LOGIN~RHEA~“I want to tell Zander the truth,” I told Heather as we walked toward the cafeteria.I had been surprised to find her waiting outside my lecture hall earlier, but I was glad she had come. With everything going on, I needed someone to talk to, and there was no one I trusted more with my problems than her.Heather stopped walking and turned to me, her eyes widening. “Really? When?”“Tonight. I already asked him to meet me at the beach.”“Tonight?” she repeated, studying my face. “Are you sure you want to tell him now? I mean, the whole reason you kept quiet was because you wanted him to focus on the playoffs, right?”“The playoffs are tomorrow,” she added when I didn’t respond immediately. “If you tell him everything tonight, what if it affects his concentration?”I frowned, because that was exactly what I had been worrying about for days.“I’m afraid Chase is planning something, Heather, and I don’t like keeping secrets from Zander anymore.”“Rhea…”“I miss him.” The words slipp
~ZANDER~A frown crossed my face at the sound of Chase’s voice.I turned toward Rhea and immediately noticed the change in her expression. The playful warmth that had filled her eyes moments ago disappeared, replaced by the kind of fear she had been trying so hard to hide from me.She took a step toward the door, but I caught her wrist before she could go any further.“Don’t.”“But…”“Look at me,” I said gently.She didn’t turn around, so I rose from the bed and moved in front of her. Taking both her hands in mine, I frowned when I felt how cold they had become.“Hey, Ladybug. Look at me.”She slowly lifted her head, and my heart sank at the sight of tears gathering in her eyes.“He won’t go away,” she whispered.“Then we’ll ignore him.” I brushed my thumb over her knuckles, trying to ease the tension in her hands. “Don’t let him ruin our night.”“You don’t understand…”“Then help me understand, Rhea.” My voice softened even further. “I don’t understand because you won’t tell me what’
~RHEA~“It looks like it’s going to rain,” I pointed out as I stood by the window, watching the dark clouds gather in the distance.Zander was in my room because he had asked to spend the night, and I hadn’t been able to tell him no. Not after everything he had shared with me earlier. After hearing about the pain he had carried for so long, the last thing I wanted was to turn him away when he needed someone.I knew he needed comfort, even if neither of us knew how to ask for it.“It is,” he confirmed.An awkward silence settled between us as we stared at each other. When his gaze met mine, I quickly looked away, pretending to be fascinated by the weather outside. I heard him chuckle, and my brows furrowed.“Why are you being awkward with me?” he asked.“I’m not.” I scoffed, even as heat crept into my cheeks.He didn’t bother arguing. Instead, he rose from the bed and walked toward me. I tried to focus on anything but the ridiculously handsome man approaching me, but he gently caught m
~HEATHER~“Are you sure you know how to play this game?” Kai questioned with a raised eyebrow.He was currently standing beside me with his arms crossed, watching me pick up a bowling ball.I shot him a glare. “Are you sure you know how to keep your mouth shut?” He burst out laughing and I couldn't help the smile that tugged at my lips.I couldn't remember the last time I laughed this much and I was currently happy that I agreed to go out with Kai tonight.At first I had been skeptical because I had just gotten out of something I couldn't even explain with his best friend and didn't want to give Kai any false hopes.But I needed it, especially since my relationship with Rhea was still rocky.“Go on then, sweetheart. Show me that you've got” He urged and I rolled my eyes.“I'm not your sweetheart.” I muttered before turning towards the Bowling lane. I was determined to wipe that smile off his damn face.I positioned my feet the way I'd seen him do earlier then gripped the ball with bo
~RHEA~ I closed the door before turning around to face Zander.The last time he was here, I had been too overwhelmed by him to notice how huge he looked in my dorm room.He turned to me and my breath hitched when our eyes connected. His earlier words had heat rushing to my cheeks.I cleared my throat as I walked closer to him.“Take a seat. I'll clean up your knuckles” I whispered as I pointed at my bed.“Here” He handed the plastic bag in his hand. “I should have dropped it off earlier. You haven't eaten, have you?” I shook my head as I took the bag from him.“I was about to go get something” I confessed and he tilted his head.“Did you think I wasn't going to come anymore?” He whispered and I lifted my eyes to his and nodded.“I did”He stared at me for a while then chuckled.“I can't have you starve yourself to death and I worry about you” He murmured softly then pushed some strands of hair that had fallen over my face before taking a seat on my bed.I stood there for a while,
~RHEA~ “No, Chase” I muttered with a tired tone and tried to slam my door in his face but he used his foot to stop me from doing that.“Please, just this one? You already rejected my offer the last time. Just agree now” He pleaded and I sighed.He has messaged me earlier and asked me to go out on a date with him again even after I told him no the last time. “What's the use of starting over if you won't go on a date with me?” He asked and I scoffed.“When did I ever agree to start over with you? I broke up with Zander and moved out here because of you. Isn't that enough? Aren't you happy?” I questioned and he shook his head.“No, because you refuse to see me again. Remember? You used to love me…”“Key word, used to, till you showed me your true colours. I want nothing to do with the new you, Chase. Are you going to blackmail me into dating you too?” I asked and he frowned.“Rhea…”“I had a long day Chase, I'm tired and just want to head to bed…”“What can I do?” He interjected. “Wh
~RHEA~ I had blacked out from that day.The last thing I remembered after running out of the stadium was calling my dad while hysterically crying.It wasn't the silent tears I had grown accustomed to, it was ugly and bitter. The kind that clawed its way out my chest until breathing itself hurt.
~RHEA~ “You know how much I want you, Rhea. You know how much I want to fuck you” Chase murmured as he pressed me up against the wall, sliding his fingers down my thigh.“Tell me what you want” He whispered into my ear and my heart slammed rationally against my ribcage as I stared up at him.“I
~RHEA~ “He left you on the curb?” Heather screeched, horrified, as she led me up to her room.I had called her earlier and she had immediately given me the location of her dorm and luckily, she had taken my luggage with her.“Technically, I got out of his car and he can't exactly force me” I mut
~RHEA~ Girlfriend?“Girlfriend?” Heather, Chase and Sienna echoed as they stared at me like I knew a fuck about what was going on.The murmurs began as everyone in the crowd stared at us with wide eyes and I could see the questions in their eyes but they seemed too scared to speak.Before I could







