Arian's pov I squeezed into the backseat of Sammy's car alongside Brent and April, the space tighter than I'd anticipated. I didn't really think about why I had chosen to hop into Sammy's car instead of Kael's.it just happened and now, I'm wedged between bodies, regretting why I didn't go with Kael. Aside from the suffocating discomfort, I kept wondering why I chose Sammy's car. Why hadn't I gotten into Kael's car instead? The thought nagged at me and the answer was clear but I didn't want to admit that I was avoiding the memories that Kael's car would bring. Finally, the nagging regret ended when Sammy pulled into the parking lot of the bar. As we walked into the bar, the large table reserved for our group stood out, set at the corner. A perfect space for us. The moment we sat down, the group's excitement became too obvious. The table buzzed with energy as drinks were ordered. The atmosphere was electrifying as everyone was clearly thrilled to be together. Brent poured the fir
Arian's pov April closed the space between us, nudging me. “You should write this down before you forget how you feel.”“I don’t think I’ll forget,” I said, glancing at Kael.He gave me the faintest nod, something warm flickering behind his eyes, and I let myself inhale the quiet pride.“This is the important part,” I said and everyone turned to me with their eyebrows lifted. “I thought you were done,” April said, her smile turning to a frown.“I'm not even close,” I said, grinning like a child that just won a pack of candy. Maya's face was pinched, a sour look etched on her face. However, I knew her usual warmth and light would soon shine through. And just as I expected it to clear, she straightened, ready to listen. “The president sure has a lot of things to say tonight,” Brent teased me.“I promise, I won't waste our time,” I said with sincerity.Kael looked at me with curiosity. I could tell he really wants to know what I still want to say. Only if he knew I wanted to talk abo
Arian's pov By the time everyone had left, the silence that followed their departure was a stark contrast to the vibrant energy that had filled the hall just hours before. We, the book club members, waited behind. We stark the chairs neatly, but the floor was littered with discarded programs. While we waited for the cleaning service to do their magic, I took my stand at the makeshift podium. As I stood on the podium, I glanced at the familiar faces who waited. Almost all if not all of the book club members waited. It is a ritual to wait after a special event like this. They were tired physically but I could see the satisfaction in their eyes. April’s pink hair was all over her face in a messy way as she talked to Maya. Sammy was also here, sitting quietly while Brent was chatting with some of the members. And Kael… Kael leaned casually against a support pole, his gaze lowered as if he was avoiding eye contact with anyone. That aside, I was really pleased to have all of them as a
Arian's pov The atmosphere was bubbling with excitement as the reading festival began in the grand hall. Bright decorations adorned the walls and pillars, infusing the space with an air of excitement and creativity. Shelves behind the main hall overflowed with books of every genre: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and more. The colors and titles of the novels seemed to dance on the shelves, inviting attendees to explore their stories. New generation authors and readers mingled, their faces lit up with enthusiasm as they discussed their favorite books and writers. I should have been floating with pride but my stomach was knotted, my palms damp with sweat.Everything seems so perfect but it didn't settle on me. It feels like a part of me was missing. Despite the beauty of the hall, I wasn't feeling excited the way I was supposed to be. “Stop frowning,” April whispered, tugging at the hem of my blazer as we checked the sign-in table. “It looks like we actually pulled this off.”“I’ll st
Arian's pov A sense of resolve settled over me as I prepared to deliver the bad news. The wait for Kael had been annoying and frustrating, but his absence had made my decision clear. I would never trust him again. I won't even take his words seriously. Now, it was time to take matters into my own hands. I rubbed my temples, the headache pulsing behind my eyes as I typed the words I’d been avoiding all morning.‘Due to unforeseen circumstances, Ms. Linda Lively will no longer be attending the Orleans College Reading Festival.’I took a deep breath, my eyes scanning the screen of the laptop as I gathered my thoughts. The sentence felt like I was about to announce a funeral. Weeks of planning, half of the students were buzzing because we promised a name that sold out auditoriums… and now I had to kill the excitement with a single short notice.Within me, I blame myself for trusting Kael. I shouldn't have given him a chance to destroy my plans. If he hadn't been boastful about bringing
Kael's pov The curtains in my room hadn’t moved in two days. I had let the light rot into a dull orange as the sun slid up, down, and back up again. My phone lay facedown on the desk, buzzing every few minutes but I didn't care.All I could see was the gravestone. ‘Ariana Smith, beloved mother…’ The memories of that night replayed in my mind like a haunting film, refusing to fade. Even when I was awake, the images lingered, the screech of tires, the crunch of metal, the shattered glass.Since I found out the truth, the sounds echoed in my head, a relentless loop that haunted me every waking moment. But it was the weight of responsibility that crushed me. The knowledge that I was behind the wheel, that my actions had taken her life. And my dad paid her off without my knowledge. The guilt was suffocating, a heavy burden that I carried with me everywhere. I saw her face in my mind, the same smile she wore in her photos burned through me, and the pain of what I'd done ripped through me