I drove into the compound to see a moving truck with two men busily packing stuff inside. With a slight frown, I parked my trophy next to dad's car and walked in. "Mom!" I called, even though I really didn't want to speak to her. "Mom?!" I called again, taking the stairs but received no answer. I took the left turn and was heading towards my parents's bedroom when I collided into something…..someone.
"You?!" We both chorused, staring at each other. Me in annoyance but the other person….in shock. "What are you doing here?" He asked with a smile. "Uhhhh….. I should be the one asking you dummy," I replied coldly, rolling my eyes. "Are you looking for someone…or something?"he raised a brow. "Wha….." "Hey mom," he cut me off, waving someone behind me. I stood there frozen for a second before I heard a familiar voice. "Nick…" Tania's responded and this time I couldn't stop myself from turning. My eyes were bulging out of their sockets when I saw Tania and the guy from the gym earlier….Nick. So that meant Nick was the son mom and dad were talking about. The illegitimate son of my father. This was why he looked familiar. His face, everything about him was just like dad. A mix of shock,confusion and betrayal hit me like tidal waves. Tears blurred my vision as questions swirled my mind. I didn't know when I ran to my room, all I realized was that I was on my bed crying. "Zara….." I heard Tania's voice followed by the door opening. "Get out Tania," I said coldly, trying not to sound like I've been crying, which I failed miserably. "I know you're hurt…I know this is all too sudden for you to bear but….." "But what Tania? You don't expect me to act like everything is ok, do you?" I asked, now sitting on the bed. My eyes fixed to the woman who helped my dad betray my mother. "You even had the guts to bring move right after my mom left. It has always been your dream to live this life, hasn't it? Now you have it, so get out of my room and go enjoy it with your son," I said, not minding the tears that were rolling down my cheeks. "Za…." "Get the hell out of my room Tania!" I yelled cutting her off. She looked at me with a sad expression before shaking her head slowly and walking towards the door. The tears I managed to hold back rolled down my cheeks right after she left. Later that evening, I woke up from my slumber and walked downstairs. I was so hungry and I knew I couldn't stay in my room till the next morning. I rubbed my eyes and let out a loud yawn as I walked down the stairs. The faint sound of cutlery hitting the plates didn't escape my ears.l raised my head to see dad, Tania and Nick sitting at the dining table, their eyes fixed on their plates. I bit my lips and took in a deep breath, blinking back the tears that were threatening to fall. "Look who came downstairs," I heard Nick say and I shot him a glare, biting my lips to the point where I could taste blood. "I wanted to come see you, you know," he said with a smile I wanted to wipe off his face with a punch. "Yeah….you look what you just said," I said, plastering a fake smile. "Za….." "Don't you dare Tania," I cut her off, shooting her a glare. "Don't you dare mention my name," I said in a warning tone. "She just wants you to eat," Dad said calmly. I just chuckled and dragged myself to the kitchen, though my stomach was protesting strongly.I opened the fridge and poured a glass of water. After finishing it, I heard dad laugh at something Nick said and I rolled my eyes. I placed the cup down and walked out of the kitchen. "Zara!" I heard Nick call but I just ignored him and walked out of the house. ********* "Uhhh….Zara?" Kaylee wore a slight frown when she opened the door and saw me standing there. "I.. I didn't know you were coming," she said, stepping aside me for me to tell enter. "I didn't know I would come here too," I sighed, walking inside. I dropped my body in the couch, ignoring the questioning gaze she was giving me. "So…are you going to tell me why you suddenly showed up? You don't even have a jacket and I'm sure it's cold out there," she said making me sigh. "Will your parents be ok with me spending the night?" I asked her and watched her jaw drop. "You want to spend the night here?" She asked, shock evident in her voice. I mean I wouldn't blame her because throughout the years I've know her, I was always in a rush to get home to my family. I always wanted to get home anytime we hung out after school, even when we attended different schools. She was the reason I switched schools because she was always complaining of how we don't spend time together and she felt like my parents were stealing her best friend. "Is there a problem?" I raised a brow. "I should be asking you this," she said, sitting in the couch opposite me. "My parents got divorced," I said casually, looking at her. "What? Oh my God Zara, are you alright?" She asked, suddenly kneeling in front of me. 