My Enemy [BL]

I felt like I was drowning. My arms were thrashing about, but no matter how hard I kicked, the water kept dragging me under. My lungs burned as I struggled to push up to the surface, desperate to escape the laughter echoing above. It was sharp and mocking—much worse than the weight of the water pressing down on my chest.Panic hit me hard. I reached out, grasping at nothing, as the light above slipped further away. The deeper I sank, the colder it got, shadows creeping around me, drowning out even the sound of my frantic heartbeat.And then I heard him."What’s wrong, loser? Can’t swim?"Rowan’s voice cut through the quiet, low and cruel, just like it had since freshman year. His laughter filled my head, pulling me under more quickly than the water ever could.I screamed, but all that came out were bubbles, disappearing into the dark above. My chest lurched one last time before everything went black.Suddenly, I jolted awake, gasping for air. Sweat streamed down my forehead, soaking my

I finally wrapped up unpacking the last of my clothes, folding them neatly into my wardrobe and arranging my shoes in a somewhat orderly fashion. The room still carried a subtle scent of fresh paint and polished furniture, but it was beginning to feel less like a showroom and more like home. I flopped onto the bed with a contented sigh, letting the afternoon sunlight stream through the sheer curtains and warm my face. For the first time since we moved in, I finally allowed myself to relax a bit...until my phone buzzed insistently on the desk.Seeing Millie’s name flash on the screen instantly brought a smile to my face. She’s been my partner-in-crime, my therapist, and my personal cheerleader since kindergarten—I knew exactly what was coming. I picked up the phone quickly, my voice carrying a hint of relief."Millie!" I exclaimed, trying to match her usual high energy."Atlas! Finally! Spill! How’s it going?! Are you living in a castle now? Are there servants? Is there a chandelier in

Steam wafted around me as I emerged from the shower, my skin still buzzing from the heat. After that incredibly awkward dinner, I really needed the hot water to wash away the tension that had settled in my shoulders. My hair was damp, sticking to my neck, and my skin sparkled with tiny beads of water that trickled down to the towel wrapped snugly around me.I felt lighter, calmer—like I could finally breathe again. For a moment, being here almost felt normal.That is, until I opened the bathroom door.I froze. My brain took a couple of seconds to process what I was seeing. Then it hit me—Rowan Harrigan, the bane of my existence, was lounging on my bed. My bed. Like he owned the place.He was leaning back on his elbows, one leg casually crossed over the other, looking like he was at home. His lazy gaze flicked up when I opened the door, and a slow smirk crept across his face.I screamed, loud enough that I probably woke up everyone in the mansion. "What the hell are you doing here?!"Ro

The morning sun felt warm on my skin as I stepped outside, and the Harrigan mansion’s driveway looked like it belonged in a magazine. Right there, leaning against her lilac car like she owned the place, was Millie Peterson. You couldn’t miss her—those soft curls bouncing around her face, oversized shades reflecting the gates behind me, and a pastel pink top covered in tiny crescent moons. Her wrists were adorned with gemstone bracelets, jingling with every move she made, and honestly, she sparkled every time she took a step."Broo, finally!" she shouted, pushing off the car and strutting towards me with all her usual flair. "You had me worried sick! I was this close..." she pinched her fingers together, "...to calling 911 and reporting your rich new family for kidnapping!"I couldn’t help but laugh as I met her halfway for a hug. "I’ve only been gone one day, Millie. You act like I vanished off the map, plus we were texting non-stop.""Please," she said, pulling back to check me out,

I leaned against the seat. So much for going unnoticed, in my dreams.Millie blinked, then turned to the source of her voice. "Oh no," she whispered. "It’s her."I gave a phony grin as Ainsley and her group approached our table. "Ainsley," I said in a monotone voice."Surprise to see the two of you here."She smiled, all smooth lip and forced heat. "Wow, you look so. different! In a good way, I mean." Her voice dripped with that familiar somehow still painful edge. "I barely recognized you without your, ah, cardigans."Kris snorted at her back, visibly satisfied with herself for being alive.I ground my teeth but kept my even tone. "Yeah, people change, I guess."Ainsley cocked her head, as if she was actually studying me. "Well, it’s good to see you’re making an effort this year. Perhaps a new beginning will be good for you."Millie arched an eyebrow, licking her ice cream deliberately as if she were following a terrible sitcom. "Funny," she said, "I was just considering the same abo