentine?

While Valentine seems unique, he is not. In fact, multiple Valentines are thought of as the possible origin of Saint Valentine’s Day.

One Saint Valentine lost his head – literally – after displeasing the Ancient Roman Emperor, Gothicus. While in custody of Asterius, a trusted aristocrat within Rome, Valentine succeeded in a bargain with him. If Valentine, a Christian, could cure Asterius’s foster-daughter’s lack of sight, Asterius would convert to Christianity. Valentine was able to cure the girl, and his actions were praised by the family. However, the family soon saw the same fate as Valentine.

An Italian Saint Valentine is often mistaken as the Roman Valentine. This is because the two men died in similar ways.

Another common tale of Saint Valentine originates in the 3rd century A.D. under Claudius II. Because Claudius had ambitions of expanding the empire, he also had the problem of lovesick soldiers longing for their wives. To combat this, he banned marriage altogether.

The ban on marriage led to Saint Valentine, a Roman priest, who would secretly marry couples. When Claudius II learned of his crimes, Valentine was sentenced to death. Young couples wed by Valentine would pass letters and flowers through the bars of his cell.

Rumor also states Valentine fell in love with his jailer’s daughter. Supposedly, on the day of his death, he passed a note to her saying “from your Valentine” thus starting a timeless tradition.

Anything for Love

Many think the celebration of mid-February originates with the Roman feast of Lupercalia. Lupercalia is an annual celebration in ancient Rome dedicated to the she-wolf who nursed Romulus and Remus. The feast was to bring fertility to the women of Rome. However, this fertility came with a disgusting and painful process.

After the sacrifice of a goat and a dog, the hide of the animals were made into narrow strips of leather. Men would arm themselves with the strips then try to strike the women. Women who were hit would then be fertile. Additionally, there was a matchmaking lottery intended to match young women and men for the duration of the holiday. If this match was true, it could prosper even after the festival.

Roses are red, violets are blue

You may be wondering how we went from dog hide to cupid and chocolates on this famous holiday. Well, you have Geoffrey Chaucer to thank for this development. In “Parlement of Foules,” he writes about the mating of birds, establishing Saint Valentine’s feast as a day for birds to mate and produce eggs. He writes,

“For this was on seynt Volantynys day. When euery bryd comyth there to chese his make.”

As this movement prospered, the inspiration struck the writings of Shakespeare in Hamlet. 

Heart Emojis, Snapchat Filters, and Chocolates Galore

As the holiday exponentially grew in popularity, the New World embraced it like never before. The Industrial Revolution led to commercialism and manufacturing. The mass marketing has continued to this day, as there is an average of $2 billion spent on flowers alone each Valentine’s Day. Many companies use Saint Valentine’s Day to profit since it is one of the most expensive holidays. From Hallmark cards to candy hearts there is a lot of revenue stemming from the holiday.

My Take

I believe Valentine’s Day can be a wonderful holiday if you spend it with the right people. If you don’t have a significant other, celebrate Galentine’s Day on February 11. Galentine’s Day originates from the NBC comedy Parks and Recreation. Also don’t feel pressure to make it a big deal if you don’t want!

The whole of point of Valentine’s Day is to appreciate the love you have around you, not to force it. For instance, I am going to have my first Valentine’s Day with my first boyfriend this year, and we will be spending it at a Model UN conference.

Essentially, treat Valentine’s Day like any other day, with more love.

So, however you celebrate your Valentine’s Day, remember that your love life will never be as ambiguous as the holiday’s origins!

For more about Valentine’s Day, check out Romantic Movies for Valentine’s Day and Why it’s Okay Not to have a Date this Valentine’s Day.

The post Saint Valentine’s Day – History of Ancient Love appeared first on GirlSpring.

As love fills the air and Valentine’s Day approaches, you may be on the search for a romantic film.

Here are five perfect romance movies to watch on this happy holiday

The Fault in our Stars

This heart-wrenching movie is about a 16 year old girl, Hazel Grace Lancaster. Hazel is battling lung cancer all her life. She meets a fellow cancer patient, Augustus Waters, with just as huge a sense of strength as herself, and they become star-crossed lovers.

