The pieces of the puzzle slammed together, forming a horrifying picture. Talia's saccharine sweetness, Arden's calculated indifference, the poisoned milkshake in the music room… It all coalesced into a single, chilling truth: Talia had tried to kill me. The realization sent a wave of nausea churning through my stomach, a cold dread settling in my bones. So that was the reason. Jealousy. Pure, unadulterated, murderous jealousy.I turned toward the direction they took, the image of Arden and Talia's departing figures seared into my mind. A fresh wave of humiliation washed over me, threatening to drown me in its bitter depths.I glanced back, only to find Martha and Ethan staring at me, their expressions a mixture of pity and exasperation. Like I was some kind of idiot. Some pathetic creature deserving of the cruelty I endured. This wasn't the first time Arden had publicly humiliated me. And I knew, with a sickening certainty, that it wouldn't be the last.A new video would surface late
The cafeteria air hung thick with the aroma of stale pizza and simmering gossip, a noxious blend that mirrored the sour taste in my mouth. Talia's triumphant smirk, a fleeting flash of victory before she trailed after Arden, replayed in my mind like a broken record. *Dating*. So, that was it. The pieces clicked into place with a sickening finality. Arden and Talia. It made a cruel kind of sense.Arden, forever out of reach. The realization settled upon me like a shroud, heavy and suffocating. I slumped onto my desk, the cool surface a small comfort against the burning humiliation that still coursed through me. Lunchtime. A cacophony of noise and forced cheerfulness that I had no energy to face. The cafeteria was a battlefield today, and I was a wounded soldier seeking refuge.I burrowed my face into my arms, seeking oblivion. Sleep offered a temporary escape, a brief respite from the torment of my thoughts. The minutes ticked by, marked only by the distant rumble of voices and the rhy
The back corner table, bathed in the soft glow of the afternoon sun, was my sanctuary. Close to the window, it offered a panoramic view of the school grounds, a silent observer of the drama unfolding below. A convenient lie, a flimsy excuse to mask my desire for solitude. "I just love the seat because it's close to the window and I could see everything going on from there," I said, forcing a casual tone.Collins studied me, his gaze intense and unwavering. I couldn't decipher the expression in his eyes, a mixture of concern and something else, something I couldn't quite name. He saw through my facade, I was sure of it. But he didn't call me out. He simply placed the tray of food on the table, his movements deliberate and careful."Eat," he said, his voice soft but firm.I hesitated, my stomach churning with a mixture of hunger and apprehension. The jollof rice looked deceptively appealing, a vibrant mound of red and orange, garnished with sprigs of parsley. The aroma was rich and savo
The sterile scent of antiseptic clung to everything in the hospital room, a constant, unwelcome reminder of my confinement. Two days. Forty-eight hours trapped within these four walls, and a silent scream building in my chest. Not from the pain – though the dull ache thrumming through my body was persistent – but from the gaping absence where Arden should have been.I’d foolishly imagined that a hospital stay, a genuine brush with mortality (or at least a very persuasive imitation of it), would elicit some flicker of… something… from him. Sympathy? Concern? Even a begrudging visit would have sufficed. Instead, the parade of well-wishers underscored his absence with brutal clarity.Collins was a constant, almost unnervingly cheerful presence. Each morning, he arrived bearing a single, perfect bloom – a rose, a lily, once even a delicate sprig of lavender – its fragrance a fleeting counterpoint to the pervasive medicinal odor. “Good morning, sunshine,” he’d say, his voice a warm rumble
The invitation felt like a poisoned chalice, a gilded promise concealing a bitter draught. Collins, bless his earnest heart, didn't see the storm brewing behind my eyes. He only saw my hesitation, the shadow of doubt that flickered across my face.His expression crumpled, a fleeting twist of disappointment that he quickly masked. "It's okay if you don't want to go," he said, his voice carefully neutral as he slipped the invitation back into his bag."It's not that I *don't* want to go," I hedged, the words catching in my throat. "It's just… you know Martha and I don't exactly get along. I can only imagine what she'd do if she found me there." The thought of facing Martha, particularly on her own turf, sent a shiver of apprehension down my spine.Collins's eyes softened, a protective glint entering them. "You don't have to worry about her," he said, his voice firm. "I'll be there to protect you."I managed a weak smile, unconvinced but unwilling to shatter his earnestness. I turned my
The sterile scent of antiseptic clung to me as I walked out of the hospital. Collins was a constant presence, a shadow flitting at the edge of my vision, ever since my father had signed the discharge papers. He’d been there through the stilted small talk with the nurses, the awkward shuffle to the car, and the silent drive back to the dorm. My father dropped me off with a curt nod, a silent promise to return soon, leaving me to face whatever awaited me behind that familiar door.The moment I pushed it open, I gasped. It was like walking into a dream – or perhaps a carefully constructed trap. My dorm room, usually a study in organized chaos, had been transformed. Garlands of flowers draped across the ceiling, their vibrant colors a stark contrast to the pale walls. Petals, a riot of reds, pinks, and whites, carpeted the floor, swirling around my bed in a fragrant, dizzying display. My name, "Olivia," was spelled out in meticulously arranged petals on the duvet.My first instinct was to
