Sculpting Desire

♡

In the back of her final period class, Abigail sat tapping her pencil against her notebook, a soft, rhythmic sound that echoed through the otherwise silent room. The day had dragged on longer than usual, every minute feeling like an eternity as she eagerly anticipated her 18th birthday. Graduation was only a few weeks away, and soon, she'd be free—free from the familiar yet suffocating halls of high school, free to chase after her dreams without hesitation. But for now, all she could think about was tonight. Liam had promised something special, and she couldn't wait to see what he had planned.

As the bell rang, releasing the students into the chaotic rush of the hallway, Abigail slowly packed up her things. She glanced up just in time to see Liam waiting by the door, his tall frame leaning casually against the frame with his easy smile. It never failed to make her heart flutter just a little bit.

"Hey there, birthday girl," he greeted playfully as she approached him. From his pocket, he pulled out a small box wrapped in bright pink paper. "I got you something."

Abby raised an eyebrow skeptically but couldn't hide her grin. "Already? I thought the surprise was for later?"

Liam shrugged nonchalantly. "Consider this a warm-up." He nodded towards the corner of the school where there was a rarely used stairwell that had become their go-to hideaway spot when they needed a break from everything. She followed him through the dwindling crowd of students, eager to see what else he had in store for her.

Once they reached the secluded stairwell, Liam handed her the box with a mischievous glint in his eye. With curious anticipation, Abby unwrapped it to reveal a small bottle of pink lemonade—their favorite drink since middle school—and a tiny cupcake adorned with colorful sprinkles. She couldn't help but laugh softly, touched by Liam's sweet and thoughtful gesture. This was just the beginning of her birthday celebrations, and she couldn't wait to see what else he had in store for her.

"Thank you, Liam. This lemonade is delicious," she said, twisting off the cap and taking a sip. She savored the sweet and tangy taste, feeling refreshed after a long day.

Liam's smile widened as he watched her carefully, almost possessively. "Only the best for you," he replied, his voice filled with adoration.

But as Abigail took another sip, something felt off. A strange, bitter aftertaste lingered in her mouth, making her frown. Her vision began to blur and a sudden fog seemed to descend upon her mind.

"Liam," she murmured weakly, her voice barely audible. "This... this tastes weird."

His smile faltered for a brief moment before he composed himself. "It's nothing, Abby. You're just tired from today. Let's sit down for a minute."

Her legs were already giving out beneath her and she leaned back against the nearby wall. Confusion and panic washed over her as she struggled to make sense of what was happening. She tried to speak again but her words came out jumbled and incoherent.

As Abigail's movements slowed and her mind became clouded, Liam couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement bubbling inside him. He had planned everything meticulously for this moment and it was finally happening. With gentle hands, he guided her to sit on the dusty stairs before kneeling in front of her.

"Shh, it's okay, Abby. Just relax," he whispered soothingly, his voice low and hypnotic. Taking the nearly empty bottle of pink lemonade from her hand, he set it aside before placing his hands on her trembling frame to steady her.

"Just close your eyes and rest," Liam coaxed, his voice like a distant echo as Abigail slowly lost consciousness under his careful manipulation.

Abigail's mind was in a fog, like a cloud of cotton candy that she couldn't seem to grasp. She wanted to protest and demand answers from Liam, but her thoughts dissipated before she could form coherent words.