Griff and I sat flat on our butts on the grass at the cemetery. I rested my head in the crook of his neck. He stuck his open hand out so that I could place mine there.A tear slipped out of my eye as I read the letters scribbled on the grey tombstone in front of me.Somebody sat down next to me and I frowned lightly. I found Rook sitting next to me and he held his hand out to me so I placed my free hand in his. We had a moment of silence. And Griff shifted in his place. "Hey, man," Griff said almost hesitantly. "I don't know if you can hear me but I just wanna thank you. For everything. For being a friend and a brother. I'll see you soon." He said before getting up and walking away from us."Are you okay?" Rook asked me so I wiped the tears from my cheeks."Yeah fine," I said softly. "This will just forever be the worst day of my life," I said in a shaky voice."I'm sorry for telling you to let him go the other day," Rook said softly."Yeah?" I asked before wiping my cheeks dry."Yeah
"I had no idea, Liv," Paige said as I laid with my head on her lap. The rest of the cheer squad sat around us while laughing and making jokes."Thanks for not being all judgy," I told her while she played with my hair."No for sure. I mean sometimes you just need to talk to somebody about this stuff. And fuck Jade, she's such a bitch." Paige bursted out and I looked at her in amusement."Woah." "I'm sorry I just had to get that off my chest. She's like the worst, so duh." Paige said before closing her eyes and facing the sun."You guys this weekend was so fucked up," Nina said in monotone. "I visited Ajay at the cemetery and I literally cried over him." She said tiredly."Oh my gosh, are you like- okay?" Nat asked and Nina slowly looked over at her friend."What the fuck does it look like to you? I have dark circles around my eyes." She said blankly. She reminds me of Kourtney Kardashian sometimes."We all miss your cousin, lovey," Natasha said before squeezing Nina's hand. "How did y
I stood at the kitchen island in Paige's house. I gulped a cup of apple soda down before running a hand through my hair.The rest of the girls were sitting on the floor while drinking vodka. I wasn't really in the mood for alcohol."Guys I have like three blunts in my bag," Nina said slowly."You have weed?" We all asked excitedly and she just nodded at us. "Yeah, Bri could you please go grab it?" She asked and Brianna headed upstairs without question."Where did you get it?" Paige asked Nina with a sly smile on her lips."I got it from Lamar," Nina said under her breath. I went over and joined them on the floor of the living room."Why would Lamar give you weed?" Paige pressed."Because he wants to fuck me," Nina said, and for the first time, her face held an expression. Embarrassment."And? Why do you have that look on your face?" I asked her and she sighed."Well, I have way too much respect for myself and my vagina to put us both through that trauma." She said before gulping."Well
I closed my locker before walking to my AP Bio class. "Liv," Griff said from beside me and I frowned up at him. "What's up?" I asked and he looked at me in disbelief. "What are you doing Liv? With Rook of all people?" He asked wildly. "I'm just having fun," I told him and he frowned at me. "What about Cole?" He asked in confusion. "We broke up," I said and Griff silently looked at me. "You mean you broke up with him?" Griff asked knowingly. "We broke up with each other. And besides he's dating my ex-best friend now." I said blankly. "They're not dating," Griff said as we entered our biology class together."It looks like they are to me," I said when I saw Cole and Jade sitting next to each other. "She's even sitting on my seat," I told Griff before walking over to Tyler. I sat next to Tyler and Griff took the seat next to me. "I get it, you're using Rook to spite Cole," Griff said with a smile on his face and I glared at him in annoyance. "That's not what I'm doing," I said
I was laying on the living room couch when I heard the front door open. I sat upright before frowning lightly. My eyes widened when I saw Cole entering the house. He hasn't been home in a few days. So why did he come home tonight?I sighed before getting up and walking up to him. "What are you doing here?" I asked, hoping to irritate him."What am I doing in my own house?" He asked me and I nodded. "What are you doing here, after leaving me alone for almost a week? My mom and your dad are out of town, remember?" I asked and he sighed tiredly. "I'm sorry." He said blankly. "You're sorry? For being a dick or for not caring about my safety?" I asked him. "Yes sorry for all of it, can I go to my room now?" He asked briefly and I moved out of his way. "Whatever," I said before going into the kitchen. "Wait," Cole said so I stopped in my tracks. "Didn't I tell you to stay away from Storm?" He asked me and I turned around to face him again. "You did," I said blankly. Why does he care
"Hey Liv, what class do I have next?" Griff asked curiously."What is up with everyone expecting me to have their schedules memorized? You have Spanish." I told him and he rolled his eyes at me. It's currently lunch break and everyone's looking at us for some reason. They must've heard something. "What up dick?" Griff asked when Storm came walking up to us and I couldn't help but smile at Griff's words. They dabbed each other up before starting a conversation about football tryouts. Tyler joined us before placing his arm around my shoulders. "Guess what?" He asked excitedly. "What?" I asked curiously. "You got Miss Octavia to put us in the same group?" I asked and he shook his head at me. "Even better." He said with a smile on his face. "Coach said that I could try out for the team after school, there are two spots open," Tyler said and I shrieked. "That's awesome," I said before hugging him and he spun me around. "What's happening?" Griff asked us in concern."Your boy just fo
