Dreambreaker

It's a Sin

The library felt different now.Jayde had always thought of it as a place of order, a place where everything made sense. Rows of meticulously arranged books, each one cataloged and neatly placed. There was no chaos, no uncertainty—just the quiet hum of pages turning, the soft glow of the overhead lights, and the comforting smell of old paper. It was one of the few places where she could escape the endless expectations, the monotony of The Regime's carefully structured world.But now, sitting at a corner table with Wes across from her, the library felt charged, like it was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.Jayde kept her eyes on the book in front of her, though she hadn't read a single word in the last five minutes. Her heart was beating too fast, her palms were sweaty, and every time Wes shifted in his seat, her stomach did a weird flip.She wasn't supposed to feel like this.Wes wasn't safe. He wasn't like the other boys—ones who followed the rules, who did what was expected of them, who fit into The Regime's perfect mold. No, he was something else entirely. He was unpredictable, dangerous, and—ugh, annoyingly attractive."Something on your mind?" Wes's voice broke through her thoughts, smooth and teasing. She glanced up to find him watching her, a slow grin spreading across his face.Jayde narrowed her eyes. "What makes you think something's on my mind?""You've been staring at the same page for about ten minutes now," he said, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms over his chest. "I thought maybe you were waiting for the words to rearrange themselves or something."Heat flushed her cheeks. "Maybe I like rereading the same paragraph.""Sure, sure," he said, still grinning. "Or maybe you're just distracted by me."Her heart stuttered at that, and for a split second, she was terrified that he could see right through her. She snapped the book shut, hoping to regain some control. "Not everything's about you, Wes."He chuckled softly, his gaze unwavering. "Maybe not. But you've gotta admit, I'm growing on you."Jayde rolled her eyes, but it was getting harder and harder to keep the smirk off her lips. Wes had this infuriating way of getting under her skin, of making her defenses crumble, even when she was trying her hardest to keep them up. Every moment they spent together, she found herself sinking deeper into the pull he had on her, even though her brain kept screaming at her to back away.She glanced at the door. "Shouldn't we be, like... worried about getting caught?"Wes raised an eyebrow, leaning forward across the table. "Are you worried, Jayde?"Her breath hitched at the way he said her name, like he was daring her to admit something. He was close now, his dark eyes locked on hers, and for a moment, it was hard to remember why exactly she was supposed to be worried.But then the reminder hit her like a bucket of cold water.This—whatever this was—was dangerous. Wes was dangerous. He was involved in things that could get them both killed if they weren't careful. He talked about things no one was supposed to talk about. Dreams. Freedom. A world outside the one they were taught to accept without question.She swallowed hard, looking down at her hands. "We shouldn't be here."His expression softened just a little, the playful edge fading from his voice. "Why not?""You know why." Her voice was quieter now, almost a whisper. "The Regime... they don't want us thinking about dreams. They don't want us..." She trailed off, unable to finish the sentence."Thinking for ourselves?" he supplied, his voice soft but steady.Jayde hesitated, her fingers gripping the edge of the table. "It's not safe.""For who?" Wes asked, leaning closer. His voice was low, intimate, like he was sharing a secret meant just for her. "For you? Or for them?"Her heart pounded in her chest, torn between the pull of his words and the ever-present fear that had been drilled into her since she was a child. Dreaming was dangerous. Wanting more was dangerous. And yet, here she was, teetering on the edge of something she couldn't quite explain."I don't know," she whispered, finally meeting his eyes.Wes leaned back, watching her carefully. He seemed to sense the war going on inside her, the battle between fear and curiosity, between the world she knew and the one he was offering her a glimpse of. But he didn't push. Instead, he let the silence stretch between them for a moment, letting her come to her own conclusion."You're curious," he said softly. "I can see it. You want to know more, don't you?"Jayde clenched her jaw, trying to fight against the truth of his words. But she couldn't deny it. She did want to know more. Despite every instinct screaming at her to stay away, she couldn't help the growing sense of intrigue, the need to understand what Wes knew—what he believed in."You said you dream," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "What... what do you dream about?"For a second, something flickered in his eyes—something raw, vulnerable. It was gone as quickly as it appeared, but it was enough to make her breath catch."I dream of freedom," he said quietly. "I dream of a world where we're not all just playing by their rules. A world where we get to choose for ourselves, where we don't have to hide who we are or what we want."He paused, his gaze intense. "And I dream of people who aren't afraid to fight for that world."Jayde swallowed, her throat tight. There was something in the way he spoke that sent a shiver down her spine. It wasn't just the words—it was the way he said them, like he believed them. Like he had seen this world in his dreams and was determined to make it real.And, for the first time, Jayde felt a tiny spark of that same determination ignite inside her."But it's just a dream," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "The Regime won't let us... they won't let us live like that.""They can't stop all of us," Wes replied, his voice firm. "Not if we're willing to fight."Jayde's pulse quickened at the way he said we, like she was already part of this rebellion he was quietly building, like she was someone who could be more than just another compliant citizen. It terrified her—and thrilled her in equal measure."What if we get caught?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. "What if...?""They already control everything we do," Wes interrupted, his tone suddenly serious. "What do you think we have left to lose?"That hit her harder than she expected. He wasn't wrong. The Regime controlled their lives, their futures, their very thoughts. The only thing they couldn't take were their dreams."I don't know if I'm... like you," Jayde admitted, her hands trembling slightly as she spoke. "I don't know if I can...""You don't have to know," Wes said softly, his hand reaching out and brushing lightly against hers. The touch was brief, almost fleeting, but it sent a jolt of electricity up her arm. "You just have to take a step."Jayde's breath caught, her eyes locking with his. For a moment, everything else—the fear, the uncertainty, the rules that had been hammered into her—faded away. There was just Wes, his intense gaze pulling her in, his words echoing in her mind.Take a step.It was terrifying. And yet... it felt like the only thing that made sense anymore.---By the time they left the library, Jayde was more conflicted than ever. Wes had gotten under her skin, wormed his way into her thoughts, and now she couldn't shake him loose. He'd lit a fire inside her, one that was growing stronger every moment they spent together. And she didn't know how to extinguish it.As they walked down the street, the night air cool against her skin, Jayde found herself glancing over at him, her heart doing that stupid fluttering thing again. It was maddening, the way he could make her feel so much and say so little.He was right about one thing, though—she was curious. She wanted to know more. About him. About his dreams. About this world he believed in so fiercely.And even though every logical part of her was screaming that this was a bad idea, that she needed to walk away before it was too late... she couldn't.Not anymore.