OLIVIA JUNE
As I gradually opened my eyes to the blinding light, I realized I was in an unfamiliar room. Confusion washed over me—was I already in heaven? Had my prayers finally been answered?
Pain coursed through my entire body, as if I had been struck by a barrage of stones. My head pounded relentlessly, causing my vision to blur.
As I turned my head, the stark reality hit me: I was in a hospital.
Who had come to my aid? My mother or perhaps our neighbor? My mind was still clouded with pain and confusion, and tears began to well up in my eyes when I suddenly heard someone exclaim. "Oh my God, you’re awake! Doctor! Doctor!"
“Mom?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.
“I’m coming, sweetheart, just hold on.” she replied.
“Mom.” I wanted to apologize for the trouble I had caused her, but thankfully, she returned to my bedside.
“Why would you do something like this?” she asked, tears streaming down her cheeks as she grasped my hand tightly.
I recounted everything that had happened since I enrolled at Oak Mountain School, including the torment I endured from Charlotte, Reuben and Jerry, my ex-boyfriend.
“So all these scars and bruises are the result of those kids?” she asked, her voice trembling as more tears fell.
I nodded in response.
“They noticed the changes in you, yet none of the teachers or the principal did anything to call or warn me. What kind of people are they?” Her tears transformed into anger, a sight that shocked me; it was the first time I had witnessed her so furious.
“Why didn’t you tell me, my child? You’re all I have. What if…” Her voice broke, and my heart shattered.
I couldn’t bear to see her in pain; this was my mother, the one I had hurt. I turned my gaze away, unable to confront the anguish in her eyes.
“I thought I could handle it alone, Mom. I hoped the bullying would stop, and I didn’t want to add to your stress.”
Sensing my distress, she gently turned my face to meet hers. “I’m so sorry, my child. I wish I had realized sooner…”
I interrupted her, raising my hand. “Mom, I’m the one who should be sorry. I truly am.”
She nodded, managing a pained smile.
“While you were at work, who brought me here?” I asked, still perplexed.
“Oh, dear. It was our neighbor. She called me first, informing me that you had a bandage on your head. I told her to check on you until I arrived, but I was late.” Her eyes began to glisten with tears again.
I felt a wave of guilt wash over me for making her cry, yet I was also relieved that Mrs. Lance had intervened in time. I was alive because of her. My own tears began to flow as I witnessed the pain etched on my mother’s face.
“Sweetheart, you were unconscious for five days. I prayed tirelessly for your recovery. The doctor informed me that your body and brain had gone into shock, and it was up to you to wake up on your own.”
What? I fainted.
Minutes after regaining consciousness, I found myself alone in the room.
Suddenly, the door swung open, revealing the doctor clad in his white coat.
I looked up at him, greeting him with a raspy, “Hello.”
“Hello.” he replied.
He quickly retrieved a glass of water and a straw from the nightstand, helping me sip until I signaled with my hand that I had enough.
He then picked up a notebook and began to flip through its pages.
Questions swirled in my mind—questions about why I had resorted to such drastic actions.
I could hear someone sobbing outside, and it sounded like my mother.
“How are you feeling, Olivia?” the doctor asked, placing the notebook on the table while shining a small flashlight into my eyes.
“I’m okay, just a little headache.” I answered.
He nodded and made notes in his book.
A week had passed in the hospital, a somewhat torturous experience for me. When I was awake, a nurse would stay by my side to ensure I was no longer a danger to myself.
Each day, I was given medication for depression and anxiety, and they made sure I took my pills and met with a therapist.
I longed to leave the hospital; my mother visited daily, but the sterile environment was monotonous. The food was bland, and the endless cycle of sleep and waking only served to amplify my misery.
Jessica called occasionally to check on me, expressing her remorse for not being brave enough to help. I reassured her that she had made the right choice; intervening might have made things worse.
We shared a laugh when she mentioned how I had handled Charlotte, noting that even now, her nose looked awkward. I insisted that I never wanted to hear about that school again, and she respected my wishes.
She asked if I planned to return to Oak School, but I expressed my doubts. My mother had confronted the administration about the bullying, yet they shockingly requested proof, which I knew would be impossible to obtain since every student had been complicit. She understood my perspective but was saddened by the entire situation.
A week went by.
Today, the doctor entered with good news—my mother was called to bring me home. I was no longer a threat to myself.
Joy surged through me. Upon returning home, my mother asked what I wanted to do next, and I proposed relocating to a new city. To my relief, she agreed wholeheartedly, and I began my senior year through homeschooling.
