เข้าสู่ระบบAnne-Marie’s P.O.VHe moves his lips against mine, gently pushing my mouth open. With a soft sigh, I lift my hand to him and grip the rich fabric of his suit. His hand shifts from my chin to cup my face. Our lips glide unhurriedly as if he’s taking his time to memorize the feel of my lips on his. My mind is empty of thoughts. But when his left hand goes behind me, my chest flutters. I’m lifted slightly out of my seat as he pulls me closer, still kissing me with a softness that makes my head spin. My hands slide to his arms and rest on them. They’re solid, and I resist the urge to curve my arms around his neck.A phone vibrates between us.I break free of his hold and turn my face away, breathing fast. His presence is overwhelming, wrapping around me like a cloud; I still feel his lips on mine. I feel his eyes on me, and I know he’s very close.The vibration continues.Embarrassment warms my cheeks. I clench my fists in my lap and just stare out the window. I should be with my baby,
Anne-Marie’s P.O.VI sit in the silence of Marcus’ car, depleted from crying so hard for too long. My eyes are closed. My head rests against the headrest, turned to the other side. He’s right beside me in the driver’s seat. I don’t know how long we’ve been sitting here, but my mind is foggy, and I’m choosing not to think about anything.His car smells really good; he smells even better, making his presence hard to ignore. I’m just grateful he hasn’t said anything since he led me into his car after that embarrassing episode. The last time I cried like that was the night I lost Mary and my Mom. “My mom was a workaholic.” Marcus’ voice cracks, breaking the perfect stillness.I lift my eyelids; they’re heavy from all the crying. And slowly, I turn to him. His head is tipped back against the headrest, his jaw taut, his eyes fixed ahead.He scoffs a laugh that almost sounds melancholic. “She– She spent most of her time working… My dad loved that about her. He told me after she’d passed awa
Memphis’s P.O.VSeething, I march toward them, bend to pick up the foil and tag, then fix my eyes on the counter, staring at the plate with just two cookies and crumbs on it. I swear and crumple the aluminum foil in my fist. “Do not eat. It’s either you can’t read, or you’ve got to be fu–ing blind not to have seen that!” “Memphis?” Norman stutters, shock washing over his face.“Of all the food in the refrigerator, you both ate the one thing I put a tag on! I wrote it so boldly. The fu– is wrong with you guys?” I toss the squeezed wrapper on the counter.“Dude…” Avan speaks with his mouth full beside me. “What’s wrong?”“Your fu–ing greed!” I throw at him and snatch the plate from the counter, pointing from him to Norman. “That’s what’s wrong. Both of your fu–ing greed.” Grinding my jaw, I turn around and storm out of the open kitchen, their shocked silence echoing in the wake of my footsteps. I don’t stop moving until I get to my room. I go in, slam the door behind me, set the plat
Anne-Marie’s P.O.VMarcus lowers his phone, and the call drops on my end.I stand glued to the ground, my eyes fixed on him, tears still leaking out as my head continues to whir. My heart beats rapidly; I don’t know if it’s in alarm or from relief.I’ve spent the entire week worrying about his well-being, and worrying if all my baggage and burdens finally pushed him away. Wondering if he got tired of waiting for an emotionally closed-off girl to reciprocate what he felt; wondering if I was ungrateful for all the kindness he’s shown me for acting indifferent to him simply because he kissed me in my weakest moment. But I’ve also been thinking about the kiss, wondering if he’ll remember how it made him feel and make him come back, even though I felt close to nothing. The streetlamp is right above him, casting a warm glow on his lovely face, letting me see that his brows are raised in question. He’s waiting. He’s been waiting. I wonder for how long.“What’s wrong?” he yells.But my feet
Anne-Marie’s P.O.VMy eyes flutter open, strained and heavy, as they stop on a white ceiling. Low light streams through, blurring my vision. My body feels like it’s been trampled upon. I can barely move on the bed I lie on. My head pounds. The pungent, antiseptic smell wafting into my nostrils tells me that I’m either in a hospital or a–“You’re up.”My eyes drop, meeting a friendly gaze. My thoughts are foggy as I stare. But her white coat and midnight-navy crest tell me I’m still on campus. Northbridge’s health center.“How do you feel?”I press my left hand against the bed and drag myself up. “What happened?” My voice is hoarse. My throat feels dry.She comes close and adjusts the bed. “You fainted.” The noise in my head quietens, and slowly, everything comes back to me—Exercise Physiology class, Miss Blake, my presentation that never happened, those blue eyes. His voice. Then I blacked out. I lift my hand to my head, but it’s restrained. My head slowly turns right, and I stare
Memphis’s P.O.V‘Don’t talk to me.’ That’s all that cycles through my mind as I stare at my partner, whose palms are still plastered to her face. My heart thuds rapidly in my chest, leaving me wondering whether it’s Miss Blake’s wrath I’m more concerned about or Anne-Marie’s rage. Something tells me it’s the latter.Her body rises and falls in a rhythm that looks nothing like calm. It’s unsettling.Now I’m certain about what makes her tick: having to talk to me. But worry latches onto me the longer I watch her remain like that. The ticking clock is the least of my problems at this moment.I play with her name in my head, wanting so badly to call her, go to her, check on her, ask if she’s fine. Yet, I cower at the thought of facing another outburst from her.Her hands slide down her face. She turns slightly, the hood of her sweater covering her so that I don’t see her face. Her right hand tightens into a fist before it goes to her face. Something hurtful cinches my chest. I can see m







