Masuk★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★CALEB’S POV★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★The knock on the door startles me out of a light sleep. Levi is still asleep, one arm flung over his head, breathing slow and even. I quickly pull on a shirt and cross the small studio apartment.When I open the door, Vanya stands there in all her 5’2 glory, arms crossed and eyebrows raised. Tony at 5’9 hovers behind her, like he’s the smaller one. He offers one of his sweet smiles—the same as always. I’d smile back if I knew what the hell they were doing here. How did they even find Levi’s house?“Where the hell have you been?” Vanya ever demanding. As usual.I blink, momentarily speechless. Vanya’s eyes narrow. “You better not be fucking your tutor, Caleb.”“Jesus, Vanya,” Tony mutters, as he gives her a gentle nudge.I’m grateful I at least managed to put a shirt on. I open the door wider for Vanya and Tony to step inside. Vanya immediately drops onto the couch, crossing her legs like she owns the place. Tony sits more caref
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★CALEB’S POV★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★The next morning, Levi’s apartment feels smaller than usual. Probably all the time spent at his childhood mansion, or the heaviness that follows from what happened yesterday at the red light.. Sunlight glows through the single large window, casting long stripes across the unmade bed and the tiny kitchenette. The coffee burn on my neck and chest still stings faintly under the shirt I have on, and every time I move, I’m reminded of yesterday.I’m sitting on the edge of the bed, knees drawn up, staring at the floor. The taste of burnt coffee still lingers on my tongue no matter how many times I rinse my mouth. And every time I close my eyes I see the hit cup of coffee flying at my face. Levi moves quietly around the cramped space, scrambling eggs on the stove and making toast. His usual easy rhythm is gone, his shoulders tense, jaw tight. He keeps glancing over at me like he’s afraid something might go wrong with me if he isn’t loo
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ CALEB’S POV ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ This has been the best summer of my life. If I had to describe it in one word: bliss. A whole three months of it, where the rest of the world disappeared. All Levi and I did was lock ourselves upstairs, only coming down for breakfast, dinner, and to check on the horses. We fucked every minute we had. I still don’t know where my stamina came from—maybe it was the way being in a closed space with him made me constantly, embarrassingly horny. One look at his bare back while he was pulling on a shirt and I was on him again. One lazy kiss in the kitchen and we’d end up back in bed for hours. It was crazy and perfect and I never wanted it to end. But summer’s over now. We’re driving back to Delaware, and I’m a little sad it’s over. But, happy too. Happy to move on to this next phase of Levi and my life together. I won’t be going back to school. I’ll just be at Levi’s place, I guess. A liability once more since I can’t stay in the do
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★CALEB’S POV★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★The flight back to Levi’s place is early the next morning. I spend most of it with my head on his shoulder and his fingers laced through mine. I watch the clouds slide past the window and my mind keeps replaying the text from Mum on a loop. I read it again in the airport bathroom. I just squeeze Levi’s hand tighter every time the words surface.The morning sun still low and golden when we pull into the driveway. There’s a car parked there“Who’s home?” I ask.“It’s mum.” Levi says, parking beside it.We grab our bags from the trunk and head inside.Mrs Sinclair is at the dining table, a laptop open in front of her. She shuts it when she sees us enter. She stands and pull Levi into a quick hug when we’re close enough. Then she turns to me. “Hello, dear.” She says before hugging me just as tight. She steps back, hands still on my arms. “How did it go?”Levi rubs the back of his neck. “Good.”“I came out to my parents,” I say.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★CALEB’S POV★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★“Caleb." Levi calls from behind me. But I don't even wait, I just want to get out of here. "Caleb." He calls again and I stop to turn a round. "What?""Calm down." He says gently. "Just calm down.""I'm calm.""Are you sure of what you’re doing?""What?" "Are you sure about what you’re doing? You don’t have to leave because of me.""I’m not leaving cause of you.” I take a step closer. “I’m leaving because I really can’t stand any of them right now. And I want to be with you.”He hesitates. "But what about your mum? Do you think she was being serious?""I don’t think so. They’ll come around. They have to." This reassurance doesn’t even sound true to me, but I cling to it anyway. I have to hope."Levi watches me quietly, his expression soft with uncertainty.“Okay.”"Oh my god.” I mumble, reality crashing in."What?" Levi asks with concern. "I hadn't even thought of where we were leaving to.""A small, warm smile tu
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★CALEB’S POV★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★Ellie steps closer, her voice soft and pleading, a tone that sounds like she thinks I’m marking a mistake.“Caleb, honey, I’m on your side. I only want what’s best for you. Your parents love you. We all do. This doesn’t have to define you—”I can’t believe the words coming out of her mouth. Anger and exhaustion boil up so fast I can barely breathe. “Stop.” My voice cracks. “Tim wasn’t just some crush. He was my first boyfriend. We were a thing. Even before you two got together. He came after me when I was sixteen. Tim is a fucking liar.”Ellie’s face goes pale. She shakes her head, eyes wide with disbelief. “Caleb, stop it. You know that’s not true. You’re confused. Tim told me about your little crush, but it was innocent. You’re just mixed up right now. Trust me I know how you fe—”“I’m not confused!” The shout rips out of me before I can stop it. “He’s been lying to you this whole time!”She flinches. “Caleb, please
*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•CALEB*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•Outside, the spring air carries a cool, clean breeze that I can only feel when I open my window. Inside my dorm room, I've been living in a quiet state of cognitive freeze for th
CALEB I’m sitting across from Vanya and Tony in the university dining hall. It’s a buzzing Friday afternoon in here. The clatter of trays, a hundred conversations, is an assault on my sense of hearing. Getting chewed out by Vanya about not choosing a tutor yet is an assault on my ego. I’m picking
CALEBI haven’t slept in three days. After I ran away from my family, since I vomited on my sister and laid a curse on her husband. In those three it’s been silence from my family, from Ellie. In those three days I’ve sat in this soulless dorm room—I think I’m growing roots. How do I force myself t
CALEB“Caleb you’re wearing your shirt the wrong way.” Vanya says.I stop short at opening the car door, the metal is cold against my skin. I look down. Yes, i am. I release a long sigh and take it off right there in the middle of the driveway, the morning air pricking my skin like a thousand tiny







