The next day, the sun is shining brightly as we step onto the soft, warm sand of the beach. The sound of waves crashing against the shore and the laughter of others fill the air. For a moment, I let myself relax, hoping the sea breeze wash away my worries.Tamrin is already setting up our spot, laying down towels and unpacking a cooler filled with snacks and drinks. Sadie is busy applying sunscreen, her excitement palpable."Come on, Celeste! The water looks amazing!" Sadie calls out, her eyes cheery.I force a smile and follow them to the shoreline. The cool water hits at my feet, and I take a deep breath, trying to let go of the confusion inside me. For a few minutes, I manage to enjoy the feeling of the waves and the warmth of the sun on my skin.We spend the morning swimming, laughing, and trying to build the perfect sandcastle. It's a welcome distraction, and for a while, I almost forget about the tangled mess of emotions I've been carrying.As we take a break, lounging on our to
After our day I choose to walk home, it's quiet, the streets mostly empty as the day transitions into evening. The warmth of the sun still lingers in the air, and I find myself lost in thought.As I pass by the familiar houses and shops, I can't help but think about the past few days. Liam's face keeps flashing in my mind, and I wonder what he's doing right now. Is he thinking about me? Or is he commiting a crime? Mostly does he feel the same confusion and guilt?I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts. The joy of our beach day was a temporary, but I know I need to address my feelings head-on. Ignoring them won't make them go away.When I finally reach home, I take a deep breath before opening the door. The house is quiet, with only the faint hum of the refrigerator filling the silence. I hope it's because my mom is out running errands, and not sleeping again. I smile when I realize I have the place to myself for a while.I head to my roo
The next morning, the sun is already peeking through the curtains when I wake up. I stretch, feeling surprisingly refreshed. Last night’s progress on my assignments gives me more motivation to keep going, and I’m determined to finish.After a quick breakfast, I settle at the kitchen table, books and notes spread out in front of me. The house is quiet except for the rhythmic ticking of the clock on the wall. Mom’s already left for work, leaving me with a peaceful space to focus.I'm deep into my assignment when the doorbell rings, breaking my concentration. I sigh, pushing my chair back and heading to the door, wondering who it could be this early in the day. As I open it, my heart skips a beat.Standing there, package in hand, is Liam.“Liam?” I manage to say, my voice barely above a whisper. My mind races, struggling to process his sudden appearance at my doorstep.“That's me ,” he says, his tone casual &l
Adore You by Harry Styles plays on my phone. I stand in the same spot he left me in, utterly shocked. This man is going to be the end of me. Why would he play a song like that for me? What am I supposed to think about this?These lyrics!You don't have to say you love meI just wanna tell you somethin'Lately, you've been on my mindI stare at the books on the kitchen table and wonder if I have the strength to finish the work I have. Trust Liam to mess my feelings up.My phone vibrates. It’s Tamrin calling. I answer the phone without thinking about it. "How's everything going? Need any help?" I almost laugh at the irony. If only she knew." I don't think you want the problems I have." I say and she chuckles. "I'll manage, though." I add and she doesn't say anything else."You sound off though." She says and she's not wrong"It’s nothing. Just.... stress"
The next morning I wake up groggy and tired. It's not a surprise that I had no sleep at all. I had endless dreams about... Liam.Dreams about him being naked and me being.... Naked.I turn onto my back sighing, This sucks. I shouldn't be having these dreams. I brush my hand over my chest feeling like I am someone else.Why am I thinking of him and me like that?I groan turning onto my side. I close my eyes praying that sleep comes quickly. I need to rest. I've been working too hard and barely sleeping.I slow my breathing down and leg my body go of all the tension gripping me. I start to drift off into sleep slowly. I smile when I feel the familiar feel of sleep takeover my body.My mind shuts down and for a split second I completely shut down.I'm woken violently when I hear a bang from outside my door. I open my eyes and almost cry at the intrusion. I'll never rest!
