ELLIANA'S POV"Tom, stop," I said firmly, planting my feet. "I can talk to whoever I want."Tom's eyes narrowed. "You're mine, Elliana. Don't forget it."I felt a chill run down my spine at his words. Mine? I didn't belong to anyone.But before I could respond, Jeffery appeared, his eyes flashing with anger. "Elliana, we need to talk. Now."Tom's eyes narrowed, his voice low and menacing. "I don't want to see you with Max, Elliana. He's my rival, and I won't let him take my spot."I raised an eyebrow, incredulous. "Your spot? What are you talking about, Tom?"Tom's jaw clenched. "As the hottest guy in school. Max thinks he can just waltz in here and steal the title from me andI'm worried about you'll get close to him. Can't I worry about that?"I laughed, shocked by his audacity. "You're worried about that? After what you did at the party?"Tom's expression darkened. "What are you talking about?""Don't play dumb, Tom," I snapped. "You kissed those girls, and then you told me our rela
ELLIANA'S POV"Tom's been complaining about you getting closer to Max," Jeffery said, his voice neutral.I was dumbfounded. "What? That's none of his business!"Jeffery shrugged. "Tom thinks you're his, Ellie. He doesn't want you near his rival."I stood up, my anger boiling over. "Tom and you need to stop interfering in my life! I can make my own decisions."Jeffery raised an eyebrow. "Ellie, calm down..."But I was beyond reason. "No, Jeffery! You and Tom need to back off. I'm not some prize to be won."I stormed out of Jeffery's room, slamming the door behind me. I couldn't believe their audacity. Who did they think they were, trying to control me like that?As I walked away, I heard Jeffery's voice behind me. "Ellie, wait! You don't understand..."But I didn't want to hear it. I was done with their games. I was going to live my life on my own terms, not theirs.I went straight to my room, locking the door behind me. I needed some time to process everything. Tom's possessiveness, J
ELLIANA'S POVAs the days went by, Max and I went on more dates, each one more magical than the last. We laughed, we talked, we shared secrets and dreams. I found myself falling for him, hard."I can't believe I'm having so much fun with you," I said, giggling, as we walked through the park.Max smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I know exactly what you mean," he said. "I feel like I've known you my whole life."I nodded, feeling the same way. "It's like we just click."Max took my hand, his fingers intertwining with mine. "I think we do," he said. "I think we could be something special."I blushed, feeling a flutter in my chest. "I'd like that," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.Max leaned in, his lips brushing against mine. "I'm so glad you feel the same way," he whispered.As we kissed, I knew I was falling in love with Max. He was kind, he was sweet, and he made me feel like I was the only person in the world.But little did I know, Tom was watching us, his eyes bu
ELLIANA'S POVAs Madam called out the pairs, my heart skipped a beat. I was paired with Tom."Great," Tom muttered, as we exchanged a wary glance. "Just what I needed. More time with you."I rolled my eyes, trying to hide my own apprehension. This was going to be interesting. Madam smiled, noticing our uneasy glances. "Don't worry, my dear. This new pairing is just for this activity. Afterward, you'll return to your original partners."I breathed a sigh of relief, but Tom just scowled."So, Elliana and Tom, you'll work together to navigate the obstacle course," Madam continued. "Remember, trust and communication are key."Tom and I exchanged a skeptical look, but Madam just chuckled. "I have faith in you both. Let's get started!"As we blindfolded ourselves, I felt a surge of anxiety. How could I trust Tom, after everything we'd been through?"Ready?" Tom asked gruffly, his hand on my arm.I nodded, trying to relax. "Ready."Tom guided me forward, his voice low and hesitant. "Step up
ELLIANA'S POVWe exchanged curious glances, wondering what she had in store for us."What is it?" Kora asked, her voice full of excitement.Madam just smiled. "You'll see. Follow me."We followed Madam out of the dining area, curiosity building in our chests. Where were we going? What was the surprise?As we walked, the darkness of the night was illuminated only by the soft glow of lanterns, casting eerie shadows on the ground."Where are we headed?" Tom asked, his voice low and cautious.Madam just chuckled. "Patience, my young friends. All will be revealed in due time."We continued on, the silence broken only by the sound of our footsteps and the distant hooting of owls.Finally, we arrived at a clearing, and in the center of it stood an old, rickety barn.Madam pushed open the creaky door, revealing a dimly lit interior. "Welcome to the final activity of the day. A night of stargazing and storytelling."Our eyes widened in surprise as we stepped inside, the air thick with the scen
ELLIANA'S POVWe exchanged curious glances, wondering what she had in store for us.As we finished breakfast, Madam handed us each a small box. "Solve the puzzle inside, and you'll find out what's next."We eagerly opened the boxes, revealing a complex puzzle that required teamwork and collaboration to solve."Let's do this," Kora said, determination in her voice.And with that, we embarked on our final adventure together, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.The sun was shining bright as we gathered on the soccer field, eager to start our game day. Madam stood before us, a whistle in hand."Today, we'll be dividing into teams and playing a friendly game of soccer," she announced, a smile on her face. "But there's a twist - the winning team will get a special prize."We cheered, our competitive spirits ignited."Let's divide into teams," Max said, stepping forward. "We can do boys versus girls."But Kora shook her head. "No way, that's too predictable. Let's mix it up."We agr
