FAZER LOGINJUNE;It was the school's annual dance night. I had heard some other students talk about it with such excitement and anticipation all through the week. The girls were gearing up eagerly to look their best, and the boys… Simply being boys, talking about supposed dance partners.Friday night was here finally. The school gym had been transformed into something almost magical. Strings of fairy lights hung from the ceiling, soft blue and purple lights swept across the floor, and the DJ played a slow song that made the air feel thicker. I stood near the punch table in my new pale blue dress, the one I had finally taken out of the closet, torn out the tag. The fabric hugged my waist and flowed down to my knees. I felt pretty, but also completely out of place, because I had no one in mind to be my dance partner for the night, and after what happened at Selene’s party, dancing with Matthew would definitely be tagged as something else.My fingers twisted the edge of my dress as I watched ever
SELENE;I stood before the full-length mirror running my hands through my curly blondes, heart flickering with that sweet, dangerous excitement I couldn’t hide. Matthew had done exactly what he promised. The program was now installed perfectly on my laptop, and today at the canteen, I had finally slipped the other part onto Ronan’s phone. I had waited so patiently for this moment.The party would have been the perfect chance. I had it all planned out but Matthew ruined everything by showing up with that girl. He didn’t just bring June to my birthday party, he made sure to destroy the night and my plans. But today I got what I wanted. All it took was a sweet smile and a simple lie. “Ronan, can I use your phone to make a quick call? Mine is dead.” He handed it over without thinking twice. I stepped outside for “privacy,” and within a minute, it was done. The tracker was in, hidden and out of his sight and suspicions.Now I can watch my handsome Ronan from anywhere, see who he talks
JUNE;My brain still felt heavy even after I had spent hours in the shower letting the water cool my head. I sat at the dresser in my room, books spread out in front of me like a fortress. My eyebrows were puckered tight as I scribbled notes, flipped pages of the textbook, and the pen scratched loudly against the paper. The lamp Mariah had given me cast a warm golden glow over the pages, but I could barely focus. I didn’t know what it was, Selene’s words? Ronan’s offer to drive me home? It was really much for a day.My phone beeped somewhere deep in the sheets of my bed. I darted my eyes toward it, then I looked back to my books, ignoring the phone.My pen kept moving. Scratching consistently, lips moving softly muttering some lines from the textbook opened before me.The phone beeped again. Then a third time, almost immediately.I spun fully on the low fur stool, my cream night robe swaying lightly around my thighs. The phone screen glowed from under the messy sheets like it was be
JUNE;She dabbed the sides of her red, puffy eyes with her perfectly manicured fingers trying to regain control, mascara smudged slightly at the corners. The moment her eyes landed on me, and saw it was me standing there, her expression changed to that ugly smirk she had on the registration day. The sadness melted away, replaced by a cold, sharp smirk that curled one side of her lips. Not the surprise way she had gawked at me at the party when I walked down the stairs.I had wanted to apologize for ruining her party but nothing ever got me ready to bump into her in the bathroom. I took a few automatic steps back, my hand tightening lightly around the handle of my tote bag, while I waited for my words to form. All I could feel was regret, if only I had asked questions, I wouldn’t have found myself at the party.“Well, well,” Selene said, her voice sweet but dripping with poison. “If it isn’t the little stepsister seeking attention. How touching.”She already knew? I could only imag
JUNE;The first class had ended a few minutes ago, and the hallway buzzed with students rushing to their next lectures or hurrying off to lunch. I stood outside the door, contemplating where to head. I had left the house too early, and Mariah had called out in her usual manner, but I was running late. And now? My stomach rumbled a little too loudly, I needed food and I also needed to see Teacher Harold afterwards. Matthew turned to me with that easy, warm smile of his and said, “Come on, let’s get something proper to eat today. My treat.” He stood, adjusting his backpack. I hesitated for half a second, Ronan’s words still clung to my mind, but he was already walking beside me, matching my steps. I couldn't say no, I couldn’t discharge him either. Unlike other days when I would quickly grab something cheap from the affordable side of the canteen, long wooden benches, simple tables with light linens, and food I could carry away in a paper bag, but today felt different. I usually
JUNE;The night air wrapped around me the moment I stepped onto the balcony, cool and soft against my skin. I hadn’t even known this place existed until earlier in the day when I ran out of Ronan’s room, the younger maid stood there with a mopstick in hand, door open.And now, I felt stuck being inside my bedroom and wanted fresh air at all costs. I remembered the door I had seen earlier, the one at the far end of the hallway that I had assumed led to another bedroom. I pushed the door gently and it opened instead into this quiet escape, overlooking the city and everything beyond it.I pulled my cream-colored robe tighter around myself before easing into the swing chair. It dipped slightly under my weight, swaying gently as my feet lifted off the floor. The motion was slow, soothing, almost enough to quiet the restless thoughts in my head. Tall buildings of the estate sending distant lights to the balcony, nothing like the vicinity I just left a few moments ago. The air here smelle







