“I cannot believe this!!!” I screamed as I threw my purse at my boyfriend who I had just seen rolling on his bed together with my bestfriend, Layla. “Vanessa omg, it’s not what you think,” Layla pleaded as she began to put on her clothes. Bart on the other hand remained on the bed, as if he didn’t care that I had just caught him sleeping with my bestfriend. “Explain all this to me right now!” I demanded. “How long has this been going on Layla?” I tearfully asked. “U-ugh, I-I,” Layla stammared. I rushed to her and grabbed her by her blonde hair. “Stop stammering and tell me when you started sleeping with my boyfriend you bitch!!” “Enough of this noise!” Bart demanded as he stood up from the bed and put on his robe. “We’ve been sleeping with each other under your nose for the past three months, all through summer,” He said with a smirk. I couldn’t even believe my ears. I had told Layla about all the troubles Bart and I had been going through and she kept on advising m
“Come on in Vanessa,” Antonio said as he used his hand to usher me in. I walked into his home and the house felt warm and cozy. “You have a nice place,” I said as I picked up a black vase and admired the inscriptions all over it. “Oh that, Blair got it for me on our third year anniversary,” He replied with a smile. “How thoughtful,” I said with a bit of sarcasm. How could she buy him a vase for their anniversary, I thought to myself. For a man like Antonio I would give him the world. “Here is your room Vanessa,” He said as he opened the door to a beautiful bedroom painted in pink with pink bed spreads and sheets. “Omg, thank you Antonio,” I said as I threw my arms around him to give him a hug. “A-hem,” Blair cut in as she watched me wrap my arms around her fiance. “It was Blair’s idea to make it pink themed actually,” Antonio said as he broke out of the hug to hold Blair’s hand. “Yeah, I figured it was best for someone your age,” Blair said. “Age? What does th
“What do you mean by you’re not engaged any more?” I asked with my eyes widened as shock was evident in my face. “Uhm, it’s personal kiddo,” He replied me with a warm smile. I took the opportunity to grab his hands and stared deeply into his eyes. “You know you can count on me for anything,” I said as I continued looking deeply into his eyes. “Come here kiddo,” He said as he pulled me in for a hug. This hug was different from the ones he had been giving me since I had moved in. His arms were wrapped around my waist while mine were placed on his shoulders. His palms grazed around my lower back which awakened this sensation in me. All I could think about at that moment was to kiss him, perhaps that was also what he thought. I looked at him as we were still locked in the embrace and the hug became more intense. We both looked at each other and our lips were slowly about meet when he suddenly pulled away. “Had any to eat yet?” He asked as he nervously brought out a ja
I have never been as happy as I was today. I woke up in the arms of the first crush I have ever had in my life.I turned to my side and saw Antonio deeply asleep. Looking at him flooded my mind with the passionate night we had shared.The way he held, kissed and passionately made love to me was all I could think about.Just then Antonio started to awaken. I quickly closed my eyes so that he would think I had been asleep all this while.“Uhm, Vanessa?” Antonio called out as he tapped my shoulders and yawned.“Ugh,” I replied as I turned to face him.“Morning Vanessa.”“Morning Antonio,” I said with a smile but unfortunately for me my smile wasn’t reciprocated.“I hope you will keep what happened last night as a secret,” He asked with a straight face.“Uhm, sure yeah,” I replied as I sat up on the floor.“Thanks, it’s for the best. What happened must never repeat itself,” He said, then stood up from the floor and packed his things and went up to his room.I sat there looking and feeli
I stared at the email, my heart pounding in my chest. "I KNOW YOUR SECRET." My hands hovered over the keyboard as I tried to think of what to say back. What secret could they possibly know? Antonio and I had been so careful… or so I thought.I don't have a secret, I typed out, my fingers shaking slightly. You must have the wrong person.I hit send before I could second-guess myself. There was no way someone could know what happened between Antonio and me. It was just a one-time thing, and no one else was there.Maybe this was just a prank, someone trying to mess with me for fun. But who would do that? Antonio? Jenny? No, it couldn’t be them. They had no reason to.I waited for a few minutes, staring at my phone, hoping for a quick reply that would reveal this was all a joke. But nothing came. The screen stayed stubbornly blank, the email thread mocking me with its silence.I need to stop overthinking this, I told myself. It's probably nothing. I set my phone down on my bedside table a
I couldn’t believe my eyes. Blair was standing right in front of me, with that smug look on her face like she had something to prove. My brain was screaming at me to get her out of the house. Without thinking, I blurted out the first thing that came to mind.“Antonio isn’t here,” I said quickly, the words stumbling out in a rush. I stepped back, already reaching for the door.My heart was pounding, and I felt like if I didn’t get rid of her soon, something terrible was going to happen. “You should probably go—"Before I could finish the sentence and slam the door shut, Blair didn’t even flinch.Instead, as I tried to close the door, it stopped with a sudden jolt—someone was holding it open from the outside. My heart skipped a beat, and I looked up, only to see Antonio standing there.“Antonio?” I stammered, my voice shaking slightly. My stomach flipped as I met his eyes, and I quickly pulled my hand back from the door, unsure of what to do. Antonio pushed the door open wider and step
