Fading Lines | (Line Series, Book 1) ✔️

chapter two: college life

— College Life

➳ Brooklyn Brody

     I liked him. I liked him even more when he engaged in that very first conversation with me. My inner self twirled and twirled when he asked me out, I truly couldn't believe my luck. That was my first date with someone of the opposite sex, and I was excited. But my mind was restless about what was eventually going to happen.

My friends had warned me about him, saying he only wanted one thing. I brushed them off, thinking they were jealous or just trying to put a damper on my happiness. Why would he want to hurt me?

But the rest was history.

After four months of thinking I was madly in love, I finally got the chance to go to his place. It was just the two of us in his space, curled up together, whispering sweet words, exchanging long, breathless kisses. That night, I gave him everything.

"You'll enjoy this," he whispered roughly, gripping my wrists, his touch more intense than I expected.

I gasped, caught off guard by the pressure, but the shock quickly melted away, replaced by a strange mix of fear and excitement. My heart pounded, and I found myself lost in him, feeling like this moment was everything I'd ever wanted. This was what love was supposed to feel like, right? In that instant, I was sure he was the one.

When it was over, he thanked me for the "nice night," then rushed me out of his house, saying his parents will be back soon.

The next day at school, I felt like I was glowing. I'd put extra effort into my outfit, sprayed my favorite perfume, and walked the hallways with a lift in my step, almost skipping. I felt transformed, giddy, as though the whole world could see the change in me. I finally spotted him leaning against his locker, looking as he always did: hair effortlessly styled, dressed in his signature black and grey. He looked as alluring as ever, and I felt a rush of excitement as I walked over to him.

With a shy smile, I linked my arm through his, but he shook me off, the movement sharp and dismissive. I pulled back, stunned, a flush of embarrassment and confusion rising in my cheeks. My eyes searched his face, but all I saw was a smirk—a cold, mocking look, like he was some jaded punk and I was just another naïve girl.

It was like I didn't even exist to him.

"My friends really weren't wrong about you," He scoffed. "You are such an easy fuck, I can't even take you seriously." He threw this statement around so loudly, people stopped and stared. Cheerleaders dressed in their tight outfits that flaunted their seductive curves who had been surrounding him before my presence, laughed in a satirizing tone.

Cruel remarks were quickly thrown blatantly, and other students I didn't know started exchanging glances at each other with furtive discussions of which, I reckoned, weren't positive either. Criticisms that were being thrown around grew painfully intense by the moments, their verbal bullets shot into me, and I slowly found it difficult to breathe.

I couldn't believe I was so naive and stupid to let someone take advantage of me, like I was their little toy. Now that I wasn't good enough, I was dropped. I was completely powerless to change the situation, which made me feel frustrated, and fueled with anger. I felt betrayed. I've given myself to someone who didn't deserve it, and I couldn't change a goddamn thing.

I had to get out of here, get away from the person I thought would be my partner. He always seemed so charming, told me I was the most beautiful girl he ever laid his eyes on. He showered me with the sweetest words, he made me feel so safe and secure. But they were all nothing but a pile of lies. We've been spending so much time together, I really thought I knew who he truly was.