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Chapter 23 : Uncharted Territory
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Fragments of Elysium: Love on Campus Chapter 24 : Temptation
*Lily*I scribbled notes mechanically, my handwriting a testament to inner disarray, as I tried to keep focus on class. The way Adrian's eyes had held mine with a trace of disappointment yesterday when I insisted we pretend our night together didn't exist still haunted me.Who was I kidding? I asked him to pretend it never happened when I couldn't stop thinking about it myself. What a hypocrite. Class after class unfolded in a similar fashion; I grappled with debates and analyses, all the while fighting the image of Adrian that seemed superimposed on every page of my textbooks. It was maddening.I should have been relieved at the day's end, yet unease clung to me like a second skin. I didn't revel in how I had handled things with Adrian, yet it was necessary. Wasn't it?I couldn't get distracted. I needed to focus on my grades, my classes, and fooling around with Adrian was not a good idea. Not to mention I had to keep reminding myself that Adrian belonged to the Silver W
Fragments of Elysium: Love on Campus Chapter 25 : Backing Down
*Lily*I lingered for a moment longer in the deposit room's semi-darkness, my breath still catching in uneven hitches. The air was thick as I gathered myself—my clothes now righted, but my composure frayed. I felt an odd blend of satisfaction and shame churning within me as I walked out of the room.There weren't any students walking through the hallways, so the coast seemed to be clear. I was grateful because I had no idea how I looked. Judging by the way my legs were still weak beneath me and my cheeks burning with heat, I could guess it would at least catch the attention of some passersby.The walk back to my dorm was a blur. My mind was a battleground where insistent desire clashed with the remnants of rational thought. The diary Jenna had given me now seemed useless and uninteresting. I wasn't in the mood to dig into the story of the Order anymore–not at that moment, not when my body was still feeling Adrian's touch, my senses a complete mess.Once inside my room, I collapse
Fragments of Elysium: Love on Campus Chapter 26 : Giving in to Her Feelings
*Lily*"Sure. About what?" Adrian asked curiously."I was hoping we could talk somewhere..." I added hesitantly. "Private."Adrian considered me for a moment, an unreadable expression crossing his face. Then he nodded, a subtle movement that appeared to express agreement or consent. "Do you want to step off campus?" he offered, his eyes searching mine for some hint of what was brewing within me."Yeah, that would be great," I agreed, a little too quickly, a shot of adrenaline coursing through me at the thought of being alone with him again. My mind was a whirlpool of thoughts, each one colliding with the next, creating ripples of uncertainty.As we reached his car, the sleek lines and dark tinted windows seemed to promise something dangerous. I remembered the last time I was inside it, and things ended up escalating to something I couldn't control.Adrian held the door open for me, and I slipped into the passenger seat, waiting for him to join me. The engine purred to life as s
Fragments of Elysium: Love on Campus Chapter 27 : Seeing Stars
*Lily*As I straddled Adrian, both my legs trapping him into the lounge chair, his lips claimed mine once more with a fervor that left no more room for doubt—this was where I wanted to be. Where we both wanted to be.Adrian's hands sketched trails of fire across my skin, deftly divesting me of my shirt. The fabric fluttered away, insignificant compared to the heat emanating from us both. His fingers were nimble as they unclasped my bra, and a shiver coursed through me—not from the cold night breeze that brushed against my newly bared flesh, but from the anticipation glittering in his eyes. I could feel the tightening, the pebbling of my nipples under the weight of his stare."Shit, you're so beautiful," he murmured, voice rough like gravel. I barely had time to savor his words before his mouth descended on me.His lips were warm and insistent as they encased one nipple, coaxing it into his mouth. The contrast of hot and cold—the warmth of his tongue, the chill of the air—was
Fragments of Elysium: Love on Campus Chapter 28 : The Name in the Diary
