LUCA The party is full of life. Bodies moving in perfect unison with the loud thumping of the background music, sounds of laughter and clinking of glasses, the sharp smell of liquor and cigar filling the air. Neon lights fading out the faces of the clubbers. I grab Lily's wrist firmly while pushing through sweaty, horny bodies. My eyes darts across the room and stop at the sight of an empty stool by the bar. "There's only one stool." Lily tells me as I pull her with me towards the bar. I smirk at her. "Not for long." Beside the empty stool is a girl who appears both lost and lonely. I comb my tan fingers through my hair summoning all the seductive wit I possess, I lean slightly on the bar top facing the girl whose seat I'm about to colonize. "Hey you want to dance?" Her eyes lifts from the empty glass before her, and the moment there lock on mine. She's awestruck. Yes, I always have that effect on women. There's a hint of familiarity in her face. Oh no. Clara, or Chole. T
LILY. I stir on my bed stretching my hands over my head and yawning with my mouth open. I drowsily open my eyes and rise to a sitting position. My head is throbbing from last night. I close my eyes shut trying to recall the events of the previous day. Kiss. Party. Drinks. Fight. Arrest. I groan and jump off from my head. Drawing down the curtain and squinting as the harsh sunlight invade my bedroom. I stretch my hands and yawn again before settling back on my bed. Luca was arrested last night for battery, affray and attempted murder. Despite his cold demeanor, I knew he was jealous when he saw me with that boy. Maybe I wanted to make him mad for calling me a messy virgin but I didn't know how dangerous he could get when he was angry. The moment Luca did the thoughtful act of defending me from an inappropriate proposition. I felt something light and velvety flutter in my stomach. A butterfly. Then a thousand butterflies started fluttering in my stomach for Luca. I cried all
LILY "Breath." He commands. His voice is too deep, it reaches my stomach and caress my senses. I obey by inhaling and exhaling. His hands drops from my waist and I almost voice my protest. He clears his throat and push me away from him. His rejection hits like a kick in the gut. Sensing the moment is over, I step way from him until there's enough space for me to breath. The whore in me does one more assessment of him. If I ever said this man was handsome, then I'm an idiot because this man is. Devastingly. Hot. "Why are you here?" His signature scowl is back on his face. "I-I came to check on you." "To see how much of a mess I am? So that you can go tell your daddy and have him come over and whoop my ass?" What is he talking about? "Sorry about last night." I stretch out my hands that's holding the bag of mom's homemade cookies which I know Luca can never resist. "I brought cookies for..." I stop talking midway and stare at the new figure that has just joined Luca in the
LILY"West says he won't be available this weekend. He has some stuffs to sort out at college, but he will try to sneak out within the week." Tiffany and I are laying side by side on my bed with our faces glued to the ceiling. I turn to face her, probing myself on an elbow. "Your boyfriend really loves you.""Yes. He does Lily. West is the absolute best. I got the pills today!" She squeals and I join her because I know the implication of getting the pills. She's ready to hit it. "Are you ready?" I still ask."Duh." Her eyes are full of excitement as she laughs. "I've been ready since I was eight. I was just waiting to find my prince charming. I have bought the smuttiest books of all time, so that I can know what to do and how to do it.""West really gives you the chills and the burns?""Lily, he makes me feel. I feel like I was made from his rib." Tiffany eyes are so dreamy as she talks about West. "He is mine. You know how you just meet someone and you know that he was made for you.
LILYIt's been two weeks since I last saw Luca, but who is counting?I want him, I know he wants me, isn't that enough? But Luca always has a thousand and one reasons why we can't get involved, and well most of them may be correct. The fact that I'm too young for him. He is too bad for me. He only does one night stands. I want a relationship. He's dark. I'm a hopeless romantic. I have been so preoccupied with thoughts of Luca to the extent that characters in my favorite books remind me of him, my favorite song makes me remember how our kiss felt, and the books I read somehow, always manage to mention his name.This man has ruined me.But today I'm pushing all thoughts of Luca to the shelf and focusing on I and Tiffany's to-do-list, I've been just a horrible friend putting on hold for way too long. Today, we're ticking off summer to do list number one - adrenaline pumping activity.The activity we agreed on is very dangerous, that is why we picked today. It's still early in the morni
LILY"I...uhm. I should probably get going." Is Tiffany still here? I had already tuned her out. "I'm sorry Lily. Get well soon."I eye her suspiciously. Everything she says doesn't make sense. Get out bestie!She mouths with a mischievous glint. "I don't want to be the third wheel. You two obviously have something going on." Her voice increases two volumes louder. "Take care of my friend, Luca.""I will." He answers without turning around. We remain in the same position until Tiffany's car fades out. Luca redraws his finger and I almost whimper in pleasure. He raise his finger to his eye level and succinctly examine it. His finger is wet. And sticky. My face is red with embarrassment. Luca stands up and without asking carries me in his arms. "You should rest now."I'm about to protest that I can walk but I decide against it. His arms are so warm and strong. He drifts towards my house and kicks the door open with his leg and enter in. He is about to turn in the direction of my room