OLIVIA JUNE It has been a month since our of hospital, and I believe moving to this new city was a wise decision for me. Unfortunately, homeschooling is not permitted in California, which forced me to seek a new school. The prospect of adapting to a different environment and school fills me with anxiety. I find myself stepping into the role of the new girl who feels somewhat broken. I can only hope that this school will offer me a better experience.My mother has been busy organizing our belongings in our new California home. She mentioned that our neighbors are very kind and have children my age who will also attend the same school as I will. Their names are Ava and Jason, and I can only hope that Jason will be nothing like Reuben.As I drove to our new residence for the first time, my nerves began to heighten. Upon arriving, I parked the car and noticed a guy sitting on the front porch of the neighboring house. He was holding his phone and wearing headphones, leading me to speculat
Olivia let out a deep sigh as she sank onto the bed, having just placed the last box from her car into her room. The moving truck had left most of their belongings upstairs, so she was relieved she didn't have to haul any more items up the stairs.Meanwhile, Jason was seated on the floor, panting heavily. He had exhausted himself trying to impress Olivia by lifting multiple heavy boxes all on his own. When Olivia noticed he was on the verge of collapsing, she offered him a water bottle, which he gulped down in one go,and expressed his gratitude afterward."Are you hungry?" Olivia asked, hoping he would say yes since her own stomach was growling and hunger never suited her well.As after they strolled through the streets,and unloading boxes, Jason nodded in agreement, confirming that he too was feeling hungry."Is there a good fast food place you have in mind?" Olivia inquired, her enthusiasm growing."Absolutely, and you'll have to pay for the food because of my back-breaking labor."
When their lips touched, Olivia felt shockwaves coursing through her entire body; the kiss was reminiscent of something from the novels she loved to read.However, she pulled away, feeling a bit embarrassed because she was the one who initiated the kiss with Jason. Expecting him to say something, she was taken aback when Jason remained silent, merely gazing at her with his eyes deepening from their usual bright gold-brown to something darker. Yet, his arms remained firmly around her, and neither made an attempt to move.Olivia bit her lower lip, her cheeks heating up as she pondered whether she had done the right thing.Breaking the eye contact, Jason's gaze fell to Olivia's lips; he flicked his tongue out to wet his own. In that moment, Olivia realized she shouldn't feel embarrassed about the kiss. A flutter of desire surged through her; she wanted to kiss Jason again.There was something special about that first kiss. Although it had been quick and soft, it felt profound.Just as Ol
The following morning, Olivia was busy preparing breakfast for herself while her mother, Mary, ventured into town in search of a job. Suddenly, a knock echoed from the front door.Wiping her hands hastily on a towel, Olivia made her way to the door. To her astonishment, she found a new girl she had never seen before standing there. The girl was strikingly beautiful, with bright brown eyes, ginger hair, and delicate lips.With a broad smile, the girl introduced herself. "Hi, I'm Ava Lee, and I live next door." she said, extending her hand in greeting.Olivia paused for a moment, recalling that her mother had mentioned something about the girl next door. She smiled back and shook Ava's hand. "Hello, I’m Olivia June. It's great to finally meet you! My mother has spoken about you. Please, come in!" she invited, gesturing for Ava to enter, which she did with a nod."I’ve heard a lot about you too! Since I don’t have any friends here, I hope we can be friends." Ava continued, her smile infe
Day by day, month by month, Jason and Olivia grew stronger together; they spent a lot of time with each other and attended school together.Mary, Olivia’s mother, found a new job at a nearby kindergarten. Although it didn’t pay as much as her previous position, she was happy, saying that working was better than not working at all.Olivia and Jason finished high school together and enrolled in the same college, but they chose different fields of study. Despite their differing paths, their relationship continued to flourish and grow stronger.Jason aspired to own his own business, so he pursued a degree in business management, while Olivia, who loved to draw building structures, chose architecture.After four years, Olivia and Jason returned home.Jason's father was thrilled that his son would take over the family business, as he had been eagerly waiting for Jason to complete his studies before stepping into the role.On the other hand, Olivia informed Jason that she needed a break from
Mary and her daughter, Olivia, decided to go shopping today for tonight's dinner with Mary’s partner. They first started at a makeup shop, where Olivia expressed the need for new makeup to enhance her look for the evening.Afterward, they moved on to selecting dresses for the occasion. Olivia chose a cherry-red dress with long sleeves featuring a daring open back and a slit that elegantly revealed her left leg. Mary opted for a vibrant red dress that cascaded all the way down to her feet, also with long sleeves.Next, both Olivia and Mary visited a jewelry store to find the perfect earrings and necklaces to complement their outfits. Afterward, they decided to grab a bite to eat, feeling famished from all their shopping and their quest for the ideal ensemble.Their final stop was to refresh their hairstyles and pamper their nails to put the finishing touches on their looks.After three hours of preparation, they were ready and headed home to prepare for the dinner. By six in the evenin