*Lily*Waking up in Adrian’s bed, I was immediately aware of his gaze upon me. My eyes fluttered open to meet his intense stare and a flush warmed my cheeks. For a fleeting second, I felt exposed and embarrassed, but his smile, soft and unexpected, eased the taut strings of my embarrassment."Good morning," he whispered, his voice a low murmur. His words were a gentle greeting, but they felt like a proclamation, solidifying the reality that I was here, in his bed."Good morning," I replied, my reply barely audible. I shifted closer to him, his arms encircling me with a protective warmth that made the world beyond his embrace seem inconsequential.His fingers traced invisible patterns along my back, and I closed my eyes momentarily. "So...what now?" he asked, his voice carrying a weight that belied the simplicity of the question.I opened my eyes and blinked at him, the question catching me off guard. "What now what?" I managed, my mind racing to catch up to the implications of h
Fragments of Elysium: Love on Campus Chapter 29 : First Date
*Lily*Louise was blocking my path, a human barrier between me and my morning lecture."Is there something you need?" I asked, my voice steady despite the confusion and wariness that gnawed at me. Her lips curled into a wry smile, and her eyes narrowed ever so slightly, scrutinizing me with an intensity that set my nerves on edge. "I wonder what could've possibly held up the illustrious Lily Everhart.""Nothing that concerns you," I replied bitterly, trying to sidestep her, but she matched my movement with a dancer's grace, maintaining our uncomfortable proximity. Louise leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "Just remember who you are, dear. Don't ever fool yourself by thinking you're more than that."Her words slithered through the air like smoke, too vague to grasp yet suggestive enough to cloud my thoughts with uncertainty. What was she implying? Did she know anything about Adrian and me? The possibility made the blood in my veins freeze, though I coul
Fragments of Elysium: Love on Campus Chapter 30 : Hungry
*Lily*"What do you want to do?" Adrian asked as soon as we stepped into the coolness of his apartment."I don't know. Maybe we could watch a movie?" I suggested while he locked the door, and a nervous flutter tickled my chest. The idea seemed innocent enough, but I knew better than that."Sounds good to me," Adrian replied nonchalantly, heading towards his bedroom. I followed him, getting rid of my heels on the way. Adrian opened the door to his bedroom–a place I was starting to be too familiarized with. Adrian headed to his wardrobe and fumbled through it, grabbing an oversized t-shirt and handing it to me. "Since you didn't bring any change of clothes, I thought you'd want to put on something more comfortable than that...dress," he explained, his stare taking in my body from head to toe. "Which by the way, was a fucking good choice."I chuckled and took the shirt from his hand. "You should thank Rachel for that." "I definitely will," he added as I stepped into his bathroom
Fragments of Elysium: Love on Campus Chapter 31 : Suffocating Truth
*Lily*The weekend had stretched out like a languid cat beneath the sun as I spent it watching movies, eating, enjoying the pool and having sex with Adrian inside his apartment. On Sunday morning, when his car curled away from the curb and left me on the corner outside Elysium, I wasn't really ready to go back to my boring student life. Adrian had provided me with such good moments during the last couple of days, that it was hard to go back to my routine.The campus was relatively empty, taking into consideration that it was a Sunday morning, so I assumed everyone was still sleeping or inside their dorms. Yet, I didn't want to risk having someone spotting me getting out of Adrian’s car and making assumptions.An invisible shawl draped over my shoulders as I navigated the familiar path to my dorm. Upon entering Rachel and I's room, I immediately headed to the shower and let the stream of the hot water wash away Adrian's scent from my skin. I wasn't fond of the idea, but I knew it
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Fragments of Elysium: Love on Campus Chapter 56 : Glimpse of Future
