Amia I beat the alarm this morning. My eyes were already open as it blared. The pain was a dull ache now as I crawled to the edge of the bed. I’m hoping Mom and Greg sleep in since they went to bed early this morning. The safest course of action would be to go out the window but I really don’t want to take the chance of breaking my leg again. I just need to get out of here before he wakes up. I dressed for school as quickly as possible and peaked through the crack in the door. When I was sure it was clear I took my first hesitant step into the hallway. Every day in this house was hell. I was constantly on the edge. It was as if my fight or flight was constantly activated. I tiptoed down the hall as quietly as possible, careful not to step on the pieces I knew would groan under my weight. I’m finally working my way down the stairs when one of the floorboards creaked. My heart dropped and I froze as I listened for any sign of movement from upstairs. When I don’t hear anything, I contin
Levi I can practically feel the sands of time slipping through the cracks between my fingers. No matter how hard I tried to hold on the faster time flew by. Ami had more than enough reasons to hate me. I didn’t fault her for not wanting me in her life anymore. She thought I stopped talking to her because of stupid childish reasons, but she couldn’t be further from the truth. My ascension to the throne was drawing near, nearer still with the war. The wolves claimed they were being attacked by rogues but little did they know that it’s been going on for years. It was a game of cat and mouse and my father, the King, was the cat. He enjoyed playing with them and experimenting on them. I shuttered as I pushed that thought from my mind. My father hated the wolves with every fiber of his being. He was in no rush to end the bloodshed. If anything, he enjoyed it. His plan was to take care of them all with the war. To “bring them to heel” as he so often said. It didn’t matter how much I didn’t
AmiaWithout Liz I don’t know if I could have made it through high school. She has been there to pick up the pieces more times than I can count. She’s seen what I’ve let her see but she’s never questioned me or demanded to know what happened. I know she would listen to me but I love that she doesn’t try to pry. This morning when I got to school she swooped in like the superwoman bad ass best friend she has always been.There’s nothing like crossing the quad like you’re on some covert mission. Today Liz managed to make me feel protected and sneaky at the same time. I had about twenty minutes before my first period and I needed her magic bag of makeup. I hadn’t even said why. She met me at the front of the school. It was as if she knew. She didn’t look at me just threw her jacket over me.Every breath hurt with each inhale of air. She pushed the gym bathroom door open and dragged me along with her. When we got to the benches by the lockers she pushed me down and sat beside me. My should
Amia The second bell announced the start of the school day. I ignored Levi when he walked in five minutes late. I avoided lifting my chin and looking at him. I didn’t miss the way he froze by my table. I could feel his gaze as it traveled over my downcast face. I didn’t want to admit it but Levi knew me better than almost everyone at this school. I could feel his gaze on the side of my face like every morning. I focused on class and followed along with the teacher. Classed past by in a blur and before I knew it the hour was up and it was time for second period. My stomach flip flopped knowing that I would be separated from Liz now. She waited for me as I gathered up my stuff. I got to my feet, threw my backpack over my shoulder, and followed Liz toward the door. I grabbed Liz’s hand and held it tightly. She squeezed my hand. I tried to keep my eyes in front of me but I could feel Levi’s warmth at my back as we shuffled out. “Hey Levi!” Liz said cheerfully. “Morning Liz,” Levi said
“What? What are you saying?” I demanded. “I’m asking you if you want me to get rid of your little problem,” Levi said. “I know what you’re saying I just don’t know why you’re saying that to me.” “Don’t you tho?” Levi asked. “No, I don’t. I don’t know why you would say this to me, L. I don’t have a problem,” I lied. “Right. That’s why you’re crying in a dark room,” Levi joked. “You think you’re so fucking funny, don’t you, L? Who’s fault is it again that I’m in this dark room to begin with?” I asked. I swiped at my tears and crossed my arms. Levi smiled down at me and I wanted to punch him. “I’m not the one who made you cry, Amia. And who brought you into this room isn’t the one who is responsible for those tears. Now tell me. What did he do to you?” Levi asked again. His tone was gentle and gave me a false sense of security. I knew better than to hope for someone to come to my rescue. I wasn’t going to start now. “I-I don’t know what you mean, Levi. I don’t know what you’re ask
After Levi watched me walk to my seat he left without so much as another word. There were a few stares from the girls in the class, but I was feeling so weird with his absence that I ignored them. I felt as if something was off or missing and I had the need to run after him. It was the sound of the tick-tick-ticking of the hand moving on the clock as time passed that ground me and kept me in my seat. Class was a blur and I missed out on a majority if not the remainder of class. The events that had transpired in the few minutes we spent in the empty classroom took up most of my attention. As crazy as I felt for thinking I saw Levi with red eyes, I know what I saw. I couldn’t shake the feeling of being in a trance. My cheeks warm as I recall the neediness I had felt. The need to please him, the desperation to do everything and anything to please him caused a shiver to run down my spine. In that moment I knew I would have done literally anything. It was that thought that scared me the m
AmiaThe rain comes down harder, but it’s as if time stands still. Everything freezes and everyone that had been behind us in the quad and in front of us in the parking lots disappeared. Sweat ran down my neck despite the cool rain that quickly soaked my clothes. I gripped Liz’s arm tightly as I called on courage I wasn’t sure I had. The only sound was the pounding of blood in my ears and the pitter-patter-pit of rain as it came down on the roofs of the cars and bounced against the concrete floor.When I turn around to find who was behind us, I feel her physically relax by my side. My eyes instantly lock on Levi and all of the air is expelled from my lungs. Relief washes over me with the rain and drips from my hair. I had been trying to brace myself to face Dylan, but now that I knew it wasn’t him, I knew how not ready I really was.After what happened last night, I know I need to make some changes, but I’m not ready to think about it yet. I’m not ready to deal with it today. Levi ste
AmiaI spent the drive to the coffee shop hovered in front of the air vent trying to warm up. As much as I tried to get Liz to ride shotgun with Levi, she refused. Insisted she had to sit in the back seat. It was clear she wanted me and Levi to talk, but I had nothing to say. I kept my eyes trained on the dash as he drove. I could feel Levi’s gaze on the side of my face, hell, I could feel Liz watching us from the back seats. Still, I refused to look at him or try my hand at small talk. It wasn’t until he pulled into a parking spot across from the coffee shop and he hopped out that I raised my eyes from the dash.“That was awkward as fuck,” Liz murmured.“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said as I unbuckled my seat belt.“You know damn well what I meant,” Liz hissed.I eyed her in the rear view mirror and laughed. She was giving me a you know I’m right look. I reached for my handle when the door swung open. Levi stood outside holding not only my door open, but Liz’s.Well, t