Austin’s POVI couldn’t stop the rush of excitement that spread through me when Amy finally agreed to dance with me. It had taken all my willpower to keep things cool, to act like her presence didn’t shake me every time I looked at her. But in that moment, with her hand just inches from mine, everything else seemed to blur into the background.But then, out of nowhere, someone else grabbed her hand.The brief smile on my face vanished as I saw David show up. Amy’s so-called boyfriend. I hadn’t realized they were even still together; her body language certainly hadn’t screamed "taken" all night.David held onto Amy’s hand like it was a lifeline, his expression cold as he shot me a look that could’ve frozen fire. I could feel the tension rise immediately. The atmosphere shifted from lighthearted and fun to heavy, li
Amy’s POVThe party had wound down, and the night air was cool against my skin as David and I walked toward his car. I still felt a bit tense from everything that had happened earlier, the way he’d confronted Austin and how the mood had shifted so quickly. Now that we were alone, it felt like the perfect time to clear the air. I couldn’t go home with all that unresolved tension hanging between us.“I’ll drop you off,” David said quietly, his voice softer now than it had been all night.I nodded, sliding into the passenger seat. The ride started in silence, the only sound being the low hum of the engine as we drove through the nearly empty streets. The city lights flickered by, but I wasn’t really focused on them. My mind was still replaying the scene at the party, trying to make sense of it.Finally, I turned to him, unable to hold
Amy’s pov I woke up to the soft light filtering through the curtains, feeling disoriented. My head was still heavy, and I groggily blinked the world into focus. As my eyes adjusted, I realized Mel was standing next to the bed, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity."Hey," she said gently, noticing I was awake. "You okay? You kind of freaked us out last night."I rubbed my eyes, trying to remember what had happened. “What do you mean?”“The last thing you remember?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.I frowned, my memory hazy. "I was with David... in his car. We kissed, and then..." I trailed off, struggling to grasp the rest. There was something more, flashes of blood, the ocean, screaming, but I couldn’t make sense of it.Mel sighed, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "Yeah, David told me. He said you passed out after you started getting these weird headaches. He stayed with you until he was sure you were fine and then left."I bit my lip, guilt settling in. I didn’t even reme
Austin’s povBefore I could speak a word, the door swung open, and I was face-to-face with Mel. Her expression wasn’t exactly welcoming, her arms crossed tightly over her chest as she blocked the entrance.“What do you want, Austin?” she asked, her voice cold and direct.I blinked, caught off guard. It was obvious that Mel wasn’t a fan of mine, but I couldn’t figure out why. Ever since I’d been introduced to their circle, she’d been giving me these looks, like she was waiting for me to slip up. Maybe she had her reasons, or maybe she just didn’t trust me. Either way, I wasn’t about to let her intimidate me.“I’m here with Amy, isn’t it obvious?” I said, keeping my voice calm, even though her hostility was starting to grate on me.Mel raised an eyebrow, clearly not impressed. “Yeah, well, I don’t think she needs any more confusion in her life right now. Especially from someone like you.”Her words stung more than I’d expected. Someone like me? Did she know something about me, or was sh
Amy POV I felt that undeniable pull toward Austin. It wasn’t just in my head, and I knew it wasn’t just in his either. The way he looked at me, the way he moved closer, it was like we were both caught in this magnetic force, and I didn’t want to resist it.When he leaned in, I thought this was it. I was glad Austin had taken the first step. Maybe it wasn’t the smartest thing, considering I was still technically with David, but right now, none of that mattered. My mind wasn’t on David. It was on Austin and how much I wanted to close the distance between us. But just as I inched closer, ready for what I thought was inevitable, Austin suddenly pulled back.The confusion hit me hard, and I stayed frozen, still leaning slightly toward him, unsure of what just happened. Did I do something wrong? Or was this about David? Maybe Austin felt like he was crossing a line, that he didn’t want to be a third party in some awkward love triangle.I stood up after him, my heart pounding as I tried to
Austin’s POV When I got back home, the house was quiet except for the low hum of the TV in the living room. Jackson was lounging on the couch, his eyes flicking up as soon as he heard me come in."Hey, man," Jackson said, sitting up a bit. “How’d it go with Amy?”I hesitated, not really wanting to get into it. The whole evening had left me feeling uneasy, confused. I could still feel the tension from earlier, like something had shifted between me and Amy, but I didn’t know how to explain it.I walked into the kitchen, grabbed a glass of water, and downed it in one long gulp, hoping it would help clear my head. It didn’t. All I could think about was that spark I’d seen in Amy’s eyes. That split second where everything had felt like it was about to fall into place, only for it to unravel into something I couldn’t explain.“You good?” Jackson asked, leaning back on the couch but keeping his eyes on me.I put the glass down on the counter and shrugged, avoiding his gaze. “Yeah. It was..
