CHAPTER 2
The final bell rang, signaling the end of another exhausting day at Willow Creek High School. Lila Emerson rushed down the corridor, head dropped, attempting to avoid the sneers and taunts that appeared to follow her like a dark cloud."Hey, mute girl!" Caleb's nasty voice cut over the din of students. "Why don't you open that pretty little mouth and say something for once?"Lila increased her speed, her heart beating against her ribs. She could feel their gaze on her, burning into her back like hot coals. A nasty chuckle rang out behind her, followed by a chorus of giggles from Caleb's buddies.Pushing through the double doors, she sucked in the fresh air, hoping it would calm her racing heart. The taunts faded into the distance, but their pain persisted, like a constant aching that refused to go away.Mia's house was a few blocks away, a haven from the nastiness that seemed to follow Lila everywhere she went. She headed out down the usual walk, her thoughts going to her best friend, who was confined to her bed by an unyielding sickness.Mia's front door opened before Lila could knock, and her mother, Elizabeth, welcomed her with a loving grin. "She's upstairs, honey," she murmured, her voice filled with anguish. "She's been asking for you."Lila nodded, giving a modest, thankful grin in response. She climbed the stairs, each step carrying the weight of her worries.Mia's room was dim, with the curtains pulled against the strong sunlight. Her companion was propped up against a stack of pillows, her once-vibrant skin pale and strained tight around her bones. Lila's heart hurt at the sight, but she forced a brave grin to her lips."Hey, you," Mia said, her voice barely above a whisper.Lila set up a chair by the bed and reached out to grab Mia's hand. Her fingertips felt like fragile twigs."Those assholes giving you a hard time again?" Mia inquired, her eyes blazing with rage.Lila shrugged, her fingers making a series of flowing gestures. "Same shit, different day."Mia snorted, letting a shadow of her former self shine through. "Fuck 'em," she signed back, her movements slow but resolute. "They're just a bunch of small-minded pricks who can't handle anything different."A sorrowful smile tugged at Lila's lips. She grasped Mia's hand, grateful for her unfailing support, despite her difficulties."You know," Mia began, her gaze drifting away, "sometimes I wonder if it's simpler this way. I don't have to deal with their garbage anymore.""I know," Mia murmured, her voice full of disappointment. "It's just... sometimes it seems like the world is against us, you know? "As if we're fighting a losing battle."Lila leaned forward and cradled Mia's face in her hands. Her eyes were filled with ferocious intent, and her fingers moved with passionate intensity. "We're in it together. Always."Mia's lips curved into a small grin, and her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "Yeah," she said softly, her voice full of emotion. "Together."They sat in silence, hands entwined, gathering strength from each other's company. The weight of the world appeared to lighten, if only for a minute, as they sought comfort in their unbreakable relationship.Outside, the sun began to set below the horizon, throwing lengthy shadows throughout the room. Lila knew she ought to leave, but she couldn't bring herself to disrupt the precious peace that had settled over them."Stay?" Mia pleaded, her eyes begging.Lila nodded and sank back into the chair, her heart filled with fierce love and loyalty that went beyond words.As the day drew in around them, they clung to one other, two kindred spirits negotiating the hard realities of a world that was frequently brutal and unforgiving. But, in that time, they found solace in their friendship, which no amount of cruelty could ever break.The afternoon wore on, and the two friends found solace in each other's presence. But as the Sun rays of light broke through the curtains, the weight of the world fell back on them.Mia's eyes widened as she sought Lila's comforting presence beside her bed. "You're still here," she signed, a relieved smile tugging on her thin lips.Lila nodded and returned the smile. Her fingers moved smoothly, "Of course. I promised to stay, didn't I?An appreciative look passed between them, a silent acknowledgment of the unshakable link they had.Mia sighed as she looked out the window at the sky, which was gradually becoming brighter. "Another day," she signed, her movements full of resignation.Lila's visage hardened, and her jaw clenched at the prospect of facing the vicious comments and jeers at school. But, for Mia's sake, she faked a courageous smile. "Do not worry about me. "I can deal with those assholes."Mia scrunched her face with apprehension. "Will you at least try to avoid Caleb and his goons tomorrow?"Lila shrugged, her fingers moving dismissively. "I will be alright, Mia. "They're all bark, no bite."Mia did not appear convinced, but she knew better than to fight with her stubborn best friend. "Just...be careful, okay?"Lila leaned closer, rubbing her forehead against Mia's in an affectionate gesture. Her fingers skated across Mia's palm, forming a secret promise. "I