Love, Rosie

In this romantic comedy, two best friends, Rosie and Alex, realize they may see each other as something more. They always dreamed of moving to America together. However, they face a long journey in making their ways back to each other. If you are looking for a movie about the right person at the wrong time, Love, Rosie is the one.

After

Talk about a connection! Tessa Young has grown up studious and driven but begins to find there is much more to life than what she has been living. Her world is turned upside down when she meets Hardin Scott, the stereotypical bad boy, and she is able to see life in a fresh perspective.

The Notebook

Noah Calhoun and Allie spend a dreamy, romantic summer. Unfortunately, all summers must come to an end, and Allie returns to her wealthy family. The lovers separate for years and this movie portrays their beautiful journey back to each other. True love always finds a way!

The Choice

Travis Shaw was always the player type, but when his new neighbor, Gabby Holland, moves in he sets his sights on a future with her. It is a hard fight to win her over, for she is newly engaged, but as they grow together, their story shows the true power of love.

The post Romantic Movies for Valentine’s Day appeared first on GirlSpring.

Many questions randomly seem to pass through my mind throughout what my biological clock tells me is “day”. Yet, one seems to appear multiple times a day. A version of the question “What is Love?”

Safety, Warmth, Shelter, and Compassion. The feeling of belonging and knowing you are right where you need to be. Not the type of love where requests are met due to obligation or requirement, but the reciprocated type of love. The effortless flow of feeling and simple want of being in the presence of certain people type of love. Not the type that makes you feel like you have to change yourself to be just right, or the type of love that is forced upon you through relation. Simply the indescribable emotion felt only with certain people who motivate you to be better. Without you even knowing it, these people genuinely want the best for you. The type of love where you won’t understand its significance until you have felt it purely.

However, as this question persisted in my mind, I realized that there can’t be one concrete answer to it. Just as an essay or analysis can vary depending on the author, the answer genuinely differs from person to person. A reflective example: Imagine someone who misses their loved one. They make connections throughout the day that resemble that person’s influence on their own life.

For instance, two trees-one shorter than the other-remind a person of someone they miss. The same applies to the people’s relationship. In this example, those who have not shared the same experiences and moments with this person will likely see the trees as random, highlighting why the definition of love depends on your individual experiences. Without the experiences that each person feels individually, the power of Love diminishes with false hope.

Despite the feeling of pure happiness brought by being around loved ones, love can teach us many things as well. The vulnerability felt automatically when expressing love towards people brings joy and growth into our lives. Although love may bring everyone a peculiar connection with trees, it sure can make us do things we didn’t think we would do for anyone.

The post What is Love? appeared first on GirlSpring.

(1) All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

All the Bright Places is probably one of my favorite love stories of all time. It’s heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time, yet I had never really read a book like this before. There is also a movie adaptation on Netflix, but I would highly recommend reading the book first. Either way, the overall story is so sweet, tragic, and addicting to read.

(2) Holding up the Universe by Jennifer Niven

By the same author of All the Bright Places, Jennifer Niven writes about a unique story between high schoolers Jack and Libby. They are both faced with conditions that make them feel separated from those around them, but somehow they are led to each other. Being able to share these secret things that have completely altered their lives in different ways, forms a great bond between the two that is definitely worth the read.

(3) The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

The Sun is Also a Star was written by the same author as Everything, Everything, and it’s just as great of a book. At my summer camp, all six people in my cabin read this book starting with me, so we were all so engaged in the story with these characters. The two main characters, Natasha and Daniel, almost instantly fall for each other in a day, but what will happen with Natasha’s deportation following the best day of her life?

(4) Tell Me Three Things by Julie Bauxman

A little more on the cheesy side, but a nice read is Tell Me Three Things. The main character tries to grapple her way through a new high school and new family, all while trying to figure out who the anonymous person emailing her is. As they start sharing more intimate details, Jessie, the main character, starts to develop new crushes and friendships, and the tension gets more intense with each page. One of my favorite romantic-comedy type books for sure.

(5) What to Say Next by Julie Bauxman

Also by the same author, another heartwarming story of a very unlikely romance between teenagers David and Kit.

(6) To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

Another classic, hopeless romantic book, the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before series is another one of my favorites. Lara Jean is thrown into fake and real relationships when her secret love letters to all her past crushed are mailed out one day.

