I zipped up my black hoodie, slung my crossbody bag, and was about to slip out the door when her voice filled the room. "Cariño... ¿podemos hablar?" ,(Sweetheart... can we talk?)My heart dropped. Shit! In the chaos, I’d forgotten about Mum and the explanation she’d demand about the money. Couldn’t I just come up with something? But I’d always been a terrible liar, and hadn’t tested that flaw in years. Until now.I turned before she sensed my reluctance. Could I get away with “I’m late for school”? She stepped into the room, exhaustion darkening the circles under her eyes. "You weren’t home Saturday night, Myles.” Her tone was casual, but I heard the weight behind it. “I sat by the window in the living room waiting for you to come home, almost called the police because you…you don’t do that.”The clock ticked loudly, and I felt my heart pound as guilt crawled up my throat, shattering the wall I’d forced around it.“That shouldn’t worry me, right?” She laughed lightly, trying to ease
"We looked everywhere for you, you know," Leo said over the noise of cheers echoing in the rink. "We were understaffed distributing the water, but Jade wasn’t worried about that; she was just worried about you." Guilt gnawed at me as I glanced at her in the stands with the cooler hanging on her shoulders. We were at the rink where the hockey team was having a mock match among themselves, and other students had crowded into the bleachers. Each time I heard a stick slam against the puck and the crowd scream, "Goal!" I didn’t need to look to know it was Tristan. I wished they’d all stop screeching—he wasn’t the only one on his team. In fact, I thought it was unfair to put him and George in the same group. But I didn’t care. Instead, I was patiently waiting for the second half so I could give out the water and leave for home. "Still, one hundred and thirteen missed calls." I raised a brow at him. "If I was dead, I wouldn’t be answering any of that." "Trust me," he said, folding
"...She likes him." Jade pulls a petal from another rose, "She likes him not." Another drops to the floor of the car. I try not to groan, sitting in the front seat and munching on fries. She exhaled, and soon, there was a lone petal before my face. "Still don't wanna tell us how you caught the queen's eye?" We were parked in front of El Refugio, a club allowed only on invite, on the watch for the man who’d "mugged" me. Only once we got here did I realize I could’ve told her I hadn’t seen his face because it was dark. The guilt weighed on me as I stuffed more fries into my mouth, stealing a glance at the rearview mirror and seeing Jade’s eager expression. They didn’t need to be here—I’d lied and here they were, being involved, just to keep me close and not leave me alone with my thoughts. I forced myself to look at the petal in her hand and scowled, “I told you she’s just a caring person. She doesn’t want to be my girlfriend. Leo, say something.” When nothing came, I turned a
**MYLES** The room smelled of antiseptic mixed with the stomach-churning scent of open pill bottles scattered on the table beside the bed, the bed where she lay with the covers up to her neck. Thirteen hours, and Ma's fever still hasn't broken. I sat at the edge of the bed, staring at the wall, listening to the silence in the room. Yesterday, I’d walked in to find her half-slumped on the chair, midway through preparing for work, and since then, we've been like this. Quiet, with the weight of our last confrontation still hanging heavy between us. But even though I don't say anything, even though she doesn't talk to me, I stay. I felt her shift on the bed, her speech slower than usual. "I told you not to stay. I said I can handle myself, Carino." She looked at the clock on the table next to the medicine. "There's still time; you can make it. Don't you have practice?" I bit my cheek; she still didn't know that I had been kicked off the team. "That can wait." I forced a small smile.
To make matters worse, they’d found a seat dead center of the club—a spot where he didn’t even have to strain to watch me. I fixed my gaze on the ceiling, heart clenching every time I felt his eyes.Okay, someone really needed to ask this bastard what his problem was. Dressed in a fitted blue three-piece suit that practically screamed “danger,” he leaned back on the sofa next to Eros, nursing a half-filled glass, while his uncle worked the room. He was in his own world, or maybe just bored, his gaze drifting with a few half-hearted nods and handshakes.Yeah, yeah, I get it—how would I know all that if I wasn’t looking? Well, he’s in the middle of the room; where the hell else am I supposed to look?“Did you see Tristan and Eros?” Jade’s voice broke into my thoughts. “I mean, I knew he had pull, but wow, here too? Must be nice being rich.”I raised a brow at her.She rolled her eyes and gestured to the room. “That rich, smartass. That rich.” Her arms folded across her chest. “You think