ELLIANA'S POV"We need to talk," Tom said, his voice serious.I sat up, rubbing my eyes. "What is it?"Tom took a deep breath. "I think we should forget about what happened last night."My eyes widened in shock. "What? Why?"Tom hesitated. "I don't want to upset my dad. He'll never approve of us being together."My face fell, tears welling up in my eyes. "So you're just going to pretend like nothing happened?"Tom nodded. "I think it's for the best."My tears spilled over, streaming down my face. "Fine," I spat, my voice trembling. "If that's what you want."Tom reached out to comfort me, but I pushed him away. "Don't touch me," I sobbed.In a rash decision, I jumped out of bed and grabbed my phone. "I need to get out of here," I said, my voice shaking.Tom watched in horror as I dialed a number and waited for someone to answer. "Max, I need to see you," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.Tom's eyes widened in shock. "Elliana, what are you doing?"But I just shook my head and ra
ELLIANA'S POVI nodded, pouring the dark liquid into the wok. The aroma intensified, and my mouth watered in response.As we finished up and sat down to eat, I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for this quiet, ordinary moment with my mother. It was moments like these that made life worth living.It had been a week since I'd last spoken to Tom, and I'd made sure to keep my distance. We lived in the same house, but I'd become a master of avoidance. I'd take the stairs when I knew he'd be in the elevator, and I'd eat my meals in my room instead of joining the family in the dining room.It wasn't easy, but I knew it was necessary. Seeing Tom's face, his smile, his eyes... it all still hurt too much. I wasn't ready to face him, to pretend like everything was okay when it wasn't.I'd caught glimpses of him, of course. He'd be watching TV on the couch, or playing video games in his room. But I'd quickly look away, not wanting to meet his eye.My mother had noticed, but she hadn't s
ELLIANA'S POV The words hung in the air between us, and I could feel the tension rising. I knew what I wanted, but I wasn't sure if I was ready to take that step now. I was scared, but I also felt a strange sense of excitement. And in that moment, I knew that our mood was about to change. But what would happen next? Would I take the leap and risk everything? Or would I walk away, knowing that I might never get this chance again? I had to decide, and fast. The moment was fleeting, and I knew that I had to make a choice.“So, what do you think?" I asked."Do you trust me?" he asked, his voice soft and sincere. "Can you take a chance, even if it might not work out?""I trust you," I replied, without hesitation. "And I'm willing to take that chance." As I said the words, I felt a sense of peace settle over me. I knew that this was the right decision, that I was ready for this. I didn't know what the future held, but I knew that I was ready to find out. I was ready to take a leap of fai
ELLIANA'S POVMy mum smiled, happy to hear about our blossoming relationship. "That's great, sweetie. I'm always here for you both, no matter what."I hugged her, feeling grateful for her love and support. "Thanks, Mum. That means everything to me."As we loaded the dishwasher and cleaned up the kitchen, I realized that this was what I needed – a loving family, a supportive mum, and a sense of belonging. And with my new job and Max by my side, I felt like I was exactly where I was meant to be.The next day, I woke up feeling refreshed and ready to tackle another day at the coffee shop. As I got dressed and headed downstairs, my mum called out, "Good luck, sweetie! Have a great day!"I smiled and waved, grabbing a quick breakfast before heading out the door. The morning air was crisp and cool, and I felt invigorated as I walked to work.When I arrived, Sophie greeted me with a warm smile. "Hey, Elliana! Ready for another busy day?"I nodded, and we dove into the morning rush. The line
ELLIANA'S POVKora was moving out of the country with her family.The night before Kora's departure, I lay in her bed, surrounded by the familiar comforts of her room. We had spent countless sleepovers here, sharing secrets, laughter, and tears. But tonight was different. Tonight, we were facing the harsh reality of goodbye.The atmosphere was heavy with emotion, the air thick with unspoken words. We both knew that tomorrow, Kora would be gone, leaving me behind to navigate the uncertain waters of high school without my anchor, my best friend.As we hugged each other tightly, tears streamed down our faces. We had never been apart since childhood, and the thought of separation was almost too much to bear."I'm going to miss you so much," Kora whispered, her voice trembling."I'll miss you too," I replied, my voice cracking.We held each other for a long time, the only sound our sniffles and the occasional sob. We had promised to keep in touch, to call each other every day, but it wasn'