(7) The Selection by Kiera Cass

Set in a dystopian world where young girls are given the once in a lifetime opportunity to compete for the love of a rising prince, America (the girl, not the country) is chosen to be a part of the Selection despite having a boyfriend back home. A complicated world, love, and friendships make this series to die for.

(8) The Heir by Kiera Cass

The fourth book in the series by Kiera Cass is The Heir, where the daughter of the king and queen, Eadlyn, is faced with the challenge to choose her husband in her own selection.

(9) All in Pieces by Suzanne Young

An unlikely story of two kids with anger issues and their own family struggles that are complete opposites, but together are a great duo. Another more predictable book, but still a great read. This author also wrote the famous, The Program dystopian series which I have not read but have heard is really good also!

(10) Listen to your Heart by Kasie West

Kasie West is definitely one of my favorite authors if you are looking for a cheesy, easy-read, or predictable book. She has many rom-com type books that are all so fun to read, I highly recommend them if you are looking for something small to pass the time. In Listen to your Heart, introverted Kate is made the main speaker in her podcast class, where their school year’s theme is giving love advice. Kate is reluctant to do her job, until the mystery man calls in, seeking his own love advice. Things then get more interesting! Kate has a very likable and relatable personality throughout the book which is what I love about it.

(11) By Your Side by Kasie West

One of my other favorite Kasie West books is By Your Side, where two polar opposites get locked in a library together, stranded for a weekend. They slowly learn things about each other where they had never previously spoken, and there are lots of external forces weighing in on the situation that make it so good!

(12) They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

One of my all-time favorite books that I could talk about forever! Another heartbreaking, comedic, and surprising book that I cannot get enough of. In a dystopian world, people are told the morning about their last day on Earth, and in hopes to make the most out of what they have left, two people meet through the Last Friend app anticipating their own deaths. It switches the point of view from both characters every chapter and there is never a moment I personally did not love.

(13) The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Another amazing book; and movie, that I think everyone should read. It goes through the life of Charlie and his love and struggles with his family, friends, high school, and the world around him. A great coming of age story.

(14) Message in a Bottle by Nicholas Sparks

Now, where would a great romance book list be without a Nicholas Sparks novel?? He is known for his books for a reason, so if you are looking for yet another heartbreaking, yet moving story, I would highly recommend this book. This novel borders on an adult versus young adult story, but is nonetheless a great book. The tears are worth it just for the experience of reading it!!

Need more to read? Check out these must-read recommendations!

If you still want more books for your to-read list, try tracking your recent and future reads at Goodreads!

The post 14 of My Favorite Romance Books appeared first on GirlSpring.

Unfortunately, many of us are clueless when it comes to organizing the perfect dinner date. Lucky for you, we’ve prepared a complete guide to help you organize the perfect dinner date that both parties will enjoy!

1. Decide on Where the Date Will Be

First, decide whether you want to stay in or go out. While an at-home dinner date is the utmost gesture of affection towards your partner, we recommend going out if it’s your first date together.

The other person doesn’t know you yet. They probably won’t be comfortable coming to your home. So, maybe save that experience for the third or fourth date. Also, taking them out will give you a better idea of what they like and dislike!

2. Plan the Perfect Meal

Practically speaking, nothing is more critical to a dinner date than the food. And we have two important tips to ensure your date leaves with dancing taste buds!

Go For Simple Meals

If you’ve opted for dinner at home, keep it simple! After all, you don’t want to spend all your time in the kitchen. And if you can afford it, get a private chef to do it for you! This way, you can spend more time getting ready for the date and plan other activities with your partner.

If you’ve chosen to make a meal yourself, we recommend going for a recipe that is tried, tested, and loved. A helpful tip is to prep your meal in advance so that you spend less time cooking and more with your date.

Also, avoid messy food. The last thing you want is for you and your date to struggle to remain stain-free all night. While we would never have you deny yourself a cheeseburger, opting for foods that can be eaten cleanly ensures a great first impression!

On that note, here are some more do’s and don’ts for a first date.

