ks, Mehak lived insi

morning, my sweet marshmallow. Wear the blue cardigan today-it makes your eyes look like trouble. And every evenin

ould pull Mehak close, whispering poetry into her hair that made Mehak feel like she was the center of the entire universe. Mehak had completely stopped wearing her pastel

s their dorm room with the expression of s

by glowing, I mean you look like a moth that found a very expensive, very lethal bug zapper. Have you seen yo

her chin on her hand as she stared dreamily at he

your DNA. She's got you wrapped around her finger so tight your circulation is going to s

temper flaring up faster than it used to. "N

ate list of impending disasters, Mehak's

ampus gazebo right now. Don't

er jacket, ignored Sana's heavy sigh, and

wall of weeping willow trees. It was quiet, secluded, and bathed in the soft, romantic g

le of sparkling cider and two plastic cups. When she heard Mehak's footsteps cru

ly, pouring a splash of cider into

ooden steps and taking the cup. She sat down right beside Natasha, their

ally wore like armor. She reached out, gently tucking a lock of hair behind Mehak's ear, her fingers lingering on

ver of pure warmth washed over her. "Never," she whispered h

features. She pulled Mehak closer, resting her head against her shoulder a

fect moment, the

e wooden bench between them-violently lit up th

Buzz. Scr

dropped automatically

popped up in bold, uninvi

snacks over this weekend, or do I need to pi

gazebo instantl

armth, the cider, the romantic string lights-it all vanished in a sing

ed her head to

dent smirk was gone, replaced by a flash of genuine, pan

high and frantic, dropping the easy, sultry purr

ng silence of the gazebo, sharp

p plastic cracked, spilling sweet cider over her knuckles. The glowing string lights overhead suddenly f

ry. She stood up so fast the wooden bench scraped loudly against the floor. "Then what is it, Natasha? Is your gym br

ch Mehak's arm. The cool, unshakable confidence that made her look like

d glassy. "He doesn't mean anything. He's just a ghost from my past who won't leave me alo

sharp enough to cut. Tears spilled over her eyelashes, hot and furious. "He asked if you were bringing snacks t

them with a desperate intensity. "Do you think it's easy for me? I'm tied to a guy my parents forced me to tolerate, a guy I can't get rid of ov

words didn't taste like poison anymore; they just tasted like garbage. "Don't wrap me up in your lies and call it love.

Mehak's shoulders. "Look at me! Look into my eyes and tell me

ce that had completely rewired her brain, and the eyes that she had trusted more than her own common

e broken glass. A fresh wave of tears tracked down her face. "And that is the

again, Mehak turned around an

sha's voice called out from the gazeb

ing the dark shadows of the campus trees, and running as fast as she could away from the glowing string lig