MasukLiviana stepped out of the bathroom with one goal: to forget everything.Forget her husband, and their marital problems, and that one broken promise that seemed to be the straw that broke the camel’s back, though she had no idea why.Why did today feel so different? So detrimental? So disappointing it could’ve felt like the end of the world? Maybe the end of her marriage?It was one broken promise, one letdown out of many, and she couldn’t fathom why it felt the way it did. Why it hurt so badly, worse than all the other heartbreaks she’d faced throughout their relationship before. Why it felt more like a warning sign than anything else. A promise of what was to come - that ending she knew all too well. The one where they argued, fought, said something unforgivable, and found themselves right back where they started. Back to living their own separate lives beside each other, as if there were some sort of invisible line they couldn’t - shouldn’t - cross. Not again. Not after what happen
The moment dinner was adjourned, Liviana jumped out of her seat so fast you would think it was on fire. She abandoned her plate, which was still full, just as she claimed to be, and ignored the way Violet and her parents called after her when she fled.She swiped her bag from the front door and made a beeline for the stairs, taking them two at a time. “Blaze...” she mumbled to herself, already pulling out her phone and texting his number, demanding answers.Where was he? Was he okay? Why wasn’t he answering her? When was he coming home? Who was he with? Was it Armani? Was Armani okay? Should she be worried about them? About him? Why wasn’t he picking up the phone? Why would he do this to her?Why would Blaze break his promise? And worse, why would he ignore her? All she wanted - no, all she needed was to know that he was okay. That he was alive. Safe - and maybe even happy - wherever he was, even if it wasn’t with her.She huffed as she typed, rushing through the halls without so much
Dinner passed by in a blur, smoother once the tension settled, the chaos dissipating into quiet conversation as everyone tried to ignore the elephant in the room - Liviana and her obvious lies.The raven sat in silence as they ate, merely poking at her own food as her mind ran in circles, eyes darting toward the clock every couple of seconds as if it held all the answers.Where the hell was Blaze? Why wasn’t he here? Was he okay?God, she hoped he was okay.But what if he wasn’t? What if he were hurt? What if he was out there somewhere, scared and alone, and she was just here, waiting for nothing? For a man who would never come? Blaming him for being late - for forgetting about her - when he might’ve had no other choice? What if that sinking feeling in her stomach was right, and something was wrong?The thought made her stomach churn, and her appetite turned practically non-existent.Violet watches her closely, a small frown tugging at her lips as she sees her drop her fork, pushing h
The man shifted nervously where he stood, perched against the brick walls of the old bar, finger hovering above the button while he second-guessed everything.What if she didn’t answer? What if she did, and everything he feared came true? The thought of hearing her say it - that she hated him, that she couldn’t - wouldn’t - forgive him, and that he’d finally lost her for good - was enough to rattle him, changing his mind in an instant. He locks his screen and pockets his phone, dropping his head back against the wall to breathe.His hands shake by his sides, and he pauses, squeezing them into tight fists in a weak attempt to stop it, sucking in a deep breath as if to help. “C’mon,” he murmured, blinking up at the sky and trying to remind himself that he was perfectly fine. Physically, at least. “Just breathe, idiot,” he cuts himself off with a sharper breath, dropping his head forward this time and closing his eyes.The thought of needing another drink crosses his mind, needing someth
The pub was loud, filled with the sounds of its most loyal patrons - a pack of mouthy drunks that could never bear to tear themselves away from their favorite place. The ones who turned it into a makeshift home, filling it with music and laughter and the constant sound of chatter, taking full advantage of the place that never closed.It’s those same people who made Blaze and Armani feel so welcomed - so safe as to lose themselves in the music and drinks, letting their guard down for once in their lives because, as far as they could tell, no one here cared enough to tell. No one cared about who they were or what they do. Not really.That’s why the pair of brothers kept coming back, turning the bar into their haven whenever life flipped them on their heads, because even on their worst days, the bar always seemed to welcome them back in with open arms.Today was no exception. Blaze and Armani walked into the bar with their heads held high, the bell ringing above the door to alert the sm
Blaze and Armani were more than just brothers. They were friends, too. Best friends. Confidants. And there wasn’t anyone else in the whole world who proved to be as loyal or kind. There wasn’t anyone else they could trust. Not with their deepest, darkest secrets or the emotions they could never quite name, but always seemed to tear them apart.And although the Castelli’s weren’t the best at handling their emotions and putting their feelings into words, there was always some sort of understanding between the two brothers - a special kind of connection that made it so they didn’t even have to try. Not to speak or listen, or look for whatever underlying clues hidden between the lines. Not when they knew each other so well. Better than anyone else ever had or will.Instead, the two would sit, and they would share a drink - or rather a bottle of whatever they chose for the day - and they would drown out their sorrows until, eventually, whatever was bothering them would come up to the surfa
"Livi?"The girl nearly shrieks, settling for a gasp as she pulls her bedroom door shut in a rush. "Dad!" She greets, spinning around to face the man. "Hi!""What are you doing?""Nothing," she says, frowning. "I'm not doing anything. Why do you ask?""You seem... different," he says. "Odd. Are you sure
"Are you... serious?"At the awkward question and the meek voice it's spoken by, Ben glances up from his spot on the bed and hums. "Serious?" He echoes, unsure about what she was muttering on about. "About what?""Mom and dad," Liviana reminds, asking, "are they really that bad?"Ben sighs, attempting
The Santora family sat under a thick blanket of silence, tense as they ate. Alonzo sat at the head of the table, scrutinizing his family with a heavy gaze that weighed them down, and soon enough, it felt as though he was trying to burn a hole through their heads with such an intense gaze. The eldest
Strolling through the hedges was difficult - awkward - and the Santora siblings couldn't handle it. They absolutely hated this heavy feeling hanging between them. Never have they ever felt so detached."Where are we going?" Tino asks, glancing around at the tall rose bushes that kept them secluded. "