Keep In Mind Food Preferences

If this isn’t your first date with your partner, or if you have been talking to them for a while, plan the meal according to their preferences. Not only is this bound to make the date more enjoyable for them, but it will also show them you care enough to remember their likes and dislikes!

3. Dress for the Occasion

Believe it or not, how you dress says a lot about your intentions for the night. Dressing casually may signal that this is a fun night out where you intend to get to know the other person better.  Wearing something fancier indicates more effort, often meaning you are more serious about your partner.

When deciding what to wear, remember the location, the occasion, or, if possible, what your partner prefers. As a general rule, when it comes to dinner dates, you should always dress to impress!

4. Ensure the Perfect Ambience

The ideal dinner date needs to feel special. Now, this doesn’t always mean grand gestures and expensive restaurants. It’s the little things that can make you feel closer to your partner than ever before!

For example, you can pick a restaurant with dim lighting if you’ve chosen to go out for your dinner date. Low light can help you and your date relax and be comfortable enough to share feelings and thoughts.

However, you may feel more comfortable in a more upbeat restaurant, which is also perfectly alright, but you want to make sure you choose somewhere that isn’t too loud. You don’t want to be screaming at each other just to have a conversation!

5. Spend Quality Time Together

The perfect dinner date is more than just a shared meal. You want your date to remember the time you spent together; the topics talked about, the things you did together, and most importantly, how they felt during the date.

The easiest way to spend quality time with your partner is to spark up a meaningful conversation. Ask them about their likes and dislikes, favorite TV shows, music, and ambitions, among other things. And make sure you remember to listen to them as well.

But unfortunately, holding a conversation is difficult for many people. If you have yet to master this skill, no worries — you can engage your partner in other ways.

Playing card games, riding roller coasters, and figuring out escape rooms are not only some fun things to do together, but they are also a great way to break the ice on a first date.

6. End the Night on a Sweet Note

After all this planning and deliberation, you want to make sure that your partner remembers the dinner date forever. And what better way to ensure this than giving them a token of love? A parting gift, flowers, or even a handwritten letter can make the whole evening unforgettable.

Final Words

We understand that organizing the perfect dinner date can be nerve-wrecking. If it’s your first date, you may even need a full tutorial!

But the bottom line is stop worrying about making everything perfect, and instead, focus on having a fun time. If all doesn’t go as planned, it’s completely okay. After all, the best memories are often the ones made by accident!

The post How to Organize the Perfect Dinner Date appeared first on GirlSpring.

boy of the smiley-face moles,

brought out even more profoundly

by the darkening of the summer sun.

remember when we would tell the world

of this great discovery?

sometimes

I still see that chase in your eyes.

that desire

to illuminate

and bring

laughter

upon every face you meet.

wish I could locate the turning point,

the curve or bounce in time

that I could blame

for shadowing the light that shone

under my bed, 

shone through the darkness of my room,

wish I could too,

carry all the emptiness that has devoured you.

I will never understand,

ever feel your hollowness,

that level of desperation

lack of motivation

level of frustration.

all that is tangible,

all that is real,

yet unreal to the terrified child still within you,

is the change,

the tightness in my chest

when you say

“I have something to tell you”

I trust only the distrust,

that comes with being with you,

but it’s not anger,

trust me,

my heart still goes out to you

it’s just

my head,

my mind,

my body

does not know of this lack of control,

there’s no instruction

immediate relief, 

that could fill the hole in you,

we know.

I know.

that’s all I can do. 

wait,

wait,

wait,

and be there for you, 

listen to you,

just lay there with you.

I’ve said it before,

sometimes

I can see the “old” you,

don’t worry,

I’ll wait ‘til you see it too.

but,

until then,

until we can laugh about the smiley-face moles again,

my heart goes out to you.

Click here to check out more love poems by fellow GirlSpring contributors!

The post Poem: My Heart Goes Out to You appeared first on GirlSpring.

There are many lies told about Alexis Dawson, but the fact that she was not normal was always the whole truth. Her disregard for the rules and hatred of her lavish lifestyle made her the family outcast. You could often find her sitting on a bench in the square with a book in her hands, or maybe you would see her running around with a dark-haired boy, no doubt up to no good. If her parents ever forced her to go to a party, she would favor sneaking out the back door over talking to her peers. No matter how hard her parents pushed her to be like the others, newly eighteen-year-old Alexis continued to be the exact opposite of their idealized version of her. She was absolutely, by no standards, not normal.