"I made the varsity team!" Tyler yelled excitedly and I hugged him. "I'm so proud of you," I told him and he pinched my cheeks. "I made the team!" Storm said before pulling me into a hug and I smiled at him. "I'm so happy for you guys," I told them before we walked over to Griff's car. Griff took his helmet off before throwing Paige over his shoulder and she screamed before giggling wildly as he spun her around in the air. "You guys need to shower," I told Tyler and Storm and they laughed before nodding. "We're going to Griff's house, we'll shower there," Tyler explained and I sighed tiredly. "Are you still coming?" Storm asked me and I nodded. Cole came walking out of the locker room, I could tell that he had taken a quick shower when the smell of his shower gel met my nose."Let's go." Cole blankly told me and I frowned lightly. "Liv." He said and I jogged over to him. I'd rather ride with Cole than sit in a car with a bunch of smelly jocks, no offense. Cole opened my door for
I ended up convincing Storm to get stitches at the hospital and he offered me a ride home when he was done. If it weren't for Jade, none of that would've been necessary. And the worst part is that she did it on purpose. She wanted to hit me. Probably because I kissed Cole in front of her. But one thing is for sure, she doesn't scare me. I was lying on the carpet in the living room I was still wearing my swimsuit I just pulled a hoodie on earlier. I heard the front door to our house open so I frowned lightly. "Kids! We're home!" I heard my mom yelling from the kitchen so I jumped up from the floor before running into the kitchen. I jumped on my mom before circling my legs around her waist and she laughed before wrapping her arms around me. "I take it that you missed us." Uncle Ian said from behind my mom and I pulled back from my mom before giving Uncle Ian a tight hug. "Where's Cole, honey?" Uncle Ian asked and I shrugged. "He's still at Griff's. We went swimming earlier." I to
Five Years Later...Years had passed since those chaotic days, and life had finally settled into something resembling peace. Standing under the warm sun in my mom’s garden, surrounded by laughter and the buzz of family catching up, I felt a quiet kind of contentment I never thought I’d deserve. The years had been kind. I finally found my footing, throwing myself into writing, something that had always made me feel alive. What started as a simple hobby turned into something more. Now, my books are being sold in bookstores all across the country, and people I didn’t know appreciated them in ways I could never have imagined. Healing wasn’t a straight path, but it led me here to a version of myself I was proud of. I wasn’t the only one who had found their place in the world. Jade had started her own fashion line and was already making waves in the industry. Paige had opened a wellness retreat in Colorado and was thriving. Rook had gone into music production and was working with some o
After doing an obstacle course where mud and water was the core elements of the exercise we had to run ten laps around the training field.I don't even want to be here anymore so I don't know why I'm even trying so hard. Especially not after what Griff told me last nightAfter training in the sun for two more hours we were finally done. I went back to the barracks and before I turned the corner that led to my room I heard a familiar laugh.Cole's laugh.I sucked in a deep breath before turning the corner. I was shocked to see him laughing with a girl.His girlfriend, I assume.They spotted me before I could turn back around."Liv," Cole blankly uttered, his smile dropping from his face. "Come here." He uttered before pulling me into a tight hug."Cole, who's this?" The girl he was with as
I quietly sat in the mess hall. I haven't made a single friend, so here I am eating breakfast all by my lonesome. What's even worse is that I haven't seen Griff or Cole all morning."Fresh meat," I heard someone uttering from behind me. I slowly turned around and found a tall man hovering over me. He had a buzz cut, hazel brown eyes, brown skin and a smile that met his eyes on his face.He sat down next to me, our face only mere inches apart from each other and my eyes widened at his closeness."I'm Ash," he smiled at me before holding his hand out to me. He smells like heaven. I hesitantly shook his hands before moving back from him a bit."I'm Olivia but most people call me Liv." I told him."Olivia, that's a beautiful name." He uttered before taking a sip of his coffee. "First day?" He asked and I nodded. "Don't be nervous. If you are, Kenicky will noti
One Year Later...I graduated today, everything went well. The dance squad made it to regionals this year and won, but we lost at nationals. It was still good memories though. I threw my cap in the air before leaving the bleachers. Everyone has gone home by now. Maybe it was stupid of me to hope but I thought Cole would show up to support me. I heard he joined the army but my Cole would've shown up no matter what. Even if it meant showing up late, he still would've been here. But I guess he regrets falling in love with me now. I left the football field and made my way to the parking lot. I jumped into my car and drove home in silence, the radio was barely audible as it was playing in the background. I parked my car in my dad's driveway. I went inside and found him, my mom, and Ian all waiting for me in the kitchen.I greeted them before sitting down by the kitchen island. "Are you ready to go tomorrow?" Ian asked me and I nodded at him. "I am." I pointedly stated."Liv, you don'
A/N: Just a little heads up: there are going to be a few time skips to ensure the smoothness of the story. One Month Later... Cole I quietly sat at the edge of the road. I looked down at the water beneath my feet. I haven’t been here in so long. Grate's Bridge. This is where Liv, Rook, and I spent most of our nights before summer break. Back when his mom was still alive. Unfortunately, the cancer got the best of her, and now she’s just gone. I know what it feels like- to lose your mom. It’s the kind of pain you never forget. Not that I want to forget it; pain is the only thing I have left of my mom. That’s why I never talk about her. Colleen Cyprus. I think of her most of the time. She was beautiful. Always so calm and peaceful. She was gentle in everything she did. She never did anything wrong or bad. She was a saint. When I met Liv, she reminded me so much of my mom. She was so pure, maybe even too beautiful for me to touch. At least that’s what I thought.
