Monday morning. The campus is buzzing with activity, but I feel like I’m moving through a haze. I arrived early, desperate for the quiet before everyone else shows up, before the day’s noise and chaos can drown me out. My eyes are heavy, and my head aches—a dull throb that’s been there since yesterday. The weekend was a blur of tears and exhaustion. I cried until I felt hollow, curled up in my bed, avoiding my mother’s concerned looks and my friends’ texts. I couldn’t face them, not after everything.
The day After the sleepoverPresley’s been talking non-stop, her voice cutting through the quiet like nails on a chalkboard. I’m barely paying attention, my patience wearing thin. But then I catch a few words that make my ears perk up.“You should’ve seen Celeste’s face,” she says with a smug smile. “When I told her to change into pajamas that didn’t match with ours, it was priceless. She looked so out of place.”My jaw tightens. “Why would you do that?”Presley blinks, thrown off by my tone. “What do you mean? It was just a bit of fun. You know how she is.”“No, I don’t,” I say, my voice steady but edged with anger. “And I don’t see what’s so fun about humiliating someone who’s supposed to be a friend.”Presley frowns, her confusion turning into annoyance. “Come on, Liam. It’s j
I push through the double doors, feeling the afternoon sun hit my face like a warm embrace. I close my eyes for a moment, soaking in the light, letting it melt away the exhaustion that clings to my bones. I did it. I submitted every last assignment, every bit of work that had been weighing me down. I feel like I can finally breathe again, like a giant weight has been lifted off my chest.I start to walk across the school yard, my steps lighter than they’ve been in weeks. I glance around, taking in the familiar sights — stu
My phone buzzes in my pocket as I’m walking into the house, but I don’t bother to check it right away. I’m still buzzing with the satisfaction of finishing all my assignments. I feel lighter than I have in weeks, like a huge burden has finally been lifted.I finally glance at my phone when I sit on my bed, my stomach tightens. It’s a text from Tamrin.Hey… I just wanted to say I’m sorry. Can we meet up to talk?-TamrinI stare at the screen, my thumb hovering over the keyboard. For a moment, I’m tempted to respond. To give her the benefit of the doubt, to hear whatever excuse she’s ready to throw my way. But then I remember how she sat there, next to Presley, watching as she humiliated me in front of everyone.I don’t want to go through that again. I don’t want to hear another apology or listen to her try and justify herself. I deserve more than that. I know I do.
The weight of the day finally hits me like a freight train. I lie on my bed and close my eyes unable to keep them open even if I wanted to. The house is quiet, and I realize my mom is still be at work. A blessing, really. I don't think I could face anyone right now.Before I know it, my body is floating into tha first feeling of sleep. I don't even have the strength to pull the blanket over me. Sleep pulls me under like a deep, dark wave, and I surrender to it without a fight.LiamI’m staring at my phone, waiting. I haven't spoken to her since the sleepover. Judging from my conversation with Presley she had a terrble time.I try not to overthink it. Maybe she's busy. Maybe she fell asleep or is just ignoring me. The idea irritates me more than it should. I send a quick text:You good?- LiamNothing.I wait another five minutes, then send another one:
When I finally wake up, the room is darker, and my body feels heavy like I’ve been sleeping for days. I sit up slowly, rubbing my eyes, trying to shake off the exhaustion. My head is pounding, and my mouth feels dry. I blink a few times, reaching for my phone on the nightstand.The screen lights up, and my heart drops when I see the dozens of missed calls and messages from Liam. A knot forms in my stomach. I start scrolling through the texts, feeling my pulse quicken with every word.Liam: You good?Liam: Celeste, come on. Say something.Liam: Seriously, are you okay?I keep scrolling, my anxiety rising with each one. They go from concerned to annoyed to downright angry.Liam: Answer your damn phone.Liam: What the hell, Celeste? You can’t just ignore me like this.I swallow hard, feeling the panic start to set in. I keep scro
I push open the door to Liam's house, my heart pounding in my chest. The moment I step inside, I feel a wave of familiarity, a rush of memories flooding my mind. I ignore the nagging voice in my head telling me this is a mistake — Tamrin’s voice, actually, from earlier today. She told me not to come, told me it would only make things worse, but I can’t help myself. I have to see him, have to make him understand.I close the door behind me, letting the latch click softly. The house is dimly lit, the curtains are close
I'm staring at my phone, fingers hovering over the screen as I type and delete the message for the third time. Asking Celeste out shouldn't be this complicated, but it feels like I'm overthinking every word. I can face the most dangerous situations with ease, but this... asking her out feels like standing at the edge of a cliff.Finally, I hit send:Wanna grab something to eat with me later?- Liam I wait, staring at the screen, a little knot forming in my chest. It's not even five seconds before I see the typing bubble pop up.No, I can’t.- CelesteI frown, the immediate rejection hitting me harder than it should. My fingers fly over the keyboard as I send the next message.Why not?- Liam There’s a pause, and I can almost imagine her staring at her phone, biting her lip, thinking of how to respond. My phone pings again, her message short.I just can’t.- CelesteI shake my head, already feeling the frustration rise. She’s dodging me, and I don’t like it. If there’s one thing I ha
