My eyes fluttered open and I saw my mom hovering over me. I looked at her and frowned at the teary smile she was giving me."She's awake Ian call the nurse." My mom said while briefly looking away from me. "Where's Cole?" I asked before trying to sit upright. "Lay down honey." My mom said softly. "Cole isn't allowed in your room until the doctor says otherwise." She explained. "He's outside in the hall.""What? No. You need to keep him away from me." I said and my mom looked away from me. "Mom?" I called and she sighed."I'll see what I can do. It's Cole we're talking about honey, he's not going to leave and you know it." She said before pinching the bridge of her nose."What happened to me?" I asked curiously and my mom pursed her lips together in a thin line."You had a panic attack." My mom said softly. "You haven't had one since-""Ajay's death." I finished her sentence and she came down to place a kiss on my forehead."You didn't lose him too, Liv. He's still here." My mom said
Later that day I was discharged from the hospital. I made sure that uncle Ian made Cole go away because I knew I wouldn't be able to handle seeing him.When we got home the house was quiet. I went up to my room and took a hot shower before getting into my PJs.I went into my mom's room and laid down next to her. She put on a movie before covering me with the blanket.The rest of our weekend flew by and soon it was Wednesday. I pulled on my cheerleading outfit and tied my hair into a ponytail. I slipped into my white sneakers before applying my face cream.I went downstairs and ate a slice of toast before I heard honking outside."Bye, Mom," I said before placing a kiss on her cheek. "Bye Uncle Ian," I said before hugging him from behind and skipping outside.I feel happy today and free. Maybe it's because I haven't seen Cole yet."Morning sunshine." Griff greeted me while holding a milkshake out to me."Morning, thank you," I said before sliding onto the seat. Tyler and Rook were sitti
I sat at the cheerleading squad's table and boy do I regret ever coming over here. It's like we're the monarchy of this school."You look so cute in your outfit," Natalie said and Nina nodded."I still can't believe you fucked Cole," Natasha said and I rolled my eyes at her."For the last fucking time. We did not fuck." I said angrily. She's pushing me and I'm really in the mood to punch somebody in the face."Okay, chill out," Nina said and I just sighed."Oh shit. Am I dreaming?" We heard Brianna ask."What?" We all asked before looking at where she was looking. Oh no."Cole is coming over," Paige said and they started fixing their hair and make-up. No respect. I turned around and faced the Coke in my hand.I know he stopped behind me because everyone in the cafeteria was silent."Can we talk?" Cole asked and I took a sip out of my drink. Didn't I tell him to never talk to me again?"Liv?" He called and I ignored him. "Everybody, listen up!" Cole said and my eyes widened so I took a
"I need space," I said and he let me go. He nodded before walking away from me. "Liv!" I heard Griff calling me and Cole stopped in his tracks. He had a grim look on his face when he turned around. His jaw clenched."What the fuck are they doing here?" Cole asked angrily."We're hanging out," I said blankly. Cole started walking towards the den but I pulled him back by his arm."Don't you fucking dare," I said angrily. "I swear to God I will never speak to you again." I threatened."Fine." He said with flared nostrils before storming outside. Phew...I went into the den and sat on the couch next to Griff. "Who wants to go against me?" I asked and they laughed at me before continuing their game. "I'm serious," I said before grabbing the controller from him."Fine," Griff said before starting the game over. "And spill the tea bitch." He said and I looked at him weirdly."You're full of shit aren't you?" I asked and he shrugged. I told them what happened and by the end of my story, th
I felt somebody gripping my arm before taking me outside. He finally stopped when we were outside and my eyes widened when I saw that it was Cole."Why?" He asked angrily. "Why did you fucking kiss him?" He asked and I stayed quiet. "I would never do that to you Liv." He said painfully."But you did, Cole!" I yelled in his face. "You kissed my best friend, and now you show up together at the mid-year party," I said before running a hand through my hair."You don't love her," I told him in a sure tone."I don't?" He asked with a single eyebrow lifted."No." I shook my head before Cole's lips came crashing against mine. He picked me up so that my legs could circle his torso. He placed me on the hood of his car before lifting my cheerleading skirt."Just tell me when to stop." He said before placing kisses on my inner thighs. I shuddered as I watched Cole remove my thong.He spread my legs on the cold metal beneath me before licking my clit. I moaned out loudly and his tongue started maki
The next morning I woke up to the sound of my alarm. I got up and took a shower. I pulled on my cheer outfit before tying my hair into a ponytail.I suddenly felt my heart skip a beat before a sharp pain shot through it.I gripped my cupboard to keep myself from falling. I frowned while catching my breath. Something's wrong.I went outside into the hallway, Cole wasn't in his room so I went downstairs my mom was crying at the kitchen island while Uncle Ian rubbed her back.Cole stood at the glass wall staring outside with his hands in his hair. I frowned deeply before running downstairs."What's wrong?" I asked wildly."Liv-" My mom said painfully."What's going on?" I asked in fear."It's Jade she committed suicide." My mom said and the world stopped around me. My breathing stopped and I started crying."No!" I screamed. "No! Jade!" I cried in pain. "Why would she do that?" I sobbed."Liv wake up!" My mom yelled and I violently sat upright in bed."Oh my god mom." I cried and my mom f
Later in the evening, I went home, even though I didn't want to leave Jade alone I "had" to be at home."We need to tell you, guys, something." My mom announced to Cole and me and Uncle Ian nodded excitedly."Sure go ahead," I said while standing as far away from Cole as possible. He ate me out in public so I don't trust him right now."We got the deal in Russia." My mom said and my eyes widened."What that's great," Cole said blankly while looking at my mom and his dad. "I'm happy for you guys," I said before hugging them."But-" Uncle Ian started."There's a but?" I asked in confusion and my mom nodded."They need us to fly down tomorrow to sign the deal. So we're gonna be out of town for a week, maybe two." Uncle Ian explained."Wait what?" I asked."Sounds fine to me," Cole said under his breath and I glared at him."No parties." My mom told him and he shrugged."When have I ever thrown a party without asking for permission?" He asked and my mom smiled at him."You're right darlin
Yesterday my parents left for Russia. I laid in bed staring at the ceiling, like every morning I woke up.Nobody has seen or heard from Cole ever since he left. I miss him.I keep replaying his words in my head. They cut me like a thousand knives. I'm certain that I love him more than I loved Ajay. And now I think it's too late to tell him this. He'll probably just tell me that I'm lying.Tonight is the night of the bonfire. The boys were right I've never been to one by myself. I always went with Ajay and when he died I simply stayed at home.Ryan asked me to be his date so I agreed to go with him as friends. I'm waiting for Cole, I want to be with him and nothing is going to stop me from getting what I want. If I have to wait forever, I will.I rolled out of bed, already one pm. I've been feeling depressed lately and I haven't been to school either. Like I give a fuck.I took a long shower to pass the time. I wrapped a towel around my body when I was done before going back to my ro
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