SAMANTHA
After class, I barely made it out of the building before Macey came bouncing up beside me, arms full of notes, a tote bag sliding off her shoulder, and an iced coffee threatening to spill.
“There you are,” she said, squinting at me through the sunlight. “You’re glowing, girl. That dress is unfair.”
I smiled, letting the compliment slide over me like a warm breeze. “It’s just clothes.”
Macey gave me a look. “Sure. And I’m the queen of England.”
We started walking toward the café across campus, our steps matching in rhythm. It was still early enough that the sidewalks weren’t crowded, just a few students scattered about, the hum of music and voices floating in the background.
A familiar voice called from behind us. “Hey, ladies.”
We turned to see Liam catching up. Tall, messy hair, wide grin. He had this boyish charm that made him seem like he belonged in a high school romance movie, the kind where everyone still believed in happy endings.
“Statistics seminar survivor,” he added, coming to walk on my other side. “I need caffeine and emotional support.”
“You need a tutor,” Macey teased, nudging him with her elbow.
He grinned and looked at me. “What about you, Sam? Are you good with numbers?”
I tilted my head. “Depends on the numbers.”
He laughed, that easy kind of laugh that made people want to lean in. “That sounds like a no.”
I shrugged, sipping the last of my coffee. “You’ll never know.”
He kept smiling at me like I was some puzzle he wanted to solve. I smiled back, but only a little. There was a wall between us—one he couldn’t see, but I could feel. It stood firm, cold, and necessary.
We reached the café and grabbed a table by the window. Campus moved outside—people, bikes, the breeze catching in the trees. Warm light poured across our table, catching on Liam’s watch, Macey’s silver rings, and the edge of my nail polish.
I let myself settle in.
Liam launched into a story about his roommate’s horrible Tinder date—the girl showed up with her mother, apparently, and insisted on a background check before the appetizer.
Macey howled with laughter, practically choking on her drink. “No way. That didn’t happen.”
“I swear,” Liam said, raising his hand like he was in court. “It was the most uncomfortable three-course meal of his life. Her mom even asked if he’d ever been arrested.”
I laughed. Really laughed. It came out of me soft and surprised, like I hadn’t planned for it.
Liam looked pleased. Like he’d won something.
Macey noticed, of course. She always did. But she didn’t say a word. She just sipped her coffee with a sly smile and let it be.
The moment was… good. Simple. Nothing sharp around the edges. No secrets, no games, no power tangled into affection.
I felt it in my chest, that stillness.
Liam leaned a little closer, lowering his voice. “So, are you seeing anyone? Or are you just professionally mysterious?”
I smirked. “Depends on the day.”
He laughed again, shaking his head. “I’m going to figure you out, Samantha.”
“You can try,” I said softly, fingers brushing the side of my cup.
But inside, I already knew—he couldn’t. Not really.
Still, it was nice to pretend. Just for a little while.
After a while, Macey excused herself to use the bathroom, gathering her phone and slinging her bag over her shoulder. “Don’t go falling in love without me,” she teased before walking off.
I rolled my eyes and took another slow sip of my drink.
Liam leaned in slightly, his voice lower now. “You’re kind of a mystery, you know that?”
I turned my head toward him, raising a brow. “Am I?”
He smiled, the corner of his mouth lifting in that easy, charming way. “You are. You sit there so calm, like nothing ever touches you. Like you’re somewhere else, thinking a little too hard about something you won’t say out loud.”
I tilted my head, letting my gaze drop to the table. “Maybe I like it that way.”
“Yeah,” he said, studying me. “I get that.”
I could feel his eyes on me, trying to read beneath the surface. It wasn’t uncomfortable—but it wasn’t easy, either. It made me want to disappear and stay, all at once.
“You have this look,” he added, softer now. “Like you're always thinking of how to murder someone.”
I glanced back up, meeting his gaze without blinking. “Maybe I am.”
His mouth twitched again, but his tone was more serious now. “You’re too calm. It’s either a trauma response… or you’re secretly in love with me.”
That pulled a dry laugh from me, the sound short and low. “Can’t I just be calm?”
He grinned. “Nope. Not allowed.”
I smirked but didn’t say anything else. I let the quiet sit between us like a shared secret.
Then Macey came back, sliding into her seat and picking up her drink. “What did I miss? You two look like you just signed a blood oath.”
