Sam stirred and blinked awake, his eyes slowly adjusting to the light. His body felt heavy and he only just noticed that someone was lying on top of him, asleep. “Huh?” He blurted out and stared down at the person, “Trudy?” Trudy stirred awake, “Sam!” She exclaimed, quickly sitting up. “How are you feeling? Are you okay? Do you still have a fever? What happened?” She kept bombarding him with questions. “Hold on,” Sam stopped her from asking any more questions and sat up too, the towel on his forehead falling to his lap. “What are you doing here?” He questioned and turned to glance at Luke's bed only to realize that he was lying on Luke's bed. “Where's Luke?” As if to answer his question, the door opened and Luke walked in at the moment. Luke's worry about Richard, Travis and Liam instantly vanished the moment he saw Sam. “Sam!” He exclaimed, crossing the room to his bed. “You're awake. How are you feeling?” “I’m feeling fine, I… guess?” “Why did you drink so much?” Luke aske
“Hey, Aiden. Where's Liam?” One of the players asked, “Why hasn't he showed up yet? Does he even know we have a match today? Coach will be here soon and he'll get mad if he finds out that Liam isn't here yet.” All of the basketball players were already seated in their seats and were waiting for Liam. “Maybe he lost confidence and got scared.” Felix sneered and laughed. Aiden decided to ignore him. He was sure Liam wasn't that type of person. Maybe something happened. “Hey, I'll be right back,” Aiden announced and darted down the bus. “Hey, where the hell are you going?!” Another player screamed. “I'll be back with Liam!” Aiden yelled back. “Yeah, right.” Felix jeered, “We'll be leaving without you both!” Meanwhile, Liam was still sleeping peacefully inside his room as though he hadn't a single care in the world. He hadn't slept a single wink last night. Why? Because the image of Luke kissing Travis was still stuck in his memory making him lose his sleep. It haunted him. And
Liam wasn't the only one who lost sleep last night, Kelly also lost sleep too. But the only difference was that Liam only managed to doze off at around 5: AM while Kelly was awake the entire night. Throughout last night she kept reminiscing the brief kiss she had shared with Adrian. She hated that her first kiss was like that. So random, so impulsive, so… not unique. But weirdly enough she liked it. She liked the feel of Adrian's lips on hers. She liked the way he had kissed her on impulse… the way he had caressed her face with his thumb when he had kissed her. It showed just how much he liked her. She sighed for the hundred thousandth time and then turned to the other side of the bed, her hand still on her lips. How is she going to face Adrian? Will they start dating? What of Betty? She had caught Adrian kissing her and she looked quite mad. Will she make an enemy out of her for the kiss? Probably so. The whole school must have known by now. She sighed again and then turne
Sam stepped out of the bathroom and stared around the room. He heaved a sigh of relief when he didn't see Luke. Knowing Luke's personality, he would demand an answer from him and Sam wasn't ready to talk about his past trauma with anybody. He quickly got dressed so that Luke wouldn't meet him when he came back. In a few minutes, he was already done dressing and just when he was putting on his sneakers, his phone buzzed, stopping him in his tracks. He picked it up and stared at the screen. His heart skipped a beat in disappointment and hopelessness as he read the message. “Loan Request Unsuccessful. Please note your previous loan remains unpaid for over two years. Kindly settle the outstanding balance before reapplying, Sam.” “Ugh! Not again.” He muttered under his breath, sat down on his bed and then facepalmed himself. Sam has been paying his tuition fees from student loans for the past two years. After his younger brother's demise, he dealt with depression and was diagnosed
Kelly wasn't bothered one bit by the pair of eyes that pointed to her. She sat gracefully by the side of the cafeteria, munching down on her lunch. Since morning, they've been staring at her like this, whispering amongst themselves… but no one dared come to talk to her about it. “I’m not sure I like this kind of attention,” Morgan muttered nervously, staring from side to side. “You think I do?” Kelly asked. This wasn't the first time she was getting this kind of attention. When the scandal about Luke's sex tape was posted on the school's forum two years ago, she also got this kind of attention. It wasn't the first time she was getting it, so she was now used to it. “They will get tired eventually.” Just then, Betty walked elegantly towards their table. “We need to talk!” She said, her countenance hard and unfriendly. Kelly sighed and looked up at her, “What about?” “Kelly, I said we need to talk.” Kelly glanced around the whole cafeteria and wasn't disappointed. The air was
Luke paused and then turned to the left, then turned to the right. Sure that Travis was not in sight, he heaved a deep sigh. “Are you hiding from someone?” A feminine, energetic voice asked, startling Luke. “Oh, I'm sorry if I startled you.” Luke whipped his head around to stare at the person. The blonde girl he had met yesterday stood beside him with a smile. “Hi,” “Hi, you remember me right?” She asked energetically, her eyes sparkling. “Yeah, Madison, right?” “That's right.” Madison beamed, “We met yesterday.” Luke could tell by the body language that this girl was trying to flirt with him. “So, who are you hiding from?” She queried. “Oh, no one.” Luke replied, “It's nice to see you again, Madison but I have to go.” Madison grabbed his hand, earning a surprised glance from Luke. “I like you!” She blurted out. Luke blinked. “Huh?” Madison blushed and looked away, “I said… I said that I like you.” Luke paused. This wasn't the first time a girl was confessing to Luke or