So now, as Alexis lie on the foyer floor in her boyfriend’s house, her parents couldn’t help but wonder if she regretted it at all.

It all started earlier that day when all the leaves were absent from the trees, their branches decorated in a sea of white frost. The classic northern snow flurried in the air as Alexis walked out of school, her hands shoved in the pockets of her jacket, and the sounds of her classmates’ laughter trailing behind. It was a gorgeous day, and she couldn’t keep a smile off her face as she thought about seeing Jesse waiting for her in their usual spot in the town square, amidst the frosted grass. 

Her smile faded as the last person she expected to see is standing in front of her with that insufferable grin on his face. 

“Why are you in such a rush? Going to meet that boyfriend of yours, Dawson?” the brown-eyed boy says, leaning up against a traffic-light pole as she attempts to cross the street. She brushes him off.

“It’s none of your business, Zach.” She tries to go past him but he steps in front of her path, blocking her from moving forward. 

“What’s your problem?!” she spats, her blue eyes staring at the tall boy with a defiant look on her face. 

“People are talking, Alexis. You should not be hanging out with that boy,” he says, his voice dropping an octave lower as he stares at Alexis with an unbending intensity.

“You are the heir to your father’s business, and Jesse Black only stands in the way of that. He’s a rival of your father. He will only make your life worse, Alexis.” Alexis’ eyes narrow as she casts a cold look onto her ex- friend’s face.

“Well, I guess that’s what I want, then,” she states, “If you excuse me, I have to go.” She stares across the street with a defiant look on her face, trying to shake the nauseating feeling from her stomach after the encounter. As she approaches their usual spot in the town square, she sees Jesse, his nose lost in another one of the books he’s been reading.

“Romeo and Juliet? I didn’t peg you for a Shakespeare fan, Black,” she asks, gesturing to the worn-out book in his hands as she plops down on the bench next to him.

“Yeah, well, there’s a lot of things you don’t know about me,” Jesse teases, closing his book and looking up at the blonde girl with a smile tugging on his lips as he gives her a quick kiss. The pained expression she gives when he pulls away, he knew something was wrong.

Jesse’s eyes flicker between her and the school in the distance, trying to figure out what could have happened. As he looks at the fear in her eyes, he feels a surge of anger at whatever did this to her. 

“Have people been messing with you? Because you know I can do something, I can get them to stop-”

“Jess, no, don’t get into any more trouble than you’re already in.”

“I don’t care if I get into trouble, who did this to you?”

Alexis sighs, avoiding eye contact.

“Zach Parker was waiting for me when I walked out of school, he said some confusing things that I’m sure are not true. That you’re a rival to my father? He works in insurance, how could you possibly rival him?” she laughs, but she searches in Jesse’s emerald eyes for a hint of amusement. There was none, his eyes only looking far off. He pulls out a pack of cigarettes from the pocket of his jeans.

Alexis’ heart pounds against her chest, “Jesse, that’s not true, right?”

He takes another puff of his cigarette, breathing out nicotine as he stares at the glimmer of angst in the girl’s blue eyes.

“People tell lies about me all the time and it doesn’t phase you, Lexi. Why now?,” he questions.

“Well, Zach told it to me, and he may be a jerk, but I’ve known him forever and I don’t think he would lie to me-”

There is a brief moment of silence, as Alexis watches Jesse’s eyes widen in surprise until a split second later when they gloss over with an emotion that was unfamiliar for her to see so up close, pure, livid anger. He then looked back to her with that same fondness in his eyes, anger seemingly lost. He slammed his book shut, stuffed it in his backpack, and promptly stood up, taking her hand to pull her up with him.

“What are you doing?” Alexis asks, laughing as he grabs her hand and pulls her along, running in the direction of the local supermarket.

“You’ll see!” he calls back with a smirk on his face as he walks through the automatic double doors, immediately dragging her to the dairy aisle. It isn’t until Alexis sees the eggs that she realizes exactly what they’re doing, and upon Jesse picking up a carton of them, she bursts into laughter.

