LOGINLater that evening, I found myself walking beside Carol into the newly opened Stanford Theatre. The place was glowing — warm lights, velvet curtains, a long queue of students waiting for tickets.Carol insisted we come watch something light, saying it was a small reward for surviving the year’s exams.“I’m thankful we’re done with all that reading madness,” she said, bumping her shoulder into mine playfully. “Now, you don’t have to worry about school while taking care of your mum.”“You are saying it like we are done with school entirely. Our second year is just around the corner.” I said as we walked side by side.“Yeah. Glad to know you won’t be entering your second year with those nerd glasses anymore.” She joked. I eyed her.“What? I only noticed you don’t wear those big hideous glasses anymore, and…” her eyes traced my features, “Your dressing sense is starting to change too. In a good way, I mean. I love that.”I was currently dressed in a fitted white tank top and black joggers
“Drink this,” Carol handed a mug of cinnamon tea to me. I lazily grabbed it from her hand. I was curled in her couch, knees pressed together.I took a sip and flinched. “It’s hot.” I complained, placing the mug on the small table in my front. I sneezed, covering my nose.Carol slouched beside me, laughing a little under her breath as if I hadn’t dumped all my life problems on her a couple of hours ago.I had no energy to eye her so I just retreated to my shell. Her hand came forward to caress my hair backward. It was soothing. “Everything will be okay, T” She murmured. “You don’t have to go see Jeremy. You don’t even have to speak to him forever if you don’t want to. I hate dickheads.” She said.A faint smile appeared on my lips. “Of course you do. I mean, you once slapped Chris publicly.” I reminded her, my voice low and croaky.“I’m glad you remember. So if you need me to help beat whether Jeremy or Zayne, just call me or tell me right now.”That did it. I laughed.“Yeah. I have no
I picked the call as soon as I found an empty space. “Tey?” My knees weakened on their own as Jeremy’s voice penetrated into my ears. “Hello, are you there?” He asked. I swallowed, trying to find my voice. “Hi?” I finally let out. I heard him exhale through the connection and my pulse beat so violently that I pressed a trembling hand to my chest, trying to steady it.“I know you probably don’t expect to hear from me, but I will make this brief.” For a moment, I couldn’t speak. That voice— it always had a way of finding the softest part of me and pressing there. I wanted to ask about his arm. I wanted to ask about a lot of things…I swallowed hard, forcing words out even as my throat tightened. “Go ahead, it’s fine.” I tried to sound casual.“Okay. Can we see tomorrow? I want to… discuss something important with you. Promise not to take your time.” Jeremy sounded scared, unsure- that was very unusual.I clearly wasn’t expecting that. Those mean words he said to me surfaced in my m
The night air slapped softly against my face as I ran down the short steps after him.“Zayne!” I called, breathlessly, stepping past the guards.He didn’t stop. He was pacing beside his bike, one hand gripping his hair, the other clenched at his side. The sharp sound of his boots scraping against the gravel echoed through the garden.When I finally caught up, I grabbed his arm. “Zayne, wait…” He turned sharply, eyes filled with pain it almost made me step back.“What, Teyana? Don’t even try. You can’t get it.” His voice came out labored; Like he was storing a hundred emotions inside him.“I never said I would…get it, Zayne.” I said, not knowing what I was supposed to say actually. It was my first time dealing with Zayne being angry. With Jeremy, I was used to it. I didn’t want Zayne to be that way too. I was tired of the men in my life having daddy issues, considering I used to have one too.“I just don’t want you to walk off angry. I can sense that…you both are not in good terms.” H
Staring into the mirror, I could barely recognize myself. But I felt better in these clothes than my usuals. The normal nerdy me would wear something hideous and plain then put on my big glasses. But I wasn’t her anymore.I hadn’t even worn them since Zayne put one off me during the biker’s hangout night. A crazy night. A lot has really changed since I moved to Los Alamos. I dropped the romance book I was reading earlier. Zayne was calling. He was here to pick me up.“Coming.” I replied and ended the call. I turned in front of the mirror to access myself one last time. The red top I had on was showing a hint of cleavage; my bustiness was very obvious tonight—paired with a three-quarter black leather skirt that had a high slit in the front, stopping in the middle of my thigh. Black heels completed the look, and my naturally blessed long hair framed my face neatly. I’d brushed on mascara and lip gloss too.When Carol bought me these clothes months ago, I thought I would never need th
~Teyana’s POV~Waking up to Carol’s texts was supposed to excite me, but my mood was all over the place today.Her text read: “The school's new theatre is opening on Monday, you coming with me? And…you asked your mum about Hart? Text me back, T.”She had no idea what was wrong with me. I hadn’t seen her since she told me about professor Hartley being Jeremy’s blood brother two days ago. Even though that was at the back of my mind, it was currently the least of my problems.Zayne and Jeremy used to be the center of my worries. Currently, my mother is.Talking of Zayne, he hasn't called me and it’s been two days. I only got a text saying he would call soon. I was aware that he was going to visit my…stepbrother at the hospital the other day. I had called to ask if he was okay, because I was sure they would be so close to tearing each other apart—if they hadn’t.He hadn’t returned my call. I sighed as I padded into the kitchen barefoot, clad in shorts and Zayne’s shirt, trying to distrac







