Mild mature content 18+ only
Read at your own risk
Whoever invented alarm clocks should have never been born. I hate waking up early. As I groaned and cursed my fate, a loud knock on the door startled me.
"Oli, se réveiller! Tu seras en retard pour l'école!" (Oli, wake up! You'll be late for school!)
I frowned and muttered back, "Se réveiller bientôt, rencontre-toi dans 20 minutes." (Waking up soon, see you in 20 minutes.)
Dragging myself out of bed, I headed to the bathroom. Looking into the mirror, I barely recognized myself. My hair, which I used to wear loose and flowing, was now always tied in a ponytail. I used to enjoy light makeup, but now, I avoided it completely. I grabbed a simple pair of jeans and a plain shirt from my wardrobe. There was a time when the girls at school copied my fashion sense.
Now? Not anymore.
At the dining table, Mehusa was setting breakfast. She looked at me with sad eyes. I ignored her gaze, grabbed my toast, and walked out. I knew she wanted to talk about our last conversation, but I wasn't in the mood.
I got into my car and drove to school, hoping—no, praying—that today would be different. Or maybe... not.
As soon as I parked and walked to my locker, my worst nightmare appeared—Brad Stanford, the football team captain and my biggest bully. He shoved me hard against the lockers, my books crashing to the floor.
The reason for his hatred? I had slapped him once when he tried pressuring me into sleeping with him back when I was the cheerleading captain. Ever since then, he had made my life hell.
I bent down to pick up my books, but he kicked one aside, making everyone around us laugh. Tears burned in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.
"I thought you'd be gone by now, Olivia," Brad sneered. "I've made it pretty clear that you're not wanted here. But look at you—so damn stubborn, showing up anyway."
I clenched my fists, swallowing the anger bubbling inside me.
Then, my gaze landed on him.
Carter West. My ex-boyfriend.
He wasn't laughing. He wasn't bullying me. He just stood there, his face blank, as if none of this concerned him.
I quickly looked away.
Brad shoved me one last time before walking off, leaving me standing there, shaking. I hurriedly stuffed my books into my locker, willing my tears away. I would not let them see my weakness.
Not again.
I made my way to English class, where Carter sat with his new girlfriend, Emily Gomez. They looked happy—just like we used to be.
My mind drifted back to a time when everything felt normal.
Flashback
Friday nights at White Tigers Stadium were electric—the kind of energy that made your skin buzz and your heart race. The air smelled like popcorn and fresh-cut grass, and the roar of the crowd echoed in my chest.
And then there was Carter.
He moved across the field like he was born for it—fast, sharp, completely untouchable. The way he dodged defenders, the sheer power behind every sprint—it was impossible to look away.
I was on my feet before cheering with my cheerleading girls Go, White Tigers, go! My voice joined the chorus of cheers just as he made the final dash toward the end zone. Touchdown.
The stadium exploded.
I didn't think—I just ran. my pulse racing. Carter turned, sweat glistening on his brow, and when he spotted me—God, that smile.
Cocky. Dimpled. Completely intoxicating.
"Congrats, babe!" I gasped, slightly breathless from my sprint. "I knew you'd win!"
He grabbed me, lifting me off the ground like I weighed nothing. "How could I lose," he murmured against my ear, "when my girl is out there cheering for me?"
I rolled my eyes, trying—and failing—to hide my smile. "Okay, Mr. Flirt, enough. Come with me."
We slipped away from the roaring crowd, past the locker rooms, and into the dimly lit back hallway. My back barely hit the wall before Carter was on me—one hand braced beside my head, the other gripping my waist like he couldn't bear to let go.
"God, Olivia," he breathed, his lips skimming along my jaw. "You drive me crazy."
His fingers curled against my hoodie, tugging me closer, his touch sending wildfire through my veins.
"Yeah?" I teased, my voice barely above a whisper. "And what are you gonna do about it?"
Carter smirked, his thumb tracing slow circles against my hip. "I could tell you," he murmured, his breath warm against my lips. "But I'd rather show you."
My heart slammed against my ribs as he did exactly that—a slow, lingering kiss that made my knees weak.
Then—voices.
We broke apart, breathless.
The locker room doors swung open.
Brad. His stupid smirk. His gang of goons.
"Look who's here—the lovebirds," Brad sneered, his voice dripping with mockery.
I barely spared him a glance, still dizzy from Carter's kiss. Instead, I stood on my tiptoes and pecked Carter's lips once more.
"You coming to the party tonight?" he called after me as I pulled away.
I shook my head. "No I have a plans with Emily and Isaac, remember?"
Carter groaned. "Oh right I forgot about that" and he kissed me again " I am gonna miss you"
I laughed. "I am gonna miss you too. but its okay will miss you tomorrow okay"
"Okay," he smirked, pulling me in for one last kiss.
I smiled, wishing I could freeze this moment forever.