Austin’s POVMel stared at me, her expression hard and doubtful. I could tell she was struggling to wrap her head around what I had just told her. To be honest, I didn’t blame her. If I hadn’t seen it myself, I’d probably be skeptical too.“A spark in Amy’s eyes?” Mel repeated, crossing her arms tightly across her chest. “Look, Austin, I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, but I don’t believe in... whatever that is. Sparks, glowing eyes, flashes of weird memories? Come on.”I could hear the disbelief in her voice, the way she dismissed it like it was some kind of joke. But this wasn’t a joke. Something real had happened between Amy and me, and I wasn’t about to let Mel’s doubts change that. I tried to stay calm, but the frustration was building inside me.“Mel, I&
Amy's POV The school hallways buzzed with their usual morning energy, everyone hurriedly chatting and lockers slamming shut. I wasn’t focused on any of it. My mind was too busy replaying the last time I saw Austin. I still couldn’t believe he walked out on me without saying a word. His sudden disappearance had left me confused and frustrated, and the more I thought about it, the more I knew I didn’t have to care. I couldn’t ignore it anymore. So, when I spotted him near the lockers, leaning casually against the wall like he didn’t have a care in the world, I made up my mind to confront him.I inhaled deeply, trying to steady the nerves gnawing at my insides as I walked toward him. His eyes flickered to me, and for a split second, I thought I saw something, guilt, maybe? flash across his face. But it was gone just as quickly, replaced by the familiar indifferent look he usually wore. “Austin,” I called out, standing directly in front of him. He didn’t move, just gave me that lazy h
Amy’s POVAs soon as Mel stormed off, I felt an overwhelming wave of guilt wash over me. My heart twisted painfully in my chest as I watched her disappear into the distance. I couldn’t believe I had just told her to move out. What had I done? Mel was my best friend, and I had practically driven her away.“I need to go after her,” I muttered, starting to take a step forward, but Austin’s hand gently caught my arm, stopping me.“Let her go, Amy,” he said softly. His voice was calm, but there was a seriousness in his eyes. “She’s angry right now. If you try to talk to her, it’ll only make things worse. Let her cool off first.”I hesitated, looking between him and the spot where Mel had just been. He was right, Mel was furious, and nothing I said now would make her listen. Still, the guilt ate at me.&nbs
Amy’s POVI sprinted after Mel, my breath coming in ragged gasps as I finally caught up with her just outside the school building. The air between us crackled with tension, and I could feel the weight of everything that had happened pressing down on me. I had to know the truth, and I couldn’t let her walk away without answering the one question that had been burning inside me for so long.“Mel, stop!” I called out, grabbing her arm to get her attention. She stopped but didn’t turn to face me. I could see her shoulders rising and falling rapidly, her anger barely contained. “Why do you hate Austin so much?”She stiffened at the question, but she didn’t respond. Her silence only fueled my frustration. I needed answers. I couldn’t keep pretending everything was fine, especially not after what she had seen.&ldq
Amy’s POVI rushed down the hallway, my heart pounding in my chest. I didn’t want to avoid Austin, not really, but I couldn’t shake the promise I had made to Mel. She had been so serious when she asked me to stay away from him, and I didn’t want to disappoint her, not after everything she had been through. Still, pushing Austin away felt wrong, like I was tearing myself apart trying to please both of them.I slowed down, leaning against a locker as the confusion swirled inside me. I didn’t want this. I didn’t want to choose.Before I could collect my thoughts, I heard footsteps behind me. I turned, and there he was, Austin. He was walking toward me, his expression serious but determined. I could feel my heart rate spike just seeing him, and all the emotions I had been trying to bury came rushing to the surface.“Amy,” he call
Austin’s POVSeeing Mel back at school the next day was a relief. I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her after what happened, and it felt good to see her walking around, looking healthy and in one piece. When we passed each other in the hall, she gave me a quick nod and even managed a small smile. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to ease some of the tension I’d been carrying.But Amy? She wouldn’t even look at me.I tried catching her eye several times throughout the morning, but she either pretended not to see me or made a point of turning away. By the time lunch rolled around, it was pretty clear she was avoiding me. I felt a knot of disappointment forming in my stomach. What could’ve gone wrong? Things had been fine between us before the incident with David, and even at the hospital, she’d been upset but still hugged me. No