If she won't go out with me, I'll bring the date to her.I spent the whole day setting up in my backyard, dragging out an old table and cleaning it up, stringing up lights between the trees, and making sure everything was perfect. I even managed to cook something that didn’t look half bad, despite not being the best in the kitchen. Simple pasta and garlic bread. Safe. She liked safe things.This wasn’t about impressing her with some fancy dinner, though. It was about showing her I was serious—serious about her, about us. Maybe Celeste didn’t want to be seen with me in public, but here, behind the gate, it’s just us. No one else. No judgment.Once everything is set, I grab my jacket and head to her house. I know she’s home. She’s probably holed up in her room, studying or avoiding me, whichever one it is today. But not tonight.I jog up to the gate and knock. Nothing.“Celeste!” I call out. No an
I don’t even know why I keep doing this. Following Celeste around like some pathetic ghost of a friend I used to be. But here I am again, sitting in the farthest corner of her favorite coffee shop, pretending to care about the lukewarm latte in front of me.She’s here with Nathan, of course. Always Nathan. They’re laughing about something, and the sound carries all the way across the room to where I’m sitting. It feels like a punch to the gut.I try not to stare, but it’s impossible not to. Celeste looks so... light. Like she’s shed all the drama, all the weight of what happened between us, and moved on without a second thought. Meanwhile, I’m stuck here, drowning in my own guilt and loneliness.I don’t even notice him until he’s standing in front of me."Mind if I join you?" The guy says and he smiles. I look him in his eyes and there's something there. I don't know what it is but he's not right. I kn
The moment I step through the front door, the weight hits me. It’s like the air inside the house is different—heavier, colder. The kind of silence that doesn’t feel peaceful, just empty.I close the door behind me, locking it out of habit, and stand there for a second. My bag hangs loosely from my shoulder, the straps digging in, but I barely notice. It’s like the energy I had earlier, the lightness I felt at the beach, gets sucked away the second I’m home.
VinceShe doesn’t have a clue.There she is, lying under that umbrella, her skin glowing in the sun, the waves crashing lazily behind her. She looks so at peace, so oblivious to the real world, to the danger that’s right here, watching her every move. It’s almost too easy.Nathan isn’t far. He never is. The loyal little lapdog, pretending to be her protector. But even he can’t be everywhere all the time. It’s only a matter of finding the right moment, the perfect crack in their little shield.I’ve been watching her long enough to know her patterns. She’s careful, sure, but not careful enough. And her home? That’s her weak spot.The house is practically a gift. Her mother is barely there—always working or locked away in her own little world. And Celeste? She’s alone most of the time. It’s almost laughable how easy it would be to slip in, grab her, and disappear. No one would hea
The sun is warm, casting a golden glow over the sand as waves crash rhythmically against the shore. I’m stretched out under a striped umbrella, the ocean breeze tickling my skin and the faint scent of salt lingering in the air. It’s the kind of day that should feel perfect, carefree.But my mind won’t stop running.Nathan is nearby, lounging in a chair with a book in his hands, but he’s been giving me space. For that, I’m grateful. He’s always nearby,
I stand in front of Liam my breathing slow and heavy. I start to take of my clothes watching the emotion in his eyes. He's taking me in. I take everything off until I'm naked. I can't stop because if I do, I'll chicken out.And then I tell him to take off his clothes. I watch him too. I take in his beautiful body. I take a deep breath when he's fully naked and sitting on the chair his cock in his hand. I watch him stroke it and my mouth and pussy get wet without effort.I walk to him and straddle him. I hover over his cock and feel him rub it on my folds. I close my eyes feeling the tip of his cock spreading my pussy juices slowly.Then he slides his shaft into me. I moan out loud as I slide it all the way inside of me....... I feel tears slide down my face and I open my eyes. Our eyes lock...-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The room is dark, save fo
How did I let it come to this?I sit cross-legged on my bed, staring at the wall, my phone in my lap. I’ve scrolled through my messages a hundred times tonight, hoping something will jump out at me—some clue, some moment I can point to where everything started going wrong. But all I see are echoes of the same thing: my words cutting through Celeste, Sadie pulling away, and now... nothing.My chest feels tight, and I rub at it absently, as if that will make the ache go away.
"I just can't," I whisper again, my voice barely audible, like the words might shatter if spoken any louder."Yes, you can" he says his voice steady, his eyes locked on mine. It’s like he’s trying to reach inside me, pull out whatever I’m too afraid to say.I chew on my lip, trying to find an answer that doesn’t make me sound ridiculous. But what’s the point? He already knows. He’s waiting, and I’m running out of places to hide."Beca
“What do you want to do now?” he asks, leaning back in his chair, his eyes on me like he already knows the answer. I groan inwards annoyed. He knows what I want to do and he wants it too. But he wants to make me say it. I hate him!I freeze for a moment, caught off guard. What do I want? The answer sits on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t say it. I can’t tell him that I want to kiss him. That I want to be close to him, want him to fuck me. It’s too bold, too forward,
She’s here. Lying on my bed like she belongs there, looking up at the ceiling like she’s trying to count the stars she can’t see.I’m sitting on this damn chair, watching her, not sure if this is real or some twisted dream my mind conjured up because I wanted it too much.Her showing up? It doesn’t make sense. I was just sitting here, staring at my phone, thinking about calling her, thinking about how much I wanted her close. And now she’s here. She&r