'No I am not!'I wanted to yell but chose to keep quiet and just nod, because my voice will break and I hated crying in front of others. "Are you sure? This is a big change in your life and just know that I'll be there whenever you need someone to talk to," Kaylee said, sincerity evident in her voice. I just nodded because the lump in my throat was still lurking around. "Ok…. I was about to eat supper," she said getting up. "Have you eaten?" "Nope, I'm starving," I sighed, glad my voice didn't shake or anything. We walked to the kitchen where she pulled out a bowl of mac and cheese from the microwave. "Sorry….it was the leftover from yesterday. Mom and dad aren't around and Kate went for a family meeting. I suck at cooking and I was too lazy to order for something…hence this," she said, making me sigh. "You talk a lot, you know," I chuckled, grabbing two forks. I gave her one after she finished ditching out the food on the plates. We walked to the living room with our food and ate in silence whiles watching a movie. "So….you want to tell me why your parents are getting divorced?" Kaylee asked the question I was praying she shouldn't ask. "It's ok if you don't want to talk about it," she shrugged casually returning to her food. A part of me pushed me to spill it but I chose to bite mr tongue. After our little diner, Kaylee and I went upstairs to her room. "This place hasn't changed a bit," I shook my head as those words left my mouth. "Yeah…it's cool, isn't it," she smiled, sitting small sofa in the corner of the room. "If cool means this place looked like a rainbow princess puked, then yes," I said plastering a fake smile. "Hey I'm a girl and it's not my fault for loving pink," she said defending herself and I couldn't help but chuckled. "I'm going to take a shower," I said walking to the bathroom. "Everything you need is over there," she yelled slightly as I closed the door behind me. I rolled my eyes when I entered her bathroom as well, like who uses pink tiles and pink towels. I so glad she hardly wears pink to school. I turned the shower on and let the cold water wash my stress away. I couldn't help but think of how my life had changed in a twinkle of an eye. I have lived fifteen years of my life, thinking I was an only child and boom! A big brother gets thrown at me at age sixteen. I sigh and turn the shower off, wrapping one of Kaylee's towel around me, I walked out to meet her sitting on the bed. "Here, you can wear these," she said, pointing to the blue pajamas on the bed. "Thank goodness, I thought you were going to make me wear pink," I chuckled. "Just because my room and bathroom is pink doesn't mean all my clothes are pink," she pouted. "What time will you parents return?" I asked, joining her on the bed. "Next two days," she shrugged. "So….how are you going to get to school tomorrow? You know you don't have you backpack and books. The biology assignment is supposed to be submitted tomorrow," Kaylee said, after a few seconds of silence. "I'll just grab them from the house tomorrow morning," I shrugged, pulling the blanket over my head. "Ok good night then," Kaylee said, also pulley the blanket over her and soon I could hear her breathing softly, indicating that she was asleep. I sighed and closed mine as well, trying to sleep but sleep was nowhere near me. The things happening at home kept bugging me. Is mom really gone? Like forever? Will she contact me? Will she even think about me? Why did she just end her marriage like that? Didn't she want to stay and fight? Will she give Tania and her son chance to take over? I sighed and sat up. Looking around the room, I noticed Kaylee's phone still in her palm with the screen on. After hesitating for a while, I gently took the phone and my jaw dropped at what I saw.'' Zara, you're just making a mountain out if a molehill," Kaylee whined as we joined the driver in the car. He had been kind enough to drive me home so that I could pick some things up. I packedy books and some extra clothes I would be taking to Kaylee's after school." You have a secret crush on Liam and you're secretly stalking him on social media....not only that, you also fall asleep looking at his pictures and you tell me what?' I said, letting out mocking chuckle."Why are saying that like it's a bad thing?" She pouted."I thought we all agreed he was an asshole," I rolled my eyes." Yeah he is, but he's still handsome," Kaylee shrugged.I agreed with her on he being handsome. I mean, I also went through his social media and looked through all his pictures and videos as well. That guy is good looking, I mean how can a human be as handsome as he is. "Zara?" Kaylee's voice pulled me out of thoughts."Are you coming down or not?" She raised a brow making me aware of our surround
I know everyone was shocked because as they say, no one has ever stood up against Liam before and I'm glad to be the first person to do that. I mean who does he think he is? Just because he's rich and handsome doesn't mean he should be an asshole. "Zara!" a voice snapped me out of thoughts. I looked around till my eyes landed on the principal who was standing at the door. "To my office," she said and walked out without a backward glance. I sighed and got up from my seat, ignoring all the whispering that was going on. It was obvious to why I was being called at the principal's office but I didn't even care. "Zara....." "I'll be fine," I cut Kaylee off, reassuring her with a slight smile. I called out and went straight to the principal's office to see Liam and Beatrice already there. Liam was wearing a new T-shirt now and he was looking at hot as hell. The white shirt hugged every bit of his upper muscles perfectly and I fought the urge to touch him. " Done starin
