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
It's been 5 years since my father was killedI remember it like it's happening at this very moment.He worked late like every other night of his life and on his way home he was hijacked by a bunch of stupid boys who not only took his hard-earned money. They killed him in cold blood.My mother came into my room at 4 am in the morning and shook me awake. The moment I opened my eyes I saw the horror in hers. She tried to keep it together as she told me that I was never going to see my father again.My body went cold, I couldn't speak and I couldn't move. My father was dead!I don't remember how the funeral went because I was numb the whole time. All I remember is that he was put in the ground and that was it.And today when I woke up that numbness overtook me like it does every anniversary of his death. It starts in my feet and then it travels all the way to my chest. This ice-cold feeling grips
"Hi." I say to Celeste as she walks past my car. She ignores me and I say it again. "Hi," I say again and she passes by without a word. I stare at her in shock. I've been nothing but nice to this girl but she's always been mean.I follow her into to the store wondering what it would take for her to just say hello to me. I have been waiting for her to give me the light of day for a year now.I reach out and touch her arm softly. She just and then screams making me stop in my tracks."What the hell?" She says swatting my hand away, she looks up at me with a snarl on her face and it makes me smile. "And what the fuck are you smiling at?" She says taking her headphones off."I didn't know you had such a potty mouth," I say amused and she scawls at me."Wha do you want?" She says annoyed."I wanted to say hi to you," I say and she rolls her eyes at me. I smile surprised by her reaction. "And introduce myself," I say