A/N: Welcome to my ONC 2025 entry, "Almost, Always"! I hope that you enjoy reading, it's been a lot of fun to write so far. Some of this story is based on situations from my real life as well, which was kind of cathartic to write. Each chapter up until a certain point will be the story of May and one of her "ex-lovers". 

Let's get into it! 

Intro: 

"You've got to be fucking kidding me."

Josie looked at me from across the table at the coffee shop we were at, eyes wide, "What's going on?"

I sighed, "Sam just texted me that she 'doesn't want a relationship'. After three days of her acting weird and barely texting me, this is what she informs me."

Josie pouted, "Sam actually seemed nice, unlike some of the others."

"I guess she's now just another one to add to my long list of ex-lovers."

Josie drummed her fingers on the table and looked thoughtful, "Who did this list start with? I was there with you throughout your college relationships, who was the first one again that started this rollercoaster you've been on with relationships?"

I chuckled, "That's a good way to put it. I don't blame you for needing a reminder. It was Chelsea. I dated her when I was seventeen. That started this whole clusterfuck of relationships."

My mind wandered back to good ol' Chelsea, and I wasn't sure if I was ready for it.

However, I had no choice.

Chelsea

I sat in my room, on my bed, dissatisfied.

I'm seventeen and I've literally only kissed a girl once.

Not to mention, it was my best friend Savannah, for "practice".

I was at the point where I knew that I was attracted to girls, and I just wanted my hands all over one already.

I was at the beginning of my senior year of high school, and I knew that by the end of the year, I was going to make sure I wasn't a virgin anymore.

It's happening. I'm making it happen.

With it being my senior year, I never felt like being at school. I had a serious case of senioritis, in fact I'd pretty much experienced it for all of high school.

The next day I decided to fake having a migraine so I could go to the nurse's office and get sent home.

I told my history teacher my head was pounding, and she looked at me like she didn't quite believe me, however she let me leave class.

I wasn't the only one who was trying to leave school that day, as there was a line to see the nurse. I signed my name in and sat down on a chair that should've been more comfortable for being in a nurse's office.

A moment later, a girl walked in, who immediately caught my eye. She wore a black hoodie and jeans. She was tall and slim, with cocoa colored skin, and braided hair. There was something about her, and even just the way she walked that set my gaydar off completely.

I watched as she signed herself in...and then took a seat right next to me.

Be cool, May.

We sat in silence for a few moments. There was one other girl waiting, however she had headphones in, and was in her own little world.

The girl next to me scrolled her phone, and she then put it in her pocket and looked at me.

"Does it usually take this long to be seen by the nurse?"

I turned to look at her, "Not usually. I guess everyone is trying to go home or miss some of class today."

She tilted her head slightly and looked at me with her dark eyes, "Is that what you're trying to do?"

Something about the way she looked at me made my heart skip a beat.

"Maybe. Maybe not."

She chuckled, "Alright, keep your secrets."

I lowered my voice and said, "Fine. I'm trying to go home by faking a migraine."

Her eyes widened, "That's what I'm trying to do."

"Great minds think alike."

She grinned and then asked me, "What's your name, are you a senior?"

"My name is May," I said, "I am, are you? I don't think I've seen you around."

"I'm Chelsea. I'm new to school this year, I'm a senior as well. You're not in any of my classes. I think I would have noticed you."

Immediately, my face grew warm.

"Yeah...I think I would've noticed you as well."

That was the jumpstart to mine and Chelsea Jackson's relationship. She followed me on Instagram that fateful day at the nurse's office before I went home for the day, and we started to get to know each other.

The first time we hung out on our own, she told me that her parents were away for the weekend, and she asked me to come over and watch a movie.

I told Savannah this, and she rolled her eyes and smiled, "Sure, like you're actually going to watch the movie."

"I'm not planning on watching much of it," I admitted, "Not just for the reason you're thinking. I'd like to get to know Chelsea."

That night I told my dad and stepmom I was going to Savannah's house, and my hands were clammy as I gripped the wheel of my car, following the map to Chelsea's house.