LIAM The day went by swiftly as it should but my brain was in a mess, especially when I see her acting as if nothing happened. She doesn’t deserve to be happy. She deserves to be punished. She deserves to pay for all the humiliation she put me through and I’m going to deal with her in the worse way possible. I just need to figure it out. “Hey man, you coming for practice?” Levi asked and I nodded, grabbing my bag and walking out of the classroom before the other boys followed me. I was so lost in thoughts about her that I didn’t even realize they were planning another pool party. “Liam, are you ok?” Mason asked, placing an arm over my shoulder. I nodded and quickened by pace instead to the changing room. I threw my bag into my locker and changed into my jersey before taking the lead to the basketball court. Training soon started and I was a mess, I threw the basketball into the net for the fifth time today and missed. You want to know why? It’s because of
LIAM I drive out of the school after basketball practice with Beatrice sitting in the front seat. She must have noticed my spoilt mood so she didn’t say anything throughout the ride. “I’ll see you in school tomorrow,” I said, without sparing her a glance as I pulled up in front of her house. “My parents are in, I think you should come say hi,” she offered but I quickly declined. “Not today.” She nodded and got down from the car. I immediately drove off, ignoring her as she wave me. I drive straight home and thankfully, no one was around when I arrived. “Good evening sir,” one of the maids greeted me as I walked in. I handed over my bag and jacket to her and walked straight to my room. I needed a fresh shower so I went straight to the bathroom, my mind swirling with frustration. I turned the shower on, letting the cold water cascade down my body, but it did little to distract me from the thoughts of Zara. She had a knack for getting in my way and it infu
ZARA: Nick was standing in front of the school when we arrived. I rolled my eyes in annoyance when I saw Kaylee run to him. “Hi Nick,” Kaylee greeted him cheerfully but I just rolled my eyes again and scoffed before walking past them. “Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed today,” I heard Nick tease me but I just ignored him and kept walking. I stopped by my locker and packed a few books before slamming it shut. “Won’t you take anything from your locker?” I turned to ask Kaylee but she and Nick were busy giggling over something. “What now?” I asked exasperated. “You won’t understand sis,” Nick said with a smile. “Sis? Don’t you ever call me that Nick. I am not your sister,” I said angrily, remembering dad’s betrayal all over again. Fresh tears pooled up in my eyes but I took in a deep breath and blinked them back away. “I’ll see you in class,” I told Kaylee before walking away. The bell soon rang and students flooded into the classroom in large
BEATRICE: Watching Liam hold Zara in such a manner made my heart sink. The sight of their banter turning playful and intimate ignited a fiery jealousy within me. I knew it was my idea to make Zara fall in love with Liam so that he could break her heart and ego but seeing them in such a position made me feel like he was going to fall in love with her for real. “What that all about?” I asked, anger laced in my voice. “What was what?” Liam asked, picking on French fry from Matteo’s plate and tossing it into his mouth. “What were you doing with Zara?” I pressed further. “Nothing,” Liam shrugged casually. “Liam. I saw you holding her waist. I saw the way she looked at you. I saw you…..” “Isn’t that what you wanted?” Liam’s words make me choke on mine. “Wasn’t it your idea? Did you not want me to get her to fall in love with me so that I can break her heart?” His words made my heart beat faster. The reality of my actions were now hitting me. What if Liam actually
The final bell rang and I all but bolted from my seat, stuffing my books into my backpack with the grace of a sleep-deprived raccoon. School drained me enough without the added headache of navigating the social landmines that came with Beatrice and her ever-watchful gaze.She’d been acting strange lately. Not her usual cold and calculated self—but tense. Uneasy. Almost as if something was unraveling, and I couldn’t help but notice that Liam was always somewhere in the background of that fray. He’d been… different. Looking at me longer. Smirking more often. And earlier that day in the hallway, when he caught me by the waist after I nearly slipped on a spilled coffee, it felt like the whole world paused for a second too long.I hated that. I hated him.The air outside was crisp, sunlight spilling across the parking lot as I made my way toward the sidewalk. My headphones were in, volume turned up to ignore the usual crowd of students piling into cars and buses.And then I saw him.Liam.
