Lahat ng Kabanata ng He Was Never Supposed To Stay : Kabanata 21 - Kabanata 25

Hailey's pov "Okay, so I was thinking about this one," I said, holding up a flowy black dress in front of me so Cody could see through the screen.He immediately scrunched his nose and shook his head. "That looks like something you’d wear to a goat’s funeral."I winced and looked down at the dress. Okay, maybe it wasn’t the most exciting thing ever. Sure, it was plain and all black, but it seemed comfortable—and possibly two sizes too big.I frowned, narrowing my eyes at it. Wait… was this the dress Grandma Marla got me last year? Did she really think I was that big?With a sigh, I looked back at Cody. We’d been on video call for the past hour trying to choose an outfit. One full hour of standing, digging through clothes, and still no winner. My feet were already screaming.At this point, I’d need a wheelbarrow just to make it to the beach house.Cody looked just as over it, his face filling the screen. “If you’re trying to catch Bryan’s eye, you need something that says, ‘I’m ready

-Carmelo's pov "Have a good time tonight, Carmelo!" Mrs. Cross called from somewhere in the living room.I didn’t bother replying with words—just let out a grunt and pulled the door shut behind me.I knew she meant well. I really did.But where was she when Mom needed her? When Mom was crying, begging for help? When I stood there frozen, watching it all fall apart?Nowhere. That’s where.She was just like the rest of them. Saying the right things, pretending to care—but never showing up when it actually mattered.Only a few more months and I’d be eighteen. Then I could finally disappear from her life like she probably hoped I would.As I hit the bottom step, a flash of Hailey’s blushing face flashed through my mind. It nearly knocked the wind out of me.God.I caught sight of Bryan’s flashy car parked at the curb and clenched my jaw.I promised myself when I got here—I wouldn’t get attached. Wouldn’t build connections. I knew what that led to. I watched it destroy my mom when everyon

Hailey's povI sat stiffly on the log, my heart pounding way too fast for something as simple as a dumb party game. Cody flopped down beside me like he hadn’t just dragged me into my own personal nightmare.People were already laughing, drinks in hand, the firelight dancing across their faces. Arianna was curled up next to Carmelo, practically glowing. He still hadn’t looked at me once.I pulled my dress down as far as it would go and crossed my arms over my chest, trying to shrink myself into the shadows.Just a game, I reminded myself.But even that didn’t stop the voice in my head whispering, What if this goes horribly wrong?What if I end up embarrassed, humiliated, and even more invisible to the one person I came here for?Was he really that mad I still wore the dress?Bryan, who had been sitting beside Carmelo, got up and made his way toward me. He flashed a grin, then glanced at the guy seated next to me. They seemed to exchange some kind of silent message with just their eyes.