𝐀 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐎𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 | 𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠

❥ 𝑺𝑰𝑿

ARTEMIS||

I woke up with the sun beating down on my face. I squinted, trying to adjust to the light. Who opened the window?

The cool air hit me, and I wondered why I was wearing a dress. On grass?! What the heck happened last night? Standing up, I immediately placed a hand on my forehead. My head was spinning, and my ankle was throbbing with pain.

I knew one thing for sure now: I was never drinking again.

I looked around, trying to make sense of my surroundings, but all I could see were trees and a distant road. "AGGHH!" I screamed in frustration. I was so angry at myself. How did I get here? I started walking in whatever direction seemed to lead somewhere. I had no idea where I was. My phone was dead. I felt completely lost.

-

I'd been walking for more than two hours when the pain in my ankle became too much to ignore. I had to stop every few minutes, each step making it worse.

I dropped my heels in frustration and sat down on the grass, rubbing my face in frustration. I sighed deeply. That's when I heard a car approaching, the honk pulling me from my thoughts. Maybe this was my lucky break.

I looked up, and the car slowed to a stop. The door opened, and a woman stepped out. She adjusted her glasses and looked at me with a mix of concern and curiosity. She had warm blue eyes and brown hair that cascaded to her shoulders. A few strands of gray hinted at age, but she still looked young, maybe in her forties. Something about her felt familiar, like I'd seen her somewhere before.

"Hey, sweetie, what are you doing here? Are you okay?" she asked gently, handing me a bottle of water. She scanned me up and down before placing a hand on her chest, likely worried I was in some kind of trouble.

I nodded, still confused but feeling a little relieved.

"Do you want me to drop you somewhere?" she asked. My mind flickered to the Academy—specifically to Mateo, who was probably still asleep in his room. No thanks. I wasn't ready to face that yet.

I couldn't explain why, but something about her made me feel like I could trust her. "Yes, please," I said, standing up and adjusting my dress.

She smiled warmly. "Don't call me 'ma'am,' you'll make me feel old! Call me Lucie."

I nodded, grateful for her kindness, and climbed into the passenger seat. Once we were both in, she started driving.

"So, where do you want me to drop you?" she asked, her eyes on the road. I could barely form a coherent sentence, too tired and drained to think straight. The road stretched ahead of us, and I could still see the house from last night.

"Could we... go to your house instead? Please. I don't want to go home," I whispered, feeling a weight in my chest.

She glanced over at me, concerned, but didn't press. "Sure. I don't mind."

Her car smelled like vanilla, and I noticed a picture on the dashboard—of a woman with long brown hair, smiling brightly, holding a little boy in her arms. The boy had a wide, toothless grin, and his dark brown hair looked like a messy mop of curls. He reminded me of my little brother when he was younger—happy, carefree, and full of life.

I snapped back to reality when Lucie's voice interrupted my thoughts. "Sorry about that," she said, her expression briefly turning serious as she honked the horn at the car in front of us. "Some people just don't know how to drive."

I couldn't help but laugh, the tension easing a little. "It's okay," I said, "I totally get it."

She smiled again, but then, with a glance at me, asked, "Where are you from?"

"I'm from here, just trying to make it through my first year at the Academy," I replied, turning the conversation to something a little lighter.

"Well, I'm French," Lucie said, a hint of an accent in her voice, "but I've lived here for six years. My son—he goes to Westfield Academy too. That's where we moved from."

"Ah, so your son is also at the Academy?" I said, processing the new information. I wondered if I might know him.

"Yeah, he's twenty now," Lucie said, smiling at the memory of him, "growing up so fast."

We continued talking, and before I knew it, we arrived at her home—a quaint, cozy place with a modern touch. I admired the simple yet inviting design.

Lucie led me inside. "I'm sorry the place isn't more impressive," she said with a smile, crossing her arms. "I still have some things to organize."

"No, it's perfect!" I said, immediately feeling at ease. "It's warm and comforting. I really like it."

"Well, you're sweet," she said, her smile softening.

As I sat down, my stomach growled loudly. I hadn't eaten in hours, and the hunger caught me off guard.

Lucie laughed. "It's okay to be hungry, dear. Don't be embarrassed! I'll make you something to eat."

I felt my face turn red, but Lucie only gave me a comforting look before heading into the kitchen. I took in the surroundings, appreciating how peaceful and beautiful the home felt.

She offered me coffee and croissants, and I accepted both gratefully. The warmth of the food made me feel more grounded. As I ate, Lucie asked, "Do you have a boyfriend?" Her eyes twinkled with a teasing light.

I chuckled nervously. "No, not really. I've just been focusing on school."

"Ah, I see. Not yet, then," she said, laughing. "Don't worry, you're still young."

After a nice conversation, I felt a lot calmer. I was grateful for Lucie's kindness and understanding.

-

Lucie dropped me at the Academy after we talked the whole day. She's so sweet but, I was to tired to stay. My mom and her could definitely be friends. I don't want to see Mateo at all. He's probably going to Insult me again. I got in the dorm and locked it behind me.

I removed the clothes Lucie gave me and put on my comfy clothes which meant, a tank top and shorts. I entered the bathroom and switched on the lights. After brushing my teeth and detangling my hair, I returned to the room.

I made my way to my bed, but I froze when I heard his voice behind me. My heart began to race as I felt his presence. He was so close. too close.

"I'm sorry for earlier," he said, his voice softer now, which made the fact that he was whispering next to my ear worse. "I was mad, and I shouldn't have taken it out on you. You didn't deserve that. I've just been having a rough time, and I let my frustration get the best of me."

I stood there for a moment, unsure of how to respond. His apology seemed sincere, but I wasn't sure I was ready to forgive him. I needed more time to process everything.

Yeah you better be fucking sorry you dickhead. You should beg my pardon on your fucking knees.

One of his hands slid up my shirt and rubbed my stomach. I licked my suddenly dry lips and let my mind focus on how good his lips felt on my neck.
"I want to be forgiven" He whispered in my ear.

Oh, oh I know we're this is going.

-

Okay this was literal shit.
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