My mind was spinning as I walked out of the diner with Jason. I had tried to shake off the nagging worry from the text message, but it lingered like an unwelcome shadow.My thoughts were scattered, and the weight of the unknown mailer’s threat was becoming more suffocating by the minute.Jason seemed to notice my unease as we approached his car. “Hey, are you okay?” he asked, concern evident in his voice. “You look pretty shaken up.”I forced a smile, trying to mask my anxiety. “It’s nothing. I just… need to go home.”Jason didn’t press further. Instead, he nodded understandingly. “No problem. I can give you a ride.”I appreciated his offer, though I was torn between feeling grateful and guilty for cutting our evening short.As we drove through the quiet streets, I stared out the window, my thoughts a chaotic mess of worry and frustration. The steady hum of the car’s engine did little to calm the storm inside me.When we finally reached my house, I felt a wave of relief mixed with app
I stared at Antonio in stunned silence as his words echoed in my mind. My heart pounded in my chest, and I found myself unable to process what he had just said.“Say it again,” I moaned, my voice barely more than a whisper, but the words came out as a plea.Antonio didn’t respond. Instead, he slowly got off his stool, his movements deliberate and almost painful to watch.Without another word, he turned and headed upstairs, leaving me alone in the kitchen. The sound of his footsteps fading away only added to the emptiness that filled the room.I exhaled deeply, my emotions a tangled mess. I grabbed the whiskey bottle and took another gulp, hoping it would help numb the confusion and heartache.* * *The days following that night were a blur. Two weeks had passed, and the atmosphere between Antonio and me had become unbearably strained.We hadn’t spoken a word about that night, or to each other at all. The silence was almost louder than any argument could have been.I tried to push
I woke up in an unfamiliar room that the walls were painted dull gray, with a harsh light shining through the bars.My head felt heavy, like a fog was still lingering from last night. As I rubbed my eyes and sat up, I noticed Cesar sitting right next to me, smirking.“You slept like a log,” he said, that cocky grin of his never wavering.I blinked, feeling a little dazed. “Where… where are we?”He chuckled, leaning back in his seat, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “You don’t remember? Police came last night.”Bits and pieces of the chaos started to float back into my mind: the cops bursting in, everyone screaming and running. I closed my eyes, groaning. “Yeah… I remember now,” I muttered.I shifted uncomfortably, trying to piece everything together. “But why did they arrest us?”“Noise pollution or something,” Cesar replied with a shrug. “Apparently, some of the neighbors weren’t fans of the party. So, here we are, waiting for someone to bail us out.”I let out a sigh, feeling the
As Cesar took my hand, he led me away from the main party, and I felt a rush of excitement coursing through me. The atmosphere shifted as we entered a different area of the mansion, where the music was quieter but the energy felt charged. It was almost like stepping into a hidden realm reserved for the elite, where laughter and whispers danced in the air."Here we are," Cesar said, motioning toward a sleek bar that shimmered under soft lights. "Have a seat."I sat down, feeling the coolness of the bar beneath my fingers. Cesar had this commanding aura, and I found myself drawn to him, wanting to know more."What would you like to drink?" he asked, his gaze locked onto mine."A beer," I said, thinking about something simple.He laughed, shaking his head. "Nonsense! You have to try their special punch. Trust me, it's legendary."My interest was piqued, and I couldn't help but smile. "Alright, I'll have some."He went to a large bowl filled with a colorful concoction and poured two gl
As Mr. Ruben’s twisted words sank in, I felt disgust churn in my stomach. I took a shaky step back, my fists clenched as I tried to keep my voice from trembling.“You’re disgusting,” I spat, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. My heart was pounding, and I could barely think straight.Mr. Ruben’s face twisted into a scowl. “Keep your voice down,” he hissed, looking around the empty classroom. “Do you want the whole campus to hear?”I took a deep breath, glaring at him. “I don’t care who hears. You’re a creep.”Turning on my heel, I stormed out of the classroom. But before I could make it to the door, his voice echoed after me, cold and threatening. “You’ll regret this, Vanessa. I’ll make sure you never pass my class.”Ignoring him, I pushed the door open and broke into a fast walk down the hallway. The further I got from that room, the better I could breathe. My legs felt like they were moving on autopilot as I headed for the parking lot, desperate to get away.Just as I turned the c