I quietly watched Ian as his eyes scanned over the DNA results. I decided to come home and give them to him since he deserved to know. Ian slowly looked up at me before running a tired hand over his face. "Liv, what is this?" He asked me, his voice faint and confused. "Cole had a paternity test done. These are the results-""So what you're saying is that my son isn't my son anymore? How is that even possible? I raised him, and my ex-wife gave birth to him, Liv. I was with her the entire time-" he stopped, a deep frown settled on his forehead as he seemed deep in thought. "What?" I softly asked. "I need to be alone for some time, Liv. I just need to make sense of all of this and ask a few people some questions- thank you for showing me these." He uttered in a shaky voice."Of course, call me if you need anything." I softly told him. "And Ian- I'm sorry. For everything." I uttered before leaving his house.I climbed into my dad's car before driving to my mom's house. I haven't been
Cole walked me to my suite and I kissed him goodbye, making sure to savor every moment I had with him."Be good." He smirked at me and I just smiled at him before I entered my suite. I rested my back against the door while staring up at the ceiling in distress.What the hell am I doing? I had sex with Storm last night and now I'm talking about getting back together with Cole. It's like I can't think straight when I'm with him. He's got me wrapped right around his finger.And if he ever finds out about Storm and me all hell would break loose. I'm afraid of what he'll do to Storm when he finds out which is exactly why I won't tell him about it.I unzipped the thick jacket I was wearing and hung it up against the wall once I was done taking it off. I tiredly ran my hands over my hair before I walked into the living room.A knock suddenly came from the door so, I frowned to myself before going back to the door. Cole must've come back."Did you forget something?" I asked as I opened the d
I saw Cole talking to Griff who looked at him in shock. I couldn't make out what they were saying but I'm sure Cole was telling him about the DNA results. Griff dabbed Cole up before he pulled him into a tight hug and I smiled at them from across the room. "Cole?" I called him and they both looked over at me. "Can we talk?" I asked him and he quietly looked at me before he told Griff to excuse us. Griff hugged me before he left the room so, I walked over to Cole. We sat down by the firepit before we looked up at each other. "Please help me understand." I softly told him and he tightly clenched his jaw at my request. "Please, Cole." I uttered before taking his hands in mine. "Ian is not my dad, Liv. You're his daughter. But you're not my sister because Ian and I are not related- at all. I think my mom might have had an affair and lied to my dad- to Ian that I was his. Maybe he knows something. My mom is dead so, I can't exactly ask her about it." He told me so, I shook my head
I sat down next to Storm and he smiled over at me. There's just something about Storm.I want to be with him but I just can't get Cole out of my mind and that makes me feel horrible. "Guys, check the group chat." Austin told us with wide eyes and everyone around the firepit took their phones out. I checked my texts and found that it was principal Clark who sent it. I clicked on the text and my eyes widened in shock. "Oh my god the trip has been extended to a week!" Jade excitedly yelled out. This is great news, this way I'll get more time to clear my head."Ugh, I wish we weren't in Aspen though. This cold ass weather is just not for me." Austin told us and we all nodded in agreement. "I mean I don't even have a man to keep me warm." He whined out before glaring over at everyone in the room and we collectively laughed at his words."What about me?" We heard a familiar voice and everyone turned around in shock. My eyes widened when I saw Rook standing in the doorway. Austin excitedly