The car ride was silent.The kind that made your hands shake. The nervousness. The moment were you are unsure if you should say something or keep quiet. It made me fidget.Elara sat in the back, staring out the window, her face completely unreadable. She didn’t move. Didn’t speak.Ryder just kept driving, his grip tight on the wheel, his jaw tense.I wanted to say something—anything—but what was there to say?What the fuck could I say after what just happened?Elara had been humiliated in front of everyone. Tricked. Used.And I’d just stood there, watching. Not even knowing what happened. I clenched my fists in my lap, my nails digging into my skin.The car slowed.We pulled up in front of her building.The moment the engine cut off, Elara shoved the door open and climbed out.Bam!She slammed it shut behind her without a single glance back.I winced.
Ryder’s POVI pushed the cue stick forward, lining up my shot, but my grip was tighter than it should be. The ball cracked against another, spinning into a pocket, but I barely registered the movement. My jaw was locked, my thoughts running in circles.Across from me, Nate leaned against the pool table, watching. He hadn’t taken his turn yet."Are you gonna play or just stand there looking dumb?" I muttered, chalking my cue stick.Nate arched a brow. "You good?"I let out a dry chuckle. "Do I look good?"He studied me for a second, then sighed, rolling the pool cue between his hands. "You’re pissed about last night."I snapped my gaze to him. "What do you think?"Me and Evie haven't seen or spoke since last night. I was worried. I tried reaching out but she didn't answer my calls or replied my texts. I was pissed. Nate exhaled, rubbing his jaw. "Look, man, I didn’t know it was gonna be that k
Evie’s POVI bit my lip as I waited for Ryder’s reply.The message had been sitting on read for a solid three minutes, which in text-time was an eternity. I sighed, tossing my phone onto my bed.I hadn’t heard from Elara all day.Scratch that.I hadn’t seen Elara since last night.I had called her this morning, texted her, even reached out to her mom, only to get the same response—she doesn’t want to see anyone right now.It left a sour taste in my mouth.I didn’t like her like that, but I cared. She was my best friend. My only real friend. And she was hurting.I wanted to help.I wanted to fix it.But at the same time… I wanted to burn Sienna’s life to the ground.Because recording someone like that? Posting it? Humiliating them for the world to see?I clenched my fists.She had power, sure. Money, connections. But so did I now.Maybe it was time to remind her that power could be taken just as easily as it was given.My phone buzzed.I grabbed it quickly, Ryder’s name flashing across
I was there again.In the room, watching that woman fight with my mum.They were angry. The woman botched face could not even frown. Her frown deep as she pushed my mother against the shoulder. The atmosphere was filled with tension, their angry words shaking the house at twelve midnight.“You tried to poison me!” my mother’s voice wavered, but she stood her ground, her eyes wild with anger and something else. Sadness and desperation. Fear. The woman scoffed, arms folded across her chest. “You’re delusional.”“I know what I saw.” My mother’s hands clenched into fists. “You switched my medication. I almost died.”A slow smirk curled on the woman’s lips. “And yet, here you are. Pathetic.”I was just a child, standing frozen near the door, my tiny fingers gripping the edge of my dress. I didn’t understand everything, but I understood enough.I understood that my mother was in pain.I understood that this woman—this other woman—was the reason for it.“You ruined my life,” my mother whi
The steam curled from my chai tea, filling the kitchen with its warm, spiced scent. I wrapped my hands around the mug, staring blankly at the marble countertop.I had barely slept.Elara hadn’t answered my calls. Not last night. Not this morning. Ryder and I had chatted. He had practice. I had spent the morning watching him coach some juniors while I practiced with the cheer leaders which would leave me sore later on. School would be starting next week. I had two weeks before my mother's wedding and two more weeks until whatever I had with Ryder ends. The sex was good. His attention was good. But him turning out to be my step brother that would gross out the world and it's something I would like to avoid. I hated this feeling.The room silence was interrupted by an automated voice. “The number you dialed…” I hit the hang up button as I sighed. This helpless, useless weight pressing down on my chest. She was
I felt my throat tighten. "What?" Elara’s lips parted, but no words came out at first. Her eyes were wide, unfocused, as if she were reliving something. Something dark. I reached forward, gripping her wrist. "Elara, talk to me." She exhaled shakily. "Sienna told me everything." I didn’t move. I just waited. And then— "They did it before," she whispered. "Years ago. To another girl. This same nude issue." I felt my stomach twist. "Who?" She hesitated. Then, "Her name was Lillian Prescott." That name. It sounded vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t place it. Elara swallowed. "She wasn’t rich. She was on a scholarship. Just like most people in Ravencrest. And one night, they picked her. Told her it was just a game. Just fun." Her voice cracked. "But it wasn’t. It never was." A lump formed in my throat. "What happened?" Elara looked down at her hands, curling them into fists. "She wanted to fit in and they broke her." Silence. I could hear my heartbeat pounding in my ears. E
