I stand there for a moment, processing the interaction. Liam's sudden appearance and departure leave me feeling disoriented. I shake it off and step forward as the line moves, my mind bouncing between the essay and the encounter. I'm too stressed out to be dealing with all this.
Liam's newfound interest in me is the main thing that gives me the most stress. Why won't he leave me alone?Finally, it's my turn. I order my usual—to medium pepperoni pizzas with extra cheese—and pay the cashier. They give me a number and tell me it'll be about ten minutes. I find a corner to stand in, away from the tables and the people.I can see Liam sitting with his friends or it could be his minions out of the corner of my eye. I turn my back to the right so I don't look at him by accident. I hate the fact that he intrigues me. He shouldn't, people like him are dangerous. He sells drugs for a living. He has people that steal and kill for him.I force myself to sit at my desk and focus. The glowing screen of my laptop seems to taunt me with the blank document. The essay is due tomorrow, and it’s not going to write itself. With a deep breath, I start typing.My fingers fly over the keys, pouring out the arguments and points I’ve been mulling over for days. I’ve done the research; now it’s just a matter of getting it all down. Every so often, I glance at my math textbook, the assignment another weight on my shoulders.I take a short break after finishing the introduction and the first couple of paragraphs. The essay is taking shape, but I still have a long way to go. I stretch, drink some water, and take a moment to clear my head before diving back in.Hours pass. I’m lost in a haze of words and numbers. The clock on my desk ticks steadily towards midnight, but I barely notice. I’m too absorbed in my work, too determined to get everything done. The essay is nearly complete, and I feel a surge of satisfaction as I type the fin
I wake up to the soft glow of the morning sun seeping through my blinds. My body protests as I drag myself out of bed, every muscle sore from the all-nighter I pulled. I groan as I force myself to face the day. The events of the night before feel like a blur, but the sense of accomplishment remains sharp and vivid. I quickly take a shower, change into fresh clothes, grab my book bag, and head out the door forgetting about breakfast and my mother. I want to submit my assignments before the school day starts.The cool morning air wakes me up a bit more as I walks to school. The campus is quiet at this hour, with only a few early risers scattered around. I make my way to the English department first, my mind racing with thoughts of my dream about Liam. I shakes her head, focusing on the task at hand.Ms. Thompson, my English teacher, is already in her classroom, organizing papers and preparing for the day. She looks up in surprise at me as I walks in.“Celeste? What are you doing h
After lunch, I make my way to the library, seeking a quiet place to gather my thoughts and get a head start on my next set of assignments. The library is almost empty, the usual lunchtime crowd having already dispersed. I find a secluded corner near the back, away from prying eyes and curious whispers. I pull out my notebook and textbooks, determined to make the most of this quiet time.I stare at my physics assigment and sigh. I am going to be dead by the end of this week. High School Physics Assignment: Projectile MotionObjective: Understand the principles of projectile motion by solving problems involving the kinematic equations and analyzing the trajectory of a projectile.Instructions: Complete the following problems. Show all your work and include diagrams where necessary. Use g = 9.8 m/s² for the acceleration due to gravity.Problem 1: Horizontal LaunchA. ball is rolled off a table with a horizontal velocity of 5 m/s. The table is 1.2 meters high.B. Calculate the time it ta
It's finally Friday. I'm happy to report that I've submitted 40% of the assignments I am required to submit in order to get off academic probation. And I got the first two grades back. I got an A on my math assignment and a B+ on my English essay. I still think I deserved an A, but I'm not about to argue with a teacher."Okay, we're taking you out," Tamrin says, standing in front of me in the library. I'm in my little corner finishing off yet another assignment."No," I say in protest. I don't have time to be going out and having fun, especially fun planned by Tamrin."Yes. I spoke to Sadie and we're going," she says, already gathering my stuff.I open my mouth to protest again, but Tamrin's determined expression stops me. I know there's no use arguing when she's made up her mind. She bundles my things into my bag, and I reluctantly stand up, letting her drag me out of the library."We all need a break, Celeste. You've been working non-stop, and it
There's an awkward pause before Tamrin jumps in. "Well, enjoy your coffee. We’re just here to relax after a long week."Liam is staring at me and I wish he would look away. Sadie is staring at me curiously and I know she has questions."I was hoping we could join you." Liam says, glancing at me one last time before motioning to Presley to take a seat next to Sadie. I almost cry when he pulls a chair and sits next to me. I look at Sadie who is smiling at me like she's on crack.I wish I could ask her to stop because Liam is looking right at her."Are you okay?" Sadie asks, mischief in her eyes. I shake my head at her question to get her to stop but she just looks at me waiting for an answer.I nod, forcing a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine." I can feel Liam's eyes on me. I ignore him and take a sip of my coffee. I'm ready to go."Maybe we're making you feel u
