HL

hitting the floor and splattering

mum and my dad are standing a few metr

th just the mouth and not the eyes' expression they had given m

tended. "What are you talking about? You...

would tell me to spend a l

before turning back to me. They could have com

m responds, her voice s

the curls falling messily over m

. My dad then looks at me, his gaze

ea

e they went on another flight and ship me off to Caleb's. And I w

ouple vacations. It was just once, and I could barely reca

s time I am old enough

guys return," I say, confident

rts, the words coming out before she

s more ser

e small wooden stool I had always

'm twen

bly gonna burn down the house again. Last time was luck and

ed on me. He was remembering five months ago when I'd

chemical experime

der than before. "Just think of it as a summer vacation, honey," she ca

flattens. I can't even look at their smile

change your mind

then blows a kiss in the air t

room, muttering some w

ying at Caleb's family mansion here, it would be okay, b

why I had agreed to go to a club with him before he

can't avoid him again.

~

book while I wait for my pa

s calmly. I raise my head to see Caleb leaning aga

essily near his eyes. It's like he is just return

, furrowing my brows. For some reaso

ply asked for a spare key to the h

lently. Wow

ook resting on my thighs. "W

and steps into the room, closing t

cause your phone was off," he responds. They wanted

e earlier today because

. He is looking intently at me, a sma

the pages of the book. "Thank you

oesn't leave. Instead he walks t

nd that makes me want to pull him in for a kiss whenever he's near m

gaze is still fixed on the p

floor beside him. My gaze immediately darts to him, and I'm read

dsome victim face

ect to submit by the end of summer, remem

have three mon

the fact that I am desperate to get closer to his warm body. Bu

smile disappearing. I feel my cheeks

hair behind my ear. "Or are you just upset that I didn't pr

t then again, I shake my head slowly,

n't k

art, Ash. If it's because you feel ashamed to be

oes he mean by that? Can it be what

re you

xperience your first

t, my voice suddenly low