Hello Readers, I really wanted to dive into Mila's and Gabe's complex dynamic. Gabe's dominance and authority come to the forefront, showing a side that Mila hadn't fully seen before, which intensifies the tension between them. Thank you for sticking with these characters are they navigate their complicated feelings, and I hope you enjoy hoe their stories continue to unfold.
MILAGabe was still crouched by the tombstone, his brow furrowed as if trying to puzzle out the same haunting riddle. I couldn’t stay there anymore. The weight of the truth was suffocating, and I needed space. Away from Gabe. Away from everyone.I turned and started toward the woods, my footsteps quickening, but Gabe was fast. He caught up, his hand clamping down on my arm once more. “Mila, stop. You shouldn’t be alone.”“I have a safe place, Gabe,” I snapped, jerking my arm free. I wasn’t really mad at him, just this whole situation. “I just… I need to get away from here, Gabe. I need space. From you. From this pack. From everything.”“And you think that hideout is safe?” He challenged me. “At least, at the packhouse, you’ll be surrounded by people who want to protect you.”I let out a hollow laugh, stepping back from him. “Protect me? I’ve never truly been protected, Gabe. Not with you. Not within the pack. If I were, I wouldn’t be here, standing over my own grave, would I?”That hit
MILASo far so good. I thought, checking that everything was ready for the show. Transitioning everything to the greenhouse was seamless, especially with Gabe helping out. He was the brains behind the entire construction, so he picked the prime location for each of the models. Each location had a model staged by a specific flower that was perfectly paired with my dresses, scented to match.There was a satisfied smile playing on his lips and my heart did a flip as I watched him work. I couldn’t help but admire the way his expression shifted when he was thinking deeply, how every thoughtful "hmm" seemed to weigh the world around him. He was so in control, effortlessly authoritative, and it took everything in me not to get distracted.This is pathetic, Mila. Why are you even pinning for this guy? Just reject him already. My internal monologue was relentless, but there was no escaping the memory of that night. The moment our lips collided, the surge of heat that followed–it wasn’t somethi
MILA Sophomore Year“Hi! I’m Mila Davis. I am a strong, beautiful, black girl and I don't need…” I looked down at the text message from my friend, Gabe, who hasn’t been to school all week. Affirmation for the day he texted. I cleared my throat and looked back into the mirror. “...and I don’t need validation from anyone but myself.”Don’t get me wrong. I think I was pretty cute. Frizzy afro that I have given up on taming, pleasantly plump cheeks that grandies loved to pinched and small freckles that I think added a little flair to my face. Framing my face were thick, rounded glasses that magnified my light brown eyes, and honestly made me look smart. Who didn’t want to look smart? I took pride in dark brown skin, not a single blemish in sight. Well aside from the vitiligo in certain spots, but those spots were in places that only my beloved would be able to see. Still, despite societal stereotypes, I was determined to be seen. Just maybe after I graduate highschool.I took a deep brea
MILA“Hi, I’m Mila Davis. Welcome to Grand Mountain High.” I turned to my classmate, Jenna. “How was that? Too preppy?”“Does it matter?” Jenna sighed heavily at my concern. “No one cares about high school. They’re all the same and everyone is just trying to survive long enough to graduate.”I brushed it off, knowing the importance of a first impression. I continued to fix my unruly curly afro in the mirror, frowning when the hair tie popped out of my hand. I walked to retrieve it from the floor.“I know Jenna, but I’m part of the student council, and things like this matter when you need references for college. Besides, if I do this, it could get me closer to getting the Aliz Women in Arts Scholarship. They only give it to one student a year, and it's going to be mine before I graduate.”“Slow down, Mila,” Jenna urged. “You’re a sophomore. College is so far away and besides I think everyone should take the first year off to decide if they really need unnecessary debt.”“I can’t afford
MILAAfter showing the Mora girls to their lockers we ran into Gabe, who had a bouquet of flowers in his hands. His gaze met mine, a smile illuminating his face until he noticed the company I was with. Amber greeted him first, her playful banter revealing a history between them.“Grubbs, it’s been a while,” Amber smiled, pinching his cheeks. “Did you gain more weight since this summer?” “Stop,” Gabe said, obviously irritated, “and that’s not my name.”“How can I not call you that with those chipmunk cheeks like these?” Amber joked.I cringed at that word, chipmunk. I hated it but despite her teasing, I couldn’t help but find Gabe endearing. His rich, brown skin and his rosy cheeks and dimples exude a boyish charm. His eyes, a captivating blend of light brown hues, held a kindness that belied his own struggles. His curly hair, a wild mass framing his face, added to his allure. I thought it was always cute the way he constantly had to move his hair out of the way. He might not fit the
MILAThree weeks was all it took for the Mora girls to seize control over everything. In three months, everyone and their friends were clamoring to be part of their exclusive crew. Requests flooded in, only to be turned down left and right. I even heard a girl donated to their father’s non-profit fund to try to get a seat at their table. Now it was Tyler, Ari, Amber, Julia, Randall and Leo. I didn’t know what the fuss was about. It was just a table like any other table.“That’s what a loser would say,” Jenna teased me until I saw her a few days ago, hanging around them like a moth to a flame.I wasn’t that jealous or even that mad. Jenna wasn’t like my best friend. We both grew up in the orphanage and worked together at the packhouse sometimes. Now I heard she worked at the Moras’ residence. It made sense she would eventually hang with them. I’d caught her making out with Randall in the laundry room more times than I could count. It didn’t matter to me, but it sucked when I was on laun
MILAFor the past week, I avoided Gabe as much as I could. My mind kept drifting back to the awful incident in the sewing room. The humiliation, the pain, the feeling of helplessness–it all came back every time I closed my eyes. I couldn’t even work on my designs without going back there. Even though I kept my head down, Tyler and his friends would throw quips my way whenever they caught me alone or in the halls. Either snipping at me with scissors or loading my locker up with pieces of fabric. So, I made it my mission to try to leave as soon as I could.“Mila?” I jumped as the familiar voice broke my reverie. Gabe was standing beside me, concern etched on his face. “Hey, are you okay? You’ve been avoiding me lately.”His concern tore my heart. I wanted to tell him the truth–that his brother Tyler and his friends had tormented me, ruined my dress for the dance, and was making my life a living hell. But I couldn’t. Instead, I forced a smile and shook my head. “I’m fine, Gabe. Just…a l
MILA“Miss Josalyn! Hey!”Wow, that was too excited. I thought as Head Housekeeper, Josalyn, looked at me suspiciously. She must’ve had the straightest spine I’ve ever seen. She barely moved her head even when looking down at me and she always kept her hands clasped in front of her. She took a deep breath before speaking.“It has come to my attention that you are behind on your chores, Miss Davis,” she started with a hint of malice. “I do not tolerate laziness on any of my shifts. Do you understand?”“Of course, Miss–”She waved me off. “Since it seems you are prone to laziness, I’ve added a few extra chores to get you up to par. If I were you I would start now to ensure proper sleep for the morning chores.”She placed the list in my hands and turned quickly to leave. The workload was definitely enough for three people at least and the dance started in two hours. “Now I’m never going to the dance,” I cried, walking to the first list of things. “I won’t even have time to go buy a dress