Care

le. He walked straight towards me, oblivious to the fact I

familiar, intimate gesture, one he' d used countless times to solicit my sympathy and

ne shouted from the crowd of laughin

et, now grated on my nerves. I forced a smile, a mask to hide the turmoil ragi

ice a carefully modulated monotone,

les. "He went to pick up his cousin, K

n a white dress, her dark hair cascading around delicate features. She l

beautiful!" so

is voice. "She' s my cousin. Don' t tease her too much. She'

instantly recognized. Javen, ever so subtly, shifted his body away from me, towards her. A dull ache throbbed in my chest, a famil

blatant disregard for my presence. She looked

ion sharp, noticing the shift in my demeanor. Bridgett, with her fiery spirit an

tt said, her voice cutting through the chatter,

... I have a boyfriend." Her voice was s

sharp edge. "Bridgett, that' s enough. She' s just a

ed forward, her hand balled into a

ridgett. It' s not worth it." I turned my gaze to Javen, my eyes devoid of warmth. "Javen, you want

returned to me, a strained smile on his face. "Holly, I' m sorr

on Javen, a silent plea for protection. She looked like a wou

lay a game! Phone roulette! Everyone puts their phone in the middle. We spin a bottle. Whoever it points to

oke the silence. The bottle spun, wobb

rst!" som

hed to life. A random photo from three months ago appeared. It was a collage: a smiling se

oudly. "Look at you two lovebir

hat food order, Javen? Late-night cravings?"

n them. "No, no, it was just... cold medicine. Hol

ed at Javen, then at Keely, whose face was a mask

steel. "It was after our first time. You said you were so sore, you couldn' t move. So

anger and humiliation. Keely' s head dropped, her shoulders shakin