CelesteThe night had been calm, the serenity of the forest only disrupted by the chirping of crickets and the occasional rustle of leaves. But the sound that echoed through the trees was something else entirely—a growl, raw and guttural, the sound of a creature lurking in the dark.“Why do you want me to run?” I whispered to Matt, my voice shaking, the trepidation evident in my tone.
Celeste“I’ve thought about it, and... I want to be your girlfriend,” I blurted out, immediately regretting the decision.I couldn’t believe myself. Every fiber of logic, every sensible voice in my head had warned against it. Yet, in the midst of the adrenaline and the rush of the night, I found myself uttering words I hadn’t planned on saying.
Celeste“Celeste! What the hell? You can’t just play around with Matt’s heart now that you’re official!”“Shh!” I hissed. “Not so loud!”Fiona let out a sigh. “Sorry,” she whispered. Looking around, she spotted a bench off to the side in one of
Celeste The campus garden was a strange setting for confrontation. Birds chirped, a gentle breeze swayed the blossoms, and the world seemed far too peaceful for the tension that buzzed in the air.I sat on a bench, Fiona at my side, when Sabrina, with her predatory grace, began to close in on us.“W
CelesteThe warm afterglow of the confrontation with Sabrina left an odd mix of emotions bubbling inside me. The college quad, with its students lounging on the grass and chatting amiably, felt like a surreal backdrop against the internal tempest that raged.“Celeste,” Fiona began, her voice hesitantly optimistic, “I really, really hope you’re not planning on listening to Sabrina.”
Celeste “A party?” I replied, allowing my voice to quiver slightly with feigned surprise. “I haven’t even heard about any party.”Jack fixed his eyes on me, those cold orbs searching for any signs of deceit.“Good,” he retorted after a beat, settling back into his
Celeste I kept my gaze fixed on my reflection as I applied the last touch of lipstick. The striking red contrasted vividly against my pale skin. It was a bold choice for sure, but tonight was all about audacity.Fiona stood by my side, offering words of encouragement. “Celeste, you look stunning,” she said. “Red really is your color.”
Celeste Just as I was about to delve deeper into my conversation with Matt, a subtle, pre-decided hand gesture from Fiona caught my attention. It was our discrete signal, alerting me that something was amiss.“Hey, Matt,” I said, trying to keep my voice even despite the flutter of anxiety threatening to betray my calm facade. “I have to go for a bit, but I’ll be back.”