LILY"Tonight's party, we're going all out. We will party still midnight."My eyes grow wide with shock. "My curfew is 10.00pm.""Oh that's on you. You have to convince your daddy to let you stay out till midnight." I hate when Tiffany sends me to do the tough tasks but well, this is my father we are talking about I don't expect her to ask him on my behalf. Tonight, we're looking forward to ticking off summer-to-do-list number two and saving me from going insane. After the accident that took place on our yard and my mom walking in on Luca and I kissing, I've been locked indoors in the name of healing, it was my mom's idea, she never told my dad what she saw, so I knew it was her way of punishing me. Tiffany was not allowed to visit, only nurses and maids attended to me, there was no new book in my library to read and I think my mom intentionally blocked my network connection. I had plenty time to do absolutely nothing but think about Luca, even dream about him sneaking into my bedr
LUCA"This is a public club Lily. I'm not stalking you." I idly glance at my wrist watch. "Come with me. I'm taking you home." "No, you are not. I'm going with Tiffany.""Tiffany is pretty wasted." I point to where Tiffany is laying with a dude. The way Lily waves at him and he signals that he will take care of Tiffany, I can assume that they know each other. Lily folds her arms stubbornly. "I'm still not going with you.""Yes, not like that." I cringe my nose in disgust at her vomit wrenched outfit. Why is she wearing such a tiny skirt? Why did she allow all those men touch her? She is different, she is not like the Lily I know. Why do I care? I don't care. Even if she wants to be a little slut I won't still touch her. She's a jailbait, a forbidden fruit that is trying to destroy me. I'm still mad that Kate caught us kissing and warned me very politely to leave her daughter alone. If I really wanted Lily that badly, I could take her, elope with her to an unknown island and make h
LUCA'S POV"Welcome back, kiddo." Smith pulls me in first for a tight hug, squashing me in his big belly before patting my back. "How are you?""Luca!" Shareholders and executives shout my name from different corners of the party, all trying to get a hold of me."Ignore them." Smith whispers loud enough over the blasting music in the hall for me to hear but not loud enough for the others to hear. Why the hell are they fucking pretending to care now? They all left me to rot except... my Lily. I strain my eyes to search the congested hall for that blonde hair, blue eyes, tall form, and plump tits... I just had to. Smith is still pulling at my arms, probably trying to direct my attention to something; I'm not sure. I turn around to follow Smith but bump into a giant-sized banner that reads, Welcome home, Luca.' I push it aside with a grunt.Smith drags me out of the noisy hall into the more quiet part, where we sit on the sofa. "I'm sorry." He clasps his meaty palms around his face and
LILY'S POV I push the door of the guest room wide open, my hand already shaking, feeling the weight of the glass partition in my grip. Luca is sitting to my right, slumped, his wavy brown hair, his usual, shiny, brown eyes now looking... bland. "Lily," he says, a little more husky than usual. "I've missed you." I put my hand to the glass and dreamed it would really have been him. "I couldn’t stay away. Luca, I know you didn't do this." There is one voice crack. I immediately force a deep breath, and the second I do, I clamp my lips as tight as I can to hide my trembling. "I’m here for you." He pushes forward, eyeballs fixed, as if he wants me to jump onboard. "You really think I’d betray you? Or your family, for that matter?" "No, of course not." I shake my head, biting my lip hard. "But... this is bad, Luca. The evidence points to you. The IP address they traced—" I swallow, my mind flashing back to Mira, her enthusiasm as she dragged me into that dark, stuffy tech shop. I t
LILY'S POVThe streets here looks like they keep secrets in every shadow, aged and jagged around the edges. Tiffany is right beside me, hugging her arms across her chest like she’s trying to keep herself from snapping. Even her usual calm seems frayed.She looks over at me, eyebrows knitted with concern. “Lily, are you sure about this? Her voice is soft, but there’s an edge to it. “It just… doesn’t feel right. What if this was all for nothing?”Now I'm pulling my sleeves down over my hands to hide the goose pimples that are starting to show. “I know. I just—this is the only lead we have. However, if this guy has the potential to do something for us, then we have to give it a shot."Tiffany lets out a deep sigh and surveys the scene, the boarded-up windows, the rusty fire escapes hanging off the sides of the buildings like the bones of some colossal skeleton. “I get it,” she murmurs. “But it’s so…sketchy yeah?"My stomach twists. “Yeah. I guess I wanted to believe it would lead somewh