*Lily*Two months had flown by since the exposé went viral and Elysium turned into a scenario of apocalyptic chaos. Each day that passed ever since pulled Adrian and me even closer together.So much changed ever since that it was hard to keep track of everything. The more important thing was that the Order of Elysium was now part of a dark past, no longer active thanks to Adrian, Chris, Jenna, and everyone else who accepted to risk their lives to end that madness.I was so proud of everyone that it was hard to put into other without shedding a tear.I felt proud of myself too, although I hadn't done the dirty work of gathering evidence and exposing anyone. But knowing I had encouraged Adrian to start this, somehow was enough for me.Lots of students were expelled and many people--parents, professors, members of the board, staff--were arrested for several crimes such as corruption, defamation, harassment, forgery, to name a few.Adrian didn't win the Festival with the exposé, bu
Fragments of Elysium: Love on Campus Chapter 55 : Safest Place
*Lily*As soon as the bedroom door closed behind us, Adrian's arms wrapped tightly around me, instantly melting away any remaining tears and igniting a wave of longing within me. His kiss was fervent while his hands roamed with purposeful intent, cupping my ass and solidifying his hold on me. He moved with a blind confidence toward the bed, each step he took resonating with an unspoken urgency.My arms were tightly entwined around his strong, broad neck as I leaned into him for support. His muscles flexed and rippled beneath my touch, providing a solid foundation for me to lean on.With a fluid motion, Adrian tossed me onto my back on his bed, and I bounced slightly upon the mattress. My eyes drank in the sight of him as he hovered above me, his presence commanding every ounce of my attention. He pressed his face against my neck, his warm lips tracing a scorching path along my throat, igniting fire with every touch and nibble of flesh. I squirmed beneath him in an instinctive
Fragments of Elysium: Love on Campus Chapter 54 : My Best Work
*Lily*As we settled into his car, the seatbelt clicking into place, anxiety crept up on me. Normally, I would have been exhilarated by the rush toward the unknown, but today, apprehension constricted around my heart like ivy.With the impact of the news, I had forgotten to let Rachel know I was going back to the city to try and find Adrian. Retrieving my phone from the depths of my bag, my thumb hovered over the screen before pressing call. "Hey, girl," she answered after a few rings. It didn't escape me the way her voice was strained and cautious."I'm going to the city to find Adrian," I told her. "Please let me know if you see him," I pleaded into the phone, my voice a thread fraying at the edges.Rachel's voice crackled through the speaker, her tone a mix of reassurance and surprise. "Yeah, I got you, girl. I haven't seen his face around campus today, but... Oh, wait—" A pause snagged the conversation, and I tensed."What? What happened?" The question shot out of me, shar
Fragments of Elysium: Love on Campus Chapter 53 : Detonating the Bomb
*Adrian*The semester's end was so near, I could almost hear the collective sigh of relief from the entire campus. But for me, it was a race against time, the final stretch in a marathon that had tested every fiber of my being. As I sat at my desk, fingers poised over the keyboard, I was reminded of how everything had changed since that fateful day when Rachel, bless her, had been the bridge between Lily and me.And through that storm, finding Lily again had felt like grasping a lifeline in turbulent seas. She'd been wary, understandably, but as the days warmed into something resembling trust, I promised her that I would not let her down. Not again.After guaranteeing Lily wouldn't run away from me again, I felt more encouraged than ever to put my plan into action.Perched within the confines of my apartment, away from the incessant chaos of campus, I clicked the button with a finality that seemed to echo in the suddenly quiet room. The screen flickered as the documentary began t
Fragments of Elysium: Love on Campus Chapter 52 : Unexpected Encounter
*Lily*When Rachel left on Sunday morning to return to the city, I felt a sense of loss as she walked away. And there I was again, in the kitchen of the coffee shop, back to my routine, scrubbing away at the espresso machine, lost in a rhythm that didn't require thought. My movements were mechanical; wipe here, rinse there, all while my heart wrestled with a puzzle that refused to be solved.The distance between Adrian and me was more than just miles—it was this gaping rift filled with uncertainty. Could we go back to what we were once? Would he be mad at me for ghosting him for so long?The whirring grinder and the hiss of steam from the milk frother became the soundtrack to my internal debate. Long distance wasn't something I believed in, or so I'd convinced myself. Yet, as I stood there, the possibility of not fighting for what Adrian and I once had was even more unbearable.The day faded, and with it, the bustle of customers slowed to a trickle before the doors closed behind
