All Chapters of TWO DIFFERENT WORLDS: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

ADAM:"You gonna talk to her?" I asked, breaking the brief silence.Cole didn’t turn around, but I saw his reflection in the side mirror as he shrugged. "Yeah. I think I have to. I’m not gonna let Blake mess with my head anymore."Shawn, sitting beside me, nodded in approval. "Good. The longer you let it stew, the worse it’ll get.""Yeah, you’re right," Cole admitted. "I’m just gonna be honest with her. If she’s not into me anymore, then I guess... I’ll deal with it.""She’s into you, man," I reassured him. "Don’t let Blake’s charm distract you from that."Cole let out a deep breath, and for a moment, I could see the uncertainty in his eyes. He wasn’t a guy who liked to feel vulnerable. None of us were. But relationships had a way of messing with your head in ways that even football couldn’t.We pulled up to the pizza place a few minutes later, the neon "OPEN" sign flickering above the door like it was on its last leg. Kelvin parked the car, and we all piled out, the smell of cheese,

ELIZABETH:Cheryl and I walked into the house, our footsteps echoing through the familiar hallway. It felt like home, but there was always a different energy when Cheryl was with me. She had a way of brightening a room with just her presence, and today was no different—except for the obvious worry plastered on her face.The moment we stepped inside, Cheryl spotted her brother, Adam, sitting on the couch with his hand wrapped in a makeshift bandage. Her eyes widened, and she rushed towards him in a panic. I followed behind her, watching the way she hovered over him, concern radiating from her.“Adam, what the hell happened?” she practically shrieked, kneeling in front of him to grab his injured hand. I could see the tension in her shoulders, the way her hands shook as she inspected the bandage. She was trying to keep it together, but her voice wavered, betraying her emotions. “You have to be more careful! You’re all I’ve got... I can’t lose you.”I could hear the tears in her voice, se

ELIZABETH The next morning, the smell of toast and fresh coffee gently nudged me awake. I lay in bed for a moment, staring at the ceiling, trying to shake off the fog of sleep. My body was heavy, reluctant to move, but today was Alex's birthday, and I couldn’t afford to drag my feet. I had a whole day ahead of me, starting with breakfast and ending with birthday celebrations and a mall trip with Alex and Cheryl.I finally pushed the covers back and slipped out of bed, my feet cold on the hardwood floor. As I padded down the hallway toward the kitchen, I heard my mom talking softly on the phone again. She was always handling some business deal or another, but today her voice had a lighter tone, like she was wrapping things up for the morning. When I entered the kitchen, she glanced up at me and smiled, hanging up the phone with a click. “Good morning, sweetheart. You’re up just in time. Breakfast’s ready.”I sat down at the table, blinking blearily as she slid a plate of toast and sc

ELIZABETH:After school, the buzz of excitement was still running through me as Cheryl, Alex, Raphael, and I headed to the mall. Cheryl was walking beside me, practically bouncing with energy, while Alex strolled a little ahead, oblivious to the secret we were all holding onto. Raphael was at the back, cool as ever, hands shoved into his pockets, his expression unreadable.We were throwing a surprise costume-themed birthday party for Alex tonight, and she had absolutely no idea. The plan had been in the works for weeks—Cheryl, Adam, the boys and I had been coordinating behind the scenes, planning everything down to the smallest details. But we hadn’t breathed a word to Alex. She thought we were just having a simple sleepover at her place to celebrate her birthday. Little did she know, it was going to be much more than that.As we entered the mall, People were bustling around, couples holding hands, families with their kids in tow, teenagers hanging out in groups like us. I felt a litt

ELIZABETH:Today was Saturday, and after the craziness of last night’s party, it was a relief to know I’d be spending the day with just Alex and Cheryl. No boys, no costumes, just a relaxing day filled with ice cream, gossip, and the kind of easy laughter that always seemed to flow effortlessly between us.I slipped into a casual outfit—denim shorts and a loose white top—before tying my hair up in a messy bun. The house was quiet this morning, the only sound of the soft hum of my mother in the kitchen. I could already smell the coffee she was brewing, and for a second, I debated running downstairs for a quick cup.Just as I was finishing up, my phone buzzed with a message from Alex. *"On my way! Be there in five :)"* I smiled to myself, excitement bubbling up as I thought about spending the day with my two best friends. Last night had been amazing—seeing Alex’s reaction to her surprise party, the laughter, the dancing—but it had also been chaotic, with the boys there and everyone in