Se connecterAs I stepped out of the café, my mind kept drifting to the text.What did Liam plan on saying now?"I shouldn't be worried," I muttered, rubbing my face with my palms.Finally, I pulled out my phone and typed back."Yeah. For a few minutes."I slipped the phone back into my pocket and continued walking.My thoughts drifted to the party tonight.What I would wear.Who would be there.What kind of chaos Parkview students would manage to create without teachers around."Ugh."I groaned as I turned onto my street.The Student Council was organizing it.That meant freedom.And freedom at Parkview usually meant trouble.By the time I got home, the sun was already beginning its slow descent.After a quick shower, I stood in front of my closet.And stared.And stared.And stared some more.Why did choosing an outfit suddenly feel like a life-or-death decision?I pulled out one dress.Rejected it.Then another.Rejected that too.A third one.Still no.My bedroom door opened.My mother peeked
Allison's POVThe moment I stepped through the front door, my mother looked up from the dining table and narrowed her eyes.Not suspiciously.Knowingly.I froze.She froze.Then a slow smile spread across her face."Oh."I immediately pointed at her."No.""No what?""Whatever you're thinking." I said.She laughed."I'm not thinking anything.""You are."She laughed.I dropped my bag onto a chair."Mum.""Allison."The innocent look on her face was completely fake.I knew it.She knew I knew it.Yet she kept going."Why are you smiling like that?" She asked.I touched my face."I wasn't smiling."She raised an eyebrow."Sweetheart, you've been smiling since you walked through the door."I groaned."Can I at least sit down first?""Maybe."I shook my head, fighting back a laugh.Home.Simple.Small.Comfortable.Nothing like Aaron's mansion.Yet somehow it always made me feel warm inside.Dinner that night was peaceful.The smell of fried rice filled the house while the television play
I turned from Ethan's bookshelf and walked toward her.She was standing beside the dresser, her golden-brown hair falling over one shoulder as she stared down at something hidden behind a row of neatly arranged grooming products."What is it?" I asked.Instead of answering, she stepped aside.My eyes landed on the object.A comb.Simple.Ordinary.But caught between its teeth were several strands of hair.For a second, I didn't move.I just stared.Then my heart started beating faster."No way."Allison's eyes widened."That's useful, right?"Useful?It was more than useful.It was exactly what I had been looking for.A grin spread across my face before I could stop it.The first real grin I'd had in days."You have no idea."Carefully, I picked it up.The room suddenly felt brighter.Lighter.Weeks of frustration, dead ends, and unanswered questions finally felt worth it.I reached into my investigation folder and pulled out a small evidence bag.My movements were careful as I transf
Aaron's POV"The one she's trying very hard to ruin."Allison stared at me after I said it.Her honey brown eyes narrowed slightly.Then she sighed as she placed her hands on mine."Good." I said as I assisted her up from the bench.A few minutes later, we stepped into the basketball gym.The place was now empty.Quiet.The polished floor reflected the afternoon sunlight pouring through the high windows.Without students.Without coaches.Without noise.The gym felt completely different.Almost peaceful.Allison looked around slowly."So... We are here now."I smirked."Yeah."Her gaze moved to the championship banners hanging above us.The trophies.The photos.The giant Parkview logo painted across the court."This is a lot." She said turning towards me."Yeah. It is."I grabbed a basketball from the rack.Then tossed it toward her.She barely caught it."No please.""Show me what you've got." I said."I already know this is a setup. You know how bad I am at this." She said laughing
The next morning felt normal.At least, it should have.The sky was bright.Students crowded the walkways.Teachers hurried between buildings.Everything looked exactly the same.I sat on a bench outside the cafeteria, my scholarship notes spread across my lap.The exam was getting closer.I should have been studying.Instead, I was rereading the same paragraph for the fourth time.My focus was terrible.A few students passed by.Some waved.Others whispered.Parkview High hadn't fully recovered from the drama at the celebration party.I sighed and rubbed my forehead."Trying to become a genius?"The familiar voice made me look up.Paige.She stood there in her perfectly pressed uniform, blonde hair falling neatly over her shoulders.The smile on her face looked friendly.Too friendly.The kind of friendly that made me suspicious.Immediately."Not really," I said.Paige nodded.Then sat down anyway.Even though I hadn't invited her.I stared at her.She smiled wider.I already hated
My heart betrayed me immediately.Liam released my hand.Slowly.Like he understood exactly what was happening.Of course, he is supposed to know."I'll get going," he said.I resisted the urge to roll my eyes."Yeah."His gaze shifted toward Aaron."Briggs."Aaron nodded once."Liam."Polite.Cold.Like he wanted him to get out immediately.Liam glanced between us.Then smiled slightly."I'll see you some other time." He said."Yeah," I replied.Then he walked away.Simple.Easy.I exhaled deeply.But the second he disappeared through the doors, I looked back at Aaron.His eyes were still following him.Not aggressively.Just watching.The way he looks at someone when he is angry and somehow irritated.Finally his gaze returned to me.And just like that...The tension eased.A little."Hi," I said.His eyes softened."Hi."God.Why did one word from him do that to me?The entire bookstore seemed to notice him now.Girls sitting by the windows.Girls near the novels section.Even two