The hallways were buzzing when I walked into school the next morning—voices overlapping, sneakers squeaking, the usual hum of teenage chaos. I kept my head down, slipping through the crowd like a shadow. After last night at Liam’s house, I thought I’d shaken him off. That once the project was behind us, so was he. I was wrong. Because as I turned the corner toward my locker, there he was. Liam. Leaning against the metal like it was his personal throne, one foot crossed casually over the other, his head tilted just enough to look annoyingly cool. His tie was loose, blazer unbuttoned, and the grin he wore when he saw me was just shy of smug. My stomach did that stupid flip again—the one I hated. The one that meant danger. “Good morning, sunshine,” he said, pushing off the locker like he’d been waiting there all his life. I blinked, caught completely off guard. “What are you doing?” “Waiting for you,” he replied, as if it was obvious. “I figured after the quality bonding session
LIAM: LIAM It was supposed to be just another afternoon hangout. The same leather booth at Montero’s Pizza, the same laughter echoing around the table, the same forced smile on my face. Beatrice sat beside me, her manicured fingers trailing the rim of her soda glass. Her two loyal shadows giggled over something on their phones, and my boys—Matteo, Lucas, Levi and Mason—were tossing pepperoni slices into each other’s mouths like idiots. Same crowd. Same energy. Except it wasn’t the same anymore. Not for me. Not when Zara’s bracelet was tight around my wrist, reminding me of everything I was pretending not to feel. I was halfway through a slice of pizza when Beatrice leaned in closer. Her perfume was strong—sweet and overbearing, like she was trying too hard to smell expensive. “We’ve been thinking,” she said, lips curved in that signature smirk she always wore when she was up to no good. “Dangerous,” I muttered. Matteo laughed. Beatrice didn’t. “I’m serious,” she said, bru
I didn’t sleep that night. Not because I was upset, or restless, or haunted by Kaylee’s words. No—this time, it was something else. I was wide awake because I couldn’t stop smiling. Because every time I closed my eyes, I felt it again. Liam’s lips. The heat of his palm against my cheek. The way he looked at me right before—like I was the only girl in the world. I must’ve replayed the kiss a hundred times in my head, each time trying to dissect every little detail. The way he hesitated, just slightly, like he was waiting for permission. The way his breath caught when our lips met. The way I melted into him like I’d been waiting for it all my life. And maybe… maybe I had. I rolled over in bed, biting my lip as I stared at the ceiling. Was that what a real kiss was supposed to feel like? Because it felt like time paused. Like my heart folded itself into his hands and trusted him not to drop it. It scared me, how quickly I wanted more. By morning, I was still in the same hood
There are moments in life when the world slows down—not because something beautiful is happening, but because you can feel everything about to fall apart. This was one of those moments. Kaylee stood in the doorway of my bedroom, her face pale, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. She looked like she’d seen a ghost—or worse, become one. I was curled up on my bed, Liam’s hoodie swallowing me whole, a book in my lap I hadn’t turned a page of in twenty minutes. His scent lingered on the fabric—something minty and warm—and it had lulled me into a soft place, a dangerous place. The kind where you believe people can actually love you without hidden motives. Kaylee’s voice cut through that illusion like glass. “Zara… we need to talk.” I didn’t look up immediately. “If this is about you leaving your dishes in the sink again—” “It’s not.” She took a step forward, her voice trembling. “It’s about Liam.” That got my attention. I looked up slowly, blinking at her. “What about him?”