“Just talking,” I said, offering her a smile. A soft one.
She looked between us with narrowed eyes but let it go. “Well, we should get moving. Next class is in twenty minutes, and I need my front-row seat.”
We stood and walked together across campus. The breeze had picked up a little, ruffling my dress and cooling my skin. Liam walked with us, still tossing casual remarks and little jokes, but my head was quieter now. My body too. The wall had gone back up, like a reflex.
After class, I drove back home with Macey. She lived only ten minutes away, and we usually carpooled when the day ended early like this. She dropped her bag in the back and slipped into the passenger seat with a sigh.
“You’re not gonna talk about it?” She asked after a beat, buckling her seatbelt.
“Talk about what?”
She gave me a side glance. “Liam. Your secret man who keeps sponsoring your mood today.”
I laughed lightly, shaking my head. “He’s not my anything.”
“You two had a vibe.”
“We talked.”
Macey raised a brow. “Yeah, and you smiled more today than you have in weeks.”
I didn’t reply. Just focused on the road. My fingers curled slightly around the wheel.
“You’re blushing,” she added in a sing-song voice.
“No, I’m not.”
“You totally are.”
I turned up the volume on the radio a little. Just enough to fill the space.
She snorted. “Changing the subject. Classic Sam.”
I smiled to myself. “Some things are better left unsaid.”
That shut her up for a bit. But in that quiet, I felt her still watching me from the corner of her eye, probably wondering what I wasn’t telling her.
The truth was, there were a lot of things I didn’t say. To anyone.
Not even her.
Macey meant well. She always did. But some things weren’t for light conversations over iced coffee and traffic lights.
Some things were mine alone.
And even if Liam was sweet… and funny… and charming in all the right ways…
I knew better than to let someone like him too close.
Sweet boys liked to fix things.
I didn’t need fixing.
Not when I was already stitched together in ways no one could understand.
SAMANTHAAfter dropping Macey, I locked the door behind her and leaned against it for a second. The silence wrapped around me like an old friend. Or maybe a shadow. I wasn’t sure there was a difference anymore.I peeled off the dress, careful not to wrinkle it. It still smelled faintly like the perfume I wore this morning. Sweet. Soft. Pretending to be innocent.I hung it up with care, smoothing the fabric with my hand before slipping into my silk robe. Pale rose gold. Barely there. It slid over my skin like water.I sat on the edge of my bed, one leg tucked beneath the other. The city outside was humming quietly, but my apartment was still. The kind of still that made everything feel louder. My thoughts. My memories.Then my phone buzzed.Just once.A new message.Unknown Number.But I knew who it was.That dress you wore today. Dangerous.Meet me at the regular place. My driver is outside your apartment.No emoji. No extra words. Just cold, clear demand.My fingers tightened around
MASONI woke up before the alarm.The room was quiet. Dim gray light pushed through the curtains, casting soft shadows across the floor.I didn’t move. Just lay there for a while, staring at the ceiling, letting my mind run through drills and strategy. Scrimmage was in two days. Coach wanted blood. I’d give him more than that.Beside me, Audrey slept peacefully.She always looked perfect when she slept—like something frozen in time. Golden hair fanned out on my pillow, her lips parted slightly, her hand resting over my chest. Gentle. Fragile.And yet, I felt nothing.Not like I was supposed to.We’d been together over a year now. She was the face that smiled beside me in photos. The one everyone thought I’d marry. Figure skater. Pre-med. Ice princess. She looked good on my arm.And I liked her. I did.But it wasn’t fire. It wasn’t chaos.It wasn’t… her.I shut that thought down fast and slid out of bed.The shower was cold at first. I welcomed it. I needed clear thoughts and tight foc
MASONI slipped in through the side entrance of the locker room building. The place was quiet. No echoes, no footsteps, just the distant hum of electricity in the walls. My skates hung over my shoulder, clinking softly against the zipper of my bag as I walked.I didn’t need to check my phone. I knew she’d be there.I rested my hand on the doorknob, holding still for a second. I could already feel it—heat, tension, that pull between wanting her and knowing I shouldn’t.But I was already in too deep.I pushed the door open slowly, quietly.And there she was.Samantha.Naked.Standing in the far corner of the room like some kind of twisted dream. Her coat was folded neatly on the chair beside her, her clothes stacked on top, untouched. She wasn’t hiding. She wasn’t covering herself. She was standing there like she belonged to me.And hell, maybe she did.Her eyes found mine. She didn’t flinch. Didn’t speak. She just looked at me like she’d been waiting all her life for this exact second.
