LOGINJust after the boys stood up, a few others did.Harper was one of them, Lia would have been surprised if she didn't know she was only volunteering because of Asher. Either ways she was happy she wasn't doing it alone hands were on deck.For the first time since Principal Gabriel had dumped the responsibility on her, Lia felt like maybe this fundraiser wouldn’t completely crash and burn.Maybe..........The next morning, Lia was happy to see a good number of students in the meeting in room. The once nearly empty space now buzzed with low conversations, students dragging chairs across the floor, some half-awake while others looked mildly irritated to even be there.Still, it was progress.Lia stood at the front of the room with a clipboard in her hand, trying to ignore the nervousness sitting in her stomach. She wasn’t used to leading people like this. But somehow, everyone was actually listening.Well... most of them."Firstly, I want to appreciate you all for volunteering your time a
“Relax ladies, there is enough water to go round,” Coach Jacobs walked in carrying extra bottles of water, unknowingly saving everyone from the painfully awkward situation.The tension immediately broke.“Thanks, I’ll just take from there instead,” Lia quickly said to the boys before grabbing one of the fresh bottles from the coach.She walked away almost too fast, releasing a quiet breath of relief once there was enough distance between them.“Lia...” Trudy called in a warning tone as she followed beside her.“It was nothing...” Lia brushed it off quickly, twisting open the water bottle.“Okay... if you say so,” Trudy backed off, though the knowing look on her face remained.But Trudy didn’t need to remind her.Lia already knew.She knew exactly how dangerous things could become if she got caught between the two brothers again. She had already lived through the consequences once before, and she wasn’t about to repeat the same mistake.No matter how confusing her feelings still were.
“Well, technically we have seen but we've been talking,” Damien cleared.“Okay...tell me more,” Lia said, even more eager to listen.“So his name is Sebastian...”“Ooh, that’s a really hot name,” Lia wiggled her eyebrows. “...do you have pics?” Lia asked.“Yes, but not a full profile,” Damien said, scrolling through his gallery. He showed Lia a picture of a shirtless guy standing beside a pool. It was a face-off picture, but the guy’s well-built frame was impossible to miss. His biceps were hefty, defined muscles stretching beneath damp skin. Water clung to his torso, highlighting his six-pack abs, while his shorts were soaked enough to reveal the faint outline beneath.“Wow, he’s really hot,” Lia admitted, taking in every detail before finally tearing her eyes away from the photo.“I know,” Damien said with a smug little smirk, clearly pleased with himself.“How did you guys meet?” Lia asked curiously.“He messaged me on Instagram with an anonymous account...” Damien explained.“Ano
“And who is this?” Tyler asked, trying to keep his voice neutral.But beneath the calm expression, irritation clawed at him. He hated seeing another guy touch Lia so comfortably, like he belonged there.Lia, completely unaware of the storm brewing inside him, stepped aside slightly.“Tyler, this is my friend Damien. Damien, this is Tyler,” Lia introduced.Damien’s eyes widened immediately in recognition to the name.“Whoa... he’s the Tyler?” Damien asked, suddenly far more engaged in the conversation.Tyler’s brows furrowed slightly.“The Tyler?” he repeated slowly, unable to place what exactly that was supposed to mean.“Yeah, she spoke about you,” Damien said casually, completely oblivious to the tension thickening in the room.“Damien!...” Lia instantly stomped on his foot.“Ow... shit!” Damien yelped in pain, nearly losing balance.Tyler stood there confused.She talked about him?To Damien?His chest tightened.And somehow that only made things worse.Because now all he could thi
Lia made her way to the principal’s office as requested, her mind still crowded with thoughts from the assembly. The hallways buzzed with excitement over the fundraiser announcement, but she could barely focus on any of it. Something about the way Principal Gabriel had singled her out in front of everyone made her uneasy. She reached the office door and knocked once. “Come in,” Principal Gabriel’s voice answered immediately. Lia pushed the door open carefully. “You asked to see me, sir?” Lia said upon entering the room. The moment she stepped inside, her gaze landed on Adrian, who was already seated opposite the principal’s desk. He looked composed as always, dressed sharply, fingers folded calmly in his lap like he belonged there. It was obvious they had already been discussing something before she arrived. Lia instantly stiffened. She didn’t say a word to him. “Yes, please have a seat,” Principal Gabriel offered politely. Lia sat down slowly, though every instinct in her bo
Lia was finally done with her shift, but instead of heading home immediately, she step outside the café to find Damien patiently waiting as he said he would. For few minutes they sat in silence. The night air was cool, the soft glow from the café windows spilling onto the pavement beside them. Cars occasionally passed by, but neither of them spoke. The tension wasn’t awkward, just heavy, emotional. Lia sat with her hands wrapped around the sleeves of her hoodie, trying to process everything Damien had just confessed. “I still don’t understand…” she finally let out quietly. “Understand what?” Damien asked with a faint, humourless smile. “That I’m into guys?” “That…” Lia admitted softly. “…and why you found it so hard to tell me in the first place.” She paused before continuing. “You were acting strange, and I thought it had something to do with me. Somehow, I felt like I did something wrong, for you not to be able to talk to me.” Damien’s expression immediately softened with guilt
It was just after New Year’s, the soft winter sunlight slipping through the hospital blinds and giving the room a warm, almost hopeful glow. Ava sat beside Zayden, her legs pulled up on the chair, her head resting on the mattress as she stubbornly refused to leave his side. Her fingers were laced w
The first rays of morning light slipped quietly through the thin curtains of Trudy’s room, painting faint gold lines across the floor. Her eyes fluttered open, swollen from the night before. The silence in the house felt heavier than usual. For a moment, she wondered if it had all been a dream. Zay
Breakfast at the Walker house was unusually tense. The clinking of cutlery against plates echoed lightly across the dining room. Ava picked at her food absentmindedly, her mind still replaying her recent discoveries.“Ava, I haven’t heard from your brother. I need to get a hold of him,” Mr. Walker
Ava slipped quietly into her father’s home office, easing the door shut behind her to avoid making even the slightest sound. The room smelled of cologne, polished wood, and old paper. She moved cautiously, opening drawers slowly so they wouldn’t creak, scanning through files and documents with stea