Fragments of Elysium: Love on Campus Chapter 51 : Friendly Visit
*Lily*When the final chime of my shift sang out, I untied my apron with a sense of finality, the fabric heavy with the scent of roasted beans and sweet syrups. As I stepped into the brisk evening air, a shiver chased up my spine from the chill and I wrapped my coat tighter around me to prevent the wind from cutting through.Before I turned the corner, I felt the familiar buzz of my phone in the pocket of my jacket. Rachel's name flashed across the screen, piercing the veil of avoidance I'd carefully crafted around myself. Perhaps I was finally starting to let the grief for losing my dreams behind me, or maybe I just really missed her, but I swiped the answer icon before doubt could reclaim me."Hello?""Li-Lily?" The voice on the other end trembled. "You answered," she breathed, relief coating her tone."Hi, Rachel..." My heart constricted, guilt taking hold of me as I heard how desolated she sounded. "I'm sorry. I just—""No, don't... I understand." Her words hitched, and I p
Fragments of Elysium: Love on Campus Chapter 50 : Changing Plans
*Adrian*After hearing that Louise was behind Lily's expulsion, I felt a hatred take over me in a way that I could barely control, threatening to erupt in an uncontrolled deluge of fury whenever I thought of it. I envisioned myself storming towards her, demanding she revoke the injustice she committed. But every time my mind was consumed by that idea, I clenched my fists, swallowing the acidic bile rising in my throat until I could think clearly. I couldn't do anything hasty. This wasn't anything small, a mere girl confrontation within college life.If this was it, I'd have wasted no time to run after Louise and demand she did something, anything to fix what she had done. But I had no such luck.This felt like climbing a mountain with no summit in sight.Now, more than ever, I understood Lily's fears. How could someone live like that, constantly watching over their shoulders? She had been right to be afraid. I blamed myself for not seeing it sooner, not taking this more serious
Fragments of Elysium: Love on Campus Chapter 49 : Home
*Lily*The world outside had continued its relentless spin, but within the walls of my father's house, time seemed to have slowed to a gentle crawl. Two weeks since the expulsion had reshaped my existence into something unrecognizable. I'd traded classrooms and libraries for the comforting monotony of domestic life, finding solace in the simple rhythm of household chores.I could tell my father wanted to say so much to me, but after I returned home carrying my luggage, my cheeks stained with tears, I knew he was trying to respect my space. He offered me words of comfort, of course, but I could see it in his eyes how upset he was for my situation.He didn't doubt me for a second; he knew I was innocent. In my opinion, he shared my frustration with the injustice I suffered, but we both understood that, as mere pawns in the chessboard of wealthy and influential people, we were powerless to fight the system.That's what probably bothered him the most.Whenever Dad wasn't working, my
Fragments of Elysium: Love on Campus Chapter 48 : Putting the Pieces Together
*Adrian*The world seemed dull and lifeless since I heard Lily had gotten expelled from Elysium. Chris had been the bearer of ill news, saying he heard someone saying they saw Lily walk into an Uber with her luggage. I didn't believe it at first, but when I tried to find her and couldn't, realization hit me like tons of bricks.I called and texted her countless times, but she never answered me, and that's when I knew things were indeed true. The realization settled like lead in my stomach; she was truly gone.Days had gone by ever since, and I couldn't come up with a plan. I didn't know what happened, other than that the Order was behind her expulsion. But that's all I had, and even though I had told Lily that I'd figure out a way to take them out of her tail, I hadn't had the time to think it through before they made their next move.When I realized, she was already out.The door to the editing room creaked open, pulling me away from my tumultuous thoughts. Chris’s voice cut th