REUBEN FOSTER."I have always loved you," the woman cried. "Please don't do this to me, please don't end our perfect relationship." An actor spoke to the renowned performer, Reuben Foster.An uncomfortable silence followed."Cut!" The director exclaimed, his annoyance palpable.Once again, Reuben's mind strayed—a rare occurrence for him. He had paused at the same scene more than ten times already. Usually unfazed, Reuben found it nearly impossible to concentrate after learning that his father, David, was getting married, and that the woman would be moving in with them, along with her daughter. The thought disrupted his acting like never before.Reuben often clashed with his father whenever David raised the ridiculous idea of remarrying that woman.The prospect of living with someone who had no understanding of his lifestyle or history was far from the year Reuben had envisioned for himself.It was already a challenge for Reuben to keep his true identity hidden from the public, so how
Olivia's body lost its ability to breathe.Reuben Foster stood just a few meters away, his deep green eyes locked on Olivia in an intense stare.Olivia couldn't believe it; her high school enemy was even more handsome than she remembered. But as soon as his father announced that Olivia was now his stepsister, Reuben's expression shifted drastically. She could see in his eyes that he wasn’t pleased. Yet Olivia didn’t care. She still remembered how they had bullied her into moving to California, so why should she care about his feelings now?Understanding flooded Olivia's mind; it could be frustrating to have to live with someone who had tormented you, but she hadn’t asked for this situation. She had only agreed to this arrangement to make her mother happy, all the while unaware that the unknown son would turn out to be Reuben Foster.Reuben took a slow step forward, closing the distance between them. Olivia's body stiffened with nervousness and anticipation as he approached, halting j
Olivia took a deep breath, trying to suppress the whirlwind of emotions bubbling within her. Jason had always been there for her, showering her with kindness and attention. He was sweet, dependable, and genuinely cared about her. But now, her heart seemed to play tricks on her, longing for Reuben, the very person who had been a constant source of torment before this surprising turn of events.With a trembling hand, she clicked on the message from Jason, fully aware that she needed to navigate her feelings carefully. She had to be honest with herself, and with Jason, about the internal conflict gnawing at her.The message read: "Hey Olivia! Just wanted to check in on you. I heard about everything that went down yesterday. I hope you’re okay. If you want to talk, let me know."Her mind raced. How could she explain that despite all of Jason’s kindness and how good he was to her, she couldn’t help but feel this magnetic pull towards Reuben? It felt disloyal, even though she hadn’t encoura
Olivia's heart felt like it was shattering all over again, fragments of doubt and fear threatening to consume her. She didn't want to believe Melissa, but the weight of uncertainty was too heavy to bear. Reuben, the man she loved, might truly be leaving her for someone else—someone from another world, another reality. As she stood frozen at the doorway, every second seemed like an eternity. The sound of Reuben's car pulling into the driveway had ignited a spark of desperation within her. She needed to confront him, to hear his voice and read his eyes, to determine once and for all what was real and what was false. The anxiety rushing through her veins made her feel vulnerable, exposed. When Reuben finally approached, his presence both soothed and terrified her. She could see the conflict in his eyes; he was battling with something he had yet to disclose. Did he know the gravity of the situation? Did he know the torment that was twisting Olivia's insides? His slow steps were like an
Reuben groaned out loud and squeezed the steering wheel tightly. "Stay away from me. That's going to help me much more than you think."He heard Olivia gasp and knew that he had just hurt her feelings, but he had no time to explain anything to her right now. Reuben was in too much pain, and it was already so hard for him to resist her. If Olivia was next to him, he wouldn’t be able to last much longer.As they pulled up to the parking lot, Olivia turned to Reuben, and he tried not to look at her, knowing she was far too tempting."I know I’m not your type and I always cause trouble for you. So I understand why you don't want to be with me. And I won’t ask that of you again." Olivia said in a broken voice that pierced his heart. "But there's just one thing I want to ask you: don't just ever leave. I don't care if we can't be together. It will suck knowing that I have these feelings for you that I can barely control, but what will hurt more is not having you by my side."Reuben went rig
