Winners of Bite-sized Love Buffet  2023 - Favorite Profile Pick category

❣ ❣ ❣

retold's pick: Teaspoon of Love - Day 4 by EverythingsNothing

The unwelcome visitor scanned the crowd, eyes combing over the blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl he fell madly for. She didn't want him. The thought irked him, singeing the bright yellow flag he wore. He grinned a wide grin and strode toward the girl, and instead of sparking a conversation with the girl, he turned to the brunette beside the rejector.

"Hello, Emily." The boy nodded respectfully.

The brunette all but restricted a glare. "Clark."

"What are you doing here?" Penny stepped ahead of Emily, blocking the boy's path.

The boy tilted his head, admiring a cubist piece. "The art, duh."

He had the two fooled.

On the contrary, that wasn't his only objective. As his cousin stated, this was an opportune time to engage with like-minded persons, particularly females.

Again, the boy had to consider why he attended the rival's art showing. He reminded himself continuously of the mission, trying to block his other intrusive thoughts.

Penny scowled at the boy, peered into his crystal-clear eyes, and snarled, "I'm not getting with you. You juvenile delinquent."

The boy smiled, ignoring the urge to dump his cranberry juice on the girl's head. In the same whisper, he lowered his head and uttered a light phrase, "I'm not here for you, Penny." The blue-eyed girl gawked at him, her brows furrowing. He raised his gaze to the brunette and asked in a baritone, "Would you like a drink?"

"No, Clark," Emily spat.

The girl wasn't pliable. Through a steady stream of corny jokes and small talk, the boy couldn't make Emily drop her burning stare.

And she doesn't even know who I am! The boy thought, inwardly rolling his eyes over the matter. How bad can mixing up a coffee order get? The boy grimaced, recalling the interaction the prior week. She had come into the cafe with a laundry list of orders along with another with an equally long list. Accidentally, he sent both parties off with the wrong orders.

And here he was practically drooling over the color of her eyes, mild brown, rustic, with flicks of yellow drifting like fall leaves. Get over it. He encouraged himself. His father wouldn't be pleased if he made a fool of himself now.

He was here as a spy.

That's all, nothing more. At least, according to his father. According to his cousin, he was here to get a girl. He didn't know why he was there, speaking with the rival, the enemy.

Though, one thing was definite in the foggy chaos of that evening. Everything, the piercing glare and loathing feelings, would dissipate in the following months, breaking into fragments of memory.

❣ ❣ ❣

WattpadRoyals's pick: Forbidden Rose by 0liviaRose436

The golden flickers of the ballroom swoosh around me, intoxicating in their beauty. As the music dies down, the next giggling young lady steps up for her chance at my hand. They don't see me, and I don't begrudge them. I am too regaled as the prince. Does anyone ever see the true beauty of the prize-winning rose, or do they just see the prize? I know the answer.

Another swish and swoop, another twist and giggle; throughout the night, I am the prize. None of them will win. Indeed, a crown will don some young lady's head. A child will be born to bear the weight of the King's crown at my passing, but love, love will not be more than familiarity, a friendship of time in the best of circumstances.

I search for my one true love. The forbidden burning that is only allowed to engulf me in stolen moments and darkened shadows. The twirling hinders my search. I know she is here. She is always here, my greatest protector. The song again slows as I give an obligatory bow to the lady whose name I never learned and step back to survey the room. From nowhere, she is here, at my side.

"A break, my Prince?" Her voice comes low and formal with so many eyes on us.

"Yes, I could do for some fresh air," I agreed.

"This way, my lord," she directs.

The crowd parts to allow me and my trusty knight to pass. If only it were the parting of an aisle. If only we could be joined and share the weight of the crown.

"You are not keeping up appearances well," Catherine scolds as we entered the gardens.

The setting sun could not diminish the sweet perfume of the roses. It engulfs us in a welcoming blanket, a familiar setting for our privacy.

"I try. I do, but..." I have no words. The ladies are not unpleasant or droll even, but I entirely committed my heart. Their efforts are futile and grate on my desires.

"It is a compliment that could bury us. You must be more careful," Catherine scolds again.

"Are you ever not caring for my safety?" I tease, as our eyes met in the moonlight.

"Yes, I fear I have let us go too far and put us both at risk," she condemns.

"Is love too far? Is my love too far?" I press.

"Our love." Her voice cracks at her admission. It is not new, but still exhilarating. Her hand lifts to my cheek before she whispers, "my prince."

We fall into each other, into the forbidden love that will never be known. I will marry an intended. I will sire an heir. I will do as my family's name prescribed, but I will live for these moments. I will live for the touch of her skin on mine. And I will cherish the moments we steal in defiance of our circumstances. 

❣ ❣ ❣

YARomance's pick: Written in the Stars by emluminate

I'm acutely aware of what I'm about to do. I hesitate, my mouth in an O.

I should've known that Xavier would take advantage.

"Well? I've got homework to do better than you at waiting for me." He adjusts his glasses with his pointer finger.

Does he not know that the antagonizing only bewitches me more?

"Right. See you tomorrow, Ptolemy!" He exclaims with a submissive wave.

I scowl. I have no idea why he insists on an old astronomer for a nickname.

"Wait! Xavier! I have something to say," I call out.

"Yes?" He asks with a playful expression.

"I . . ." taking a deep breathe, I continue, "have feelings for you."

Xavier's mouth flattens into a straight line. Bracing for rejection, I watch his figure approach.

"Do you know why I call you Ptolemy? He had an incorrect theory about the solar system, much like you have an incorrect theory about me."

I shake my head, confused. "What's my theory?"

"You think my life revolves around school. But it actually revolves around you, Danielle. I look forward to showing you up every day." He grabs my hand and squeezes, grinning.

"Well, I guess you could call me Galileo, now," I reply.

"Why?"

"Because now I know what's real."