Page 64 of Nightmare

My stomach dips, the butterflies inside of me taking flight and soaring through every fiber of my being.

“I love you too, quarterback.”

His lips find mine, I take a deep breath through my nose as I kiss him back, simple and slow.

I kiss him like it’s the only thing in the world I ever want to do again, and he kisses me back just the same, like his life depends on it. Like without our love, the world would end.

He pulls away, his chocolate eyes finding mine, “I gotta get to class, baby.”

He kisses me once more on the lips, then pulls my hand up to kiss along my knuckles, then he’s turning to head back out the way we came in.

The room stills, chaos leaving with him, and I slide down the wall until my butt hits the floor.

My stomach clenches, my eyes fill with tears for a reason I don’t know.

I’m supposed to feel good right now, right? But maybe this is how everyone feels after a moment like that.

Used.

Alone.

Chapter Thirty

Olivia

three months ago

Melanie is followingme around like a puppy dog lately and I cannot shake her. To be quite fair, we arekind offriends now, and today I initiated this contact, but I’m still not really into cheerleaders.

“And then, you will never believe what Ryder said to me!” Her 5-inch heels make the loudest click-clack on the floor as she follows me.

I gasp, for added effect, “What did he say?”

She stomps a foot down, and I turn to look at her as she throws her hands in the air, “He said, Melanie I have had a crush on you since sophomore year, will you go to prom with me?”

I quirk my head, “I thought Ryder was dating that theater chick, what’s her name?”

Melanie rolls her eyes, “Lydia. I guess he broke up with her for me! Can you even believe that Liv?! The Running back wants to take me to prom!”

I roll my eyes a little, I hate that she calls me Liv. I also hate that she calls boys by their football positions. We aren’t close enough for her to give me a nickname, and I don’t know diddly shit about football. Is Ryder being a running back a good thing? Or is she offended? I’ll never know. Or care.

I spin on my heel to continue walking down the marble hallway of the mall, “I definitely cannot believe that,Mel.”

I chuckle under my breath a little when she huffs behind me and chases after me, her shopping bags rustling with the needed speed.

I know I piss her off but, being friends with me means she has access to thestarquarterback himself, Brody Rockport, so she sucks my ass harder than a goddamn vacuum.

It’s all high school politics I’ve lived without for the last three and a half years but seem to have found myself fucking submerged in now.

This is my nightmare.

I’ve tried to avoid becoming‘popular’like Brody, but it’s truly impossible, if I’m being honest. The sea’s part for me in the hall, people fucking save me seats and invite me places and get me gifts. It’s horrendous, but I guess this is my fucking life now.

Therefore, Melanie and I are shopping. Together. In public.

Because 1. Prom is next week, and I still don’t have a dress and 2. I don’t have any girlfriends and I needed someone to tell me what looked hot on me.

So, Little Miss Cheerleader was the best candidate, I guess.

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