Jason POV We were in the Oxwell campus parking lot, giving our final hugs before heading back home. Annie was practically engulfed in our embrace, hugging us tightly and saying she would miss us, even though she knew she could come home every weekend. Her hug was a mix of farewell and beginning, so
Annie POV I watched my parents' car drive away with a sense of sadness; part of me wanted to go with them and give up on everything, but I was also excited to start a new life at Oxwell. The sound of the engine fading into the distance seemed to carry away a piece of my childhood, leaving me with a
As we walked, I thought about what Abby had said. It wasn't Caleb who mattered; it was the betrayal of a friendship I thought would last forever. The pain of losing that trust was still fresh, and perhaps that was why I didn't want to think about Caleb at all. But at the same time, there was a part
Laura POV"This strawberry drink is delicious," I commented, sipping my drink through a straw."Oh, nice. My pineapple one is really irresistible," Ava also commented, smiling, though the smile was somewhat reserved and awkward, just like mine.We were at a luxurious bar, a place that contrasted wit
Laura POV Jason and Terence were terrible singers, but that didn't stop them from diving into karaoke, hitting every note off-key while making their wives laugh with their comedic performance. Ava and I, now alone in a VIP area of the bar, continued the celebration of our daughters' entry into col
Lindsay POV The weekend in Atlanta had a taste of novelty and nervousness. Matt had invited me to dinner at his mother's house, Emma Weiss, and the idea of meeting his family left me in a state of anxiety mixed with anticipation. I had never met the parents of someone I was dating since, well, sinc
Lindsay POV The dinner was a marvel, an experience that felt like a warm hug in the form of food and company. Emma Weiss insisted that I try every dish she had prepared with such care, and I couldn’t deny how much it made me feel welcomed. "My lasagna recipe is famous," she said with a proud smile,
Lindsay POV We arrived at the hotel after a night that still echoed in me like a good dream. Wyatt was exhausted, which wasn’t surprising after such an eventful day at the Weiss house. He fell asleep almost immediately after I put him to bed, a slight smile on his face that made me feel that, despi
Annie POV Peter Morton’s face was just inches from mine, staring at me. The electric blue of his eyes was so close I could see his irises dilating and contracting. “You okay, Lady Ann?” he asked. I sighed with a small smile, half in delight. “It’s been a while since anyone called me that.” Actual
Annie POV The masked boy—who I didn’t want to admit was Peter—took me to an upscale, comfortable hotel where I could spend the night safely, away from everything, and try to regain my composure and figure out what to do next. “You can stay here,” he said calmly, though his voice still carried a hi
Annie POV The masked boy led me through the dark campus, his hand firm in mine as we ran away from the ballroom. My legs trembled, the blue dress swishing with each step, and tears still streamed down my face, hot and relentless. The sound of the shouts, the judgments, still echoed in my head, bu
“No choice?” He cut me off, his tone incredulous. “Are you serious? You chose to help Madison make that video. You chose to plug it into the projector. And now Annie’s out there, broken, while you try to run from the responsibility. This doesn’t fix anything, Abby. It wasn’t supposed to end like thi
Abby POV I was there, tucked away in the shadows of the ballroom’s corner, my heart still racing as I watched the chaos I’d helped create unfold. The giant screen kept playing that horrible video, distorted and manipulated clips of Annie echoing through the room like a final verdict. People poin
Annie POV I was still on the dance floor, the warmth of the masked boy’s body against mine, my head resting on his chest as the slow music guided us. The sound of his heartbeat against my ear was almost hypnotic, and I let myself get lost in that feeling I couldn’t quite explain. He’d just said s
I swallowed hard, Caleb’s words coming back to haunt me. “Have you ever stopped to think that maybe we’ve gone too far?” He’d said that at the mall, and I’d hung up on him, but now they echoed in my head. Annie had hurt me, yes. The fight in the dorm, the way she called me fake, like I was trash she
Abby POV I was leaning against the wall of the ballroom, the cup of punch in my hand already warm and forgotten, as I watched Annie dance with that masked boy. The soft lights of the ball cast shadows over them, and even from so far away, you could feel something in the air—a chemistry almost tangi
Anne POV I was there, trying to at least pretend I was enjoying the party with Summer, letting the loud music and spinning lights distract me from the weight pressing on my chest. Summer danced beside me, throwing her arms up with that endless energy of hers, and I tried to keep up, forcing a smile