LILYI sit at the base of the hall and play. I tap my fingers on the chair; it is so cold, so smooth. I've just rounded the corner, and there they are, Tiffany, my best friend, and Tyler Brook, the hottest guy in the entire senior class tongue locked. My stomach kind of flips because its like I can feel the disbelief and some jealousy, but yet I can't stop looking.What about West?Tiffany's lips are literally welded to his mouth, and her fingers are all jam packed in his hair, as she's forcing his head to sink even lower. The hall is eerily empty except for the buzzing of the fluorescent lights overhead, and I can’t stop moving, inching down the corridor, as if somehow I can escape the scene before me. I should turn away and act like I never saw any of this, but I can't.Finally, Tiffany pulls back when she hears me approach. Her eyes widen with panic, like she’s been caught doing something forbidden. Her lips are swollen, but she forces a smile. She says, "Hey Lily," as if nothing
LILY'S POVI’m standing outside Luca’s mansion, trying not to shake. It’s late—too late—but there’s no turning back now. I look at Mira. She’s already moving, and I scramble to keep up.“You sure you know what you're doing?" I stand here trying to stay composed, my chest simply does not permit it.Mira looks at me, and a smile tugs at her lips. “It’s just a house. Stay quiet, stay fast. We’ll be in and out.”I swallow hard, nodding. I trust her, but this feels like we are doing too much.We walk into his yard since there's no fence separating the two mansions. We go behind the house. I can feel the pressure on my chest, like I'm running a marathon. His yard smells like fresh, cut grass, but with something else, something not so pleasant.“Shh,” Mira mutters, holding up a hand. She’s already at the back door, checking the lock. “Stay close.”I nod, my throat dry. I finally get a chance to blink, and Mira whips out her tools, and her fingers move at a speed that is simply inhuman. The l
LILYThe only noise in the room is the faint whirring of my laptop's fan, and the glow it emits is a soft blue color, which reflects off the pile of clothes, dance shoes, and text books that are thrown on my bed. My brain is a mess, my thoughts are jumbled, and all that I went to court and testified about last night is closing in on me. It feels like I’m suffocating in a room that was supposed to be my sanctuary, but now it feels like prison of my own making.And I read what's right in front of my face. The crime of divulging confidences in American law. My stomach is all floppy simply reading the words, the lawyer jibber jabber in my head. I keep seeing my dad’s face when I told the court what I had done; the betrayal in his eyes is sharper than I could ever have imagined. He’s a lawyer—the top of his game—and I—his only daughter—had screwed everything up. The thing is, I don’t even know how. Not entirely.It's crazy how I can still remember that day, the day I removed all those pape
LILYWe sit together in a cafe. I'm not mean right, chatting with Luca whilst on a date with another man. Well, technically, it's not a date. Jason just said we should get to know ourselves better, and Jason is not a man. He's a guy.Luca: I am not pressuring you. I believe you did not intentionally do it. I hope you're not mad at me."Noo.""What, I shouldn't put it like these?" Jason looks at me."What?" I arch a brow."You said no; I was about to put the sugar into the coffee." Jason lifts the packet of sugar in his left hand and the cup of coffee in his right hand; he raises his brow at me.I look at my phone again; there's a new text from Luca.Luca: ???Luca: I'm sorry. Are you good, darling?I start typing when Jason interrupts my train of thoughts."So, should I add it?""Uhm... whatever."Jason face falls. He may suspect I'm texting someone.Luca: Don't ghost me; I know you're still active.I look up at Jason. "If you like your coffee with sugar, then you should probably add
LILY "Need help?" I turn around to find some random stranger stretching out his hands. I nod and take them. He helps me over the fence. "My car is over there." Hmmmm. I look at him and back. I look at his car and back. People are still jumping over the fence and into vehicles and driving off. There's no Uber in sight. I can't even book a ride. Can I trust him? I jump into the car. It's not until we are in the car, and half way close to my house, that I start to feel the body pain where broken pieces of bottle tore into my skin. "Jason." He stretched out his hands. I turn around and lean in to get a clearer view. He looks 22, 23. He has decent features—not the typical good-looking seductive face but the kind that can still grab a girl's attention. "Lily."I shake his hands. "Thanks." I jump out of the car and wait for his car to drive off before turning the doorknob and entering in. I'm greeted by a heavy slap across my face. I see literal stars. I'm blind for a moment
LILY My ass hits the floor as my back rests against the sink. Why did I do it? Why did I admit my guilt? I push a stray blonde lock to the back of my ears so that I can see my face clearly through the long mirror. I wonder how long it will take the cops to get me. I had never checked the punishment for disclosing confidential information. I wipe my wet eyes with the front of my dress. I wondered what my chances are. If I run away now that they know my father is innocent, will they let him go? Or will they hold him on my behalf? My lips turn into a frown. If I runaway, will I be missed? Will anyone care? "Damn! I'm a mess. Why didn't I think this through before doing revenge?" I drag my hair roughly and throw my leg in the air, kicking furiously. "Knock. Knock. Lily... Are you in there?" I hear Tiffany's voice outside the door. I squeeze my lips tightly so that a sob won't slip out. I need a hug right now more than anything else in the world, but I'm scared—scared that