*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
*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 The more important thing was that the Order of Elysium was now part of a dark past, no longer active thanks to Adrian, Chris, Jenna, and everyone else who accepted to risk their lives to end that madness.I was so proud of everyone that it was hard to put into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
*Lily*When I set foot into Elysium University that morning, I had no idea how much my life was about to change.The chill of the autumn breeze greeted me as I stepped out of the taxi, clutching my backpack and pulling my luggage behind me. The classic buildings, weathered by time, stood tall with intricate details etched into their stone facades. Vines, like nature's artwork, adorned the walls, adding a touch of wild beauty to the historical charm. An intoxicating mix of excitement and anxiety bubbled within my chest as I surveyed the campus, my heart quickening at the thought of what awaited me here.Having just transferred from another college, this was more than a simple change of scenery for me. Financial struggles had forced my father and me to pack up and move to a new city in pursuit of a more affordable life. Taking in the grandeur of Elysium University now, I couldn't shake the weight of responsibility that rested on my shoulders. The scholarship I had earned through
*Lily*Excitement boosted my mood as I slipped into the classroom on Monday morning for my first class of the week—Bioethics and Medical Law. My gaze flitted across the room filled with students from both Bronze and Silver Wings until it found Rachel in the middle row, waving a hand at me discreetly from her seat. "Excuse me," I repeated as I slid past knees and backpacks to claim the spot beside her. The cushioned chair received me with a soft sigh, and I immediately got my notebook, smoothing a stray lock behind my ear and fixing my gaze forward.Professor Caesar stood at the lectern, his presence commanding silence, the sort that fell heavily upon the room as he cleared his throat. "Welcome to Bioethics and Medical Law," he began, his voice resonating through the room. "Here, we will navigate the treacherous waters of morality that often surround the advancements of biological sciences."My pen poised above the page as I prepared myself. Professor Caesar checked us out, lik
*Lily*"Miss Everhart," Professor Caesar's voice was steady, yet there was a glimmer of a warning in his tone, reminding me of where and who I was. "I believe the collaboration of such passionate minds can only yield exceptional results." I turned to look at Adrian, whose expression was unreadable. Was that a spark of challenge in his eyes? Or perhaps amusement? Whatever it was, it inflamed my pride and set my nerves alight. Within minutes, this man had managed to ruffle my feathers in a way no one else had before. And I hated it.Adrian shrugged, leaning back in his seat, his arms crossed over his chest–a picture of indifference."Fine," I muttered under my breath, forcing myself to look away from him. "Very well." Professor Caesar clapped his hands together with finality. "I will now group the rest of you, and we can proceed with the project in the next class. We won't have time to discuss strategies today, but you can conduct some research as homework."As he continued t
*Lily*My mind was a jumble of thoughts as I strolled out of the library that evening. Clutched in my hands were the notes I had compiled during my research for Professor Caesar's joint project with Adrian next Monday—a day I was already dreading.I pushed open the heavy oak door, stepping out from the echo of my own footsteps into the embrace of the cold night. A silver glow enveloped the campus' manicured lawns and ivy-clad buildings, the moon standing sentinel in the night sky. The path to Bronze Wing was like a ghost town at this hour, shadows having a dance party under the rustling leaves. As I dragged myself toward my dorm, suddenly feeling exhausted and hungry, a hushed conversation tugged at my ears. It was like stumbling upon a forbidden secret, the hushed tones of their conversation dripping with clandestine urgency. I halted in my steps, afraid they would hear me if I carried on. For some reason, I knew I shouldn’t be listening to their conversation–I should just m
*Lily*I applied the final stroke of mascara as I peered into the mirror, my own reflection surprisingly leaving me satisfied. Even though I wasn't eager to go to this party, now that Rachel and I were getting ready, I was starting to feel the change in the air and in my mood. Rachel's deft fingers worked through her dark curls, pinning them up with an expertise that belied her casual demeanor."Tonight's going to be so much fun," she declared excitedly.I nodded, adjusting the delicate strap of my black dress, feeling the fabric cling to every contour of my body like a second skin. "I've never been to one of these campus parties before," I confessed, the flutter in my stomach betraying both nerves and exhilaration."Seriously? Not even before you got transferred? Ah, Lily..." Rachel sighed when I shook my head at her, fastening an earring with a practiced click. I was never a popular girl in school, much less in college. Before I got transferred, I was one of those people wh
*Lily*"Looks like the dynamic duo is back," Rachel quipped from beside me, nudging me with her elbow, her voice holding a teasing lilt.My eyes drifted from Professor Alan and a group of five loud and squeaky girls chatting lively, to find Adrian reappearing, this time flanked by a new figure. The guy beside him was all athletic grace and easy charm, and I recognized him from the baseball team. He had a wide smile that seemed genuine and infectious.His eyes crinkled at the corners as he laughed at something Adrian said. His presence was as commanding as it was amiable—a stark contrast to the brooding intensity that Adrian exuded."Who is that?" I asked, ignoring the odd flutter in my stomach by seeing Adrian again. Now, with the room a bit less dark, I realized I hadn’t paid much attention to how good-looking he was tonight. The guy managed to turn jeans, a white T-shirt, and a jacket into an outfit that seemed to have stepped right off a catwalk."That's Chris Harrington, Adr
*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
*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
*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
*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
*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
*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
*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
*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
*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