Reuben had turned Olivia down yet again, but this time, she understood his reasons. He wasn't the same as her; he was different—much different. How could they ever be compatible when Reuben wasn't even human? There were things about him that Olivia might never grasp fully. Yet, despite this awareness, her body still craved him. Olivia still wanted Reuben. He was the first man with whom she had felt such a profound connection—not even with Jason at school or Jerry, her first boyfriend, who had somehow happened to be human.Olivia knew that just yesterday she had claimed she needed to move on, but today proved to be another battle. Her heart and mind were totally at odds, fighting against the very idea of detachment. It didn't help that Reuben was wearing a black t-shirt, accentuating his muscular arms. Did he even realize the effect he had on her? Who was she kidding? Any color would suit him—he was that undeniably good looking."We have another scene to shoot on set." Reuben informe
Should Olivia call for help? The thought crossed her mind, but she hesitated, not wishing to embarrass Reuben yet again. Such an outcry would undoubtedly make headlines, and Olivia wanted to avoid that at all costs. She had already done enough damage to his reputation, but if these men persisted, she might have no choice but to scream for assistance."Olivia?"At that moment, Olivia looked up and caught sight of Reuben. He paused, taking in the scene before him.His eyes began to glow—not the familiar golden hue Olivia had seen before, but a striking dark blue. It wasn't just Olivia who noticed; the men around them were equally startled."What the hell is he?" one of the men shouted in fear.Olivia gasped in horror as she watched the two men lift off the ground, seemingly suspended in mid-air with no one touching them.She turned to Reuben, her eyes wide, but rather than feeling frightened for her own safety, her concern shifted to him. Anyone could walk in and witness what was happen
Reuben found himself captivated by Olivia as she gracefully descended the staircase, her long legs commanding his attention. It took considerable effort to tear his gaze away; the stairs seemed to stretch on interminably, a feeling he had never experienced before.As Olivia approached, Reuben instinctively closed his eyes, his body igniting with a rush of awareness at her proximity. He clenched his jaw, grappling with a wave of lustful thoughts that threatened to overwhelm him.“Are you ready?” Olivia whispered, her voice carrying an inviting tone that further stirred Reuben’s emotions.Once the evening concluded, he would need to make another appointment with the doctor. This reaction to Olivia was not typical, and he sensed that something deeper lay behind it.He couldn't recall anyone on his home planet being so infatuated with a woman. Even his parents, despite their affection, never displayed such overt adoration in his presence.“Yes,” Reuben replied, his voice sounding rough to
Olivia couldn't explain it, but something deep within her told her that Reuben would leave her the moment she discovered his secret. Because of that, she preferred to let him live his life without interference.As she pondered this, a sound interrupted her thoughts—the unmistakable sound of a door closing. Was Reuben back home already? Olivia's heartbeat quickened at the mere thought of it being him.She tried to compose herself as she walked toward the door, excitement bubbling within her at the prospect of seeing him once more.Her heart stopped for a split second when she spotted Reuben just a few feet away. His eyes locked onto hers at the same moment, but within those familiar depths, she saw an overwhelming sadness that sent a wave of ache through her chest.What happened? Why did he look as though he had been completely defeated by something or someone? Olivia pondered to herself, her mind racing.She yearned to run into his arms, to hold him close and shield him from whatever
Reuben packed his car near Melissa's and got out to speak with her.Melissa was hanging on the side of her car. "I'm sure you are here to apologize." she said, dropping her purse into her car through the open window."Melissa," Reuben whispered. "please don't make this difficult for me. We've known each other even before we came here to Earth. You were the only woman in my life for the longest time. I care about you deeply." Reuben stepped closer to her and continued."But I no longer want a relationship with you. The woman I once knew is no longer there; you have changed. I have spoken to you about this multiple times, and you continued to dismiss it." Reuben said, looking Melissa in the eyes."I’ve tried to keep the relationship going for you. I have given you more than a year to try and make it work. I just can’t keep pretending that I want this when I don’t." Reuben concluded.Melissa gripped Reuben's arms and glared at him as though she just wanted to slap him. "You don’t mean th
Olivia could hear Melissa's piercing screams of Reuben's name behind them, and she braced herself for the inevitable headlines that would invade the entertainment news tomorrow.As they stepped outside near the parking lot, Melissa closed the distance between them with a fury that was palpable. "What the hell is wrong with you?" she shouted at Reuben. "You totally embarrassed me in front of all my friends!"Reuben released a deep breath, loosening his tie in frustration. "I wouldn't have had to act that way if you hadn't tried to humiliate Olivia. She did nothing to deserve that."Melissa narrowed her eyes, a challenge evident in her tone. "Is that really the reason, or is it because you were jealous that some guy was hitting on her?"Reuben's eyes hardened at her accusation. "I don't think I can do this anymore, Melissa. We’ve been having these arguments for years, and I’ve finally had enough. I care about you, but it’s best if we remain friends." The seriousness etched on his face