CHARLOTTE I wasn’t sure who looked more surprised.Emma, Avaria or Sarah.But I was sure as hell enjoying the stunned look on their faces, I wondered if I’d be able to get away with taking a picture of them like this. “You’re lying,” Emma said, breaking out of her state of shock, her tone became m
CHARLOTTE When Vance pulled away, I was left extremely out of breath, and just as confused. I could feel every single pair of eyes of every single person person present on me at that moment, but my shock outweighed my ability to be uneasy about the attention. My skin felt hot, and as much as I tr
“Come on Charlotte,” Avaria giggled. “You know, maybe you’ll be more willing to join if there was something in it for you? Like a sweet little challenge” Sounds of interest started going through the room, with a few people even suggesting challenges. They mostly involved nudity and I absolutely did
CHARLOTTEIt felt as though everyone sucked in a breath at the same time. All eyes were now firmly fixed on Caeson and me. But even with the intensity of the crowd’s collective gaze, and Caeson’s intense stare locked on my every move, I didn’t falter. And I wouldn’t. The silence brok
CHARLOTTEEmbarrassed was a mild word to describe what I was feeling. I wanted to throw up, I wanted to run, I wanted to scream, I wanted to cry, but most of all, I wanted to wipe that self-satisfied smile off Taide Soloh’s face. People were staring, and unlike when that first dare had been pa
CHARLOTTEFor a moment, I was in an alternate version of the world I lived in. In that world, my mother didn’t die, my father wasn’t abusive, I didn’t have to attend Lupin prep on a scholarship, and the triplets didn’t hate me. No.They didn’t exist.For that moment, I was in that world, and every
On the inside, the place wasn’t as basic and mysterious, and carried a much greater note of hope and comfort. The faint smell of antiseptic clung to the air, but the beautiful plants and flowers meticulously placed all over the waiting area took away from the assault on my senses.Some elderly resi
CHARLOTTEShocked as Vance was when I ran over and hugged him, I appreciated the fact that he just let me enjoy the moment, seemingly sinking into it himself. He didn’t pull away. He ran a gentle hand over my hair and hugged me tightly; it felt nice to be held so closely and so gently. It felt nice
CHARLOTTEI glanced up at Caeson, catching the steady, unreadable expression he always wore. His gaze held mine, cool and unwavering, and for just a moment, something fluttered in my chest.I quickly shoved it aside, clearing my throat.“She’s staying then?” I asked, looking around the room. “We all
CHARLOTTE I watched the cat nibble on the can of tuna I’d placed on the kitchen island, its tiny pink tongue darting out to lap at the edges.Its fur was such a soft, dark fluff, and as I scratched behind its ear, it leaned into my hand, purring softly. I smiled to myself, feeling an unexpected war
CHARLOTTE I watched the cat nibble on the can of tuna I’d placed on the kitchen island, its tiny pink tongue darting out to lap at the edges.Its fur was such a soft, dark fluff, and as I scratched behind its ear, it leaned into my hand, purring softly. I smiled to myself, feeling an unexpected war
CHARLOTTE I pulled my curls into a bun as I walked down the stairs, my feet moving slowly against the wooden steps. The house was quiet, too quiet, but that was normal these days. My thoughts were scattered until a flicker of movement caught my eye. A flash of black streaked across the foyer. I st
CHARLOTTE Taide was growing out his hair. I sat on the edge of my bed, watching him lean over the mirror on my dresser. His hands combed through his dark hair, smoothing it back and letting it fall forward again. It was longer than I’d ever seen it, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it yet. S
A childish part of me felt like defending that Emma had started it, but why did it matter? It shouldn’t matter and I tried to make myself believe that. Taide’s attention shifted away from the menu to me, and I cleared my throat before turning my gaze from Caeson and down to the menu like I had
CHARLOTTE After a short drive, Taide pulled up in the parking lot of the small restaurant that was a hotspot amongst students in the area. The main area was rowdy and full of students eating and talking loudly, but Taide led me past there and into a quieter, more ambient area. It was still c
CHARLOTTE Taide held the door open and shot me a knowing look. But I didn’t move, I remained in one spot, crossed my arms and pouted. “But Taide—” “I don’t want to hear it,” he cut me off, his expression deep and serious. My lips snapped shut, I sensed that there was no point in arguing. So, wi
I pulled them both back into the house and then to the kitchen. With a small exhale, I let go of their hands, immediately missing the comfort and warmth their touches gave me. “I need to find Madeline,” I told them. “Do you know if she’s back?” Just like Taide, she’d been gone almost all day. Rei