An hour later, Zach Parker walks outside his house to find an unexpected surprise waiting for him in the driveway. His brows furrowed and his jaw dropped in genuine shock. Eggs? He thought, Who would be childish enough to do such a thing? But as he’s thinking it, he catches sight of a blonde girl laughing loudly with an equally-amused dark-haired boy’s arm wrapped around her, and before he can yell at them for vandalizing his brand new car, they were gone. 

Alexis’ parents were right, this boy was changing her, and not for the better. It hurt to see his childhood friend act in such a way, but if that’s what she wants, then so be it. She doesn’t know what has been planned yet.

A while later on the other side of town, Alexis was listening to her mother berate her yet again about being with Jesse. 

“He’s not good enough for you, Alexis, you know this,” she states, “You are one day going to inherit your fathers’ company and all of his money, and you’ll need a suitable husband in order to carry on the Dawson family’s work.” 

“Yes Mom, I know,” Alexis sighed exasperatedly.

“So that’s why we’ve decided to host a dinner for you this evening, to make important connections with some of your peers families. I expect you downstairs at seven, and for God’s sake, try to make yourself look like you’re worth something. You are a lady, not some sort of rock n’ roll groupie,” she says, gesturing to Alexis’ Nirvana sweatshirt over her school uniform.

“But I-”

“If you have plans, cancel them,” her mother says swiftly, “This is far more important than anything you have planned. I’ll see you at seven. You better be ready.”

Sure enough, Alexis waltzed downstairs at precisely seven, clad in a red dress and black heels. Whatever her parents had planned, Alexis didn’t like it one bit. Every dinner, every gathering, every time they were all together, something terrible was bound to happen. Jesse said she would be fine, but Alexis was right. When she stepped into the living room, there was a tall, slender, blonde haired-boy sitting on her couch between his parents.

“Zach.”

“Now, Alexis,” her father says smoothly, while her mother beckons her to sit down next to her on the couch, “That is no way to greet your guests.”

“It’s alright, Mr. Dawson. Alexis just wasn’t expecting to see me here, that’s all,” Zach says, taking a sip of sparkling cider and setting it down on the coaster in front of him.

“You know, we’ve actually been talking a lot more lately,” he continues, looking at Alexis with a pointed look in his brown eyes, not forgetting about the little stunt she pulled earlier.

“Yeah,” Alexis says through gritted teeth, “We’re in the same chemistry class.”

“Oh, isn’t that just wonderful!” Zach’s mother, Emily, exclaims, taking a sip of her wine, “I’ve always loved the idea of the two of you together.”

Alexis’ mom claps with delight, “Splendid Emily, as have I! They would just be a perfect match, wouldn’t they, Mark?” she says, looking towards Alexis’ father. Alexis half expects her father to stand up for her, to say that she has a boyfriend, but of course, he lets her down once again, for he only raises his glass to that.

She looks over to Zach, who’s currently wearing that same dumb smirk that gets under her skin. He raises a brow towards her at the topic of conversation, but Alexis responds with a sneer. There was absolutely no way she would dare choose Zach over Jesse. Jesse was the love of her life, the person who has always been there for her. 

“With all due respect, Mrs. Parker, I’m afraid I am already taken. My boyfriend and I are coming up on our two-year anniversary, so I am not looking for other partners at the moment. Zach is lovely though,” Alexis lies through her teeth during the last statement, but Zach beams at it.

Mark Dawson lets out a laugh as dry as the desert sand.

“Alexis, you are not to be hanging out with that boy anymore,” he says.

“You’re young, naïve. You don’t know what you want. Be with Zach. He will be good for you,” Jill Dawson says calmly, not phased in the slightest that she was tearing her daughter away from the boy she loves. 

Taking in her surroundings, Alexis realized that she never had a choice. No matter how hard she fought, her parents were always going to win, and that was confirmed by Zach handing her a daunting square box. She knew what it was without opening it, so she was not as shocked as she should have been when she saw the most gorgeous diamond ring resting inside. She carefully grabbed the ring, sliding it on her ring finger and looking up at Zach with bewilderment.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Zach remarks, a pleased smile on his face, “The band is made out of 24k gold. Expensive, but nothing I can’t afford.”

