12 Steps to Not Fall in Love on Wattpad

STEP 14 - BONUS

Don't Write a Book Together

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— To feel powerful, they break you down. Make you smaller. Until you’re nothing but a shadow of who you were. 

I don’t need to look at her to know she’s watching me. Her presence is sharp, pressing against the edges of my awareness like a blade just close enough to cut. 

But I keep my eyes on the sky. 

The rooftop is the only place I can think. 

She saw what happened today. She walked into that bathroom and saw me at my lowest. And yet, here she is. Here I am. Speaking to a stranger when I should be disappearing. 

I don’t trust people. Not anymore. Not after everything. 

And yet, I’m letting her stay. 

— But they always forget — I inhale, steadying my voice — that once they take everything from you… 

There’s nothing left to lose. 

With just a side glance I can see it. She doesn’t flinch. Her eyes don’t shift away. 

No pity. No disgust. 

But I still can’t read her. 

A dull ache builds in my hands. I unclench my fists. 

— No shame. No self-respect. No reason to care. — The words slip out before I can stop them. But the truth is, I’ve thought about this before. How far someone could fall before they stop feeling it. Before they stop hesitating. 

I look back at her. Her gaze flickers to my mouth just for a second, then it’s back, steady and searching. It happens too fast for me to think anything of it.

— And what’s stopping you? 

The question hits harder than it should. 

I exhale. Slow. Controlled. 

— Stopping me from what? 

Her face doesn’t change. She could be asking the time. 

— From pushing back. 

My pulse tightens. 

She tilts her head. 

— I saw what they did to you. — I tense. She notices. Of course she does. — And by the way you reacted, I’m guessing it’s not the first time. 

The taste of iron lingers in my mouth. 

— Am I wrong? 

I should ignore her. Walk away. But what’s the point? 

Everyone knows already. 

I lift my chin and meet her eyes. 

She smiles. Not cruel. Not kind. Just like she already knew. 

— See? If it keeps happening, that means no one’s done anything to stop it. 

There’s something in her voice. A sharp edge. 

Like she hates this. Hates them. 

I frown. Why would she care? 

— So why don’t you? 

My breath stalls. 

— What? 

— Fight back. Make them regret it. 

I search her face, waiting for the joke. The smirk. The moment she tells me this is all one big setup. 

But she just watches. 

Serious. Steady. 

— No. 

She exhales, pulling out a cigarette. The flame of her lighter flickers, then vanishes. 

— I’m tired of this shit. — Smoke curls past her lips. — I say it’s time they get what they deserve. 

I let out a short breath. Almost a laugh. 

— You don’t even know me. 

— I don’t need to. 

I shake my head. This is insane. She’s insane. 

But when she looks at me again, I feel it. 

The possibility. 

— What do you say, Asa? 

And that’s how it started. 

That’s how I met my best friend. 

But you don’t want to hear about how we turned the tables, do you? 

I know why you’re here. 

I know what you want to know. 

But before I tell you how high school was nothing compared to what came next—before I explain how we survived, and why the hell started catching feelings for my best friend in the middle of a goddamn apocalypse—maybe I should start from the beginning. 

From how a revenge plan with the new girl set everything in motion. 

Right before the world ended.