After parking my car in the garage, I open the front door
"Mehusa, Mehusa," but there were no answers when I found the letter sitting on the dining table
"Chérie, I am going grocery shopping and lunch has been kept inside the fridge. eat it. You're becoming thin day by day "
I rolled my eyes, took out my lunch, and started preparing for the night.
At 6:00 I heard the front door opening. I sped out only to find that it was Mehusa disappointment crossed my mind, and I moved back to my room.
I waited and waited and waited. It was 7:30 now. I started calling them but their Number was not reachable. They were never late.
I wanted Carter to hug me. I was feeling so lonely, I was scared of abandonment because of my parents, and today my friends did the same. I wanted to cry but I have to control. you can't cry for every small things happing in your life I told myself and started getting ready for the party wearing blue dress one of carter's fav, I took the last look at me and dashed to the party.
"Mehusa I am going to a party ok," She became shocked
"What, you have the plan with Emily and Issac "
I sighed. "They will be not coming. Something came up," I lied. I didn't want her to worry about it. Me, she knew how I was about these kinds of gestures because of my parents.
She nodded, and I headed out
I start my car and move to Brad's house. I park my car and enter the building.
The music pulsed through the air, the bass vibrating against my skin as I walked into Brad's house. It smelled of alcohol, sweat, and the faint scent of expensive cologne.
And then I saw him.
He was standing by the pool, laughing with Brad and the rest of the football team, looking like the world was his to own. The second his eyes met mine, something flickered in them—relief? Surprise? I wasn't sure. But then his lips curled into that grin that always made my stomach flip.
"You came," he said, stepping toward me. His fingers found my waist, warm and familiar.
"Of course," I whispered, standing on my toes to kiss him. "I missed you."
I didn't tell him the truth. That I was lonely. That I needed to feel close to him, to someone.
His hands tightened around me. "Come with me," he murmured into my ear, his breath warm against my skin.
We slipped away from the party, past drunken bodies and whispered gossip, finding a quiet, dimly lit corner.
Carter pushed me gently against the wall, his body pressed against mine. His fingers trailed up my arm, slow, deliberate, as if memorizing every inch of me.
"You have no idea what you do to me," he murmured, his lips grazing my jawline.
I shivered, my breath hitching.
His hand slid down, resting against my thigh before inching upward. My skin burned where he touched. His other hand cupped my face, his thumb brushing my lower lip.
"Carter," I whispered, my heart hammering.
"Yeah, baby?"
I swallowed hard, feeling the tension coil between us. "Not here..."
But Carter was lost in the moment. His lips trailed down my neck, his hands slipping under my dress, his fingers teasing against my skin.
I gasped, he started storing my clit and a moan left my mouth and then I can feel his finger slid inside slowly and started moving soon the pace became harder and I know we should stop because we were not alone but my body started betraying wanting more but knowing we weren't alone.
And then—
A bright light. The unmistakable sound of a camera shutter.
Our heads snapped up.
Matt.
Standing a few feet away, his camera raised, smirking like he had just won the lottery.
"What the hell?" Carter's body tensed, his jaw clenching.
My stomach dropped.
Matt ran.
"Oh God," I whispered, my breath shallow. "He has those pictures—"
Carter turned to me, grabbing my shoulders. "Don't worry, babe. I'll take care of it."
I stared at him, searching his face. He looked angry, determined. But beneath it, something else. Fear?
I wanted to believe him.
I knew something was wrong the moment i stepped into the school hallway. The air felt different—thicker, heavier, charged with something unseen but suffocating. Conversations hushed as i walked past. Stares followed me like shadows, whispers curling around me like smoke.
Her stomach twisted.
I reached for her phone with trembling fingers she opened the school website only to see A photo of her and Carter. The pool house. His hands gripping her thighs. Her dress slightly raised, revealing just enough to make it look... compromising.
No. No, no, no.
My breath hitched as she scrolled through the comments.
"Didn't know Olivia was that easy."
"She was desperate for attention."
"She's just another school slut."
The word slut burned into her mind.
I squeezed my eyes shut, mychest rising and falling in rapid, uneven gasps. The walls felt like they were closing in.
Laughter echoed down the hallway. I forced myself to look up—and saw him.Carter.Standing with his football friends, talking, laughing. Like nothing had happened.Like i wasn't standing here, breaking apart, her reputation in ruins.Then—his eyes met mine.
For just a second, something flickered in his gaze. Guilt. Fear. Regret.But instead of coming to me, instead of saying something, he looked away.Like i was nothing.A sharp pain stabbed through my chest, deeper than any slap or insult ever could.
How could he?
I didn't go to class.
I waited for Carter outside his biology lecture, ignoring the curious glances of passing students. The moment he walked out, i grabbed his arm and yanked him aside.
"What the hell, Carter?" my voice shook, but my grip on him was firm. "I trusted you!"