There’s an expectant look on her mother’s face when she says, “What do you say, Alexis? The wedding would be spectacular. We would set it for after you have graduated, invite all of your closest friends, and I have the most beautiful dress picked out for you, and you can even wear your grandmother’s veil-”

“No.” 

Silence floods the room at Alexis’ words. Her mother’s face darkens and her father’s gaze burns through her skull. She doesn’t dare look at Zach. Just the thought of seeing him makes her feel sick, but she does look at his parents, who were equally livid. The silence stills for a minute, and Alexis wallows in it, selfishly wishing for Jesse to be here. 

It was utterly baffling how she was acting. She was a repulsively rebellious child, but she would learn later that her life would have been easier if she complied. Defying her parents wishes would end up poorly, and she never thought of the outcome her actions would have. She was selfish, that was undeniable.

“Alexis,” her father starts cautiously, “If you reject Mr. Parker’s proposal, there will be consequences.”

Alexis looks from her parents to Zach and his parents’ faces. The only sound to be heard was of the air vent blowing above her, placing goosebumps across her body. 

“I don’t understand,” she asks shakily, “What is going on here?”

Her father smiles sinisterly, “I think it’s about time we told you what the family business really is.” 

His hands wrapped around his glass of wine as she spotted the sleek, black handle sticking out of his pocket like it is second nature to be holding such a weapon. 

It is at that moment that it dawns on her; the secrets and the lies, why her parents didn’t want her to be with Jesse, why it was such a big deal that she was inheriting her family’s money; it all makes sense now. So she runs. She runs to the only person she knows is safe. He opens the door to see the girl he loves sobbing on his doorstep. 

Alexis looks up at him through her tear-stained blue eyes.

“They’re horrible,” she says, “My family, they’re horrible. I don’t know what to do, Jesse. Please help me.”

Before Jesse can respond, the front door flings open.

“You shouldn’t have run, Alexis.”

At the sight of Alexis’ fearful eyes, Jesse feels a seething rush of rage, ice-cold blood running through his veins as Zach Parker stands before him. If Alexis thought he was angry earlier, then he was absolutely furious at this moment as he charged towards the other boy. Yet nothing can amount to the fear that struck Alexis when she saw the same sleek black handle she saw on her father earlier in Zach’s left hand.

She tried to scream, yell, say anything, but no sound was heard except for the crack of the bullet as it tore through his flesh. And before she knew it, Jesse was falling. His body hit the floor with a thud.

She collapses beside him, her hands staining red as she places them over his heart. Her body was shaking, and her teardrops were falling on his still form. She was yelling, crying for him to say something, anything, but Jesse was limp.

She looked at his killer’s face with wide eyes, expecting a feeling of remorse, but all she found was a cold-hearted stare and a smile that didn’t quite meet his eyes. It made her skin crawl.

“You shouldn’t have run, Lexi.”

And before she could protest, she too, was on the hardwood floor. She looked to her love for the last time, before her vision faded.

On the ground lay two lovers beside each other, the bullet wounds bleeding from their hearts.

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in the morning

to start our day

together

ii. holding your hand

as if it is

the only thing

keeping me from

floating away

iii. crying when

you are with me-

iv. wiping tears

off your cheeks

when i am not

the one

crying.

v. playing you 

a song

vi./and turning

the volume down/

vii. do you like

this outfit?

viii. bringing you 

things i bake

in plastic containers 

and letting you

wash them when

they are empty

ix. coming over

for a hug

x. sneaking glances 

in class-

the hallway-

the car

window-

xi. running my fingers

through your hair,

holding all

my favorite parts of you

close

xii. asking if

you will drive

just so i 

can watch you

xiii. tired eyes

when we’re

together

because i can’t bear

to let this

moment

go

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The post Thirteen Ways to Say I Love You appeared first on GirlSpring.

Here are five pieces of advice from my personal experience with breakups.

1. You are not defined by relationships.

Before this person, there was somebody who cared about you. Even if you feel alone, there will always be someone who cares about you. A single person does not define your worth or make up your identity. It may feel like your identity is nothing more than somebody’s partner, but that is simply not true. You are your own person, with and without a romantic relationship.

