I push my cart down the aisle, trying to remember what else I need to pick up. My mother did say I should take the list she wrote for me but I said no because I'm smart right? My mind is occupied by the fact that I have to take Presley to the beach over the weekend. I couldn't tell you how this happened but shes been texting me about it the whole day. I grab a carton of milk and a box of cereal, hoping I haven’t forgotten anything important.As I turn the corner, I smile when I see the one person I've been fiending to see. all day. My heart skips a beat when I see Celeste standing there, staring at a shelf of pasta. She’s wearing the baggiest pants I've ever seen, Iwould love to take off all those layers to see what she's hiding. Better yet I would love to take her to the beach. Her hair pulled back in a messy bun. She looks lost in thought, and for a moment, I hesitate to approach her.I don't know how she'll react.“Celeste?” I ca
The weekend arrives, and I find myself on the beach with Presley. The sun is high, and the waves crash rhythmically against the shore. Presley chatters away about her latest shopping spree, but my mind drifts back to Celeste.I can't stop thinking about her and this is my opportunity find out everything about her that I can.“So, you and Celeste are friends?” I ask casually, trying to steer the conversation where I want it to go.Presley raises an eyebrow, clearly surprised by the question. “No. Why are you asking about Celeste?” She says and I can already heaar the jealousy in her voice. She rolls her eyes at me as she asks her question.I shrug, keeping my tone light. “Just curious. She seems different.” I say and she pouts.Presley smirks. “She’s fine, I guess. She's a little stuck up. I don't see anything interesting about her. So don't waste your breath on her." She
I'm back in my favorite place! The library.It’s quiet hum returns makes me want to scream because I need help!I push my physics assignment aside for a moment, rubbing my temples to fend off the growing headache. I look up at the ceiling hoping it will fix the pain but it doesn't.When I look ahead I see Ethan looking at me. He smiles at me and I nod wondering how he's always in here. I know he's smart and has the best grades in the school but how does he not lose his mind?I pull my assignment back and try it again. After a few more attempts at focusing, I concede defeat. I’m going to need help with this physics assignment, whether I like it or not. Swallowing my pride, I gather my notebook and textbook and make my way over to him. He looks up as I approach, a surprised but warm smile spreading across his face.“Hey, Ethan. Can I ask you for a favor?” I say getting the words out before I change my mind, trying to keep my tone casual I let the words flow.“Of course. What’s up?”
The next day, the walls of my room feel like they’re closing in on me. I decide I need a change of scenery and grab my books, heading to the nearby park. The fresh air and open space might help clear my mind and give me a fresh perspective on my studies.The park is a welcome escape from the confines of my room. I find a quiet spot under a large tree, its branches providing just enough shade. The sound of birds chirping and the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze create a soothing backdrop. I spread out my books and notebooks, ready to tackle my history reading.I take my headphones out and plaster them on my ears to drown out the sund of the world. I take a deep breath in and start on my work.I’m halfway through a particularly dense chapter when I see footsteps approaching. I looking up, and frown at the face looking at back at me. I’ts Liam walking toward me. He’s wearing his usual confident smile, but there&r
I stare at Liam after he dropped that bomb. He has the nerve to close his eyes and settle into a comfortable position on the blanket, I’m left with the weight of his words. The sun filters through the leaves of the tree above us, casting patterns on the ground. I try to refocus on my history textbook, but the words blur together as I replay Liam’s confession in my mind.Did he really just say that he likes me and wants to be with me? The mere thought of it sends my heart racing again.
"This is not the way home," I say, looking at Liam, who is driving away from our neighborhood."I know," he says simply and keeps on driving."You said we were going home," I state, and he nods. "Then why are we pulling into a coffee shop parking lot?" I ask when the car comes to a stop."Because we're going to get some food first," he says, opening the door. He gets out, walks to my side of the car, and then opens the door."I don't want to have coffee with you," I say, taking my book bag and getting out of the car. He swiftly takes the bag from me and then starts walking away.I stand there for a moment, watching him stride towards the entrance of the coffee shop with my bag slung over his shoulder. There's a stubborn set to his jaw, a look I’ve come to recognize over the years. Sighing, I follow him, my feet dragging as I go.Inside, the air is cool, and the rich aroma of coffee beans fills the space. It's cozy, with warm lighting and plush chairs that invite you to stay a while. L
"What?" he says, bringing the question back to me. I raise my brows at him in question, and he smiles this devastatingly beautiful smile at me. I place my coffee down because my heart skips so hard I can feel my hand start to shake."Why are you staring at me like that?" I ask, and his face gets serious."I'm taking in your beauty," he says, and I immediately roll my eyes at him."Don't roll your eyes at me" He says looking me in my eyes"Seriously, Liam?" I scoff, trying to mask the fluttering sensation in my chest. "You're ridiculous.""I'm serious," he insists, leaning forward, his eyes locking onto mine. "You're breathtaking." hE says his voice low. I shift uncomfortably in my seat, unsure of how to respond. His words, as sweet as they are, make me feel exposed like he's seeing straight through the walls I've built around myself. Why is he saying these things? I'm not ugly but I'm not breathtaking. "Stop it," I mutter, taking a sip of my drink to avoid his gaze."Stop what?" he
