ELLIANA'S POVTom snorted. "Nothing about you is a big deal," he snapped, his words like knives. "You're just a useless waste of space. I can't believe my father wasted his time on you guys."I felt like I had been punched in the gut. I couldn't find the words to reply to Tom.I stormed out of there, my mind boiling from my encounter with Tom.The next day, I decided to be friendly with Tom. "Hi, Tom," I said, trying to sound upbeat. "Thanks for letting us move in."Tom didn't respond, merely raised an eyebrow at me before disappearing upstairs without another word. I frowned, feeling deflated, but tried to brush off his coldness. After all, it wasn't my fault his dad had decided to marry my mom.Later that night, I lay in bed, staring up at the unfamiliar ceiling. Thoughts of Tom and our new living situation swirled around in my head, making it impossible to sleep. Suddenly, I heard a faint tapping on my bedroom door."Who's there?" I whispered, sitting up in bed.The door creaked op
ELLIANA'S POVOur relationship had always been complicated, full of hate, but also undeniable attraction. And now, it seemed like we were finally giving in to that attraction, allowing ourselves to explore the forbidden territory of our desire."Come in," I whispered, stepping aside to let him into my room.Tom stepped into my room and closed the door behind him, his eyes fixed on mine. In his hand was a small box of chocolates, which he offered to me with a shy smile."I got these for you," he said, his voice soft and uncertain.I took the chocolates, feeling a rush of warmth flood through me. It was the first gift he'd ever given me, and it felt like a kind of truce, a way of saying that things had changed between us."Thank you," I appreciated, my voice catching in my throat.Tom stepped closer to me, his hand brushing mine. "You're welcome," he replied, his voice low and intimate.I felt my heart racing, the air between us charged with electricity. We stood there for a moment, jus
ELLIANA'S POVThe woman's phone suddenly started ringing and she left in a hurry.“That was close.” I let out a sigh of relief.As the pharmacist rattled off a list of options, I felt a surge of embarrassment wash over me. I had never purchased contraception before, and the thought of sharing intimate details of my life with a stranger was mortifying.But I knew that I needed to be responsible, especially given the reckless path I had embarked on with Tom. "I'll take the pill," I replied finally, my voice a whisper.The pharmacist nodded, handing me a small box. "Take both at a time," she said, her tone matter-of-fact. With the pill in my purse, I left the pharmacy, my cheeks still burning with embarrassment. But as I made my way to Kora's house, a sense of relief washed over me. At least I had taken some precautions to protect myself from the consequences of my reckless behavior with Tom.I arrived at Kora's house, my nerves returning as I knocked on the door. When she opened it, he
ELLIANA'S POV"That sounds lovely," I responded, trying to keep my mind focused on the conversation. "It's nice to get some fresh air after being cooped up all day."As we walked, Chris chattered easily about his day, his job, and his plans for the weekend. I found myself relaxing more and more, enjoying the gentle rhythm of our conversation.We strolled along the lake, Chris gestured toward a small shop on the corner. "Hey, my friend owns this place," he said, his tone excited. "Want to stop by and check it out? They have the best snacks in town."I glanced at the shop, feeling a slight hesitation. But Chris seemed so genuine, so friendly, that I couldn't bring myself to refuse. "Sure, why not?" I said, smiling.Chris grinned. "You won't regret it," he promised. "You can thank me later."We stepped into the shop, the bell above the door jingling as we entered. The place was small and cramped, with shelves lined with chips, candy, and various other snacks.But as I looked around, I co
ELLIANA'S POV"He should have been home by now," she murmured, her voice tight with tension. "I've left him three messages, and he still won't pick up."Tom emerged from his room, a concerned expression on his face. "Maybe he's just trying to work through things on his own," he suggested, though his voice was uncertain.Night fell, and still there was no sign of Jeffery. My mother, Tom, and I huddled together in the living room, a sense of impending doom hanging in the air."He's never done this before," my mother worried, her eyes wide with fear. "He always checks in, always tells me where he's going. This isn't like him."As the clock ticked past midnight, Tom reached for his phone, his fingers trembling as he dialed a number. "I'm calling the police," he said, his voice low and determined. "Something's not right.Just as Tom's finger hovered over the call button, his phone vibrated in his hand. The screen lit up, displaying an incoming call from an unknown number.He answered, and
ELLIANA'S POVI made my way toward my bedroom, Tom suddenly reached out and grasped my hand, stopping me in my tracks. I turned, my heart fluttering in my chest as he looked at me with an intensity I'd never seen before."Can you stay with me tonight, in my room?" he asked, his voice low and urgent. "I just...I'm feeling down, and I don't want to be alone right now."I hesitated for a moment, taken aback by the request. But looking into his pleading eyes, I knew I couldn't refuse.I nodded, my breath catching in my throat. "Okay," I whispered, as Tom led me into his bedroom.We closed the door behind us, the room bathed in the soft glow of the streetlight outside. Tom walked over to his bed, sitting on the edge and motioning for me to sit next to him.I took a deep breath, suddenly feeling the weight of the day's events pressing down on me. As I sat down on the bed, I felt Tom's hand reach for mine, his fingers entwined with mine.The room was quiet, the soft glow of the streetlight o
ELLIANA'S POVAs my words hung in the air, Tom's heart pounded against his ribs, his breath quickening. He could feel my desire radiating from my body, and it set his own blood on fire.Gently, he pushed me back onto the couch, his hands roaming over her body as he covered me with kisses. I arched her back, moaning softly as his lips trailed down the sensitive skin of my neck, his tongue flicking against the hollow at the base."You're so beautiful," he whispered, his voice rough with desire.My breath catches in my throat as Tom pushes me back onto the couch, his hands roaming over my body with a possessive heat. My skin tingles as he covers me with kisses, his lips burning a path down my neck."You're so beautiful," he murmurs, his voice a low, seductive rumble. The air around us is thick with desire, the tension building between us like a wave cresting on the shore.I arch my back, my fingers tangling in his hair as I press myself against him. "Take me," I whisper, my voice a despe
SCHOOL LIFEELLIANA'S POVI step out of the shower, wrapping a towel around my body as I dried herself. The air outside the bathroom was cool, sending a shiver through my skin.I slipped into my room, the familiar space a welcome respite from the chaos of the last few days. I crawled into my bed, pulling the covers up to my chin as I nestled into the warmth.My thoughts drift to Tom, the feel of his body against mine, the sound of his voice in my ear.The sun streamed through the window, the gentle light filtering into my room as I opened my eyes. For a moment, I was disoriented, the memories of the previous night still fresh in my mind. Then, reality sets in: it's time for school.I rolled out of bed, my muscles sore from the night's exertions. I dressesy quickly, my movements efficient as I navigated the familiar motions of my morning routine.Outside, the world was waking up, the sounds of the city rising to meet the new day.I step into the kitchen, my senses flooded with the tant