Emma's POVAugustine's gentle prodding broke down my defenses. I took a deep breath and let it all spill out."It's just... everything has fallen apart, Augustine. One stupid incident, and my whole life has turned upside down."Augustine's expression turned sympathetic. "What incident, Emma? What happened?"I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. But something about Augustine's kind eyes put me at ease."It's just... Rosaline's Father-Daughter Day, and she didn't want me there. And Lucien... he won't even talk to me. And Gabe... he's always taking their side."Augustine listened attentively, his nodding encouraging me to continue."I feel like I've lost my family, Augustine. Like I'm a stranger in my own home."Augustine's face reflected his understanding. "It sounds like a perfect storm of hurt and misunderstanding."I sniffled, feeling a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, I wasn't alone in this.Augustine's expression turned somber, his eyes clouding over. "Emma, I understand what
Gabe's POVI spun Rosaline around, laughing as she giggled and twirled in my arms. Father-Daughter Day was turning out to be everything I'd hoped for – quality time with my little girl, making memories that would last a lifetime.But as I gazed into Rosaline's sparkling eyes, I couldn't shake off the nagging feeling that something was off. Her attitude towards Emma earlier had left a sour taste in my mouth.I recalled the way Rosaline had dismissed Emma, her words dripping with disdain. "It's Father-Daughter Day, Mom. It'll be more fun just with Dad and me."At the time, I'd brushed it off as teenage angst, but now, as I watched Rosaline's carefree dance moves, I wondered if there was more to it. Was she feeling resentful towards Emma? Had I unintentionally contributed to this rift?My mind wandered to Emma, standing alone in the hallway, a mixture of sadness and understanding on her face. I'd wanted to reassure her, to tell her that Rosaline's behavior wasn't a reflection of her wort
Gabe's POVAs the laughter died down, I couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over me. This was everything I'd always wanted - my kids happy, carefree, and connected to me.But as I looked around the room, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was missing. Emma.It was strange without her. I'd always wanted to connect with my kids, to be the father they deserved. And now, here I was, experiencing that connection, but it felt incomplete without Emma by my side.I remembered the countless times we'd shared moments like these, the laughter, the joy, the sense of family. Emma had always been the glue that held us together, and without her, everything felt slightly off-kilter.I pushed the thoughts aside, not wanting to ruin the moment. But as I looked at my kids, I knew I couldn't ignore the elephant in the room. Emma's absence was felt deeply, and I knew I needed to find a way to address it.For now, though, I just smiled, trying to savor the moment, imperfect as i
April's POVI was running, crazy, mad, insane. I needed it. I really needed it. My feet pounded the pavement, my lungs burning as I sprinted through the deserted streets.Tears streamed down my face, my eyes red and puffy from crying. My hair was disheveled, tangled from pulling it out in frustration.My body ached from rolling on the floor, from banging my fists against the wall. I couldn't contain the emotions anymore.Why did they do this to me? Why did I keep secrets from them?I thought of Emma, of Camilla, Lucien, and Rosaline. They were I was hiding something. They knew it.My mind raced with questions, with fears, with doubts. What was going on? Why couldn't I trust myself?I stopped running, collapsing onto a bench, exhausted. My chest heaved as I struggled to catch my breath.I looked up at the sky, tears streaming down my face. "Why?" I screamed, my voice echoing through the empty streets.But there was no answer. Only silence.And the ache within me grew, a hollow feeling
Camilla's POV I stood at my locker, exchanging pleasantries with Rosaline and Lucien. But my mind was elsewhere, consumed by thoughts of April.Her behavior earlier had left me unsettled. The lies, the evasions...something was wrong, and I couldn't shake the feeling.Rosaline nodded along, her eyes glazing over as she responded to my questions. Her mind was clearly elsewhere, lost in thoughts I couldn't begin to decipher.Lucien's gaze drifted over my shoulder, his eyes fixed on someone behind me. I followed his gaze, but saw nothing out of the ordinary."Hey, how's it going?" Lucien asked, his voice distracted."Yeah, good," I replied, going through the motions.Rosaline murmured something incoherent, her thoughts still a million miles away.I couldn't help but wonder what was going on with my friends. April's secrets, Rosaline's distant thoughts, Lucien's mysterious gaze...it all added up to a sense of unease I couldn't shake.As we parted ways to head to our next class, I couldn't
Camilla's POVI walked alongside Rosaline and Lucien in the hallway, lost in thought. We were on our way to meet with our teacher to discuss our group project.As we turned a corner, a commotion caught our attention. Krisdana Elrod, the school's notorious mean girl, was standing in the hallway, her eyes blazing with contempt.But it was the sight of the student kneeling at her feet, begging for mercy, that made my blood boil."Please, Krisdana, I'll do anything," the girl whimpered, her eyes brimming with tears.Krisdana sneered, her voice dripping with malice. "You'll do anything? Really? Well, let's start with your lunch money. Hand it over."The girl hesitated, then slowly reached into her pocket and pulled out her wallet. Krisdana snatched it from her hand, flipping through the contents with a sneer."Pathetic," Krisdana spat. "You're practically broke. What else can you offer me?"The girl trembled, her eyes darting around the hallway for help. But no one intervened. Krisdana's r
Rosaline's POVI stood on the sidelines, watching Lucien play ball with his friends. His laughter and shouts filled the air, a stark contrast to the tension that had been building inside me.As I scanned the sports complex, my eyes landed on Krisdana, lounging by the vending machines, sipping on a soda. Her eyes sparkled with malice as she chatted with her friends.This was the perfect opportunity. Lucien was distracted, and Camilla was nowhere to be seen, probably spreading laughter and joy wherever she went.I took a deep breath and made my way towards Krisdana, my heart pounding in my chest. It was time to confront her.As I approached, Krisdana's eyes flicked towards me, a smirk spreading across her face. "Well, well, well. Look what we have here."I stood tall, my voice firm. "Krisdana, we need to talk."Krisdana raised an eyebrow. "Oh, this should be good. What's on your mind, Rosaline?"I clenched my fists, trying to keep my cool. "You know exactly what I'm talking about. Your
Lucien's POVI lay in the sick bay, my ankle throbbing in pain. The nurse had given me some ice and told me to rest, but my mind was racing.I couldn't help but think about what happened today. Rosaline was so quick to blame Krisdana, but was it really her fault?I thought back to the commotion on the field. Rosaline had caused a scene, confronting Krisdana and distracting me. If she hadn't done that, I wouldn't have gotten hurt.It wasn't Krisdana's fault that I got distracted and twisted my ankle. It was my own fault for not paying attention.But Rosaline wouldn't see it that way. She was too busy blaming Krisdana for everything.I sighed, feeling frustrated. Why did Rosaline always have to jump to conclusions? Why did she always have to assume the worst about Krisdana?I knew Krisdana wasn't perfect, but she wasn't the villain Rosaline made her out to be.As I lay there, I couldn't shake the feeling that Rosaline was misjudging Krisdana. And I couldn't help but wonder what would ha