SAMANTHAI sat at the far end of the Marie's cafe, tucked into the corner like I always was.My coffee had gone cold. I still stirred it, slow and absent, the metal spoon tapping gently against the ceramic. My sandwich sat half-eaten on the tray. I wasn’t really hungry.I had changed before coming here—traded my thick coat for a pale cream sweater. It was warm inside, but I still needed something long-sleeved. I couldn’t risk the marks showing. The ones Mason left behind.My body still ached a little from earlier.Macey sat across from me, ranting about something I barely registered. Liam sat beside her, tossing in sarcastic comments. They were arguing again. Tea vs coffee, or some other nonsense. I smiled once or twice just to keep them from asking why I was so quiet.Then the cafe's door swung open—and the vibes shifted.I didn’t have to look.I knew it was them. I could feel it in the air. Loud, careless laughter. Boots stomping in. Energy that filled every space like they were too
SAMANTHAI stepped out of the cafe, my breath catching in the cold air. It kissed my cheeks, sharp and grounding, like it knew I needed something to pull me out of my thoughts.But it didn’t help much.Not when I could still see Mason in my mind—his mouth on hers, his arm around her waist, like I hadn’t existed just hours ago.I wrapped my arms around myself and kept walking toward my car. One foot in front of the other. The lot was half-full, quiet except for the distant hum of campus life.Then my phone rang.Mom.I stared at her name for a second, then swiped to answer.“Hi, Mom,” I said, trying to sound normal.“Hi, sweetheart,” her voice came through, all sweet and bright, like a ribbon hiding something sharp underneath. “How’s your day?”“Very fine, Mom,” I said. A lie. Another one to add to the pile.“That’s good.” She paused, then, “Can you come home this weekend?”I froze a little. One hand still on my car door, the key dangling in the other.Home.Just the word made my stoma
SAMANTHAI stared at his message for a second too long, my thumb hovering.I should’ve ignored it. Pretended I was asleep. Let the night pass without him.But I didn’t.Yeah, I typed back.There was no delay in his next text. Like he’d been waiting, watching the screen light up.What are you wearing?I smirked a little, the corner of my lip lifting without thinking. I knew what he wanted to hear.The red lingerie you bought me last summer.A pause. Just a breath of silence between us. But I could feel it. Him. Liking it. Thinking about it.Wanting more.I added, Your sister’s here. Crashed on my couch. I can’t come out tonight. And I’m sore.That last part wasn’t meant to be cruel—it was just the truth. He hadn’t exactly been gentle the last time.But Mason didn’t take offense. His reply hit harder.Go to your room. Switch to video. I want to see you.I blinked at the screen, my pulse starting to rise.There it was—that pull again. That quiet command in his voice, even through a text.
MASONI woke up slow, head heavy, body heavier.For a second, I thought I was dreaming.Then I felt it — lips on me. Sloppy. Rushed. Too much teeth.I cracked my eyes open.Audrey. She got here few hours after my call with Samantha.Her blonde hair was fanned across my stomach, her hand digging into my thigh. She was trying so hard, too hard.I leaned my head back against the pillow and stared at the ceiling.I should’ve been into it.I should’ve cared.But the second I felt her mouth touched me, my mind went somewhere else.To Samantha.I pictured her instead — that red lingerie she wore for me, the way the lace clung to her hips, the way her cheeks flushed when she looked at me like she hated how much she wanted me.God.My breathing picked up, but not because of Audrey.Because in my head, it was Samantha’s hands on me. Samantha’s mouth making me lose my damn mind.I tightened my fists in the sheets, trying to hang onto the fantasy.I could see her perfectly — the way she bit her b
SAMANTHA“Take your dress off.”His words landed like a command. Not a suggestion. Not an invitation. Mason's voice was smooth and authoritative, as though I had no choice.I didn’t argue.I reached for the straps of my wine-red dress with trembling fingers. The fabric felt so smooth as it slid down my body, pooling at my feet. My skin prickled with a strange mix of shame and desire, as though I were stepping into a role I hadn’t asked for but couldn’t walk away from.I stood there, exposed in nothing but my lace panties. My chest rose and fell with shallow breaths, like I could somehow outrun this moment, like I could stop myself from wanting this.But I didn’t want to stop. I asked for it.Mason’s eyes flicked up slowly, his gaze dark and assessing. His stare lingered on me, unwavering, like a predator studying its prey. I hated how my body reacted—how my heart stuttered in my chest, how my pulse quickened.He looked at me like I was something he already owned.But I didn’t flinch.