**JADE**"Myles, are you okay?" I asked. He lifted his face from the kitchen sink, looked at me strangely, and nodded as he breathed, "Yeah. I'm just tired, that's all." I wasn’t stupid; I knew that wasn’t the case. It was instinct, the same way I knew there had been no mugger. That was an aggressive make-out mark. The reason his face had turned red when I touched it. But that bruise on his face—he’d been hit, and not by any mugger. "Give me a moment," he said as he walked around me, past the event where the audience had begun to clear out, and into the restroom. The crowd in the hall had started to thin. The ones remaining indulged in drunken revelry, the conversations louder than the music. But I was lost in thought, barely noticing any of it. What was wrong with Myles, really? Whatever it was... I walked out of the room, glaring at the figure emerging from the stairs. That had everything to do with it. Rage crawled up my chest. He caused it all. Myles had worked so
"I wasn’t myself."“Oh, come on, Astor, hold yourself accountable! You did it out of spite. Admit it!”“If you mean I was pissed, then yes! Anyone would be pissed if you gave their position away, darn it.”Silence. Then, “That’s the confession we needed. We’ll call you back after we’ve made a decision. You’re dismissed, Astor.”It was the next day, and I was still waiting for my name to be called as I sat in the cafeteria, skipping three classes in a row. My phone was switched off, unable to stand the endless ringing. The news had spread like wildfire. It was on everyone’s lips, and in no time, various versions of what had happened began to make rounds.“Yeah, the scholarship kid, the one with the shaved head? He was paid to steal the list, you know.”“He was always jealous of George. That must be why.”“I hate that I once pitied him when he was kicked off the team, but now it all makes sense.”Or the most popular one: “Being on a scholarship and such a vile human is insane.”They th
"...I don't really need you anymore." My eyes flew open, meeting the stark white ceiling above. Cold air chilled my bare upper body, bandaged and covered in medical stickers. I turned to my side, finding it empty except for a nurse asleep at the far end of the room. I swallowed hard. It was all in my head. He was all in my head. It stung that he wasn’t at school, yet he still ruled a corner of my mind, a part that wanted to crawl back to him and beg for the deal. But it was pointless now, with expulsion looming over me. I sighed, listening to the quiet—a fragile comfort keeping me together. But I felt someone nearby, this time real. I opened my eyes to see a second nurse. "You're awake." She pointed to the door. "Your friends want to see you. Feeling up to visitors?" My chest clenched, a different kind of pain than the one in my bones. How long had it been? They were still waiting outside? "I don't want to see them," I said. The nurse blinked, her brows furrowing. "Are you sur
**JADE** "...It's one-two, two, one-two, three! And spin! Jade, Jade McCoy, what is up with you today?!" The coach yelled. I had no clue, but suddenly, the gown felt too tight—so tight I struggled for air instead of skating. Then came the gunfire, suddenly piercing my thoughts, leaving me gasping, panting, and almost tripping. It's Monday, and I can't concentrate. I almost died in an intense gun chase, and they wouldn’t know it. I fainted in the car. Listening to Eros banter with the person on the other end made my stomach churn. It told me everything I needed to know: *They had come for him*. He was used to this. As I fainted, I wondered why he never pulled out a gun—for I damn well knew he had one. I woke up in his house, still fully dressed, on a bed that smelled like him. He lived big—I listened to the quiet house—and alone, too. I snatched my coat, ready to race out of wherever this place was. But opening the door, there he was, drying his wet hands with a towel.
Dinner with Jake was surprisingly pleasant. The awkwardness I had expected never arrived. Instead, we talked—about school, books, and random little things that didn’t seem important but filled the silence in a way that made me feel... normal. He wasn’t overbearing, didn’t ask invasive questions. For once, I didn’t feel like I had to guard every word I said.Afterward, we sat on his small couch, our plates balanced on the coffee table, the dim kitchen light spilling into the living room. He owned one of the nicest spots in the neighborhood. Considering how much he worked, I understood why—but I couldn’t fathom how he kept the place so spotless. Like he read my thoughts, he said, “Left home at sixteen, moved to D.C., found a job my first week, loved the pay, and haven’t looked back since.” When I stayed quiet, he shrugged. “I wanted to make it clear—I’m not trying to make you my next dinner or something.” I smiled, comforted by his easygoing tone. “Not that.” My eyes wandered ar
**TRISTAN** "...Get your fucking uncle in order!" Detonations and a feminine scream accompanied the angry order. For Eros to call it a glock, he was in trouble. I groaned, leaving the mini bar, the half-filled glass forgotten for a moment. It was almost two, and here I was, still drinking myself to stupor. "Tristan! Are you there?!" Eros's voice cut through my confusion. The screeching, the gunfire—it was all giving me a headache. "Jesus Christ, man! I'm going to die. Call your fucking uncle!" I massaged the side of my head, walking to the window. "Why do you think it's Nico?" "I don't know..." he snarled. "Maybe because he's been on my case since he found out about the little sessions you have with M..." He stopped himself just in time. I bit back a smile. "Just call your uncle and sort this shit out!" I walked back to the counter, taking the tumbler and listening to its quiet slosh. Picking up the house phone, I punched in the very familiar number. At the first ring,
**TRISTAN** Agreed too quickly—far too quickly for a girl who decided to bestow her attention on him only a month ago. Despite the smirk tugging at my lips, I felt my blood boil. What was wrong with me? I didn't know if I wanted to kill him—tighten my fingers around his throat—or fuck him hard. "You always make bad decisions," I breathed, soaking in the hatred his eyes exuded. "Tell me about it," he retorted. I gripped his waist, nails digging into his skin. He winced and swallowed. He looked so beautiful this way, from the damp waves of his hair down to his toes, and I hated how obvious that was, even as rage coursed through me. And that clear skin... I pressed my fingers deeper into his neck. Give it time—it wouldn't stay that clear. "Come on now," I whispered. "Get on your knees." He drew a deep breath, but he didn’t hesitate, sliding down until he was on the wet floor. Before my arousal, he blushed red but kept his eyes locked on mine. And that... that sent blood
**TRISTAN** *'...I can't stop talking to Natalie.'