ログインMADISON"Uhm mm. No," he shakes his head against mine, convincingly sending rationality in his, stopping the intoxicating kiss I can't afford to be robbed of now. His lips taste so good, strong, and addictive like alcohol and confectionery. He said those words sufficiently to what my mind needed right now. No one ever said that to me. My hands loop around his nape, resisting and pushing on my toesHe grabs my wrists, his sleepy eyes bloodshot, hair falling into them. "With the sanity I have left, I'm warning you, don't do this to me.""Caleb doesn't want me; no one does. If I'm never going to have anyone want me, at least let me have this night."No one desires me. At this point, I don't fucking care what I do with Caden; everything hurts. He won. I don't even want anyone anymore."Don't call his name." He grits out, dragging air through flaring nostrils."Then, want me just right now. Tomorrow, hate me. You said I only have you here. No matter how bad our relationship is, you aren’t
MADISONEverything is difficult to absorb in this moment; I recoil as though struck by a truck.As the bitch grins at me, Caleb feigns a guilty expression.No. No.My disdain for men intensifies. I don’t know about others, but for me, I’ve realized these creatures have brought me nothing but pain.My father came first, followed by Caden, and now it’s Caleb.I wonder how broken I would’ve been if I were a more romantically open person.I liked Caleb—perhaps I even felt something deeper for him.With him, I thought I had found happiness. He made me feel alive after years of solitude in high school. With Caleb, I dared to hope for change. A chance.Just hours ago, I believed whatever Caden had implanted in my mind had been shattered by this handsome man with red hair.But I was wrong. The man I thought was my savior, the superhero who might rescue me, turns out to be just another bully. In an instant, Caleb extinguishes all the light I had found, leaving me in absolute darkness.I’ve rea
MADISONThat sense of high school nervousness and anxiety I thought I’d left behind in New York comes flooding back as I gaze at the bustling frat building across the street.“I don’t know…” I begin, my doubts taking over.“Come on, it’s just a party. You’ll meet new people, dance, grab a drink, and hopefully have a good time. That’s what it’s all about.”As I fixate on his endearing lips, memories from high school play in my mind. I still vividly remember Kesha Remington; she used to be the bane of my existence. She fit the stereotypical image perfectly: wavy hair, tall, flawless legs, long eyelashes—the epitome of a cruel high school senior. But even she couldn’t escape the perils of teenage parties.After what happened to the queen bee at a football team party in our senior year, I compiled a list of party do’s and don’ts. Never leave your drink unattended, don’t trust anyone too easily, stay aware of your surroundings, and above all, never ditch your friends, even for your safety.
MADISONThe sun disappeared below the horizon an hour ago, giving rise to the evening breeze that sweeps through our rolled-down windows. Caleb and I spend our time driving through Palo Alto in his delightful-smelling truck, like an absolute couple, enjoying the calm atmosphere around the town. We don’t even bother turning on the radio, lost in different conversations while the wind blows around us. Yes, we make some stops for snacks and even pick out new outfits for ourselves at a boutique, where we both change for the party we’re currently heading to.Caleb chose my outfit, which I instantly fell in love with after seeing my reflection in the mirror. The dress is a mini bodycon gown that fits perfectly and highlights every interesting curve on my body. It makes me feel anxious yet beautiful. I’m not the type who normally comes off as a Barbie, given the reputation Caden made sure of.Caleb’s outfit is simple and casual. He cleans up well and looks like the hot guy he is in black sli
MADISON“It’s nice to meet you, Madison. I wish I had more time to chat, but there’s always another opportunity. Perhaps later?” Jeffery winks, his grin stretching into a wide smile, revealing teeth that aren’t exactly perfect.“It’s nice to meet you too,” I respond politely, though I feel the complete opposite. It’s not like I can unload words on people like they’re deserving of it, the way Caden Thaddeus is.After Jeffery leaves, Caleb and I fall into an easy rhythm, offering refreshing drinks to the older folks visiting our booth. In between serving, I ask about the party and learn that Jeffery lives in a fraternity house. He and his friend frequently throw impromptu parties during the week. According to Caleb, they’re known as the party animals of SU.Jeffery is also a junior, majoring in history, although Caleb claims he knows next to nothing about his own field.As Caleb keeps sharing stories about the fraternity, we attend to incoming visitors. Hours pass pleasantly, until Cade
MADISONWe step out of our building, hand in hand, giving off the appearance of a couple. Caleb is engrossed in a phone call with someone named Jeffery, so I let my gaze wander around the surroundings, focusing on trivial things like the two men rummaging through the dumpster. Standing next to Caleb, I flinch slightly, and he releases my hand to wrap his arm around my shoulder, drawing me close.He tilts his head and nods, a reassuring smile on his lips, radiating a sense of safety that’s hard to resist.I can’t help but wonder what Caden’s reaction is to this change in circumstances. It’s not like he’ll ever be okay with my relationship, especially since he’s never been in a position where he has to watch me leave with anyone who has a soul. I’d bet he’s currently wallowing in self-pity over his failure, while I’m here with a boyfriend of my own.If he thinks he’s so terrible, he should know that I can play the game too. While he can have that conniving woman, I have a responsible ma