MASONI woke up slow, head heavy, body heavier.For a second, I thought I was dreaming.Then I felt it — lips on me. Sloppy. Rushed. Too much teeth.I cracked my eyes open.Audrey. She got here few hours after my call with Samantha.Her blonde hair was fanned across my stomach, her hand digging into my thigh. She was trying so hard, too hard.I leaned my head back against the pillow and stared at the ceiling.I should’ve been into it.I should’ve cared.But the second I felt her mouth touched me, my mind went somewhere else.To Samantha.I pictured her instead — that red lingerie she wore for me, the way the lace clung to her hips, the way her cheeks flushed when she looked at me like she hated how much she wanted me.God.My breathing picked up, but not because of Audrey.Because in my head, it was Samantha’s hands on me. Samantha’s mouth making me lose my damn mind.I tightened my fists in the sheets, trying to hang onto the fantasy.I could see her perfectly — the way she bit her b
SAMANTHAI stared at his message for a second too long, my thumb hovering.I should’ve ignored it. Pretended I was asleep. Let the night pass without him.But I didn’t.Yeah, I typed back.There was no delay in his next text. Like he’d been waiting, watching the screen light up.What are you wearing?I smirked a little, the corner of my lip lifting without thinking. I knew what he wanted to hear.The red lingerie you bought me last summer.A pause. Just a breath of silence between us. But I could feel it. Him. Liking it. Thinking about it.Wanting more.I added, Your sister’s here. Crashed on my couch. I can’t come out tonight. And I’m sore.That last part wasn’t meant to be cruel—it was just the truth. He hadn’t exactly been gentle the last time.But Mason didn’t take offense. His reply hit harder.Go to your room. Switch to video. I want to see you.I blinked at the screen, my pulse starting to rise.There it was—that pull again. That quiet command in his voice, even through a text.
SAMANTHAI stepped out of the cafe, my breath catching in the cold air. It kissed my cheeks, sharp and grounding, like it knew I needed something to pull me out of my thoughts.But it didn’t help much.Not when I could still see Mason in my mind—his mouth on hers, his arm around her waist, like I hadn’t existed just hours ago.I wrapped my arms around myself and kept walking toward my car. One foot in front of the other. The lot was half-full, quiet except for the distant hum of campus life.Then my phone rang.Mom.I stared at her name for a second, then swiped to answer.“Hi, Mom,” I said, trying to sound normal.“Hi, sweetheart,” her voice came through, all sweet and bright, like a ribbon hiding something sharp underneath. “How’s your day?”“Very fine, Mom,” I said. A lie. Another one to add to the pile.“That’s good.” She paused, then, “Can you come home this weekend?”I froze a little. One hand still on my car door, the key dangling in the other.Home.Just the word made my stoma
SAMANTHAI sat at the far end of the Marie's cafe, tucked into the corner like I always was.My coffee had gone cold. I still stirred it, slow and absent, the metal spoon tapping gently against the ceramic. My sandwich sat half-eaten on the tray. I wasn’t really hungry.I had changed before coming here—traded my thick coat for a pale cream sweater. It was warm inside, but I still needed something long-sleeved. I couldn’t risk the marks showing. The ones Mason left behind.My body still ached a little from earlier.Macey sat across from me, ranting about something I barely registered. Liam sat beside her, tossing in sarcastic comments. They were arguing again. Tea vs coffee, or some other nonsense. I smiled once or twice just to keep them from asking why I was so quiet.Then the cafe's door swung open—and the vibes shifted.I didn’t have to look.I knew it was them. I could feel it in the air. Loud, careless laughter. Boots stomping in. Energy that filled every space like they were too
MASONI slipped in through the side entrance of the locker room building. The place was quiet. No echoes, no footsteps, just the distant hum of electricity in the walls. My skates hung over my shoulder, clinking softly against the zipper of my bag as I walked.I didn’t need to check my phone. I knew she’d be there.I rested my hand on the doorknob, holding still for a second. I could already feel it—heat, tension, that pull between wanting her and knowing I shouldn’t.But I was already in too deep.I pushed the door open slowly, quietly.And there she was.Samantha.Naked.Standing in the far corner of the room like some kind of twisted dream. Her coat was folded neatly on the chair beside her, her clothes stacked on top, untouched. She wasn’t hiding. She wasn’t covering herself. She was standing there like she belonged to me.And hell, maybe she did.Her eyes found mine. She didn’t flinch. Didn’t speak. She just looked at me like she’d been waiting all her life for this exact second.