Dating Liam Hunter was like touching fire—beautiful, warm, and terrifying all at once. I never thought I’d find myself here. Not with him. Not with the boy who once mocked me in the hallways, who I spent an entire semester resenting with my whole chest. And yet, here I was—three days into being his girlfriend—and somehow, the world felt different. Lighter. Like someone had dimmed all the background noise just enough for me to hear my own heartbeat again. Liam didn’t act like he was faking it. That was the part that scared me most. He walked me to my locker every morning now. Waited outside my classes even when he didn’t have to. Texted me good morning before the sun even rose, and followed up with random “thinking of you” messages throughout the day that made my chest feel tight. He was present in a way I didn’t know guys like him could be. And it wasn’t just performative romance, either. It was the little things. Like the way he noticed when I didn’t eat lunch and showed up l
LIAM I shouldn’t have hit record. I don’t even remember doing it. Just a stupid impulse—something Beatrice suggested in passing, some twisted insurance that the plan was working. “Keep a little trophy,” she’d said, half-laughing. “So we can play it back when she realizes she was just a pawn.” At the time, I didn’t think twice. I didn’t think much at all. I just tapped record on my phone and slid it into my jacket pocket that night under the stars. And now I was back in my basement, sitting on one of the worn-out couches, surrounded by the people I used to think were the only ones who mattered. My guys—Matteo,Lucas, Levi and Mason —were sprawled across bean bags and armchairs, all wearing the same smug expressions. Beatrice was perched on the arm of the couch beside me, manicured hand lazily wrapped around a wine cooler she hadn’t asked permission to open. Her two shadows—Lena and Skye—were whispering and snickering like we were in middle school again. I hated the sound of it.
I told myself a thousand times I wasn’t going to get in the car. I’d even picked out a book to “casually” read in bed, just in case anyone asked. But when Liam’s headlights appeared outside my window right on the dot at 7:30, my stomach twisted, and my legs moved before my brain could stop them. The air was sharp, cool against my skin as I stepped outside. Liam stood leaning against his car, arms crossed, eyes already on me like he’d been waiting for hours. “Wow,” he said, grinning. “I thought I’d have to text your dad to come drag you out.” “You don’t have my dad’s number,” I muttered, trying not to smile. “You don’t know that.” I rolled my eyes, but my pulse was already racing. We drove in silence at first. Not the awkward kind—something more… expectant. The windows were slightly down, letting in just enough of the breeze to carry the scent of pine and autumn. His playlist hummed in the background—low-fi, soft, and nothing like what I imagined Liam Knight would listen to. He
Home didn’t feel like home anymore. The walls were the same—light gray with the little scuff marks near the baseboards from when I used to drag my desk chair around. My books were still stacked in the corner, alphabetized, untouched. Even my favorite hoodie was still hanging from the bedpost, exactly where I’d left it the day I walked out. But everything felt different now. Off. Maybe it was because this wasn’t just my home anymore. It was Nick’s too. After Mom left Dad and I became this two-person universe. And the woman I called her a second mother, well she did actually try to get me to open up, in other words, she tried to replace my mother but I hate her guts. Then I couldn’t take it anymore and moved to Kaylee’s. I just wished they would leave me alone but two weeks later, dad and Nick showed up with the police. They said a bunch of things like how I wasn’t eighteen and didn’t have the right to decide for myself and blah, blah, blah. So here I was. Back in a house I
I should’ve said no.When Liam asked if I wanted to get ice cream, my mouth said “sure” before my brain could catch up. Probably because it felt easier than going back to the cafeteria, where Nick’s arm would still be wrapped around Kaylee like a damn possession, and where I’d have to keep pretending I was fine.So now we were here.At Sweet Daze, the annoyingly aesthetic ice cream shop two blocks from school, with hanging plants, neon signs, and a chalkboard menu that listed flavors like “lavender honey” and “blueberry basil.”Liam was already at the counter, confidently ordering a double scoop of espresso fudge in a waffle cone like he came here every weekend. I lingered behind, arms crossed, trying not to look like this was the first time I’d ever hung out with him voluntarily.“Your turn, hurricane,” he said, stepping aside and looking at me like he expected me to be difficult.“Don’t call me that,” I muttered, scanning the board.“Come on, it suits you.”“Fine. Then I’m calling y
The hallways were buzzing when I walked into school the next morning—voices overlapping, sneakers squeaking, the usual hum of teenage chaos. I kept my head down, slipping through the crowd like a shadow. After last night at Liam’s house, I thought I’d shaken him off. That once the project was behind us, so was he. I was wrong. Because as I turned the corner toward my locker, there he was. Liam. Leaning against the metal like it was his personal throne, one foot crossed casually over the other, his head tilted just enough to look annoyingly cool. His tie was loose, blazer unbuttoned, and the grin he wore when he saw me was just shy of smug. My stomach did that stupid flip again—the one I hated. The one that meant danger. “Good morning, sunshine,” he said, pushing off the locker like he’d been waiting there all his life. I blinked, caught completely off guard. “What are you doing?” “Waiting for you,” he replied, as if it was obvious. “I figured after the quality bonding session