Novels by Shidaliya

The bus ride back to school was nothing short of chaotic.The lads were still buzzing from the trip, making noise in the back like they hadn’t just spent the past few days running on barely any sleep. Someone had smuggled a speaker onto the bus, blasting music loud enough that the teachers had already given up trying to control it.I should’ve been right there with them—laughing, messing around, enjoying the last few moments of freedom before we were dumped back into reality.But my head was somewhere else.Or, more accurately, on someone else.Sienna sat near the middle of the bus, headphones in, staring out the window. She wasn’t talking to anyone, wasn’t engaging in the chaos around her.I knew that look.She was overthinking.I sighed, running a hand through my hair.The thing was, I knew what Amanda had said to her. I knew the way her mind worked, how doubt crept in no matter how many times I tried to shut it down.And I hated it.Hated that she still questioned this—us.I wasn’t

The crisp morning air bit at my cheeks as I stood outside the cabins, watching the sunrise spill soft gold over the hills. The trip was almost over. By this time tomorrow, we’d be back in school, drowning in assignments and pretending like this excursion had been just another ordinary event.But it wasn’t.At least, not for me.Not after last night.Not after the way Luca had looked at me at breakfast—like he wasn’t willing to let me slip away.A shiver ran through me, though I wasn’t sure if it was from the cold or the weight of everything that had happened.“Hey.”Cassie’s voice pulled me from my thoughts, and I turned to see her approaching, a steaming cup of tea in her hands. She held it out to me.I took it without question. “Thanks.”She arched a brow. “You okay?”I hesitated, then gave a small nod. “Yeah.”She huffed, clearly unconvinced, but didn’t push. Instead, she glanced toward the mess hall, where students were still trailing in and out, finishing breakfast. “So, what’s o

The sun was barely rising when I cracked my eyes open, but I knew, before I even turned my head, that I was alone.Sienna was gone.I sat up slowly, rubbing a hand over my face as last night came rushing back.Her lips.Her body pressed against mine.The way she looked at me—like she wanted to stay but didn’t know how.Like she was afraid to want this as much as I did.I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair.I should’ve expected this.Sienna had always been the type to run when things got too real.And last night?It was real.Too real.With a grunt, I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and stood, stretching out the stiffness in my muscles. The room was still dark, but I could hear movement outside—the rest of the students waking up, getting ready for the last day of the trip.Right.The trip.The whole reason we were here.It was easy to forget that this wasn’t just some weekend getaway—that we were technically on a school excursion, meant to be soaking up educational

I should’ve pulled away.I should’ve told him no.I should’ve done something other than let Luca Russo—cocky, infuriating, undeniably irresistible Luca—drag me through the house like I belonged to him.But I didn’t.Because deep down, in the place I tried so hard to ignore, I wanted this.I wanted him.The music pounded through the walls, the thrum of bass rattling through my chest as we weaved past people drinking, laughing, making out in corners like they had nothing to lose.But I barely noticed them.Because all I could focus on was Luca’s hand wrapped tightly around mine.The way his grip never faltered.The way he never once looked back, as if he already knew I wasn’t going anywhere.And the worst part?He was right.We reached the bottom of the stairs, and my pulse kicked up.Oh God.Where was he taking me?I should’ve asked.Should’ve stopped him.But instead, I let him lead me up, past more partygoers, past people I barely recognized.By the time he pushed open the door to hi

I couldn’t stop thinking about it.The kiss.Sienna.The way she’d grabbed me in front of everyone, like she’d finally snapped, like she had to prove something—to Amanda, to herself, to me.But she didn’t have to.Not to me.Because I already knew.Knew she wanted me. Knew she felt this, whatever the hell this was, just as much as I did.And now?There was no going back.I leaned against the porch railing, watching the lake, trying to get my head straight.It wasn’t working.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her.The fire in her eyes. The way her lips had trembled against mine. The way her whole body had melted into me, like she belonged there.Like she wanted to belong there.And now, she was running.I had seen it the second she stormed off after breakfast, Cassie struggling to keep up.She was panicking. Probably overthinking. Probably trying to convince herself it didn’t mean anything.Too bad for her—I wasn’t letting her do that.The cabin door creaked open, and I turned just as

I had officially lost my mind.That was the only explanation.Why else would I have grabbed Luca in the middle of breakfast—in front of everyone—and kissed him like I had something to prove?Because I had snapped. That was why.Amanda’s words, her smug little smirk, the constant taunting—I had reached my limit. And instead of ignoring it like I always did, I had thrown gasoline on the fire.And now I was burning.The moment my lips had touched Luca’s, the rest of the world had vanished.I hadn’t thought about Amanda.Or the people watching.Or the fact that Luca was Luca—the same boy I had spent the last few months trying to keep at arm’s length.All I had thought about was him.His hands in my hair. His lips moving against mine. The way he made me feel like the ground beneath me was shifting.And now?Now, I had to deal with it.I practically sprinted out of the breakfast area, ignoring the whispers and the knowing looks.Cassie was right on my heels. “Sienna—”“I don’t want to talk