ログインThe moment the realization hit me, it didn’t sit quietly in my chest the way I thought it would.It didn’t come slow, It crashed my mind .I stood up so fast from the bed that it almost made me dizzy, my head spinning as I stared at nothing in particular. My heart was beating too loudly, too fast, like it was trying to break out of my chest.“No… no, no, no…” I muttered under my breath, dragging my hands through my hair.I started pacing.Back and forth.Back and forth.I couldn’t even stay still.“How… how is that even possible?” I whispered, my voice shaky.I tried to think.Tried to go back… to trace it.When did it start?Was it when he first defended me?No… that couldn’t be it.Was it when he started being nice to me?Or when he looked at me like I wasn’t invisible?Or when he held my hand?Or when he…I stopped pacing abruptly.I couldn’t place it.And that scared me even more.Because if I couldn’t even tell when it started, then that meant it had been building… slowly… withou
“Did I do anything wrong?”Rex asked as he parked the car. I couldn’t look at him and say what—that I was feeling so much guilt it felt like I was suffocating? I couldn’t tell him that. I couldn’t say anything to him.I hated that I had to lie to him. My heart ached so much because of it, but I couldn’t say the truth either. It could cost me a lot. Amber warned me about getting close to Rex, and now I could see why. It was no good.I used to be so comfortable with lying to him. It didn’t bother me, but now I was bothered, and I knew that wasn’t good for my plan.“I just don’t want to do this anymore… I will take full responsibility and even drop the course if I have to. I just want to go back,” I replied, facing the other side. I couldn’t look him in the eye.“You can’t just cancel a trip we have been planning for days… I do not understand why you would do that. Is it because I found out you used to stay at Centervile? I also apologized for yelling… Why are you being difficult, Lily?
Andrew Jade, that was his name …I could never forget Andrew, he made my life a living hell and he was unapologetic about it , I could handle seeing any other person but Andrew…his mouth was never shut, he spoke carelessly and that was exactly what I needed to avoid . . I stared at him, frozen, my fingers tightening around the edge of the table as his grin widened like he had just found something entertaining. “Wow…look who decided to show her face again,” he said, dragging the words , In my head I was wondering if it was work ethics for him to even be talking instead of taking others . Rex leaned back slightly, his eyes moving between us, confusion written all over his face. “You both know each other?” he asked again. I opened my mouth, but no words came out. Of course they didn’t, I always forget how to speak when I am scared . Because how was I supposed to explain this? Andrew didn’t wait for my answer. “Oh, we know each other alright,” he said, letting out a shor
Monica’s fingers wrapped around my wrist before I could even process what was happening, pulling me away from the entrance and into a quiet corner just beside the side wall of one of the buildings,My heart was still pounding, not just from seeing her, but from the realization that Rex was out there… and any second now, he would come back and notice I was gone. Forty-five minutes. That was all I had given myself. And now, standing in front of Monica, I wasn’t even sure five minutes would be enough. “Lily…” she started, her voice shaking slightly as she held my shoulders, her eyes scanning my face like she was trying to confirm I was real. “What are you doing here? Why are you in Centervile?” I opened my mouth to answer, but she didn’t give me the chance. “And why did you stop reaching out?” she continued, her brows knitting together, she was clearly confused , I didn’t blame her ….. “You just stoped reaching out, No calls, no messages, nothing. Do you know how worried I was?
Centerville was still the same, the small town where everyone lived like one big family. The only home I had ever truly known before Raven Pack. I was back here, yet my mind refused to settle on anything except what Rex had said in the car. “Married couples? Really?” I rolled my eyes as we stepped out of his parked car. My feet slowed on their own, and I found myself staring ahead. Centerville High. The pride of our small town. The first real building you would see when you entered. Nothing had changed—not the faded blue paint, not the old flag by the entrance, not even the cracked pavement leading up to the gates. And just like that, everything came rushing back. I was no longer standing beside Rex. I was standing in front of this same building a year ago, dressed in my graduation gown, holding my certificate with trembling hands. I had just turned eighteen. “Look at my daughter!” my dad had shouted, his voice louder than everyone else’s. I could almost see him now
“ Lily ! Get up !” “ Lily !” I heard Amber calling out for me as I grumble on the bed , turning to the other side, I couldn’t get enough sleep last night . “ Lily …Get up ! Rex is outside!” She said and I stood up immediately, turning to face her . “ Rex is outside? Why is Rex outside ?” I asked and she just shrugged. “ I have no idea ….Care to tell me ?” I rubbed my eyes , I couldn’t wrap my head around whether or not I had filled Amber in on the Centervile trip. “ Uhmmm…Hmmm…He is here for our trip “ “ What Trip ?” “ Rex and I are going to Centervile for our Human studies project “ I stood up before she could ask for a proper explanation and I stormed towards the bathroom . “ WHAT ! CENTERVILE!” Amber’s voice was high , just as expected , she rushed and pushed the door open . “ What do you mean you are going to centervile with Rex” She repeated while I prepare my bath . “ It’s for a school project …I couldn’t stop it , The tutor picked Rex as my partner and we
Nightfall was already approaching, and Lily was still nowhere to be found. She had promised to return before nightfall. Amber was seated outside, waiting for her. “Should I go over to the house?” Amber said, pacing around the front yard. She had been counting down to when Lily would walk in. Amb
The walk back to our room after Maltilda left was a little bit awkward. Amber held my hands so tightly while I walked behind her calmly. I wanted to say something… anything to break the silence, but I couldn’t find the perfect words. “I uhm…” “Lily…” We both spoke at once. She stopped and turne
“What did you just say to me?”Amber stepped away from me, but I grabbed her hand, my lips trembling.“What did you just say to me?” I repeated, my voice demanding answers while my brain refused to process what I had just heard.“How did I give birth to someone so stupid,” she repeated, yanking her
Rex just stared at me. His lips parted slightly, like he wanted to say something, but no words came out.“Just leave me alone… please,” I pleaded. My voice sounded painfully weak, even though I tried to steady it.“You should go back inside. You don’t look so good.” He reached for my hand.I pushed