Amy’s POV The moment I walked into the hospital room and saw Mel sitting there, bandaged and bruised, my heart broke. The bandages wrapped tightly around her arms and chest couldn’t hide the deep, ugly scratches underneath. Tears immediately welled up in my eyes as I stared at her, trying to process how this had happened. I had known she was hurt, but seeing the damage in person made everything so much more real.Without warning, the tears spilled over, and I couldn’t hold them back any longer. “Mel, what the hell were you thinking?” I yelled, my voice cracking under the weight of my emotions. “Why would you run off like that?”Mel looked away, refusing to meet my eyes. She stayed quiet, her expression tense, like she was bracing herself for the outburst she knew was coming.“I was worried sick about you!” I continued, stepping closer to her bedside. “And now look at you! You could’ve been killed, Mel! What were you thinking?”My voice wavered, and I could feel myself losing control
Austin’s POVI was walking through the woods, my mind racing from everything that had happened at the club. David’s attack had left me shaken, but more than that, I was worried about Amy. She had passed out, and I couldn’t shake the image of her lying there on the ground. I needed to clear my head, figure out what to do next, so I wandered out into the trees to try and collect my thoughts.My eyes caught something or someone I didn’t quite recognize at first. I took a step forward and I just had to admit, I didn’t recognize who it was. I saw a figure slumped against the base of a tree, covered in blood and dirt, their clothes torn. But as I got closer, my heart skipped a beat. It was Mel.She was lying on the ground, her skin pale, blood dripping from deep scratches across her arms and chest. My mind went blank for a moment, panic clawing at me as I rushed to her side. “Mel!” I dropped to my knees, gently shaking her, trying to get her to respond. Her eyes fluttered open for a second
Mel's POVI sat on the edge of Amy’s bed, watching her closely, my arms folded across my chest. Her face was pale, and her eyes had a faraway look, like she wasn’t quite here with me. She had just woken up after passing out, and the only word she had muttered was Seraphina, a name I’d never heard before.“Who’s Seraphina?” I asked, my voice soft but laced with curiosity. I leaned forward slightly, hoping she had some sort of explanation.Amy blinked, her gaze shifting toward me, but her expression was as confused as mine. “I don’t know,” she admitted, shaking her head. “I heard the name in a dream. There was someone standing in the shadows, but I couldn’t see who they were. They said ‘Seraphina,’ but I have no idea who that is.”A chill ran down my spine as Amy spoke, but I forced myself to stay calm. Dreams could be strange, especially after a traumatic experience like the one she’d had. Still, something about the name bothered me, though I couldn’t put my finger on why. For a momen
Amy’s POV I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. One moment, Austin and I were on the verge of something, something important, and the next moment, David appeared out of nowhere, his fist slamming into Austin’s face. The sound of the hit echoed in my ears, cutting through the pounding music and the chaos of the club. I froze, my body going numb with shock.“David! Stop!” I shouted, rushing toward them, but David didn’t even look at me. His focus was solely on Austin, his fists already drawing back for another blow.“David, I said stop!” I tried again, but my words fell on deaf ears. He was lost in his rage, and I could see it in his eyes, he wasn’t thinking, wasn’t processing anything except whatever primal anger was driving him forward.Austin, for his part, didn’t fight back. He didn’t raise a hand, didn’t even defend himself. He just stood there, taking the hits like he was waiting for it to be over. That confused me more than anything. This wasn’t the Austin I knew. Why wasn’t he
Austin’s POV I couldn’t help but feel a sense of triumph after Amy stood her ground with David. The way she brushed him off and refused to let him dictate her actions, it gave me a rush. It wasn’t just about her siding with me; it was about the fact that she still cared enough to push back. I felt special, like I had some kind of hold on her that David didn’t.The next day, I decided to push my luck. I caught up with her after school, casually suggesting we go out that night, just the two of us. There was this new club downtown, and I figured it would be a good distraction from everything going on. “Umm, Amy,” I called as I approached her locker. She turned, her face lighting up when she saw me. That reaction alone boosted my confidence. “Are you doing anything tonight?”She shook her head, looking curious. “Not really, why?”“I was thinking... there’s this new club opening up. You wanna go? Just you and me.”Her eyes widened for a second, but then she smiled. “Sure, why not?”I had