2. Give yourself space from the other person.

This will subsequently help with the process of getting over your ex. Space allows for the initial feelings of the breakup to settle down. With this, you can start adapting to life without the person. Plus, this prevents unnecessary further conflicts between the two of you.

3. Do other things to take your mind off it.

Your individual hobbies and interests are a great way to find joy amidst a breakup. Step outside and go for a walk to increase endorphins. By partaking in activities you love, you begin to realize that you do not need your ex for happiness or to have fun. It also helps take your mind off the person for at least a little while and, furthermore, keeps the breakup from consuming you.

4. Do not seek answers.

Sometimes it just is not worth it to pester your ex about the breakup. It can potentially hurt you more and disrupt your healing process. Nothing your ex says will make you feel better about the breakup. My biggest piece of advice is to accept that sometimes people fall out of love, and it is okay for your ex not to be “the one”. Besides, there truly are other fish in the sea. Dwelling upon the past can prevent you from meeting new people in the future. Look forward, not backward.

5. Set some goals.

Someone gave me the best advice. She gets over breakups by telling herself that one day she will wake up and they will not be the first thing on her mind. After she reaches that goal, she then tells herself that one day she will not think about her ex until lunch. She then keeps going with these goals until she reaches a day where she does not think about the ex at all. Then, she does something to celebrate! This is a great way to help yourself get over someone, and I strongly advise you to utilize this goal because it does work.

Looking Forward

Even though it may consume you now, in a few months, you may not even think about your breakup anymore. Life will go on, and as it does, your feelings from the breakup will fade away at your own pace. You have a bright future ahead of you, and one breakup will never do anything to change that.

It will get better. I promise you.

The post How to Deal With a Breakup appeared first on GirlSpring.

The good news is that there are lots of amazing gifts out there that are perfect for any occasion. Here are some of our top picks of gifts that won’t scare your boyfriend off but will show them how much you care:

1.     Personalized Phone Accessories

Almost all teenagers love their smartphones, which is why a personalized phone accessory is featured so highly on this list of the perfect gifts. If your boyfriend is attached to his smartphone, then look online at the different accessories available. There are lots to choose from, including phone covers and phone stands. You could even get the accessory personalized with a picture of the two of you or something that he loves.

2.     Key Organizers

If you’re looking for the perfect gift to give that special man in your life, why not help him stay more organized and on track with a home key holder organizer? This useful item helps keep keys, and other small items they might carry, all in one place, making it easy to find them. It has multiple hooks that can be used to organize different items while also keeping it stylish. With a home key holder organizer, your loved one will always be able to grab what he needs before walking out the door. Plus, since it’s aesthetically pleasing and functional at the same time, he won’t mind displaying it in his home or office either!

3.     A Friendship Ring

One of the best ways to show your boyfriend how much you care about him is to buy him a friendship ring. However, before you do this, it’s a good idea to check out all the options available. You can choose from many amazing men rings, including rings with his initial on and other personalized options.

4.     Mini Fridge

Most teenage boys spend almost all of their free time in their bedrooms playing video games or hanging out with friends. If you want a gift that will make your boyfriend’s day, buy him a mini fridge so he doesn’t have to come out of his bedroom to get snacks. You could even fill it with his favorite snacks.

5.     Tickets to a Sports Match

Another great gift your teenage boyfriend will love is tickets for the two of you to go and watch his favorite team play. While this gift isn’t the cheapest on the list, it shows your boyfriend that you’re interested in his hobbies and want to spend time having fun with him.

6.     Movie Tickets

A cheaper option to buying tickets for a sports match is to buy movie tickets for the two of you. Find out his favorite type of films and buy tickets for a movie you think he will love. You could also prepare a hamper with popcorn and sweets ready for your trip.

7.     Video Games

Almost all teenage boys love their video games. In fact, it can be difficult to tear them away from their consoles at times. This is why buying them a video game is such a great option. You could look for the latest version of his favorite game, buy him a game he’s wanted for ages, or purchase a gift card to choose one himself.

Many girls find it challenging to find the perfect gift for their teenage boyfriends. Thankfully, there are lots of fantastic gifts out there that can help you do this, including the gifts we’ve listed above.

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