It Starts With Us Novels & Stories

I blinked at the screen. "I just turned twenty," I said, surprised. Everyone stared. Their eyes widened. Even I was caught off guard. I forgot my own birthday. No one remembered. A strange chill ran down my spine, crawling up my neck. Goosebumps. "Wow, did you accelerate?" Sierra asked. I shook my head. “Nah. I just started school really early,” I said with a quiet laugh. "That sucks," Lathan muttered. I couldn't agree more. “It was,” I admitted.

Said the man over the phone, making her body tense. She applied for an interview with that company a month ago. She had already given up after waiting for a month with no reply from them, she had many reasons and the main one is because she never wanted to return to the USA again. Their silence just made her more confident on her decisions but then who would've thought that they'd look for her today? "Um…Yes, this is Mrs Fletchers" she said with hesitation in her voice, feeling her hands becoming sweaty on the steering wheel. "Okay then, Mrs Fletchers has applied for a job at our company last week, if i am right" he went on inquiring. "Ah yes, yes I have" she replied, holding her breath wait

“And you—make yourself useful. We’re fixing this.” Zane mock-saluted. “Yes, ma’am.” Maya stood between them, stunned. For the first time since she arrived at Ridgeway, she didn’t feel alone. Bruised? Yes. Exposed? Absolutely. But not alone. As they walked back toward the building, Maya’s phone buzzed again. A new message. Unknown Number: You think this is over? That video’s just the beginning. Welcome to Ridgeway, sweetheart. She stopped dead in her tracks. The sweetness of the afternoon shattered like glass. And the real drama? It was only just beginning.

I landed in the coastal city, my heart light. First, I got a new SIM card and contacted my partner. Then, I blocked every single person on social media who had ties with Lauren. They sent me videos of Lauren crying at the airport. I did not watch a single one. They were blocked, their numbers were deleted, and my phone was clean. Good, no more disgusting stuff to go through. I got busy working on a new company and moving the main projects here. I was so occupied, women were the last thing on my mind. God, I had no idea life could be so fun when I did not have to think about them.

The first thing I notice when I woke up was the silence. No alarm. No practice notification. No stupid group chat blowing up with plays and stats. Just my room, pale morning light coming through the gaps in my blinds, and the kind of quiet that only happens when the world decides to leave me alone for once. I checked my phone and it was 7:47 AM. Then a text lights up the screen. Mason: get ready. I'm stealing u for the day Mason: wear something u can actually move in

They’d stayed,they had done the work. “I want to stay,”I said quietly.Then mom responded “ if that’s what you want sweetie then we will do that “ Isla’s pov The morning sun spilled across the airplane window as we started our descent into Chicago. I leaned over to look outside, my eyes tracking the way the city seemed to stretch out forever under the pale morning light. Glass buildings caught the sun, casting long shadows over the shimmering blue of the lake in the distance, and the streets below looked impossibly busy.

Carla continues the chitchat at how proud she is of her employers. "Great. Glad to know that" the woman softly mumbles while intently staring at the convoy already leaving. "I'm starting to love this place" she whispers with a smirk. ****tbc****

] I checked the name—it was from someone I didn't know well. I replied, [Yeah.] The message came again. [Does Chandler know?] [Of course he does.] I found the question odd, so I asked, [Is there something wrong, Mr. Vasquez?] Winton Vasquez, the CEO of Evergreen Ventures and also a fellow alum of both Chandler and me, replied with a loaded tone, [It's nothing. Just seems like you don't really keep up with domestic entertainment news.] Entertainment news? That puzzled me further. True, I didn't follow celebrity gossip, but so what?

⚜ Sold. ⚜ I wished for a miracle to happen. I had always hidden the sorrows I felt in studying and now, not even a book could help me at the moment. The bidding started and like we were told earlier by Sarah, Pablo introduced the first lady, Vanessa, who then stepped forward from the rest of us as Pablo continued advertising her. He began audibly. "This pretty brunette is Vanessa. She's very fragile but has a lot to offer. With her big butt, I bet no refund. Let the game begin..."

" You should see this. I believe you have not watched it. " " Where am I supposed to watch it?" Captain Clinton asked. " That's right. But it is on the news. You just have not had the time to check the events of the day. If you did, you would have seen the latest celebrity of the nation. " " And who could that be?" " Captain Clinton of the United States Secret Service." Captain Clinton chuckled. " Spare me that. " " Here. Take a look at this. Sorry you are not watching the whole show. Just this important part. " He handed the laptop over to Captain Clinton.