Saturday morning comes with a bright sun and clear skies, a perfect day to stay in and catch up on more assignments. But my plans are interrupted when my mom knocks on my bedroom door, holding a small package.I stare at her surprised that she's up and out of bed. I've been living her food in the morning not sure she would get out of bed and I have been ignoring the kitchen as soon as I get home because I souldn't take the emotional toll of knowing she doesn't get out of bed."Celeste, I need you to do me a favor," she says, her tone low . "Can you deliver this to Mrs. Hayes? It's something she left at the office yesterday." She adds and my brain is running in circles. That means she went to work.I glance at the package and then back at my mom. "Mrs. Hayes? As in Liam's mom?" That's the other thing making my mind spin."Yes, Celeste," she replies, raising an eyebrow in repone to my tone. "It won't take long." She adds and I sigh,
Liam is sitting in his room, staring out of the window, lost in thought. The evening sun casts a warm glow over the garden, the colors vibrant and full of life. His mind is far away, filled with thoughts of Celeste.I remember how she looked this morning when she brought the package. The shock on her face when she saw me with Presley.I was deep in Presley's pussy but all I saw was her beauty. Her hair catching the light, her eyes a mix of shock and lust. I know she feels something for me. I see it in the way she looks at me. he thinks she can hide it but her eyes always betray her and leave her true feelings on display.She was horny.I feel my dick get harder when I think about her looking at me. I wish she was here so I can make her touch it. I want to feel her fingers wrap around me. I know she would tremble as she feels the softness my skin and hardness of my shaft.I would love to see her reaction
By the time I get home, the tension has morphed into a dull ache in my chest.What did I just see? How am I going to face him the next time we see each other? I need to ignore him. I run to my room and try to focus on my assignments. I need to forget the image that is undeniably etched into my brain. He was naked and she was naked too! I drag my body into my chair and stare at the papers in front of me. But my thoughts keep drifting back to Liam and what I saw. I replay the scene over and over in my head, each time wondering why I didn't just leave.Why did I stand there that long? Why did I keep eye contact with him?Why was he staring at me? Why did it seem like he liked the idea of me watching him have sex with another girl?How fucked up is he?Am I fucked up for watching? Even worse am I fucked up for wondering what it's like to be with him?I hate him, yes but I can't help but wonder if it felt good for her,I get up at that thought and scream silently.What the fuck is w
I wake up with a start, my heart thundering in my chest. My breath comes in ragged gasps, and for a moment, I can’t place where I am. I sit up quickly, expecting to see someone in the room with me—someone coming to hurt me, to take me again—but when my eyes adjust to the dim light, the room is empty.Just the silence.I look around, the weight of everything pressing down on me. This place—the house where Trevor has kept me locked up for weeks—has become a prison. It’s always quiet, too quiet. The only sounds are the distant hum of the outside world that I can’t reach, the creaks of the house settling, and my own restless thoughts.The darkness beyond the window is thick and consuming, the kind of darkness that swallows up the last remnants of hope. But tonight, something is different. Something feels off.I strain my ears, listening closely. There’s a faint sound, like the whisper of something moving through
The air is cold, but I barely feel it. My fingers flex at my sides, itching for the moment I get to wrap them around Trevor’s throat.A few meters away, the house stands in the darkness, barely lit by the moon. Celeste is in there. I can feel it, like some invisible tether between us. She’s so close I can almost smell her—vanilla and something soft, something warm.Nathan steps up beside me. I don’t have to look at him to know what he’s thinking. We’ve run through this plan a hundred times. We both breathe slowly, measured, in sync. If we let the rage take over now, we’ll lose. We need to do this right.Behind us, the rest of my men are waiting, silent shadows in the night. Five hundred of them. A small army, but that’s what it takes when yo
Nathan and I are staring at the screen, watching the dot move. Every second it inches closer to its destination, my pulse beats harder, my hands clench tighter. I should be in my car already, speeding toward her. I should be ending this.But I can’t rush this.One mistake, and Celeste might never make it out alive.I take a slow breath, forcing myself to think. Trevor’s still pissed about today—I saw it in his eyes, the way his mask slipped for just a second. He’s getting sloppy. That’s why Tamrin was able to slip one on him, why he hasn’t even realized she did. He thinks he still has control, but we’re the ones pulling the strings now."One more day," I say, more to myself than to Nathan.