"I never expected you to like it," Martha said, her voice laced with a sincerity that felt…rehearsed. It was a performance, I realized, carefully crafted to project an image of remorse. But behind her eyes, I saw something else – a flicker of triumph, a hint of calculation.I stared at her, a knot of confusion tightening in my stomach. Was this genuine? Could Martha, after all the veiled insults and petty sabotage, actually be feeling regret? Or was this just another layer in her intricate game?"After all the drama that happened between me and you, you still hold no grudges against me?" she continued, her tone almost pleading. The words hung in the air, a challenge and an accusation all rolled into one.I forced a smile, a carefully constructed mask of forgiveness. *Hold no grudges?* The thought echoed in my mind, bitter and ironic. *I'm not ready to strike yet. But when I do, you'll know it.*"All those are bygone," I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "This is a new
Shadows of the CafeteriaI clutched my lunch tray tightly, my heart racing as I approached one of the empty tables in the bustling cafeteria. It felt like all eyes were on me, a spotlight illuminating my awkwardness. The hum of chatter faded as I stumbled forward, the clatter of trays and laughter echoing around me, amplifying my nervousness.As I set my tray down, I reached for a chair, but the moment I began to sit, it was yanked away. I crashed to the floor, my butt hitting the cold, unforgiving marble. A wave of laughter erupted from the crowd, a chorus of mockery that reverberated in my ears. I blinked back tears, my gaze darting around the room until it landed on her: Karl Martha, the heiress of the powerful Karl group.Her eyes glinted with malice, a predatory gleam that sent a shiver down my spine. With a smirk that sent chills through me, she held my lunch in her hands, inspecting it like a trophy. “What kind of dish is this?” she taunted, her voice dripping with disdain. “I
"I never expected you to like it," Martha said, her voice laced with a sincerity that felt…rehearsed. It was a performance, I realized, carefully crafted to project an image of remorse. But behind her eyes, I saw something else – a flicker of triumph, a hint of calculation.I stared at her, a knot of confusion tightening in my stomach. Was this genuine? Could Martha, after all the veiled insults and petty sabotage, actually be feeling regret? Or was this just another layer in her intricate game?"After all the drama that happened between me and you, you still hold no grudges against me?" she continued, her tone almost pleading. The words hung in the air, a challenge and an accusation all rolled into one.I forced a smile, a carefully constructed mask of forgiveness. *Hold no grudges?* The thought echoed in my mind, bitter and ironic. *I'm not ready to strike yet. But when I do, you'll know it.*"All those are bygone," I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "This is a new
The sterile scent of antiseptic clung to me as I walked out of the hospital. Collins was a constant presence, a shadow flitting at the edge of my vision, ever since my father had signed the discharge papers. He’d been there through the stilted small talk with the nurses, the awkward shuffle to the car, and the silent drive back to the dorm. My father dropped me off with a curt nod, a silent promise to return soon, leaving me to face whatever awaited me behind that familiar door.The moment I pushed it open, I gasped. It was like walking into a dream – or perhaps a carefully constructed trap. My dorm room, usually a study in organized chaos, had been transformed. Garlands of flowers draped across the ceiling, their vibrant colors a stark contrast to the pale walls. Petals, a riot of reds, pinks, and whites, carpeted the floor, swirling around my bed in a fragrant, dizzying display. My name, "Olivia," was spelled out in meticulously arranged petals on the duvet.My first instinct was to
The invitation felt like a poisoned chalice, a gilded promise concealing a bitter draught. Collins, bless his earnest heart, didn't see the storm brewing behind my eyes. He only saw my hesitation, the shadow of doubt that flickered across my face.His expression crumpled, a fleeting twist of disappointment that he quickly masked. "It's okay if you don't want to go," he said, his voice carefully neutral as he slipped the invitation back into his bag."It's not that I *don't* want to go," I hedged, the words catching in my throat. "It's just… you know Martha and I don't exactly get along. I can only imagine what she'd do if she found me there." The thought of facing Martha, particularly on her own turf, sent a shiver of apprehension down my spine.Collins's eyes softened, a protective glint entering them. "You don't have to worry about her," he said, his voice firm. "I'll be there to protect you."I managed a weak smile, unconvinced but unwilling to shatter his earnestness. I turned my