The whole bus was heavy with tension as it sped through the roads of Miami. Everyone looked sad and disappointed. Liam bit down his lower lip and wiped his sweaty hands on his lap. They had lost the match… badly. Clearly, it was a mistake on Coach Maddox’s side to tell Liam to sit out the second half. “Hey, you okay?” Aiden asked. “Yeah,” Liam replied and then faced out the window. “What was that back there?” He asked, “You couldn't focus. Did anything happen last night after the party?” “No. Nothing happened.” “But…” “Aiden,” Liam interrupted, “I'd appreciate it if you don't speak to me at the moment please.” Aiden nodded, “Yeah, sure.” The rest of the trip back to Evermore College was done in utter tranquility. Half an hour later, they had arrived. Liam expected Coach Maddox to call him out and chew him out in front of the team but the man just told them to have a great night and then retired. Everyone parted ways. “Do you still need some time to yourself?” Aiden ask
The Next Morning Trudy Hart sat before the mirror and combed her silky raven hair. She stared at her reflection in the mirror and then heaved a deep sigh. Her phone dinged. She dropped the comb and then picked up the phone, then she stared at the screen. It was a text from her father. The text read… “You better meet up with him today. If you don't, well, you better don't. Remember what I told you yesterday? You damn well know what I'm capable of. This is my last warning Trudy. Meet Edgar today, or else!” Her face turned pale and she clenched her fist. She let out a slow deep breath and then dropped her phone. She was lying that day when she told Sam that her father died. In fact, everything she told him about her family was a lie. Her father was pretty much alive and healthy, and won't be dying anytime soon. Her father didn't elope with another woman, he was still married and living with her mother and her junior brother who would be graduating from high school this year. S
Terry and Layla sat by the counter and conversed as they had their breakfast.Terry's face was wreathed his smiles as Lucas Turner's team had arrived at his company yesterday and worked things through.They will be having another meeting today to finalize the investment contract.“I'm so happy for you Babe,” Layla leaned in and planted a kiss on Terry's lips.“This is just the beginning,” Terry replied, squeezing Layla's hand in his, their eyes locking into each other's. “Things will get better from here on out.”“Yeah, I hope so,” Layla replied.Terry smiled and resumed with his breakfast.Layla hesitated for a bit. “Um… may I say something?”“Yeah, sure.” Terry responded, amidst a mouthful, “What is it?”“Promise you won't get mad?”“Trust me, Babe. I won't.”“Alright, it's about… it's about Luke.”Kelly halted abruptly in the middle of the stairs as she heard her brother's name. She was surprised that her mom was discussing about him.Terry's jaw tightened and he stopped chewing, “
Luke walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his middle body.Sam was sitting on the edge of his bed with a worried expression on his face, his phone held tightly in his palm.“She still isn't picking up?” Luke asked.“Yeah.” Sam muttered solemnly, “I think… I think she's mad at me.”“Probably.” Luke said and began to get dressed, “I mean, I was mad at you when I found out that you were going through something and you didn't want to let me know. I'm sure once you explain, she'll forgive you.”“She hasn't replied to your text too?” Sam asked.“Yeah, maybe she's just busy.” Luke shrugged.“Hmm.”There was a moment of silence as Luke fully got dressed.“Alright, I'm done.” Luke grabbed his laptop, “Let's get to class.”“Whoa.”“What?”“Why are you dressed like that?”“Dressed like what?”“Like you're going out on a date.” Sam regarded him suspiciously. “Are you… are you going out on a date with someone?”Luke flushed, “What? No!”“Then why are you dressed like that?” Sam s
The Next Morning Trudy Hart sat before the mirror and combed her silky raven hair. She stared at her reflection in the mirror and then heaved a deep sigh. Her phone dinged. She dropped the comb and then picked up the phone, then she stared at the screen. It was a text from her father. The text read… “You better meet up with him today. If you don't, well, you better don't. Remember what I told you yesterday? You damn well know what I'm capable of. This is my last warning Trudy. Meet Edgar today, or else!” Her face turned pale and she clenched her fist. She let out a slow deep breath and then dropped her phone. She was lying that day when she told Sam that her father died. In fact, everything she told him about her family was a lie. Her father was pretty much alive and healthy, and won't be dying anytime soon. Her father didn't elope with another woman, he was still married and living with her mother and her junior brother who would be graduating from high school this year. S
