LOGINYou made it through another chapter!! Congrats. But before you even think about scrolling away, let’s talk. You see, River just walked into a storm she doesn’t know she’s in. Arlin’s got charm. Taylor’s got secrets. And someone, or everyone, might not be what they seem. If you ghost this book now, I swear I’ll send Taylor to glare at you silently across a crowded party until you come crawling back. Filled with coffee and questionable amount of sleep Zera
RIVER“Hello, sweetheart?” Taylor is lounging on the couch, a bottle of beer in hand; it was the first time I had actually seen him drink at home. With his reputation, people would think he was a drunkard, but he just keeps on proving to be different from what he had always projected. “Hi.” I hugged the bag that Matt had given me. We knew it was going to be awkward, considering the fact that his roommate had tried to date me and he had been our little cheerleader. “I waited for you.” “I had to leave early in the morning, and my classes ran late,” I said, not knowing what he was speaking about. Moreover, I was not later than usual. “Are you going to ride with me tomorrow morning or sneak out of the house like a robber?” “A robber?’ I almost laughed. “I did not sneak out.” “I saw you sneaking out.” He sat straight, putting the empty bottle onto the table with a smirk. “Are you drunk?” “Don't you dare try to change the topic,” he slurred, but still managed to sound serious.“I
RIVER“I was thinking of putting together a study group for the midterms. Do you want in?” I looked up from the book in front of me; Lana and Elise stood there neatly put together, while I had spent all Monday morning trying to figure out what it meant when Taylor offered me the tickets instead of Vanessa. “Hmm?” I hummed, my brain trying to process what Elise had just said. They both plopped into the chair in front of me, making themselves comfortable, their bags finding a place on the floor beside them. How the hell did they even find me here? I had stayed away all morning after our lectures had been cancelled. I wanted to read, but I had been staring at the same page, spiraling at Taylor’s act. He had not necessarily changed; he had always been this way, but something about last night was different. “I said I do not think I can pass the midterms on my own, and I am creating a group for study. Do you want to join?” “I told her not to ask you,” Lana chimed in. I raised my eyebr
RIVERWhen I get back home from shooting paintballs, which I now suddenly find therapeutic, Taylor is rushing around in the kitchen, a pop song playing loudly through a speaker, so he does not hear me come in. Why did the thought of scaring him suddenly excite me? I watched him flex his muscles, of course, shirtless, with only the strings of the apron showing on the other side of his body as he continued to stir and move his body to the sound of the music. My eyes caught the player, and I snickered. Tiptoeing towards the box, I silently pick it up and pause the music. He slowly turned his head, and when our eyes met, he let out a scream. The kind that made me jump as well. “River,” he chuckled, trying to cover up the fact that he had just screamed at the top of his lungs, scared. I dropped the player and did a double backward step, laughter escaping my lips nicely. “Hi there,” I murmured, and he narrowed his eyes at me. “You seemed to be having a lot of fun,” I added, a small smi
RIVERThe outing with Lana and Elise is for noon, but I can't help but get out of bed at the crack of dawn.“God curse my stupid habits,” I murmured to myself as I slipped out of bed to get water from the kitchen.By the time I got home last night, the lights in Taylor’s room were switched off. I was not sure if he was sleeping already since I heard a quiet noise from in there, but I knew he was trying to avoid me.I was grateful since it was a bit icky for me to face him now, not after how far I had gone to humiliate both of us.My eyes caught a shiny pack sitting on the counter; I moved to it and picked it up. My eyes scanned the handwritten sticky note stuck on it.I am sorry you had to lie like that yesterday. Take this as a peace offering, and I hope we can go back to being friends and not be awkward around each other. PS: the snack isn't poisoned, maybe not (smiley face emoji) - Taylor.I stared at his handwriting; for some reason, I did not expect his handwriting to look this g
RIVER“What was what?” I asked with a shrug, ready to disappear to my room.“All of that?”“Should I have kept quiet while she called me all sorts of names?” I asked, passing by him. The memory of what had just happened was haunting my mind. I tried to act as if it meant nothing when I knew I was probably going to toss and turn all day trying to make good sense of it.“No, but…”“Oh, I know how to deal with bullies a lot,” I added in case he was wondering how I managed to fight her off. “I also hope you will talk to her so she does not show up here like that again.”“I promise to take care of that,” he said, and before my fingers could connect with the door, the doorbell rang again. This time, Taylor got it, and it was the delivery guy. I paid, and he left.“Why don’t you set the plates while I clean up the mess at the door?” He asked, setting down the paper bag onto the table and turning away with a broom and a washrag. I set the table, and he came back later.The meal was awkward, a
RIVERThe doorbell rings, and I get up, walking over. The food must be here, and Taylor takes it as his cue to get plates out. After I suggested we have breakfast, we stayed on the couch in silence as we both stared at the image moving on the television screen.I could not even remember what the show was about, but we both sat there watching as if we were comfortable.“I will get the plates.” Taylor’s voice finally broke the silence as I pulled the door open.“How…” My words stopped in my throat when I realised that instead of the breakfast delivery guy standing outside. Vanessa is staring at me with her hair in a bun on the top of her head.Her eyes widened as the bag in her hand dropped to the ground, the contents of the bag spilling against the ground, soup spilling out.“You! Why are you here?” She muttered, her voice barely getting out of her throat.“Vanessa?” Taylor’s voice broke the intense stare between us. “What are you doing here?”“I should be asking this slut the same thi







