ARABELLA. "There you are. I left a message. " I say to Dex when we meet halfway through and he rubs his eyes. "Sorry. I didn't check my phone. ""Are you okay?" I ask when I take notice of his scowl and he hums. "I am. ""Are you sure? Did something happen? You couldn't find Veronica?""Oh, I did. " He murmurs, dropping his hand from his face. "Just not in the state I expected. ""Is she okay? Where's she?""She left. With Sam. " He reveals with an irritating edge to his voice and I chuckle. "You don't like that?""No, that's not what–" Dex pauses when his eyes move behind me and I turn on my heels to see Alexander standing behind, only feet away with his hands tucked into his pockets and his eyes on me. "You were with him?" Dex's question returns my attention to him and I nod. "I was. I—""Wait. What the fuck is that?" He interrupts my words, his finger pointed straight at my neck and I wrap a hand around it, a finger trailing over the skin, knowing he's asking about the red skin f

ARABELLA.“Hey!” Ashley jumps at the sound of my loud voice and I let out a small giggle as she turns back with a frown and a hand over her chest. “Ara, Jeez. You scared me. “ She mutters as she drops her hand from her chest and I move around the kitchen island to get to where she stands.“Sorry. I just thought I might surprise you. “ I say with a smile and she shakes her head before reaching her left hand to me for a half hug. “Naughty. “ She whispers as she pulls away from the hug and I chuckle before I look behind her to the ingredients on the counter. Nodding my head towards it, I say, “Do you need my help with that?”Ashley looks behind her, then back at me, and with a tilt of her head, she says, “I would say yes, but something tells me you’re not here to help me with that, baby. “I let out a nervous laugh and rub my palms against each other as I press my back to the edge of the island. “Am I that obvious?”“Not exactly, but I know you better than that. You need something. What’s

ARABELLA.I can’t get rid of the smile on my face as I stare at Alexander. He lies on the bed with his face to the ceiling while I lie with my body to the side just so I can get this good view of him.“You know I can feel you staring, right? “ He suddenly opens his eyes and I let out a low gasp as I instinctively move back, taking too much of the blanket we’re both sharing.“I wasn’t staring. “ I move to lie on my back and he chuckles. “If you say so. “There’s silence between us and the only sound I can hear is that of my hard breathing. It’s been minutes since we finished and I asked Alex if I could stay here for some time. I didn’t expect him to let me; even more, lie with me.Whatever has happened between us feels more intimate than anything we’ve ever had. Maybe I’m saying this because I haven’t had it with him yet, but it feels even more intimate than having sex.Does he feel that way, though? I doubt it.When I turn back to look at Alexander, his eyes are still on the ceiling;

ARABELLA. “Lay back. “ I tell Alexander as I pull up a pillow behind and he shakes his head. “I can take care of myself, Arabella. ““Don’t be stubborn. You’ll shut your mouth and lie back. “ I say with a scowl, and he chuckles as he complies with my instruction for the first time. “That was rude. “ He utters when I remove my hand from the pillow and I shrug. “It was needed. “I bend down and squeeze the soaked towel, making sure I have every last drip of the water before I gently place the folded towel over Alex’s forehead. “Not too hot right?” I ask him, glancing at his face and he nods. “You’re treating me like a sick person. ““Aren’t you one?” I retort and he chuckles weakly. “I’m not. I’m just having a terrible day. ““Are you always in such denial?” I mutter as I remove my hand from his forehead but he doesn’t say a word. I sigh and take a seat beside him on the bed. “You’re getting sick, Alex. You’ll only get better if you treat it before it worsens. ““Hmm, “ He hums as hi

DEX.Arabella said she’ll be back before school ended and it ended exactly thirty minutes ago but she’s still not here. I wonder if she’s okay. She has never missed school, and she didn’t reply to any of the texts I sent after the first one.“Dex! There you are. “ The yells of my name interrupt my thoughts and I turn my head to see Millie approaching me. She stops in front of me with a big smile, panting lightly. “Hey. ““Hey. You’re still around. “ I mumble and she nods. “Just checking out a few things before I leave. ““Oh, alright. “ I mutter, looking everywhere but her face.“Hey, “ she chuckles, reaching out to hit my arm gently. I drop my gaze on her and she says, “You never said anything about what I asked you earlier. “Knowing what she means, I clear my throat. “Right. That. “ I take a few minutes to access her face, wondering how she’d take my next words. Knowing however she reacts is better than me stringing her along, I open my mouth. “I can’t come. I’m sorry. “Her smile d