The whole bus was heavy with tension as it sped through the roads of Miami. Everyone looked sad and disappointed. Liam bit down his lower lip and wiped his sweaty hands on his lap. They had lost the match… badly. Clearly, it was a mistake on Coach Maddox’s side to tell Liam to sit out the second half. “Hey, you okay?” Aiden asked. “Yeah,” Liam replied and then faced out the window. “What was that back there?” He asked, “You couldn't focus. Did anything happen last night after the party?” “No. Nothing happened.” “But…” “Aiden,” Liam interrupted, “I'd appreciate it if you don't speak to me at the moment please.” Aiden nodded, “Yeah, sure.” The rest of the trip back to Evermore College was done in utter tranquility. Half an hour later, they had arrived. Liam expected Coach Maddox to call him out and chew him out in front of the team but the man just told them to have a great night and then retired. Everyone parted ways. “Do you still need some time to yourself?” Aiden ask
Luke paused and then turned to the left, then turned to the right. Sure that Travis was not in sight, he heaved a deep sigh. “Are you hiding from someone?” A feminine, energetic voice asked, startling Luke. “Oh, I'm sorry if I startled you.” Luke whipped his head around to stare at the person. The blonde girl he had met yesterday stood beside him with a smile. “Hi,” “Hi, you remember me right?” She asked energetically, her eyes sparkling. “Yeah, Madison, right?” “That's right.” Madison beamed, “We met yesterday.” Luke could tell by the body language that this girl was trying to flirt with him. “So, who are you hiding from?” She queried. “Oh, no one.” Luke replied, “It's nice to see you again, Madison but I have to go.” Madison grabbed his hand, earning a surprised glance from Luke. “I like you!” She blurted out. Luke blinked. “Huh?” Madison blushed and looked away, “I said… I said that I like you.” Luke paused. This wasn't the first time a girl was confessing to Luke or
Kelly wasn't bothered one bit by the pair of eyes that pointed to her. She sat gracefully by the side of the cafeteria, munching down on her lunch. Since morning, they've been staring at her like this, whispering amongst themselves… but no one dared come to talk to her about it. “I’m not sure I like this kind of attention,” Morgan muttered nervously, staring from side to side. “You think I do?” Kelly asked. This wasn't the first time she was getting this kind of attention. When the scandal about Luke's sex tape was posted on the school's forum two years ago, she also got this kind of attention. It wasn't the first time she was getting it, so she was now used to it. “They will get tired eventually.” Just then, Betty walked elegantly towards their table. “We need to talk!” She said, her countenance hard and unfriendly. Kelly sighed and looked up at her, “What about?” “Kelly, I said we need to talk.” Kelly glanced around the whole cafeteria and wasn't disappointed. The air was
Sam stepped out of the bathroom and stared around the room. He heaved a sigh of relief when he didn't see Luke. Knowing Luke's personality, he would demand an answer from him and Sam wasn't ready to talk about his past trauma with anybody. He quickly got dressed so that Luke wouldn't meet him when he came back. In a few minutes, he was already done dressing and just when he was putting on his sneakers, his phone buzzed, stopping him in his tracks. He picked it up and stared at the screen. His heart skipped a beat in disappointment and hopelessness as he read the message. “Loan Request Unsuccessful. Please note your previous loan remains unpaid for over two years. Kindly settle the outstanding balance before reapplying, Sam.” “Ugh! Not again.” He muttered under his breath, sat down on his bed and then facepalmed himself. Sam has been paying his tuition fees from student loans for the past two years. After his younger brother's demise, he dealt with depression and was diagnosed
Liam wasn't the only one who lost sleep last night, Kelly also lost sleep too. But the only difference was that Liam only managed to doze off at around 5: AM while Kelly was awake the entire night. Throughout last night she kept reminiscing the brief kiss she had shared with Adrian. She hated that her first kiss was like that. So random, so impulsive, so… not unique. But weirdly enough she liked it. She liked the feel of Adrian's lips on hers. She liked the way he had kissed her on impulse… the way he had caressed her face with his thumb when he had kissed her. It showed just how much he liked her. She sighed for the hundred thousandth time and then turned to the other side of the bed, her hand still on her lips. How is she going to face Adrian? Will they start dating? What of Betty? She had caught Adrian kissing her and she looked quite mad. Will she make an enemy out of her for the kiss? Probably so. The whole school must have known by now. She sighed again and then turne
“Hey, Aiden. Where's Liam?” One of the players asked, “Why hasn't he showed up yet? Does he even know we have a match today? Coach will be here soon and he'll get mad if he finds out that Liam isn't here yet.” All of the basketball players were already seated in their seats and were waiting for Liam. “Maybe he lost confidence and got scared.” Felix sneered and laughed. Aiden decided to ignore him. He was sure Liam wasn't that type of person. Maybe something happened. “Hey, I'll be right back,” Aiden announced and darted down the bus. “Hey, where the hell are you going?!” Another player screamed. “I'll be back with Liam!” Aiden yelled back. “Yeah, right.” Felix jeered, “We'll be leaving without you both!” Meanwhile, Liam was still sleeping peacefully inside his room as though he hadn't a single care in the world. He hadn't slept a single wink last night. Why? Because the image of Luke kissing Travis was still stuck in his memory making him lose his sleep. It haunted him. And