When I get home I am hit with this heavy feeling of loss. I can tell my mother hasn't moved from her bed since I left for school this morning. That means she didn't go to work again. I don't even know if she still has a job. Her work bag is still on the kitchen counter. The breakfast I made is untouched and all of the curtains are still closed. I open them and warm the food I left for her in the microwave. Then head to my bedroom. I have to start on my game plan for getting my grades up. I would love to go check on my mother but I can't place my energy on her right now. Seeing her is going to drain me completely. And if you didn't notice I am holding on by a thread. I open my bedroom door and stare at the pile of clothes on the floor, the unmade bed, and the overall mess."Well, this is bad," I say to the empty and messy room. I throw my book bag on the bed and attack the laundry on the floor. I separate the clothes in matching colors and then I make my bed. A part of me wants to
I walk through Jimmy's front door with my earphones on and head straight to the line leading towards the counter. There are six people ahead of me. I should spend about 15 minutes here and then I'll have my food. I turn up the volume in my headphones so I won't hear any noise around me.There are about 20 tables in this place and just about every one of them is full of humans. Some are staring at their phones pretending to be together, while some are talking over each other trying to be louder so the other can hear. Socializing is weird, why do people even bother? I don't do it unless I'm absolutely forced to.It's too time and energy-consuming for my liking. I shuffle forward grateful that I am finally making progress. I let my mind drift to the five-page essay I have to finish. I'm halfway through and determined to finish it by morning. It's the first assignment I want to submit, and then I'll deal with the rest.I feel someone tap my shoulder lightly and I turn slowly. I look ba
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
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
The ride to the ice cream shop is a blur of tension and silence. I stare out the window, watching the world pass by, but my mind is stuck on the gun. Liam doesn’t say a word, his focus on the road, and I don’t know if I’m relieved or frustrated by his silence.When we pull into the parking lot, I’m the first to get out. The cool breeze brushes against my skin, a stark contrast to the warmth of the car. I hear Liam shut his door behind me, his footsteps steady as he follows.We walk side by side toward the shop, the bright neon sign above the door casting a faint glow on the pavement. It feels like there’s a wall between us, invisible but impenetrable.As we step inside, the comforting aroma of sugar and waffle cones fills the air. The hum of conversation and laughter surrounds us, but it feels distant, like we’re in our own bubble.I walk straight to the counter, scanning the menu as if it’s the most important dec
The sun is already warm against my skin as I step out of the gate, a to-go mug of coffee in hand. My sandals click softly against the pavement, and I glance up to see Liam leaning casually against his car. The sight of him takes me by surprise, but not as much as the slow, almost smug smile that spreads across his face when he catches my expression.“Liam?” I ask, stopping a few feet away. “What are you doing here? Where’s Nathan?”His smile falters for a f
TrevorI lean back against the torn leather couch in my apartment, my phone in hand, smirking as Tamrin's texts roll in. She’s eager—too eager. But that’s what makes her perfect.Tamrin: Hey! Just checking if we’re still on for dinner tomorrow?I chuckle, shaking my head. She really thinks she’s struck gold. Poor girl. It’s almost too easy.I type back a reply, my fingers moving swiftly over the keyboard.Me: Of course. Can’t wait to see you.The little typing bubble pops up almost immediately. I don’t even have to wait. She’s practically salivating for attention, and I’m happy to give her just enough to keep her on the hook.Tamrin: Me too! I was thinking maybe that Italian place on 5th?I smile, the kind that doesn’t reach my eyes, and glance at the photo of Celeste I took at the beach earlier. She was lounging under that umbrella, completely o
I sit there for what feels like an eternity, staring at the empty chair across from me. The coffee shop is alive with chatter and the clinking of cups, but all I hear is the echo of Trevor’s voice and the faint slam of the door as he left.The weight of my own self-loathing settles on my chest, pressing me deeper into the seat. I glance across the room at Celeste and Nathan. They’re still there, still laughing, still oblivious to the pit I’ve dug myself into.I can't take it anymore.Before I realize what I’m doing, I’m up and moving, weaving through tables and chairs, dodging baristas with trays. The bell above the door jingles as I push it open, stepping into the bright afternoon sunlight.He’s halfway down the block, walking with his head down and his hands shoved into his pockets."Trevor!" I call out, my voice cracking slightly.He stops but doesn’t turn around immediately. For a second, I think
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