Page 111 of Paper Thin Love

“I thought we were a family. Oh wait, this is how families in our world act. Distant and deceptive.”

Dante’s eyes avoid mine now.“This is a game. Lose this round, Mila. Go back to your dorm,” he breathes in haste.

I reach out, feeling my world tilt.You’re asking me to sink and drown, to never feel the sun on my face or the hands of the man I love embrace me.

Dante finally touches me, grabbing my forearms to keep me upright.

“What are you talking about? Love isn’t a game, it’s the answer to ending them.”

“Just let him go,” Dante presses as he shakes me.“Stop embarrassing yourself.” He spits.

I look around and see a few students snapping pictures of me crying. In the distance, I see Dash hand in hand with Casandra as they begin to walk away.

Screw this!

“Dash!” I scream, sidestepping Dante.

Dash doesn’t stop. I feel like I’m deep in a hole of my own making as I desperately try to dig my way out to see the light, but the more I fight, the more dirt keeps falling, trying to bury me alive.

“Dash King, stop!” I shout as I run towards them. Have I lost my mind, or is the world surrounding me the madness I can’t escape?

I just want to save him the way he saved me. I want to take away the weapon he’s trying to cut his flesh with and replace it with my love.

Is that so wrong?

Casandra turns around, her long brown hair waving like the winner’s flag in the wind.“He’s mine. He’s done with you.” She sneers, her cruel eyes turning up.

I reach up and grab Dash’s shoulder; his body shakes my touch off, keeping his back towards me. He sighs heavily, as if annoyed.

Moving fast, I place myself in front of him.“I know what you're doing.” I hiss, standing toe to toe with him.

Dash flashes me a lifeless smirk.“No, Mila, you don’t. You have never known what I’m doing. You were a game. A bet I made with Dante and Cillian.”

What?

I shake my head as more tears fall. I wish I could keep them buried inside. I used to be able to until Dash ripped me open.“You’re lying.” I wipe my tears with the back of my hand.

“We like to shatter broken things,” Dash retorts with chilling calm.“and you, Mila, were so incredibly broken and easy to shatter.” He shrugs.

“Tell me something I don’t know.” I retort with a stony demeanor that surprises Dash. I know Dash broke me, and then he took all those pieces and made me feel whole again.

“You weren’t that fun to break.” He answers with a frosty tone that slows my blood.

That was painful to hear.

“Liar,” I mutter, but my strength vanishes, my voice cracks, and more tears fall.“Look at me and say that.” I challenge him.

His chest expands, and those blue eyes swirling with hazel—eyes that have kept my dreams in a chokehold—stare down at me, now pulling me into a nightmare. This time, instead of being cold yet thrilling like a smooth, frozen lake I can’t wait to skate on, they’re a tempest of frigid air and raging wind. I widen my stance, preparing for his fight.

He laughs and then reaches for Casandra, who proudly steps up to his side.

“Get over yourself, Mila.” Dash mocks. Then he brushes past me as if I’m some annoying child trying to sell him cookies, heading towards the dorms with that bitch prancing by his side.

“I want my favor!”

That makes him stop. This time, he spins around with a new air of confidence and a wicked grin that has me bracing for impact.

“You gave me your word.” I insist.

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