Two days later I walk through the school entrance and feel someone link their arm with mine. I look at the arm and then I look at the owner of the arm.My heart sinks into my stomach when I see who it is."Presley?"I say and she smiles at me. I look at her terrified because Presley doesn't like me. And the fact that she's smiling at me makes me very weary. What does she want?"Yes." She says and she keeps smiling at me."How are you today?" She asks and I stare at her not sure what to say that, I wish she would cut to the chase."Good!" I sat finally and she starts walking towards the lockers."I have a favour to ask you." She says and I shake my head no. I already know I don't want to give her any favours. I don't have anything to do with her. I want to be let alone. I have enough shit to deal with."I don't think I can't help you with anything." I say trying to take my arm away but she holds on a little tig
I march through the crowded halls, my mind racing with a mix of frustration and anxiety. How could Tamrin make this about me? She knows Presley doesn't like me. I bet she hates the fact that Tamrin hates the fact that she's being strong armed into inviting me. She should have asked me about this first.I finally spot Tamrin by her locker, chatting animatedly with Sadie. As I approach, Sadie waves enthusiastically. "Hey, Celeste!"I manage a weak smile. "Hey, Sadie. Can we talk for a second?"Sadie nods, looking from me to Tamrin. She raises her brows at me in question. Tamrin looks at me, her expression puzzled. "What's up?"I don't waste any time. "Why was Presley harassing me about her party? I say not in the mood to explain any further because she knows exactly what I'm on about."Tamrin's eyes widen. "Oh, I was going to tell you! I just...I thought it might be fun. And Presley isn't that bad once you get to know her." She says
We're in Tamrin's car on our way to Presley's party.I tried so hard to get out of this and failed miserably. Sadie and Tamrin wouldn't take on for an answer so here I am in the backseet hoping the world ends. I could have been getting some work done right now or better yet. I could have been sleeping."Where is this party anyway?" I ask after a silent 20-minute ride."At some house," Sadie says looking back at me."Is it at Presley's house?"I ask looking for more clarity. What does she mean it's at some house? Who's house is it?"No, it's her boyfriend's house. Apparently, he has a mansion on the beach." Tamrin says and I suddenly find it hard to breathe, blink or swallow. We're going to where Liam is? I've been ignoring him and his endless texts for a week now."So, Liam is having a party and we're going?"I ask and the fear in my voice unsettles me."Would you relax. He won't kill us and sell us for parts. Other people from school are going to be there." Sadie says a look of concer
I should not be here.As soon as Nathan pulls up to the house and I see
I don’t know what the hell I’m doing.Maybe it’s the look on Nathan’s face—tight jaw, unreadable eyes, the kind of expression that makes it clear he knows something the rest of us don’t. Maybe it’s the way Tamrin has been acting, the way she flinches at everything and refuses to answer when I ask about Celeste.Or maybe it’s just the fact that Celeste isn’t here, and no one seems to have a real answer for why.So yeah, I might be crazy for chasing down Nathan Miller in the middle of a crowded hallway, calling his name like I’ve lost my damn mind. But I don’t care.He looks back at me when I call him, but he doesn’t stop walking. He just slows down slightly, like he’s debating whether I’m worth his tim
Trevor thinks he’s won.He leans against the desk, arms crossed, his mouth curled into that smug smile that makes my skin crawl. He thinks he has me right where he wants me. Weak. Hopeless. Dependent on his mercy.But he doesn’t know me at all.I keep my breathing steady, my expression blank, as I listen to Liam’s voice crackle through the phone. He knows. He knows I’m missing. And if Nathan spoke to Tamrin, it means they’re looking for me.That thought should terrify me—Trevor will hurt them if they get too close—but instead, it gives me hope.I knew Liam would come for me.The question
The second I step onto my front lawn, I see it.Another damn box.
I know something is wrong with Tamrin.She hasn’t said a word all period, hasn’t even pretended to listen when Presley started complaining about her nails breaking during warm-ups. And when I asked her about Trevor—just casually, just to see her reaction—she practically bit my head off before storming off.That’s not normal.Tamrin was obsessed with Trevor. Just last week, she couldn’t shut up about him. And now she won’t even say his name.And then there’s Celeste.She’s not here.Celeste hasn't missed school in a long time and I didn't think she would. And if she was sick, our homeroom teacher would have announced in the morning.
I lean against the fence, hands in my pockets, watching as Tamrin walks into the schoolyard. She moves like a ghost, like she’s here, but not really. She’s trying to act normal—shoulders squared, head up—but I see the cracks in the performance.Her fingers grip the straps of her book bag so tight her knuckles turn white. Every time someone brushes past her, she flinches, catches herself, then forces that mask back on.Guilt. Fear.I recognize it. I’ve seen it in men who know they’ve done something they can’t undo.She knows.And that means I know.Trevor has her wrapped around his finger. Maybe he threatened her, maybe he promised her safety if she stayed quiet. Either way, she’s playing along.I clench my jaw and force myself to breathe through my nose. I want to grab her right now, demand answers, shake her until she tells me where Celeste is.But Trevor is counting on that.
I wake up gasping. My sheets are drenched in sweat, my body shaking so hard my teeth chatter. The room is dark, but I swear I can still see it—the blood, the bodies, Celeste’s terrified eyes disappearing into that box.I squeeze my eyes shut, but it doesn’t help. The images are burned into my mind, playing on repeat, a nightmare that won’t end just because I’ve woken up.Celeste is gone.And I helped make it happen.My stomach twists violently, and I barely make it to the bathroom before I’m throwing up. My whole body convulses as if trying to rid itself of the horror, but it’s useless. No amount of dry heaving will erase what I did.I kneel there on the cold tile, breathing heavily, gripping the s
I stare at Tamrin, my throat tightening, my stomach twisting into knots so painful I feel like I might be sick. She won&rs
I sit back in the chair, stretching my legs out in front of me, trying to act as if the sight in front of me isn’t setting my body on fire.Celeste stands under the water, her back to me, the droplets sliding down her skin in glistening trails. My jaw clenches. My fingers twitch. Every instinct in me is screaming—take her, feel her, make her yours.But I don't move.Not because I don’t want to. Because I want something more.Liam’s territory. His empire. His life.That’s the real prize here.So, I'll just watch her and enjoy her beautiful skin, the curves of her body and her gorgeous pussy. It's the most beau