My eyes raked over Nate’s body, his abs, his full chest, the way his Adam Apple bobbed and his pouty lips , but only for a second. I schooled my face to remain neutral, whatever blush that wanted to rise up died instantly when I thought of what they did to someone innocent. I wasn’t here for this.Did I expect to see him shirtless? No. But I knew why I was here and it was expected for third year students to show their so called and and muscles when home alone and doing workouts. So, I straightened my shoulders and lifted my chin. "Can I come in?"Cold. Detached. I didn’t have time to pretend like I wasn’t pissed.Nate arched a brow, stepping aside. "By all means."I walked past him, eyes barely flickering toward Ryder, who was watching me closely, unreadable.The second I stepped inside—I took it all in.The penthouse was insane.It wasn’t just luxury—it was the kind of place you saw in magazines. Designed to intimidate.The walls were a deep charcoal gray, sleek and modern, with
I had no idea who I was kissing.I mean, who would care on a high school graduation night?And best of all, on my nineteenth birthday.It was the perfect night to have such great, forbidden sex.My lips crushed against his, hungry and reckless, tasting the tang of whiskey lingering on his tongue. His hands, large and calloused, gripped my waist through thee thin, light fabric of the sundress I had worn, a soft yellow thing with spaghetti straps that clung to me in all the right places.Beneath it, my nipples were stiff peaks pressing against the flimsy lace of my bra, a fact that hadn’t escaped his attention when his hands slid lower, teasing the curve of my hips.The small house party was just background noise, laughter, music, the clink of glasses, but the only thing I could focus on was him. He smelled like aftershave and sweat, intoxicating in the way danger always is.When his lips left mine and found the curve of my neck, a shaky moan slipped from me before I could stop it. My
My eyes raked over Nate’s body, his abs, his full chest, the way his Adam Apple bobbed and his pouty lips , but only for a second. I schooled my face to remain neutral, whatever blush that wanted to rise up died instantly when I thought of what they did to someone innocent. I wasn’t here for this.Did I expect to see him shirtless? No. But I knew why I was here and it was expected for third year students to show their so called and and muscles when home alone and doing workouts. So, I straightened my shoulders and lifted my chin. "Can I come in?"Cold. Detached. I didn’t have time to pretend like I wasn’t pissed.Nate arched a brow, stepping aside. "By all means."I walked past him, eyes barely flickering toward Ryder, who was watching me closely, unreadable.The second I stepped inside—I took it all in.The penthouse was insane.It wasn’t just luxury—it was the kind of place you saw in magazines. Designed to intimidate.The walls were a deep charcoal gray, sleek and modern, with
I felt my throat tighten. "What?" Elara’s lips parted, but no words came out at first. Her eyes were wide, unfocused, as if she were reliving something. Something dark. I reached forward, gripping her wrist. "Elara, talk to me." She exhaled shakily. "Sienna told me everything." I didn’t move. I just waited. And then— "They did it before," she whispered. "Years ago. To another girl. This same nude issue." I felt my stomach twist. "Who?" She hesitated. Then, "Her name was Lillian Prescott." That name. It sounded vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t place it. Elara swallowed. "She wasn’t rich. She was on a scholarship. Just like most people in Ravencrest. And one night, they picked her. Told her it was just a game. Just fun." Her voice cracked. "But it wasn’t. It never was." A lump formed in my throat. "What happened?" Elara looked down at her hands, curling them into fists. "She wanted to fit in and they broke her." Silence. I could hear my heartbeat pounding in my ears. E
The steam curled from my chai tea, filling the kitchen with its warm, spiced scent. I wrapped my hands around the mug, staring blankly at the marble countertop.I had barely slept.Elara hadn’t answered my calls. Not last night. Not this morning. Ryder and I had chatted. He had practice. I had spent the morning watching him coach some juniors while I practiced with the cheer leaders which would leave me sore later on. School would be starting next week. I had two weeks before my mother's wedding and two more weeks until whatever I had with Ryder ends. The sex was good. His attention was good. But him turning out to be my step brother that would gross out the world and it's something I would like to avoid. I hated this feeling.The room silence was interrupted by an automated voice. “The number you dialed…” I hit the hang up button as I sighed. This helpless, useless weight pressing down on my chest. She was