I step into the dimly lit warehouse, the familiar scent of dust and gasoline hitting my nose. The place is quiet, save for the faint hum of the fluorescent lights overhead. Jar is already there, his broad frame leaning against a stack of crates, arms crossed and eyes sharp. He’s always early, always ready.“Liam,” Jar greets with a nod. His voice is low, steady. Reliable, just like him.“Jar,” I reply, walking over to him. I set down the duffel bag I’m carrying and unzip it, revealing neatly packaged bundles. “Everything set for tonight?”He nods again. “Runners are ready. Just waiting on the product.”I pull out a few bundles, handing them to Jar. He inspects them briefly before tucking them away in his own bag. “You sure they can handle this load?” I ask, looking him in the eye.“They’re solid,” Jar reassures me. “We’ve vetted them thoroughly. No weak links.”I nod, trusting his judgment. Jar’s been with me long enough to know what’s at stake. “Good. Let’s get this moving.”One by o
Nathan is sitting across from me, his brows knitted together in that way they always are when he’s worried about me. His concern feels like a weight pressing against my chest, adding to the suffocating anxiety that’s been building since I found out about Tamrin and Trevor.I’m trying to act normal, like everything is fine, but I can feel my hands trembling in my lap. I don’t think Nathan buys it. He’s been watching me too closely for the past twenty minutes while I pr
I can’t believe how different tonight feels. From the moment I step out of the car, Trevor is standing there, waiting, looking sharp and giving me this heart-melting smile. He opens the car door for me like some scene out of a romance movie, and for a second, I can’t help but wonder if this is the same guy from our first date.“You look stunning,” he says, his voice soft but sincere, and I can feel my cheeks heat up.The restaurant he’s chosen this time is
The second Sadie says his name—Trevor—I feel my stomach drop, like I’ve been yanked into some icy abyss. My blood feels like it’s turned to sludge, my feet rooted to the floor, frozen in place. I know who she’s talking about. I know. And I also know I can’t let her see even a flicker of recognition on my face.I take a deep, quiet breath, trying to calm the panic threatening to bubble over. Sadie is sitting across from me, her face etched with concern, and she k
I wake up with a heaviness in my chest that I can’t shake. Last night, I couldn’t stop replaying Trevor’s smug face and the way Tamrin laughed off his disgusting comment. Every instinct in me is screaming that this guy isn’t just bad news—he’s dangerous.And then there’s Tamrin. How do I even begin to help someone who doesn’t want to see the truth? It’s not like she’d listen to me. Not now. But someone has to know, someone who might have a
I pace back and forth in my room, phone pressed tightly to my ear. The ringing feels endless, but I keep waiting. Sadie always takes forever to answer, but I need her right now. My heart is buzzing, and I’m practically bursting with excitement. Finally, the ringing stops, and her voice comes through, flat and uninterested."Hello?""Sadie!" I say, trying to keep my voice from sounding too desperate. "I have a date. I need your help. Please, can you come over?"There’s a pause, and I can practically hear her rolling her eyes on the other end. "A date, huh?" she says. "And you want my help?""Yes!" I say, ignoring the edge in her tone. "I need your magic touch. You’re the best at this kind of thing, Sadie. Please."Another long pause. Then she sighs. "Fine. I’ll be there in an hour."By the time she arrives, I’m practically vibrating with energy. The second I see her walk through the door, I let out an excited squ
I lean back in my chair, phone still in hand, letting the faint hum of the television fill the silence. Tamrin’s reply is still fresh on the screen, her cheerful acceptance of another date. It didn’t take much to get her to agree—just a few words crafted with care and a touch of desperation.The key to manipulating people like Tamrin is understanding their hunger. She’s starving for attention, validation, anything to make her feel less invisible. I gave her just enough on our first date to plant the seed. Sure, I acted aloof, even dismissive, but I knew that would keep her chasing. And now? Now she’s hooked.I scroll through our conversation from earlier tonight.Trevor: Hey, Tamrin. I’ve been thinking about our date, and I feel terrible about how I acted. I was nervous, and I handled things badly. You didn’t deserve that.I imagine her face when she read it, the little
I’m practically skipping up the steps to Presley’s house, the excitement bubbling in my chest. It’s not like the date with Trevor was amazing—in fact, it was the opposite—but it doesn’t matter. For once, I have something to talk about, something that feels like it belongs to me.I knock on her door, and when she opens it, she’s wearing her usual bored expression. Presley always looks like she has somewhere better to be.“Hey,” I say, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. “You won’t believe what happened last night.”She raises an eyebrow, leaning against the doorframe as I flop onto her couch.“Let me guess,” she says, voice dripping with sarcasm. “You found a stray dog and decided to adopt it.”I roll my eyes. “No, Presley. I went on a date.”That gets her attention. She straightens up, her eyes narrowing just slightly. It’s subtle, but I catch it, and it fuels me in a way I didn’t expect.“Oh?” she says, crossing her ar