My hands are trembling so hard I can barely hold the phone. My chest feels tight, like there isn’t enough air in the room, but I force myself to breathe. In and out. In and out. I can’t fall apart now. Not when I finally made a move.Sadie sits next to me, watching silently. She hasn’t asked a single question since I took her phone, but she doesn’t have to. I know she’s thinking them. I know she wants to yell at me, shake me, demand answers. But she doesn’t. Maybe she knows I don’t have the strength to explain right now.Nathan answers on the second ring. His voice is sharp, alert. “Who’s this?”“It’s Tamrin.” My voice barely comes out, but I swallow the lump in my throat and force myself to continue. “I hid my phone in Trevor’s car so you can track him. I’ll send you the details now.”Silence. Then a sharp breath on the other end. “You—” he starts, but I don’t give him a chance to question me. I end the call and immediately go to the tracking app on my phone, sending the location str
The drive back feels like it lasts forever, and every minute of it makes my stomach churn with dread. Trevor’s words hang in the air, thick and suffocating. He doesn’t stop talking, doesn’t stop reminding me of everything he’s capable of, and how easily he could ruin my life if I even think about crossing him. Every threat is sharp, like a blade cutting through my chest. He tells me he will kill me, kill my family, that no one would ever know what happened to Celeste or that I was involved.The fear grips me harder with each passing second. It feels like I’m suffocating in this car, trapped in this nightmare I can’t escape. I can’t say anything. I just nod, keep my eyes on the road, my breath shallow, praying he’ll just let me go. But it never comes. The torment doesn’t stop.Finally, when the car pulls up in front of my house, I feel my body go stiff. Trevor grabs my thigh, his fingers digging in deep, hard enough to bruise. The pain flares up immediately, sharp and relentless, and I
I’m sitting in Trevor’s car, my hands trembling so badly I can barely keep them on my lap. My head is pounding, each beat of my heart sending sharp pangs of pain through my chest. I don’t know what he’s going to do to me. I can barely look him in the eye, even though he’s sitting right next to me, his cold presence suffocating me in this small space.How did I end up here? I can’t even remember when it started to go so wrong. I thought he was different. I thought he was charming, charismatic, someone who could make me feel like I mattered. I let myself believe he cared. I even slept with him—let him do things to me that I’m ashamed of now. I wish I could take it all back. I wish I could somehow erase the last few months of my life.But I can’t. I’m trapped.I don’t know when I started to see the darkness in him, when it became clear that Trevor was a monster. I was too blind, too naïve to see
The car rolls to a stop in front of the abandoned building. The windows are boarded up, and the air around here smells stale, like no one’s been within a hundred miles for years. I park with precision, the crunch of gravel beneath the tires settling in my ears. Tamrin doesn’t say anything, but I can see her eyes darting around, her body stiffening with every passing second. She’s terrified, and it’s exactly what I want.I turn to look at her, my gaze dark and unrelenting. There’s a moment of silence, thick and suffocating, before I speak.“Tamrin,” I say, my voice low and commanding. “What happened when you came back?”She looks at me, trying to hide the fear behind her eyes, but I see through it. “What do you mean?” she says, trying to play dumb, but I can hear the tremor in her
I pull up to Tamrin’s place, the tires crunching softly as I stop in the driveway. My hands tighten on the steering wheel for a moment, the anger from my conversation with Liam still simmering beneath my skin. The asshole had the nerve to think he could intimidate me. It’s all a game to him, but he doesn't understand what I’m capable of.I pick up my phone, dialing Tamrin’s number. It rings a few times before she picks up.“Yeah?” Her voice is tentative, like she already knows something's wrong.“Come outside,” I tell her, making sure my voice is low and controlled.There’s a long pause on the other end, but I wait. I know she’ll come.
I’m burning. Not just with anger—but with something deeper, something uglier.I stalk to my car, muttering under my breath, fists clenched so tight my nails dig into my palms. I need to hit something, break something—tear Liam apart with my bare hands.I drop into the driver’s seat and slam the door shut, gripping the wheel so hard it creaks under my fingers. My breathing is heavy, uneven. I clench my jaw so tight my teeth ache.And then I snap.My fist flies into the steering wheel, over and over again, the impact rattling up my arm. But it’s not enough. The rage is still clawing at me, scratching under my skin, demanding an outlet.I start the car, chest heaving, mind racing. Liam thinks he can play games with me? Give me an ultimatum? Like he’s the one in control?I pull out of the driveway too fast, tires screeching against the pavement. And then I see it—a car pulling out just as I do.I