I was there again.In the room, watching that woman fight with my mum.They were angry. The woman botched face could not even frown. Her frown deep as she pushed my mother against the shoulder. The atmosphere was filled with tension, their angry words shaking the house at twelve midnight.“You tried to poison me!” my mother’s voice wavered, but she stood her ground, her eyes wild with anger and something else. Sadness and desperation. Fear. The woman scoffed, arms folded across her chest. “You’re delusional.”“I know what I saw.” My mother’s hands clenched into fists. “You switched my medication. I almost died.”A slow smirk curled on the woman’s lips. “And yet, here you are. Pathetic.”I was just a child, standing frozen near the door, my tiny fingers gripping the edge of my dress. I didn’t understand everything, but I understood enough.I understood that my mother was in pain.I understood that this woman—this other woman—was the reason for it.“You ruined my life,” my mother whi
Evie’s POVI bit my lip as I waited for Ryder’s reply.The message had been sitting on read for a solid three minutes, which in text-time was an eternity. I sighed, tossing my phone onto my bed.I hadn’t heard from Elara all day.Scratch that.I hadn’t seen Elara since last night.I had called her this morning, texted her, even reached out to her mom, only to get the same response—she doesn’t want to see anyone right now.It left a sour taste in my mouth.I didn’t like her like that, but I cared. She was my best friend. My only real friend. And she was hurting.I wanted to help.I wanted to fix it.But at the same time… I wanted to burn Sienna’s life to the ground.Because recording someone like that? Posting it? Humiliating them for the world to see?I clenched my fists.She had power, sure. Money, connections. But so did I now.Maybe it was time to remind her that power could be taken just as easily as it was given.My phone buzzed.I grabbed it quickly, Ryder’s name flashing across
Ryder’s POVI pushed the cue stick forward, lining up my shot, but my grip was tighter than it should be. The ball cracked against another, spinning into a pocket, but I barely registered the movement. My jaw was locked, my thoughts running in circles.Across from me, Nate leaned against the pool table, watching. He hadn’t taken his turn yet."Are you gonna play or just stand there looking dumb?" I muttered, chalking my cue stick.Nate arched a brow. "You good?"I let out a dry chuckle. "Do I look good?"He studied me for a second, then sighed, rolling the pool cue between his hands. "You’re pissed about last night."I snapped my gaze to him. "What do you think?"Me and Evie haven't seen or spoke since last night. I was worried. I tried reaching out but she didn't answer my calls or replied my texts. I was pissed. Nate exhaled, rubbing his jaw. "Look, man, I didn’t know it was gonna be that k
The car ride was silent.The kind that made your hands shake. The nervousness. The moment were you are unsure if you should say something or keep quiet. It made me fidget.Elara sat in the back, staring out the window, her face completely unreadable. She didn’t move. Didn’t speak.Ryder just kept driving, his grip tight on the wheel, his jaw tense.I wanted to say something—anything—but what was there to say?What the fuck could I say after what just happened?Elara had been humiliated in front of everyone. Tricked. Used.And I’d just stood there, watching. Not even knowing what happened. I clenched my fists in my lap, my nails digging into my skin.The car slowed.We pulled up in front of her building.The moment the engine cut off, Elara shoved the door open and climbed out.Bam!She slammed it shut behind her without a single glance back.I winced.
I swallowed hard, my pulse still erratic from whatever the hell had just happened between us. He turned to leave, running a hand through his hair like he was trying to regain his composure, but then—he paused.I hadn’t moved.His eyes flicked back to me, amused. “You coming?”I hesitated, glancing at the crowded space below. The noise. The people. The chaos.I wasn’t good with this. I wasn’t good with any of this.His expression shifted slightly, the amusement dipping into something softer. More understanding. “You don’t like crowds.”It wasn’t a question.I exhaled. “No.”A pause.Then, “They don’t matter.”I blinked up at him. “What?”His lips twitched, but not in his usual cocky smirk. This was different. “The crowd. The noise. The stares. They only have as much power as you give them.”I frowned. “That’s not—”“It’s true,” he cut in smoothly. “Focus on one thing. One person. Block everything else out. It's going to.help you when you go for competitions.”I huffed. “Oh, so easy. L
The night air was thick, wrapping around me like a weighted blanket. I exhaled, long and slow, my breath barely making a dent in the chaos of my mind. My fingers curled over the balcony railing as I stared at the pool below. The water shimmered under the golden glow of the lights, but my chest felt tight, my stomach unsettled.I shouldn't be here.This wasn’t my world.I wasn’t built for parties like these—where power dripped from the walls and people moved like chess pieces, calculating their next move. The alcohol was endless, the stares were lingering, and the whispers—God, the whispers—prickled against my skin.I shifted my weight, rolling my shoulders as a heavy sigh left my lips. My nerves were buzzing, but I couldn’t pinpoint why.Maybe it was the way Ryder danced downstairs, his hands too familiar with the curves of someone who wasn’t me. Or maybe it was the realization that I didn’t know what I was doing here, at a party where people didn’t even need to acknowledge my presen