Care

le. He walked straight towards me, oblivious to the fact I

familiar, intimate gesture, one he' d used countless times to solicit my sympathy and

ne shouted from the crowd of laughi

et, now grated on my nerves. I forced a smile, a mask to hide the turmoil ragi

ice a carefully modulated monotone

ples. "He went to pick up his cousin,

n a white dress, her dark hair cascading around delicate features. She l

beautiful!" s

s voice. "She' s my cousin. Don' t tease her too much. She'

instantly recognized. Javen, ever so subtly, shifted his body away from me, towards her. A dull ache throbbed in my chest, a famil

blatant disregard for my presence. She looked

ion sharp, noticing the shift in my demeanor. Bridgett, with her fiery spirit an

t said, her voice cutting through the chatter,

... I have a boyfriend." Her voice was s

sharp edge. "Bridgett, that' s enough. She' s just a

ed forward, her hand balled into a

Bridgett. It' s not worth it." I turned my gaze to Javen, my eyes devoid of warmth. "Javen, you wan

returned to me, a strained smile on his face. "Holly, I' m sorr

on Javen, a silent plea for protection. She looked like a wou

play a game! Phone roulette! Everyone puts their phone in the middle. We spin a bottle. Whoever it points

oke the silence. The bottle spun, wobb

st!" some

hed to life. A random photo from three months ago appeared. It was a collage: a smiling se

oudly. "Look at you two lovebir

hat food order, Javen? Late-night cravings?"

n them. "No, no, it was just... cold medicine. Hol

ed at Javen, then at Keely, whose face was a mask

steel. "It was after our first time. You said you were so sore, you couldn' t move. So

anger and humiliation. Keely' s head dropped, her shoulders shakin