a

was dragged to an

aving no room for argument. "You can't hide foreve

my rent and applied a slash of crimson lipstick. I

here shifted. Conversations stalled mid-sentence.

r, holding court like a king on a throne. Ch

both turned to look. He wore a smug expression, waiting for the scene. Waiting

t past him. I didn't blink. I didn't pause. I

of my eye, I saw

ruth or Dare. It was juvenile, but everyone was dr

, scraping against the mahogany table bef

Dare?" som

eyes locking onto me

e doesn't belong," she said, twisting

went deat

d. "Some people are just... leftovers.

short, cruel sound, de

a warned, he

eigning innocence. "I am

ing. "She has a point. Some people

me to scream. He needed my reac

I set the glass down on the tab

tting through the tension. "I don't belong here. Beca

, smoothin

red, losing his composure. "Sto

t hasn't been about me for a long time. It is about you

red. The smugness vanish

re better than u

just know I am fi

ed to

t wasn't romantic. It was aggressive. It was a performance. He kissed he

ble. People looked away,

breathless, hi

That is what passion looks like

him. He looked small. Desperate.

lked by, whispering

without me, Ava.

didn't speed up. I

whispered to the empty hallway