Twisted ties

Chapter One “Nona, are you ready?” Nona sat down with a book covered around her face, her stare looking disturbing as she kept reading. “So, what are you reading?” Rabel said, taking a glance at Nona as she kept driving. Nona shifted the book a bit closer off her face. “Just tell me. I’m not wearing my glasses. So you’re not gonna talk to me? This isn’t easy for me. You spent your life trying to get to the next level, but the same monster keeps getting in your way. But one day, when you’ve run out of hint points, you are given an extra chance at life, just like that,” Rabel said, giving a quick stare at Nona as she faced her eyes back on the road. “Mom, enough video game metaphors! I’m not ten!” Nona said, her head still facing down at her book. “Well, it’s like opening a new book, and a new story begins. Better?” Rabel said. Nona raised her head and slammed her book cover as she threw her face towards the window, ignoring Rabel. She desperately didn’t want to leave her friend

Our car sped off on the highway. The evening warmth made the drive smooth. We were half an hour late for the conference. The music volume lit up in the car as we drove. I sat at the back of the car with my mom and my stepdad. Feeling worried, I sank into the chair, my eyes drained with weakness.“Should I change the music? Maybe she likes something more… right?” Mr. Leister asked.“You’re riding, you choose,” Rabel replied while maintaining her makeup.I stared at the picture on my phone, my eyes fixed on Joel. I missed him so much. I went to our text messages and typed: CALL ME WHEN YOU GET THIS. Minutes later, my phone beeped with a message: I WILL CALL YOU LATER, GOTTA GO. BYE, LOVE YOU. Kisses.Looking out the window, a car zoomed by, ruining the slow drive. Inside, there was Nick. He had a cigarette in his hand, a smirk on his face as he winked at me and zoomed off.Reaching the conference, the room was well decorated, with a lot of people talking to each other. As we stepped in,

Eyes on the road, Your Highness.”Nick.I looked up and saw him smirking at me, drink in hand. His white dress shirt was half unbuttoned, sleeves rolled up. He seemed as effortless as ever, as if the world were his.“You abandoned me,” I snapped.“And yet, you’re here. Guess you survived.”I clenched my jaw. “You’re an ass.”Nick simply chuckled and took a slow sip of his drink. “Relax, freckles. You could use a little fun.”“Fun? Like almost running me over and then leaving me stranded?”“Like, loosen up,” he corrected. His smirk widened. “Tell you what—let’s make a bet.”My eyes narrowed. “What kind of bet?”“You’re new here, and clearly, you hate it,” he said. “I’ll bet you won’t make it a month in this house before trying to run away again.”I crossed my arms. “And if I do?”He tilted toward me, lowering his voice. “Then I’ll do whatever you want.”My stomach twisted, but I wouldn’t let him see how much he got under my skin.“And if I lose?”“You admit I was right about you.”I sc

No, man, not again. No, let me drive! I always wanted to drive one of these. I uttered intoxicated remarks. “No, baby, no way. You are drugged and don’t have a license.” A slight smile crossed Nick’s face. “I’m just dizzy, okay! But wait, you did drink though.” I pointed straight at his nose shakily. “Just one shot, okay?” he countered. “Yeah, but off of someone’s boobs. Nice and salty tequila mixed with sweat. Tasty, huh?” I chipped in. “What will Freud say about pouring liquids and sucking them up like that?” We drove for like five minutes before we got to Nick’s mansion. I was wrapped around his shoulder like a baby. He carried me with ease. Sure enough, I didn’t weigh anything on him ‘cause he moved effortlessly. “Freud isn’t some trap singer, so you know. He’d say that it’s shedding tears, or something worse, on your mother’s breast. So suck on that!” “Leave my mom out of this,” he said calmly. I tripped over the stairs, letting out a loud noise. “Shhhhh.” Nick softly pl

Nick accelerated aggressively as the race commenced. A spray of mist filled the air as he sped toward the finish line, leaving his rival behind. He clinched the victory, greeted by a chorus of cheers: “Nick! Nick! Nick! Nick!”Out of nowhere, Amike walked up to him and kissed him on the lips. I turned to Jessie, puzzled. “She’s back again? Is she his girlfriend?” I asked, confused.“Anna! Shh, his only girlfriend is that machine,” she answered reluctantly, as she continued cheering Nick. He placed a kiss on his car. I stood, puzzled.I stood there, confused. Out of nowhere, my phone buzzed with a message—an image from an unknown number. I squinted at the screen, trying to make out who it was from, but no name appeared.I just stood there, frozen. As I glanced down at my phone and tapped the screen to unlock it, the image popped up—and everything stopped. There they were: my boyfriend and my best friend, locked in a kiss.“What the fuck is this?!” I screamed.Jessie turned to me, confu