* My fist clenched on the bar counter as I stared into the golden liquid in my tumbler. That little pain in the ass. How could one fucking person grate so hard on my nerves? What would I have done differently if it were someone else, not those puppy-brown eyes looking at me from across the table? I downed the glass in one frustrated gulp. Maybe, for starters, I wouldn't have had him at my *fucking* table. The bartender refilled my glass before I could call out, his sea blues lingering right on my zipper—a blatant open invitation. Normally, I’d take it. God knows I needed the distraction tonight—anything to silence the voice in my head or the heat crawling under my skin. But for some reason, I wasn’t interested. Grabbing my glass, I left the counter for an empty sofa tucked in the corner of the room. The club buzzed with life—flashing neon lights, bass-heavy music pounding against my skull—but it all blurred into white noise. Ha
**MYLES** *Today. 6pm.* His text had said, and at that moment, my stomach sank. Even the laughter around me couldn’t drown out the unease twisting in my gut. Two hours later, after everyone had left, I pulled my hood over my head and walked to the deserted road where I was always picked up. There he was—not his driver, but Tristan himself, sitting behind the steering wheel. My brows knit, more in annoyance than shock. Great. So much for those two peaceful hours before the storm. Gone. “The front seat,” he said as I approached, not even glancing at me. I slid in next to him, shutting the door behind me. He started the ignition and pulled onto the road, his expression still unreadable. I studied the side of his face, trying to gauge his mood or his thoughts, but it was blank. The tension filling the car gnawed at my insides, warning me this wasn’t good. I turned to the window instead, refusing to let his mood swings keep me on edge. But no matter how hard I tried to relax,
**Oh God!** I groaned through a mouthful of tacos, licking my fingers. "I love your mum, Myles! Oh my God, this is so good." Leo, seated on Myles's study desk, shot me a look that screamed, *Seriously, Jade?* Meanwhile, Myles, standing beside him, chuckled and kept explaining his math working. We were at his house. I sat cross-legged on his bed next to a tray stacked high with tacos. Natalie was nowhere to be found—she had left the room with Myles's mum twenty minutes ago. A smile spread across my face, warmth filling my chest, as Myles gave Leo a playful slap on the back of his head. He had no idea how happy I was. It was obvious why he'd hidden his address from us—Myles was ashamed of where he lived. But suddenly, he wasn’t anymore? What changed his mind? Whatever it was deserved a kiss on the cheek. I loved the coziness of his room as much as I loved his mum, with her cute Mexican accent. I groaned again. "Oh God!" Leo turned to glare this time. "Really? Are you going
**MYLES**The plan was to keep recovering until next week. I’d let Mum keep me home Wednesday and Thursday, but by Friday, I couldn’t wait any longer. The moment I walked into the barn, I felt his eyes on me—like a velvet knife, slicing through my clothes and into my thoughts. But I didn’t look back at him. Instead, I turned to the far end of the room, where Leo was watching Jade, who was struggling to pull on her boots, frustration written all over her face.They were next on the ice rink for the figure skating club, but Jade looked ready to explode. Then, her eyes met mine. The boots dropped from her hands, her eyes widening. "Myles," she mouthed.I smiled, and in the next second, she was racing toward me, throwing her arms around me in a tight embrace. I held her too, ignoring the attention she’d drawn and the slight pain digging into my sides.“You’re going to be the death of me,” she whispered, something warm and wet soaking into my shirt. “You’re going to be the fucking death o
Eros wasn’t wrong. Following a goon, hands buried in my pockets, I stepped into the hall, a hundred stares landing on me. I cursed under my breath, grimacing for everyone to see. If I’d known I’d be stumbling into an event at the Boss’s home, I’d have sat this one out. But it was too late for regrets; at least it was quiet here, with a classical tune in the background—every bit different from the loud thump of the club I’d just left. “This way, sir.” The butler called, leading me up a grand staircase. The carved balustrades were a magnificent work of art; Uncle Nico had always had an eye for beautiful pieces, taking his time with them, unlike my father, who had drifted from everything he grew up with. I looked up, and there he was at the top of the stairs, looking down at me. I held his gaze, my grimace intact so he’d understand just how pissed I was.“Oh, come on.” My uncle rolled his eyes. “Fine, I made a mistake with the timing and should have notified you. I forgot… Come here.