TESSA WALKER

Ava’s POV

“Liana’s school bag was there, lying on the floor,” he said.

“And?” I asked, my patience running out.

“I didn’t see her. I only saw a note.”

“Talk to me, Chris!” I yelled, my throat vibrating, veins visible on my neck.

“She came from outside the hall and told me to break up with you,” he screamed, sounding like a kid.

I chuckled. Relief settled over me like still water.

“Thanks for the information,” I snapped, a touch of sarcasm in my voice. “I know that game. I’ve played it before,” I said, snatching the rose from his hands, my mood slightly lifted.

In class, my eyes met the judgmental gazes that nailed me to the cross. Ever since the incident, I had barely attended classes because I couldn’t stand my classmates—they were a bunch of bad-mouthed people. I just wanted things to cool down a little before showing up again.

But the class felt different. The air was different. Everyone acted more behaved than usual. I shifted my gaze to Liana’s desk—she was there, seated like she’d never even known me.

I walked straight to my desk, ignoring the glares and Liana’s coldness. Chris followed shortly after, earpiece in, heading to his seat.

After class, everyone was dismissed, including Liana. I wanted to say hi to her, but she had already left without me noticing. Before she got mad at me, we had agreed to visit Bryan at his house—he had only attended school twice since he got sick. I would visit him today.

Chaotic voices rose from outside, prompting Chris and me to storm out and see what was happening after everyone had left the class.

A group of students had gathered, and I couldn't see through the gaps. What was causing the commotion? I forgot Chris behind me as I pushed my way through the crowd to the open space at the center.

A feminine figure was approaching from the left corridor. She looked flawless—her skin glittering like refined gold. She was an angel in human form. Her straight blonde hair trailed behind her as she walked past us, her scent fresh and distinct. She was about 5’6”, with beautiful amber eyes and graceful curves.

It was the girl from Chris’s phone—the one I saw on his screensaver, the one he had been fondling so carelessly.

My heart shattered like fragile glass. I can’t even explain how I felt, or why I felt broken. Was it because of the screensaver? Or the fact that she was now here—and more beautiful, more perfect than I was? Beautiful enough to capture the attention of the whole school?

I wasn’t done processing when students pulled out their phones and began taking pictures of her.

My eyes suddenly caught someone else in the crowd—Steve Black. The guy who had sex with me before doing me a favor. He tore a weird smile at me that made me quickly look away.

Someone screamed from the crowd. “Fuck!” followed by a loud hiss. That was when I remembered Chris had been left behind. I looked back and saw a random guy pressing down on his pants.

“Damn, she’s got me hard already.”

I looked away, scanning the area for Chris. He was gone. Had he left without even telling me? I pushed through the crowd again, searching for him. I didn’t see him. I pulled my phone from my chest pocket and texted him on W******p. He was always online.

No reply.

I texted again, asking where he was. The message ticked twice—still no response.

Then the school bell rang. Feet slammed against the ground in a rush as students hurried back to their classes.

I paced back and forth, still searching. I called—he wasn’t picking up. My instincts told me to head to the classroom he might be in; maybe that was why he hadn’t texted back.

I stepped into the classroom. My eyes landed on Tessa, and I realized I’d never seen someone so flawless until I met her.

Still lost in thought when a firm hand grabbed my waist from behind.

I turned—it was Chris. My boyfriend. I smiled faintly, though I wasn’t comfortable with the public display—especially knowing it was just for show. Chris was never like this. I mean, he had never been this romantic before.

He walked me to my desk, a few eyes on us while others stayed glued to their phones or books. Tessa glanced up, then back at her phone. Her face was void of emotion—just the look of a new student: isolated and observant.

“Hi,” James, one of the boys in class, approached her and extended his hand in an impromptu introduction. Tessa shot him a cold, irritated look. Without saying a word, she continued on her phone.

Then she started playing a sex video—it wasn’t loud, but I could hear the woman moaning.

Why was she watching p**n in class? I asked myself. I stood up and peeped. It wasn’t from a site—it was from her W******p.

I became curious, wanting to see the face of the girl in the video. Then I heard it:

“Oh fuck! Harder!… Kill me!”

My mind split into two bloody halves. That voice—it wasn’t anyone else’s.

It was mine.

I sat back at my desk, frozen, as Tessa turned to me with disgust on her face.

Then a message popped up on my phone, breaking my focus.

“Let’s meet at that hotel,” it read.

Who?

What hotel? I asked myself.

The message was from an unknown number. I looked around. Everyone was busy. Tessa had returned to what she was doing.

But one person wasn’t.

Someone was staring at me—without blinking.

The look was unsettling—dark, almost threatening, I felt it. I raised my head and my eyes locked on hers—Liana.

She stared at me like she was plotting something behind those eyes.

I stood up immediately and left. Mr. Johnson had already given us classwork earlier, and I was done with mine. I submitted it at the front of the class and walked out.

My heart was racing.

Then a call came in. It was Chris.

“Hi, let’s meet at that hotel, babe!”

A clattering sound echoed in my head. My fingers trembled, and my phone slipped from my hands.

Has it been Chris all along?