I pushed open the door to the living room, my head throbbing from the hangover that made everything feel twice as loud, twice as bright. All I wanted was to crawl into bed and sleep it off, away from any questions or judging looks. But just as I stepped inside, my heart dropped. Blair was standing there, watching me with that look—one that screamed she was ready to pounce on me with questions I had no interest in answering.I turned, trying to slip past her toward my room without saying a word, but Blair was quicker. She moved in front of me, blocking my way. Her arms were crossed, her expression cold and focused. “Where have you been, Vanessa?” Her voice was like ice, and it irritated me.“Please, Blair,” I said, rubbing my forehead. “Just get out of my way.”Her eyes narrowed, her jaw tightening. “As long as you’re under my roof, I need to know where you’ve been.”I couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh. “What on earth gives you the idea that you’re in charge of me?” I shot ba
As Vanessa stood in the doorway, her eyes pleading with me, I could hardly find the words. "Uh, of course you can stay," I stammered, stepping aside to let her in. The moment she crossed the door, it felt like everything shifted. The air was thick with unspoken tension, and I knew deep down that things were about to change.She closed the door behind her, her gaze steady on me. "I'm tired of pretending I don't want you," she said, her voice low and intense.It sent shivers down my spine. "I want you so bad, Antonio. It's eating me up inside." I swallowed hard, feeling my heart race."You're just saying that because you're drunk," I shot back, trying to keep my voice steady, trying to convince myself of that.She stepped closer, her eyes narrowing as she shook her head. "Stop pretending you don't see it. You feel it too."The weight of her words hit me like a train. My mind was racing, caught in a whirlwind of desire and the reality of my situation. I reached out, placing my hand on
ANTONIO's POVAs I pulled the last of the clothes out of the washer, something soft and lacy caught my attention. I frowned, holding up the black panties between my fingers. These…weren’t Blair’s. I knew what Blair wore. She liked things simple, full coverage. This—this was something else entirely.I stared at them for a moment, my mind racing. They didn’t belong to her, so there was only one other possibility. Vanessa.I raised the panties to my face, inhaling the scent deeply, and immediately I felt a rush. My heart pounded in my chest as I exhaled slowly. I could feel myself losing control—my thoughts swirling around her.I dropped the panties into the laundry basket, shaking my head. “I’m going crazy,” I muttered under my breath, trying to push her out of my mind. But the truth was, Vanessa had been in my head for days, maybe even weeks, and now, holding this small piece of fabric, I couldn’t deny how much she was affecting me.I quickly made my way to the living room, needing
I stood there, staring at my phone in disbelief, my heart racing so fast I thought I might pass out. I was shaking, my palms sweaty as I tried to make sense of the threat. I barely had time to process it when the bathroom door swung open, and Jenny walked in, her carefree smile lighting up the room.“Hey, I’m gonna grab some alcohol from the living room. What do you want?” she asked, her voice full of excitement.I could feel my face burning up, the anxiety building inside me like a dam about to burst. “Uh, I’ll just have a beer,” I stammered, trying to play it cool.Jenny raised an eyebrow at me, clearly unimpressed with my choice. “Nonsense, girl. You need something stronger. Vodka it is.”Before I could protest, my phone rang again. My heart stopped for a second as I glanced down at the screen, the unknown number flashing once more.“I… I really need to take this,” I muttered, trying to keep my voice steady.Jenny, thankfully, just shrugged. “No problem, I’ll be back with your dr
As the night wore on and the party finally began to wind down, I found myself standing outside with Jenny, Clay, and Jason. We stood in a small circle, saying our goodbyes, but my mind was still in a million places at once. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Antonio and Blair together, and that announcement replayed in my head like a bad song I couldn’t turn off.Jenny hugged me first, wrapping her arms around me tightly. She leaned in close and whispered, “We still need to talk, okay?”I forced a smile, trying to mask the turmoil bubbling inside me. “Of course we will.” I squeezed her back, though my heart wasn’t in it.As we broke away, Jason stepped forward. He pulled me into a hug, and his arms felt heavy around me. There was a part of me that wanted to melt into it, to just let myself forget everything for a moment. But it was like my body wouldn’t let me relax. I was too tense, too wrapped up in what had happened with Antonio. I couldn’t let it go.Jason smiled down at me, h
I stood up from the bed, hastily adjusting my dress, my heart pounding as if it were going to burst out of my chest. This wasn’t how things were supposed to happen. My fingers shook as I smoothed down the fabric, trying to regain some composure.“Jenny, I can explain,” I said, my voice trembling with desperation, but Jenny was already walking out of the room, her heels clicking sharply against the hardwood floor.I whipped around to face Antonio, my mind racing. “I have to go after her. I can’t let her leave like this.”Antonio’s jaw tightened, but he nodded. “Go. Talk to her.”Without another word, I hurried out of the room, my heart racing as I followed the path Jenny had taken. I caught sight of her near the bar, standing there like nothing had happened, but I could see the tension in her shoulders. She asked the server for a glass of champagne. I ran over just as the server handed her the drink.“Jenny,” I said, standing beside her, trying to catch my breath. “I know you’re shoc