When I got to Chelsea's, I was still nervous, and she could tell. We sat on her couch in the basement, and she turned on the movie.

She sat close to me, and I gave her a shy smile.

"Are you nervous?" Chelsea asked me.

"Yes," I admitted, "I'm not very good at hiding my emotions."

Chelsea laughed, "No, you're not. I promise you have nothing to be nervous about."

I hesitated before saying, "This is my first time hanging out with a girl...in the way we're hanging out. I've known I'm a lesbian for a while, but it's just never happened for me."

Chelsea met my gaze, "That's surprising. You're fun to talk to, and not to mention very pretty. I'm honored to be the first."

That night I left Chelsea's at midnight, in a complete daze and somewhat more experienced sexually.

It wasn't long before Chelsea became my first girlfriend, and we started to spend pretty much all of our free time together.

My mom took notice. My parents are divorced, and both remarried. I spend most of my time at my mom's house, and every other weekend at my dad's. My mom knows about my sexuality and is very accepting. My dad on the other hand...that's a whole different story. Let's just say, he wasn't going to know for a while. Or if ever.

"You seem to be spending a lot of time with Chelsea," she said to me, "You like her a lot, I assume?"

I nodded and couldn't help but grin, "I do. She's really great. I love spending time with her."

"She's a nice girl," my mom nodded, "I can tell she has a good head on her shoulders. She's been very polite when she's over here."

I really enjoyed the time that I was spending with Chelsea. She wasn't just my girlfriend, but my friend as well. As the next couple of months went by, I knew that I was falling for her.

We cheered each other on when we both got accepted to college. She was there for me when I turned eighteen in January, and it was that night on my birthday that she told me that she loved me.

We went out to dinner at a nice Italian restaurant, and she told me at the table that she was in love with me. I could have leapt across the table and kissed her, but instead, I told her that I loved her as well.

I knew that I was young, and Chelsea was my first girlfriend, but I became convinced that we were going to last. In my mind, there was no other choice besides us staying together. I thought that Chelsea felt the same way as me.

The elephant in the room was college. I was going to be staying local to the Philadelphia area for college, even though I was living at school. Chelsea chose to go to school in Maryland, about three and a half hours away. Yes, that's not too much of a distance in the grand scheme of things, but for two young women in college, it seemed like we were going to be a million miles apart.

Still, I was convinced that it would work. Chelsea and I talked about visiting each other on the weekends and staying together.

That was until April.

I thought that things were going well with Chelsea and I. We were still hanging out all the time, and it really seemed like we'd never get tired of each other.

"I really think that you and Chelsea are going to make it work in college," Savannah said to me one day at lunch, "I have full faith in the two of you."

As did, I.

Apparently, Chelsea didn't.

The second Friday in April, I went to Chelsea's house, as I tended to on Friday nights. I got along well with her parents and sister as well, so it was never weird for me to be there a lot.

Right away when Chelsea greeted me at the door, I knew something was up. There was something about the way that she hugged me a little too quickly, and didn't lean down to kiss me that immediately set off red flags. My stomach twisted in knots.

Chelsea got right into it when we went down to her basement. We sat down next to each other, and she could hardly look at me as she said, "I...I'm sorry, May. But we need to end things."

That was a punch to the gut. I'll never forget that feeling.

Tears had already sprung to my eyes as I asked Chelsea, "Why?"

Chelsea closed her eyes and sighed, "I want to be single in college."

Another punch to the gut.

She wants to be with other girls.

I guess I'm not enough.

"Are you serious?" I managed to say, "What happened to our plans to stay together through college?"

Chelsea shook her head, "It's just not what I want anymore, May."

That started my rude awakening when it came to relationships. Someone can say they love you one day and then drop you the next.

The rest of my senior year, what was left of it, was rough without Chelsea. I wound up skipping my senior prom, as I was too down to go to it. And I had planned on going with Chelsea. I was hardly even joyous at my graduation.

As the summer before college passed, I started to feel better and slowly move past Chelsea. I still had times where I felt really hurt and upset. However, I was doing okay.

I was looking forward to college, and the possibilities of what was to come when it came to my love life.

Little did I know what I was in for.