CelesteThe persistent hum of the treadmill was the only thing I could focus on as I tried to block out the world around me. I kept my head down, fingers gripping the handrails, and ran, hoping to get through my workout unnoticed.Lost in my thoughts of avoiding Matt and trying to prove to myself that I could handle this workout alone, I almost didn’t feel the sudden sharp impact against my ankle.But it was followed by a searing pain that made me lose my balance. The treadmill’s rapid pace threw me off, and I hit the ground hard, the shock of it leaving me breathless.Pain seared through my ankle, and an involuntary cry escaped my lips. Gasping for air and clutching my hurt ankle, I forced my teary eyes open, only to be met with the unmistakable smirk of Sabrina.My gaze followed her line of sight, and I found the culprit of my fall: an exercise ball.“Why?” I whispered more to myself, the sheer malice of her act incomprehensible.Before I could process further, strong hands cradled

Celeste With a careful hand, I arranged the dishes on the table: a vibrant mix of greens for the salad, drizzled with a homemade vinaigrette, and perfectly grilled lean chicken breasts beside it. The aroma wafted up, making my mouth water. While it wasn’t the greasy, heavy fare we typically had, I felt proud of my healthier creation. 

Celeste The lecture was dragging on, and Professor Wayne’s voice faded into the background as I doodled absent-mindedly on my notebook. It was Friday, and it was my last class of the day. Statistics; my least favorite class of all time, but a required class for most majors. Just as my attention was about to wane completely, Fiona’s elbow digging into my side broke through my reverie. I looked over to see her smirking at me and holding her phone out to me beneath

Celeste The throbbing in my head was my first clue that last night had been a bit too wild, even if it was just a private dance party of one. My room was in a state of disarray, with empty bottles and discarded clothes scattered around like confetti. As I groggily sat up, fragments of the night’s escapades flashed through my mind. I remembered considering something about Matt… unblocking him? A sense of urgency washed over me, and I practically lunged for my phone on the nightstand. Scrolling through my contacts, I finally landed on Matt’s name. Blocked. The only notification on my phone was from Fiona: “Good job, dancer girl! I hope you’re excited for your first day of practice, and you’d better be getting coffee with me afterwards to tell me all about it!” A rush of relief coursed through me. Thankfully, my drunken self hadn’t done anything too regrettable. I pushed the covers aside, the cool morning air refreshing against my skin. Jack’s room was eerily silent, which me

Celeste Amid the hustle and bustle of school life, a looming dance competition, and the myriad of demands that came with it, there was Sabrina and her incessant errands. If anyone asked me to describe my life at that time, it would be one chaotic swirl with a dance spotlight in the center and Sabrina’s demanding voice echoing in the background. My thoughts, outside of school and Sabrina’s increasingly taxing errands, were consumed by the upcoming competition. For what felt like the first time in a long time, I didn’t think about Matt or even Jack. Practice hours had doubled, and every spare moment found me either in front of a mirror, perfecting a move, or in the library, grabbing a moment of respite. However, Sabrina’s demands were getting more incessant. It started out with simple requests: pick up dry cleaning, call the maintenance person for Sabrina’s apartment, grab her coffee on the way to class. However, it quickly became more and more demanding, and it was bordering