will be back tonight. Count on it.Mia's lips curved into a faint smile, and she gently squeezed Lila's hand in gratitude for the comfort.With a sad heart, Lila untangled herself from the tangled sheets and moved towards the door, each step feeling like a lead weight. She hesitated in the doorway, her gaze drawn to Mia's weak figure, and signed, "See you later?"Mia nodded, her eyes filled with love and anxiety. "Stay safe," she said quietly, the words hanging in the air between them.As Lila started to leave, Elizabeth's quiet voice interrupted her. "Lila, wait a minute, honey."Lila shifted, her brow furrowed as Mia's mother arrived. Sarah's eyes were rimmed with heavy circles from the restless nights she'd spent watching over her baby."I know things have been...difficult lately," Sarah said, examining Lila's emotive gestures while Mia translated her friend's sign language. "With Mia's condition and...your situation at home."Lila's shoulders tightened and her fingers moved effortlessly as Mia's words rang out, deciphering her thoughts. "Mrs. Elizabeth, it's been incredibly hard. But I'm managing."Elizabeth extended her wrinkled hand, touching Lila's cheek with parental tenderness. "Your father loves you, you know that?"When her father's name was spoken, Lila's face turned to despair. Mia's hands moved methodically as she said the phrases aloud. "I know he does. But it doesn't always feel like it.Elizabeth’s forehead furrowed with anxiety, while Mia continued to echo Lila's views. "Honey, he's doing his best." Losing your mother was traumatic for him. "For both of you."Lila's throat clenched, and she blinked back tears, her fingers communicating what her mouth couldn't. "It still hurts a lot. Some days, I can scarcely breathe because of the anguish."Elizabeth sighed and pulled Lila into a passionate embrace, holding her firmly while Mia fell silent. They remained like this for a long time, Elizabeth protecting Lila from the harsh facts of life with her maternal love. As they separated, Lila straightened her shoulders, her features hardening with purpose.Mia's voice came out again, relaying Lila's final words. Thank you, Mrs. Elizabeth. "I needed to hear that."Lila stepped out into the bright afternoon light, bracing herself for the comments and sneers she would face at Willow Creek High. But this time, she took Mia’s words as a talisman, a reminder that even in the darkest of circumstances, love can triumph.CHAPTER 3LILA POV: Lila pulled open the door to her father's workshop, where she was met by the familiar fragrance of sawdust and varnish. It was a smell she had remembered since she was a youngster, a constant companion amidst her life's ever-changing currents.Ethan Emerson stood slumped over his workstation, his broad shoulders straining against the tightness of his well-worn shirt. The rhythmic rasp of sandpaper against wood filled the air, interrupted by her father's grunts of stress. Lila lingered in the doorway for a time, her fingers twitching with the want to announce her arrival. But something was holding her back, a tension that appeared to crackle in the air between them like static electricity.Finally, Ethan looked up, his brow furrowing as he noticed her there. "Lila," he grumbled, his voice rough. "Didn't hear you come in."Her hands moved smoothly, each gesture precise and purposeful. "You were focused on your work."Ethan grumbled again and dropped the half-sanded
CHAPTER 4With a tremulous smile tugging at the edges of her lips, Lila went forward and carefully pried the dirty paper towels from her father's white-knuckled hands. Ethan winced as the improvised bandage ripped away from the sharp wound, revealing fresh blood and flowing scarlet rivulets down his forearm.Lila's breath caught in her throat, but she refused to let the sight of her father's wounds upset her newfound determination. Her actions were smooth and sure as she gently rinsed Ethan's hand under the cool water, removing the congealed blood and dirt.Ethan growled through gritted teeth, his face contorted into a pained expression. "Son of a b*tch," he snarled, his words full of hatred.Lila gave him a severe look, waving her fingers in a stinging reproach. "Language, Dad."To her surprise, Ethan's lips twitched into a ghostly smile. "Yes, ma'am," he said, grudgingly respectful.Lila worked quickly and expertly to clean and treat the wound, her experienced hands belied her youth
CHAPTER 5As they arrived home, the steady throbbing in Ethan's palm served as a continuous reminder of how quickly things may go wrong. Each throb of anguish served as a flashing neon sign, telling him not to take the delicate calm he had discovered with Lila for granted. He flexed his tightly bandaged fingers, wincing at the strain of torn tissue and muscle beneath the bandage. An accident like this could have been terrible for someone who relied on his hands to make money. As it was, the forced idleness and reliance on others irritated every fiber of his steadfast independence.But as Ethan watched Lila painstakingly prepare his antibiotic prescription, he felt a weird sense of serenity. The awkward, stiff quiet that had existed between them for so long had ended. In its place was a newfound ease, an understanding rooted in shared vulnerability.Lila looked up, her beautiful eyes searching his face as she extended the small paper cup containing capsules. _"Time for your meds,"_ sh