ELLIANA'S POVI nodded, pouring the dark liquid into the wok. The aroma intensified, and my mouth watered in response.As we finished up and sat down to eat, I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for this quiet, ordinary moment with my mother. It was moments like these that made life worth living.It had been a week since I'd last spoken to Tom, and I'd made sure to keep my distance. We lived in the same house, but I'd become a master of avoidance. I'd take the stairs when I knew he'd be in the elevator, and I'd eat my meals in my room instead of joining the family in the dining room.It wasn't easy, but I knew it was necessary. Seeing Tom's face, his smile, his eyes... it all still hurt too much. I wasn't ready to face him, to pretend like everything was okay when it wasn't.I'd caught glimpses of him, of course. He'd be watching TV on the couch, or playing video games in his room. But I'd quickly look away, not wanting to meet his eye.My mother had noticed, but she hadn't s
ELLIANA'S POV"We need to talk," Tom said, his voice serious.I sat up, rubbing my eyes. "What is it?"Tom took a deep breath. "I think we should forget about what happened last night."My eyes widened in shock. "What? Why?"Tom hesitated. "I don't want to upset my dad. He'll never approve of us being together."My face fell, tears welling up in my eyes. "So you're just going to pretend like nothing happened?"Tom nodded. "I think it's for the best."My tears spilled over, streaming down my face. "Fine," I spat, my voice trembling. "If that's what you want."Tom reached out to comfort me, but I pushed him away. "Don't touch me," I sobbed.In a rash decision, I jumped out of bed and grabbed my phone. "I need to get out of here," I said, my voice shaking.Tom watched in horror as I dialed a number and waited for someone to answer. "Max, I need to see you," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.Tom's eyes widened in shock. "Elliana, what are you doing?"But I just shook my head and ra
ELLIANA'S POVWe exchanged curious glances, wondering what she had in store for us.As we finished breakfast, Madam handed us each a small box. "Solve the puzzle inside, and you'll find out what's next."We eagerly opened the boxes, revealing a complex puzzle that required teamwork and collaboration to solve."Let's do this," Kora said, determination in her voice.And with that, we embarked on our final adventure together, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.The sun was shining bright as we gathered on the soccer field, eager to start our game day. Madam stood before us, a whistle in hand."Today, we'll be dividing into teams and playing a friendly game of soccer," she announced, a smile on her face. "But there's a twist - the winning team will get a special prize."We cheered, our competitive spirits ignited."Let's divide into teams," Max said, stepping forward. "We can do boys versus girls."But Kora shook her head. "No way, that's too predictable. Let's mix it up."We agr
ELLIANA'S POVWe exchanged curious glances, wondering what she had in store for us."What is it?" Kora asked, her voice full of excitement.Madam just smiled. "You'll see. Follow me."We followed Madam out of the dining area, curiosity building in our chests. Where were we going? What was the surprise?As we walked, the darkness of the night was illuminated only by the soft glow of lanterns, casting eerie shadows on the ground."Where are we headed?" Tom asked, his voice low and cautious.Madam just chuckled. "Patience, my young friends. All will be revealed in due time."We continued on, the silence broken only by the sound of our footsteps and the distant hooting of owls.Finally, we arrived at a clearing, and in the center of it stood an old, rickety barn.Madam pushed open the creaky door, revealing a dimly lit interior. "Welcome to the final activity of the day. A night of stargazing and storytelling."Our eyes widened in surprise as we stepped inside, the air thick with the scen
ELLIANA'S POVAs Madam called out the pairs, my heart skipped a beat. I was paired with Tom."Great," Tom muttered, as we exchanged a wary glance. "Just what I needed. More time with you."I rolled my eyes, trying to hide my own apprehension. This was going to be interesting. Madam smiled, noticing our uneasy glances. "Don't worry, my dear. This new pairing is just for this activity. Afterward, you'll return to your original partners."I breathed a sigh of relief, but Tom just scowled."So, Elliana and Tom, you'll work together to navigate the obstacle course," Madam continued. "Remember, trust and communication are key."Tom and I exchanged a skeptical look, but Madam just chuckled. "I have faith in you both. Let's get started!"As we blindfolded ourselves, I felt a surge of anxiety. How could I trust Tom, after everything we'd been through?"Ready?" Tom asked gruffly, his hand on my arm.I nodded, trying to relax. "Ready."Tom guided me forward, his voice low and hesitant. "Step up
ELLIANA'S POVAs the days went by, Max and I went on more dates, each one more magical than the last. We laughed, we talked, we shared secrets and dreams. I found myself falling for him, hard."I can't believe I'm having so much fun with you," I said, giggling, as we walked through the park.Max smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I know exactly what you mean," he said. "I feel like I've known you my whole life."I nodded, feeling the same way. "It's like we just click."Max took my hand, his fingers intertwining with mine. "I think we do," he said. "I think we could be something special."I blushed, feeling a flutter in my chest. "I'd like that," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.Max leaned in, his lips brushing against mine. "I'm so glad you feel the same way," he whispered.As we kissed, I knew I was falling in love with Max. He was kind, he was sweet, and he made me feel like I was the only person in the world.But little did I know, Tom was watching us, his eyes bu