His jaw tensed, and he quickly glanced around at the students lingering nearby. "Liv, keep your voice down," he muttered.
i let out a bitter laugh. "Oh, I'm sorry. Am I embarrassing you?" i shoved my phone into his face. "You said you'd handle this! And now the whole school thinks I—"
He exhaled sharply, cutting me off. "Maybe you should've thought about that before acting like—"
Slap.
The sharp sound echoed through the hallway.
Carter's head snapped to the side, his cheek burning red. Shock, anger... something else flashed in his eyes.
And then—Brad. His grip was iron around my wrist as he yanked me back. His smirk made ,my skin crawl.
"Olivia," Brad drawled, his voice oozing mock amusement as he leaned back against the locker beside mine, arms folded like he owned the damn hallway. "You made the mistake, and now you're slapping people? Wow. I mean, first you flirted with me, and when I didn't give you the time of day, you ran off to Carter to become his gf just to hook up in public. How can someone be so desperate for attention?"
The hallway exploded in laughter—sharp, echoing, cruel.
i blinked, stunned. Did he just—?
my chest rose and fell with the weight of it. my fingers trembled, not with fear, but fury.
What the hell is he talking about?
Brad Stanford was the same guy who had tried to force himself on me two years ago. The same guy she'd slapped so hard it left a mark. The same guy who'd been humiliated in front of the entire cheer squad because i stood up for herself.
And now... this?
He was twisting it—twisting the truth like it was some damn joke, rewriting history to make me the villain. And Carter... Carter just stood there. Not laughing. Not saying anything either. His silence cut deeper than any insult.
"You're lying," i said, in a low voice. "You know what you did."
Brad's grin widened, smug and mean.
More laughter. Whispers. Phones recording.
My ears rang, blood roaring in my head, but i forced myself to keep standing, to keep breathing, even though every part of me wanted to run. Not this time. Not again.
i looked at Carter, praying—Please. Say something. Tell them he's lying. Tell them you know me better than this.
Defend me. Do anything.But he just... stood there.And then, he looked away.Like a coward.
That broke me more than any of Brad's words ever could.
My chest tightened. my vision blurred. Tears burned at the edges of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.Without another word, i tore my wrist free and ran.
Flashback Ends
The sound of my name snapped me out of my thoughts.
"Miss Price?" Mr. Jenkkins was staring at me from the front of the classroom, the eyes of twenty other students turning to follow. My stomach twisted with the weight of their stares.
I sat up straighter, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. "Yes, sir. I'm here."
He gave me a look that was neither annoyed nor kind—just tired. "Good. As I was saying, the essay is due next week. No excuses."
The bell rang before I could even process that sentence. Everyone poured out of the classroom in a wave of noise. I stayed behind a few seconds longer, collecting my things, still shaken from the confrontation in the hallway earlier. My fingers were still trembling.
The principal had asked to see me.
Great. Just what I needed.
His office smelled faintly of wood polish and old books, and Principal Harris sat behind his massive desk, looking at me like he wasn't sure whether to lecture me or hug me.
"Olivia," he said, gesturing toward the chair opposite him. "Come in. Have a seat."
I did, tucking my hands between my knees to keep from fidgeting.
"I'm guessing you don't know why I called you here."
I shook my head, my voice caught in my throat.
He leaned forward. "You used to be one of the top students in this school. Focused. Determined. You had a plan. Journalism, right?"
I nodded slowly.
"You're taking English Lit, Drama, History, Humanities, Mass Comm, and Gym. A full, heavy load. But Olivia... your grades have dropped. Significantly. Last semester, you barely made a 2.8. You need at least a 3.5 to keep your scholarship."
I stared at the edge of his desk. His words weren't harsh, but they hit like a slap.
"I—thank you, sir. I'll do better," I said quickly, the guilt pressing down on me. "I promise. I really will."
He gave me a small, sad smile. "I know the last couple of years have been hard on you. And I mean it when I say—you've always been one of my favorites. But Olivia, you have to find your way back. You can't let what happened destroy your future. Get help. Talk to someone. Please."
I swallowed the lump rising in my throat and nodded. "Thank you, sir."
As I stood to leave, I opened the door a little too fast—and collided into someone solid.
"Watch where you're going," came a deep, irritated voice.
I froze.
He was tall—taller than Carter—and had a quiet, stormy presence about him. His eyes were a sharp, impossible green, piercing and unreadable, and they narrowed at me like I was an interruption he didn't have time for. A thin scar ran above his brow, and the rest of his face was... dangerously perfect. Not in a pretty-boy way, but in that rugged, sharp kind of way that made your stomach twist.
"So—sorry," I stammered, stepping aside awkwardly. Why was I nervous?
He didn't answer. Just gave me a look, like I was something mildly annoying but unimportant, and walked past me into the office.
I stood there, staring at the door that had just closed behind him.
Who the hell was that?
His voice echoed in my head—low, rough, disinterested.
Stop it, Olivia, I told myself. You look like a stalker.
Still rattled, I turned and made my way to my next class, pretending like I wasn't still hearing his voice in my ears or seeing those eyes in my head.