"Are you sure you wanna go to school? If you're not feeling well we can skip the whole thing and have a girl's day." My mom said but I shook my head."No Mom, you have work and I'll be fine," I told her and she frowned at me."Via, you know I would call off work to spend time with you, no matter what." My mom said and I let out a small sigh."I know Mom, but I have to face my problems. I can't run away every time things get hard." I explained to her."Okay, but call me if you need anything. Like anything at all." My mom demanded so I nodded."I will," I said while my mom stopped in front of the school building. I climbed out and waved at her before heading inside."Oh my gosh, Liv." I heard Paige from behind me. Not her too."Paige," I said while turning around to face her."How are you?" She asked with a smile on her face and her three blonde besties glared at me."I'm good and you?" I asked and she laughed for no reason."I'm totally fantastic." She said before lacing her arm with mi
"Let's go," I told Jade and Tyler before getting up. We walked out of the cafeteria together and went to sit outside on the grass instead."A Cole-free life." I sighed while allowing the sun to kiss my face."I don't think so," Jade said and I opened my eyes. I looked to where she was looking and found the football team sitting at a table to our left."What's his deal with you?" Tyler asked in frustration so I just shrugged."He's just protective." I covered for him.I groaned when somebody came standing in front of me."Your shadow is making me cold," I said in annoyance before looking up. "Rook?" I asked in shock and he sat down beside me."Sup guys." He said before crossing his long legs."You're sitting with us?" I asked in disbelief and he nodded."Yeah. Obviously, I can't go sit with my ex-best friends." He said sarcastically."To me they're acquaintances," Tyler said pointedly."I don't understand how he would punch his best friend over a girl," Rook told Tyler."She's not any g
Cole's POV. "Liv!" I called after her as she walked upstairs to her room."Cole." I heard my dad say so my head snapped to where he was sitting. "Get in here." He said blankly so I did as he told me to."What's up, Dad?" I asked and he glared at me before a broad smile spread across his face."Captain of the football team." My dad chuckled while tapping my back. "I'm a proud father." He continued happily."Thanks, Dad," I said blankly."You know when I was your age, I was also captain of the football team. I had the friends, the girls, I had everything." My dad said and I frowned at him. "What I'm trying to say is you need to focus on what matters son. Cherish the things and people that you know will still be there for you in twenty years." My dad said and I just nodded at him."Yeah," I said under my breath."And apologize to Liv." My dad said in annoyance. "I swear you guys are worse than a married couple." He said and I glared at him."Really Dad?""Come on Cole. Don't tell me you
"Why do you look so hot today?" Mrs Beck asked and I shrugged. "Definitely the coat." She said with a smile on her face."You think?" I asked curiously."For sure. You should wear leather more often." She advised."We'll see," I said before taking a seat at her desk. I sat through my entire admin period while talking to Mrs. Beck because Jade was missing in action. When the bell rang I went to my first class of the day. Jade still didn't show up and I frowned deeply. I hope she isn't ditching me for the trip. Where the heck is she?Better question.How am I gonna stay awake in Mr. Anderson's class without Jade? I am way past screwed.The first three periods went by in the blink of an eye and soon it was lunch. I placed my books into my locker and when I shut it I found Tyler, Griff, and Rook standing in front of me with smiles on their faces."Why are you guys all happy and excited?" I asked in suspicion."Are you like not excited about the trip at all?" Rook asked in disbelief."No,"
Cole and I entered the mansion together and found his classmates partying inside."I swear I'm gonna fucking kill Griff," Cole said angrily."Calm down. You should have some fun." I said. "And don't worry about me so much," I said while smiling at him."I leave you alone for one minute and the sharks swoop in." He said softly."They can swoop in all they want but they're not you," I said softly."Okay, you have officially convinced me not to worry about you that much." He said slowly."And don't hit anyone. Try to talk it out or just walk away." I said in an educative voice."Yes, boss." He replied with a clean smirk on his face."Liv!" Jade called."Gotta go. And don't fuck with any other bitches." I said before walking away from him.Jade linked our arms together before leading us upstairs."Where are we going?" I asked her."This is your room." She said while pointing at a door. "Open it." I opened the door while looking at Jade in suspicion. When I entered it my mouth hung open.
I yawned tiredly while stretching out my limbs. I rolled over and onto my stomach and my hand hit something hard. My eyes shot open and I looked to my side and found a smiling Cole next to me."Good morning sunshine." He said before smirking.I buried my face in the sheets and laid dead still. I heard Cole chuckle so I hit his arm."Did we do anything?" I asked and Cole shook his head before looking at me in disbelief."I may be a dick, Liv. But I would never take advantage of a girl." He said before running a hand through his curls."Then I guess you brought me here last night," I said painfully. God, I'm so embarrassed I'm never partying this hard again."You're the best company when you're drunk," Cole said in a teasing tone so I glared at him before burying my face in the blankets once more. "So the sober me is boring?" I asked insecurely."Not at all. I'm just saying you have no filter when you're drunk." He said through his chuckles. "It's cute.""Why did I come on this trip?" I
At twelve o'clock we went downstairs to the lobby and found everyone else already there. "What's up! What's up!" Principal Clark also known as Big T asked while coming into the room. "Big T!" The kids yelled in one voice."Griff, would you do us the honors?" Uncle Tanner asked with a smile on his face and Griff stepped forward, causing everyone to yell and clap hands for him."We're going zip lining motherfuckers!" Griff yelled and everyone bursted out into cheers. "But first we have to go on a hike to get there. Once we're done doing all the shit in the mountains we get to go down to the waterfalls and chill the fuck out!" He said and everyone cheered him on. Why is everyone so excited about this? I go zip-lining and hiking almost every two weeks."Pack your bikinis girls!" Griff yelled and I rolled my eyes at him. "Cause we're about to fuck!" He yelled and Uncle Tanner just shook his head at him.I looked over at Cole standing across the room who was staring at the madness playing
Later the rest of the students came to the waterfalls. I was there alone because Cole had to unwillingly go back to his villa for a while. The music started and everyone jumped in the water. I was wearing my two-piece now. I got out of the water to grab myself a drink from the cooler bag that just arrived and heard a few whistles. I just shook my head and went to sit on a rock. I dipped my feet into the water and watched everyone else having the time of their lives. Cole soon arrived and sat next to me. I smiled broadly when I looked to my side. He was shirtless and his curly hair was a mess on his head. I stared at his beautiful brown eyes and pink lips.I moaned lightly. This is my paradise. Cole looked down at me and smiled in amusement. "Liv." He said in a warning tone and my cheeks turned red."But I begged you earlier," I whined and he chuckled before smiling at me. "And I had my reasons for saying no. You're special." He replied softly. And then I realized that with every w
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