LOGINSydney “She doesn’t get to walk all over you just because she knows how much you respect her.” Meave’s words echoed in my head.“But Tyler—” “Tyler nothing, Syd.” Her voice had gone soft. “She hurt you too. Not just Tyler.” Those words stayed with me for the rest of school. And safe to say, I barely concentrated.Not through the rest of the classes. Not at the library when I tried to read and do a little research. Not even when I eventually climbed into the back seat of the car.Because honestly, the more I thought of it, the more that tiny voice in my head rose above the others.The part that didn’t want to let it go. That part that still hurt knowing Brooklyn had lied to me. Smiled at me at the table while she said all those things.Made me believe her.Made me yell at Tyler.“She hurt you too. Not just Tyler.”I swallowed, feeling my breath shake as I squeezed my sheets between my fingers, my bed making a slight creak as I slid to the edge.All my life I’d wanted a sibling. Some
SydneyThe lunch bell finally rang after what felt like forever, the sound echoing through the class like some kind of reward.Because somewhere in between being caught up in what that weird shift in class was, and forcing myself not to think about it, I’d barely managed to focus on taking things down into my notebook.And when lunch finally came, Maeve and I strolled into the cafeteria, honestly expecting that loud, annoying noise that usually came with students pretending table manners didn’t exist.Instead, it was that same low murmur from the hallway. Quiet enough that if you didn’t know better, you’d think it wasn’t a normal day at Lakeview High.I looked at Maeve as we settled at a table, but somehow it didn’t seem like she noticed.Or so I thought.“...and she just started crying like parrots aren’t cute.” She took another bite of her burger. “It was a compliment.”I snorted, fumbling lightly with mine before glancing up.My eyes met some girl at the next table.She looked awa
SydneySurprisingly, I slept pretty well that night. I mean, my head did throb for a few more minutes after Mom walked with me out of the balcony. But that was probably because I’d watched the laptop cursor blink for a few more seconds before finally giving up.And after what felt like the second I pulled my duvet over my head, I was out.But guess what?Morning came in thirteen minutes. And it took something in me for me not to slam my alarm clock to pieces when it echoed painfully through my room.But after about an hour of showering, digging through my closet only to pick out an ash hoodie and jeans eventually, stuffing my bag with books I was half sure I wasn’t even going to need…I stood in front of my mirror with a hairbrush in my hand.And for some reason, I just stared.I watched my face, my shoulders, my arms, my thighs held together in those jeans.I felt nothing.That same empty feeling from yesterday had settled quietly inside my chest again, and I couldn’t explain it.It
SydneyNo one really talks about that empty feeling in your chest when you finally let out something you’ve been fighting to hold back.Or the heavier one that comes right after. When you realize what you’ve just done.In my case?I was shaking.I was shaking so badly I nearly missed the last step before Maeve’s car. Yet somehow, my tears seemed to have rolled backward and refused to come forward again.It felt wrong.My hands wouldn’t stop trembling, my chest still hurt, but my eyes stayed dry as we drove home in silence.Maybe I was still angry.Or maybe…a part of me didn’t want Maeve worrying any more than she already was.But the second she quietly asked if she could come upstairs with me…Everything broke.The tears came so quickly I couldn’t stop them, sliding down my cheeks before I even reached my bedroom.And somehow, hearing the door click shut behind us only made it worse. Because the entire conversation came rushing back.Every word. Every step Tyler took towards me with t
Tyler I stood there for what felt like forever, just staring. Like Sydney was still standing in front of me. Like she’d suddenly turn around, and we’d pretend none of that conversation ever happened. I’d let it go, I swear. Because…no. That could not have just happened. The hallway had emptied completely without me noticing. The noise from the main corridor drifted in and out. Somewhere upstairs, someone laughed, the library door up ahead slammed shut, and footsteps echoed past the entrance before fading again. But I barely heard any of it. All I could see was Sydney. Still standing there with her arms wrapped around herself, tears settling beneath her eyes as she looked up at me like I was some problem she was tired of facing. “I’m trying to breathe…please.” My chest tightened. “...how easy it is to get to you.” Fuck. I swear I hadn’t meant it like that. I didn’t mean to call her weak or whatever she thought I meant. I was talking about Brooklyn. About
Sydney“What does this mean to you?”That stopped him for a second. Then he blinked.“What?” “What does this mean to you, Tyler?” I repeated, my voice sharper this time. “Why do you keep coming after me? Why are you doing all of this when you already know you’re just going to walk away from me?”His brows pulled closer. “I’m sorry…what?” I should have stopped right there. I should have swallowed every word sitting at the back of my throat, walked out that hallway, and never looked back.I could’ve lied.Anything.Instead, I looked him straight in the eye.“Why did you kiss me, Tyler?” My voice cracked. “Why did you tell me all those things when you don’t actually mean—” “Sydney,” he cut in quietly, his eyes searching mine. “Where is all this coming from?”I had another chance to lie.Maybe told him to forget I’d said anything.Instead—“Brooklyn.” I blurted like an idiot. “Brooklyn told me everything. She told me this is what you do. You make girls feel special. You tell them ever
Tyler “Sydney Walker,” I’d repeated all day in my head. And the moment Brooklyn yelled my name, running toward me on the basketball court, and I found out that that curvy genius she hadn’t stopped blabbing about all week was her sister— Everything shifted. I swear I’m not a bully. I’ve neve
“Okay, rule number one,” Maeve said over the noise in the cafeteria. “Don’t challenge Tyler Sinclair in algebra.” I tried my best not to look around. "Why? He was wrong.” Maeve picked up a food tray and stopped in front of me. "I'm not blind, Sydney. And no one else in that class was. We all saw
Sydney Being Sydney Walker had never been easy. Not when I was little. Not now, as you’re reading this. At first, I was just that antisocial, nerdy girl who never put up her hand in class even when she knew an answer, who never looked anyone in the eye in the hallway, the girl who ran home the s
Tyler I didn’t even want to come in the first place. Michael’s parties were always predictable—crowded house, expensive liquor stolen from his parent’s wine cellar, music loud enough to make you go deaf. Same faces, same people in silly costumes, thirsty for some recognition. The only reas







