She ended the call with assurance of a good news later at night.Kayla took one last look at Jasmine before grabbing her bag.“You sure you’re okay?” she asked, her eyes soft with concern.Jasmine forced a small smile and nodded. “Yeah. Thanks for staying.”Kayla gave her a tight hug. “He’ll come around, Jas. He’s just… stubborn.”Jasmine didn't reply. With that, she left. The apartment door clicked shut, leaving Jasmine in silence.Jasmine exhaled deeply. She wrapped her arms around the pillow and laid her cheek on it. Her body ached from exhaustion, not the kind that sleep cures, but the one that comes from feeling everything too deeply.She thought about Theo. About how his touch felt safe. About how his words always came from the heart. About how Daniel’s face looked when they were caught that morning. The mix of anger, betrayal, and disbelief.It hurt her more than she expected. Not because she was ashamed of what she and Theo had, but because Daniel, her brother, had meant ever
The sound of the door shutting behind Theo felt like a gunshot to Jasmine’s chest.She stood frozen in the living room, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, as if that could hold her together. But it couldn’t. Not this time.Tears flooded her eyes again, spilling over in hot, painful streaks down her cheeks.Daniel didn’t look at her. He simply walked into his room and slammed the door shut.The echo of it made her flinch.Jasmine turned and walked slowly toward her room like a ghost, her knees weak and her chest heavy. She reached the door, pushed it open, and fell onto her bed, burying her face into the pillow.Her sobs came loud and uncontrollable.Everything was crumbling.He left.Theo actually left.Her brother hated her.She had never felt this torn or hurt before, not even with Liam. It was like her heart had been split in two, one half with Theo, the other lost in guilt.Just as her pillow soaked with her tears, the door creaked open.“Jas…” Kayla’s soft voice broke the s
The ride back home from the trip was quiet.Tense.Heavy.No one said a word,not even Kayla, who was usually the first to crack a joke. Daniel drove like he had the wheel clenched in a death grip, eyes straight ahead, jaw locked so tight it looked like it might snap.Theo sat beside him in the passenger seat, staring out the window. His fingers tapped his knees slowly, rhythmically, like he was counting the seconds until the silence broke.But it didn’t. Not one word. Not even a grunt.Jasmine sat at the back, her heart pounding louder than the tires on the road. She kept glancing at the rearview mirror, watching Daniel’s face harden more with each passing mile. Beside her, Kayla gave her hand a small squeeze, like she knew.Everyone knew and no one knew what to do about it.When they finally reached the apartment, the air felt even heavier than the car ride. Theo stepped out first, grabbing his bag from the trunk. He didn’t say anything, just walked into the house like someone who al
The ride back home from the trip was quiet.Tense.Heavy.No one said a word,not even Kayla, who was usually the first to crack a joke. Daniel drove like he had the wheel clenched in a death grip, eyes straight ahead, jaw locked so tight it looked like it might snap.Theo sat beside him in the passenger seat, staring out the window. His fingers tapped his knees slowly, rhythmically, like he was counting the seconds until the silence broke.But it didn’t. Not one word. Not even a grunt.Jasmine sat at the back, her heart pounding louder than the tires on the road. She kept glancing at the rearview mirror, watching Daniel’s face harden more with each passing mile. Beside her, Kayla gave her hand a small squeeze, like she knew.Everyone knew and no one knew what to do about it.When they finally reached the apartment, the air felt even heavier than the car ride. Theo stepped out first, grabbing his bag from the trunk. He didn’t say anything, just walked into the house like someone who al
The forest felt quieter when the heat finally cooled off their skin. Jasmine and Theo lying close to each other as their hearts still racing, sweat cooling under the moonlight.They barely spoke, just shared heavy, stolen glances and soft, breathless sighs. Their bodies still hummed with what they had done under the stars.But reality slowly crept in: they had to go back.Theo gently tucked her hair behind her ear, voice low and rough as they dressed up hurriedly.“Ready?”Jasmine nodded, even though her legs still trembled. Her skin tingled everywhere he had touched. Part of her wanted to stay in the dark forever but she took his hand and together, they slipped back toward camp.The tents stood silent under the soft moonlight. The fire had died down to glowing embers, and all they could hear were the quiet breaths and snores of Daniel and his friends inside their tents.Jasmine’s heart pounded so loud. Theo squeezed her hand gently, his silent way of telling her it’s okay.They stepp
Summer was starting to slip through their fingers.The air at night had a different edge now, not quite cold, but carrying the quiet promise of change.Daniel, always the planner, had an idea to mark the end of it:“A weekend away,” he announced. “Tents, campfire, friends, drinks. Old school.”Jasmine swallowed, her heart tripping over itself.She knew Theo would come too. Of course he would. And part of her ached for it and feared it at the same time.They drove out to the lake Daniel loved, two cars packed with sleeping bags, tents, and coolers stuffed with beer and sodas.Jasmine, in cutoff denim shorts and a soft tank top, tried not to stare at Theo when he hauled the tent poles over his shoulder.But God, his arms, the way the sun caught the sheen of sweat on his skin, it made her mouth dry.Theo barely spoke to her, but his eyes kept finding hers. Quick, stolen glances that made her stomach twist tight.Daniel and his friends, a rowdy bunch of guys and two girlfriends, laughed,