The sterile scent of antiseptic clung to everything in the hospital room, a constant, unwelcome reminder of my confinement. Two days. Forty-eight hours trapped within these four walls, and a silent scream building in my chest. Not from the pain – though the dull ache thrumming through my body was persistent – but from the gaping absence where Arden should have been.I’d foolishly imagined that a hospital stay, a genuine brush with mortality (or at least a very persuasive imitation of it), would elicit some flicker of… something… from him. Sympathy? Concern? Even a begrudging visit would have sufficed. Instead, the parade of well-wishers underscored his absence with brutal clarity.Collins was a constant, almost unnervingly cheerful presence. Each morning, he arrived bearing a single, perfect bloom – a rose, a lily, once even a delicate sprig of lavender – its fragrance a fleeting counterpoint to the pervasive medicinal odor. “Good morning, sunshine,” he’d say, his voice a warm rumble
The back corner table, bathed in the soft glow of the afternoon sun, was my sanctuary. Close to the window, it offered a panoramic view of the school grounds, a silent observer of the drama unfolding below. A convenient lie, a flimsy excuse to mask my desire for solitude. "I just love the seat because it's close to the window and I could see everything going on from there," I said, forcing a casual tone.Collins studied me, his gaze intense and unwavering. I couldn't decipher the expression in his eyes, a mixture of concern and something else, something I couldn't quite name. He saw through my facade, I was sure of it. But he didn't call me out. He simply placed the tray of food on the table, his movements deliberate and careful."Eat," he said, his voice soft but firm.I hesitated, my stomach churning with a mixture of hunger and apprehension. The jollof rice looked deceptively appealing, a vibrant mound of red and orange, garnished with sprigs of parsley. The aroma was rich and savo
The cafeteria air hung thick with the aroma of stale pizza and simmering gossip, a noxious blend that mirrored the sour taste in my mouth. Talia's triumphant smirk, a fleeting flash of victory before she trailed after Arden, replayed in my mind like a broken record. *Dating*. So, that was it. The pieces clicked into place with a sickening finality. Arden and Talia. It made a cruel kind of sense.Arden, forever out of reach. The realization settled upon me like a shroud, heavy and suffocating. I slumped onto my desk, the cool surface a small comfort against the burning humiliation that still coursed through me. Lunchtime. A cacophony of noise and forced cheerfulness that I had no energy to face. The cafeteria was a battlefield today, and I was a wounded soldier seeking refuge.I burrowed my face into my arms, seeking oblivion. Sleep offered a temporary escape, a brief respite from the torment of my thoughts. The minutes ticked by, marked only by the distant rumble of voices and the rhy
The pieces of the puzzle slammed together, forming a horrifying picture. Talia's saccharine sweetness, Arden's calculated indifference, the poisoned milkshake in the music room… It all coalesced into a single, chilling truth: Talia had tried to kill me. The realization sent a wave of nausea churning through my stomach, a cold dread settling in my bones. So that was the reason. Jealousy. Pure, unadulterated, murderous jealousy.I turned toward the direction they took, the image of Arden and Talia's departing figures seared into my mind. A fresh wave of humiliation washed over me, threatening to drown me in its bitter depths.I glanced back, only to find Martha and Ethan staring at me, their expressions a mixture of pity and exasperation. Like I was some kind of idiot. Some pathetic creature deserving of the cruelty I endured. This wasn't the first time Arden had publicly humiliated me. And I knew, with a sickening certainty, that it wouldn't be the last.A new video would surface late
The air crackled with unspoken expectation, thick enough to choke on. Arden's smirk, a fleeting, cruel curve of his lips, was the last thing I saw before he abandoned me in the suffocating silence of the room. Abandoned, not just physically, but emotionally, teetering on the precipice of something I desperately craved and simultaneously feared. He *knew* what he was doing. He’d orchestrated this entire scene, a twisted symphony of longing and denial, leaving me exposed and vulnerable.My pulse hammered a frantic rhythm against my ribs, a frantic drumbeat echoing the turmoil within. He was supposed to kiss me. The script, unspoken but undeniably present, demanded it. The air had been electric, charged with the promise of a connection that transcended the casual flirtations and playful banter we usually engaged in. My skin still tingled with the phantom sensation of his nearness.*Olivia, stop.* The voice in my head, usually a gentle whisper of reason, now screamed with the urgency of a
"You’re lying to me, Olivia," Mr. Lawson snapped, his voice sharp with anger. His eyes glared down at me like twin blades ready to cut through my weak excuses. I flinched as he raised his cane, its shadow looming over me. My breath hitched, and I shut my eyes, bracing for the sting.But it never came.The sound of wood against flesh was replaced by a dull *thud*. I opened my eyes to see the cane blocked mid-air—by Arden and Ethan. Both boys stood between me and Mr. Lawson like shields, their presence radiating defiance."She’s not lying to you, sir," Ethan said, his voice calm but firm. "She really is a sleepwalker. Most of the time, Lisa sleeps in her room to keep an eye on her, but last night… last night Lisa came in and couldn’t find her. She called me, so I ran to Olivia’s room to confirm."His words were steady, but his gaze flicked nervously to me, then to Arden. I could feel the tension in the air, thick and suffocating."And you," Mr. Lawson barked, his sharp tone directed at