MASONI woke up before the alarm.The room was quiet. Dim gray light pushed through the curtains, casting soft shadows across the floor.I didn’t move. Just lay there for a while, staring at the ceiling, letting my mind run through drills and strategy. Scrimmage was in two days. Coach wanted blood. I’d give him more than that.Beside me, Audrey slept peacefully.She always looked perfect when she slept—like something frozen in time. Golden hair fanned out on my pillow, her lips parted slightly, her hand resting over my chest. Gentle. Fragile.And yet, I felt nothing.Not like I was supposed to.We’d been together over a year now. She was the face that smiled beside me in photos. The one everyone thought I’d marry. Figure skater. Pre-med. Ice princess. She looked good on my arm.And I liked her. I did.But it wasn’t fire. It wasn’t chaos.It wasn’t… her.I shut that thought down fast and slid out of bed.The shower was cold at first. I welcomed it. I needed clear thoughts and tight foc
SAMANTHAAfter dropping Macey, I locked the door behind her and leaned against it for a second. The silence wrapped around me like an old friend. Or maybe a shadow. I wasn’t sure there was a difference anymore.I peeled off the dress, careful not to wrinkle it. It still smelled faintly like the perfume I wore this morning. Sweet. Soft. Pretending to be innocent.I hung it up with care, smoothing the fabric with my hand before slipping into my silk robe. Pale rose gold. Barely there. It slid over my skin like water.I sat on the edge of my bed, one leg tucked beneath the other. The city outside was humming quietly, but my apartment was still. The kind of still that made everything feel louder. My thoughts. My memories.Then my phone buzzed.Just once.A new message.Unknown Number.But I knew who it was.That dress you wore today. Dangerous.Meet me at the regular place. My driver is outside your apartment.No emoji. No extra words. Just cold, clear demand.My fingers tightened around
SAMANTHAAfter class, I barely made it out of the building before Macey came bouncing up beside me, arms full of notes, a tote bag sliding off her shoulder, and an iced coffee threatening to spill.“There you are,” she said, squinting at me through the sunlight. “You’re glowing, girl. That dress is unfair.”I smiled, letting the compliment slide over me like a warm breeze. “It’s just clothes.”Macey gave me a look. “Sure. And I’m the queen of England.”We started walking toward the café across campus, our steps matching in rhythm. It was still early enough that the sidewalks weren’t crowded, just a few students scattered about, the hum of music and voices floating in the background.A familiar voice called from behind us. “Hey, ladies.”We turned to see Liam catching up. Tall, messy hair, wide grin. He had this boyish charm that made him seem like he belonged in a high school romance movie, the kind where everyone still believed in happy endings.“Statistics seminar survivor,” he adde
SAMANTHAI woke up earlier than usual, but I was still tired. My body felt heavy, my eyes dry. I laid there for a few seconds, staring at the ceiling, willing myself to move.Eventually, I sat up and stretched, arms over my head, back arching slightly. A soft ache pulled at my muscles—a quiet reminder of the night before. Of him. Of us.I got his text after Macey left my place. He was turning this to an everyday ritual.I climbed out of bed and shuffled to the mirror.My reflection didn’t lie. I looked exhausted. There were faint shadows under my eyes, and my lips were a little puffy, still kissed raw. My skin held the faintest mark of his grip on my neck, a bruise in the shape of his fingers.I reached for my brush and started tugging it through my curls slowly, watching them spring back into shape. Brushing always calmed me. It made me feel like I was putting pieces of myself back in order.Today, I needed that.I picked a soft floral dress, cream-colored with pink blossoms scattere