CHAPTER 6Willow Creek High's hallways buzzed with the familiar thrum of teenage chaos. Bodies pushed and rubbed against one another in a turning sea of hormones and indifference. While banging lockers and wild laughing, Lila Emerson's Absence went completely unnoticed.To most, she was nothing more than a silent shadow on the outskirts of their awareness. A mystery cloaked in the impenetrable cloak of her silence. Caleb Matthews, on the other hand, saw her as a strange form of entertainment—a punching bag on which he could unleash his cruelest jabs and most savage derisions.As he swaggered into the crowded corridor, a malicious smirk formed on his lips, his alpha pheromones billowing through the air like a toxic cloud. Beside him, Yuria, his fiancée Miranda's best friend, was practically crazy with excitement, her anxious eyes flitting over his carved features."Heard the mute freak decided to play hooky today," Caleb snarled, his words oozing with contempt. "Lucky bitch gets to ski
CHAPTER 7The final bell rang, echoing through the now-empty halls like a starting pistol. Yuria ran out the front doors, her pulse pumping with nerves and excitement. Caleb's beautiful sports car was already idling on the curb when she arrived. He cranked the engine anxiously as she got into the passenger seat, and the roar sent shivers down her spine. Without saying anything, he stepped away from the school, one hand firmly operating the gearshift.The short journey to his house was spent in tense quiet, the tension building with each sidelong glance and half-smile they shared. By the time Caleb pulled into his vacant driveway, Yuria could not breathe from her need for him.He turned off the engine but did not make any attempts to exit the car. They locked eyes and stared at one other for a passionate minute. With an animalistic grunt, Caleb surged across the desk, smashing his lips against Yuria's in a searing, desperate kiss.She gasped into his mouth, grabbing his shirt, as need
CHAPTER 8Caleb appeared to figure out the direction of her thoughts. He leaned in close, his lips brushing against the soft skin just behind her ear. "Don't overthink this, babe," he said in that deep, gravelly voice that never failed to pique her interest. "We both got exactly what we wanted today. There's no need to ruin the mood with unnecessary details."Yuria shuddered as his husky tenor caressed her senses, making rational thought difficult. Perhaps he was correct; why concentrate on possibilities that could go nowhere good? For the time being, she should simply enjoy the private conversations they had while Miranda was away.Yuria turned in Caleb's arms, determinedly ignoring her anxieties, until she was straddling his lean hips, her tumbling hair creating a leather curtain around them. "You're right," she whispered, laying a line of feathery kisses across his muscular chest. "No need to ruin the mood with unnecessary drama."Caleb gasped in approval, his hands finding grip on
CHAPTER 9Claire Matthews entered through the front entrance, her arms full of grocery bags. "Caleb? Julia? We're back!" she said in a cheerful, sing-song voice.Robert followed closely behind, expertly shouldering the larger paper sacks from the car while flashing his wife a loving grin. "The conquering heroes return from a hard day's hunter-gathering," he said with a laugh.Robert noticed movement in the living room and raised his brow in astonishment as Caleb came into view, trailed by Julia. "Well, what is this? "Son, shouldn't you be at basketball practice?"There was no reproach in his tone, only quiet inquiry. Robert took satisfaction in being involved in his children's lives, especially because Claire's high-pressure career kept her away from home more than they preferred.Caleb shrugged, his casual lean highlighted by the broad, muscular shape that always gave Robert a quiet sense of masculine pride. "Hi, Dad. Coach canceled today's class, saying, "We've been pushing ourselve
CHAPTER 10YURIA POV:Yuria awoke from a restless sleep as her phone buzzed. She looked at Miranda's name on the screen, a gradual smirk forming on her lips as she read the syrupy message. "Hi, bestie! Just checking in! Can't wait to go home and hear about your week. "I love you!"Yuria snorted mockingly as she typed out a reassuring response, her lip clenched between her teeth. "All good here, Just missing you like crazy!"The lie came out with practiced ease, no hint of guilt interfering with the wicked delight coursing through Yuria's veins. These days, deceiving her so-called "best friend" was as easy as breathing.Miranda had no idea how severely she was being betrayed. By her boyfriend, no less, the boy she claimed to love with every fiber of her being. And by Yuria herself, the girl she regarded as her closest confidant. Her sister.As she reread Miranda's nauseatingly lovely endearments, Yuria let out a sharp whoop of laughing. "God, you are just painfully fucking clueless so