All Chapters of Teach Me How To Burn : Chapter 1 - Chapter 5

I sat crossed legged on the rooftop as I stared at Kai's bewildered expression. He looked like I had just confessed to being a serial killer, a psychopathic one at that."So let me get this straight" he almost whispered. "You want me to-" I placed a hand over his mouth silencing the next string of words about to come out."I'm mortified enough already Kai, you don't have to repeat what I said." I groaned lying flat on my back.The cold night air seeped into my bones, causing goosebumps. It was my 18th birthday in a month and I had just asked my best friend to have sex with me as my birthday wish.His facial expression would make me cackle on a different occasion but right now, it made me want to jump of this roof and into a different timeline."In my defence, I have a solid good reason" I blurted out, trying miserably to salvage what was left of my pride "Humour me little birdie, cos I'm sure as hell ready to listen to the brain behind this crazy wish" Kai teased, pulling me into a

The heat of the afternoon clung to my skin like a second layer. Kai thought the perfect way to cool off was to stay outdoor, under the sun and lick an ice-cream. Rambling something about 'giving the sun a middle finger by chilling in its presence'We sat on swing seats in his backyard licking our second round of ice cream.“You know,” I said, eyeing him sideways, “if I didn’t know you better, I’d say you were trying to fatten me up so no one else would want me.”Kai leaned back lazily, legs spread, licking a trail of vanilla off his thumb. “You say that like anyone but me has a chance.”"What? Is that a jab or is there something I'm missing?" I asked confused.He smirked saying nothing, leaving me turning the wheels in my head.I turned back to my ice-cream trying to look unfazed.The tip had started melting, dripping down the side.I took a slow swipe at it, careful not to smear.Kai’s silence made me glance at him.He was watching me.Hard.“What?” I asked, self-conscious. "Did I s

The rain had started sometime after dinner. It drummed softly against the window, a kind of rhythm that made everything feel heavier. But the tension had started long before that.The front door slammed downstairs, sharp and deafening. I didn’t even flinch. It was always the same. My dad, stumbling in after another celebratory dinner with his law firm associates, half-drunk on whiskey and praise. I stayed curled on the couch, textbook open but forgotten in my lap."Wren!" he called, voice slightly slurred. "You do your reading?"I didn’t answer.He stepped into the living room, eyes bloodshot and suit rumpled. He looked at me like I was a piece of furniture he couldn’t remember buying."You just sit around now? No ambition? Your mother...""Dad don't" I snapped before I could stop myself. "Please don't talk about her."He scoffed. "You’re just like her, you know. All emotion and no spine."That cracked something open. "You wouldn’t know anything about a spine, Dad, you spend most of