Emma has always been the good girl, keeping her feelings in check and respecting boundaries- especially when it comes to her brother's best friend, Ryan Carter. He's the star quarterback, confident, and completely off-limits. But when they both end...
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The Florida sun blazed high in the sky, casting a golden glow over the palm-lined streets as I stepped out of my car, adjusting my sunglasses. Even though summer break had just ended, the sticky heat clung to me, familiar and overwhelming. The scent of ocean air mingled with freshly cut grass, a reminder that I was back in Miami.
"Finally," Kaitlyn groaned, slamming her door shut with a grin. "No more dorms. No more crappy twin beds or sneaking snacks past the RAs. Just...freedom."
I smiled, hoisting a box of books from the back seat. "Freedom and no A/C," I reminded, wiping sweat from my forehead.
Kaitlyn waved her hand dismissively. "Minor detail. We'll live."
The apartment building loomed ahead, its faded pink stucco walls cracked with age. Ivy snaked up the sides, adding an odd charm that I couldn't deny. It wasn't perfect, but it was ours. After months of talking about it, we finally had our own place. A small two-bedroom off-campus, and sophomore year was waiting just around the corner.
We stepped inside, and the silence swallowed us. The apartment was quiet, the kind of quiet that only comes with new beginnings. Boxes were scattered across the bare floor, waiting to be unpacked. Sunlight filtered through half-closed blinds, casting thin lines of shadow across the room.
Kaitlyn plopped her box down with a thud, spinning around as if surveying her kingdom. "Picture it now-movie nights, pre-game parties, all the best bars just a block away."
I raised an eyebrow, setting my own box down more gently. "And, you know, studying?"
"Sure, sure, study sessions," Kaitlyn said, rolling her eyes. "In between celebrating our newfound adulthood, obviously."
I scanned the empty space, trying to picture it fully furnished and alive with our plans. It felt like freedom, sure, but there was a thread of unease too-like I was on the edge of something bigger, heavier. Could I handle the responsibility of this new life? But before I could second-guess myself, Kaitlyn was already shifting gears.
"This calls for pizza," Kaitlyn declared, pulling out her phone. "I'll order, you start unpacking. Fair deal."
I smirked. Kaitlyn was always quick to delegate when there was work involved. "Of course. You're a natural leader."
Kaitlyn shot me a wink. "That's what they tell me."
As Kaitlyn disappeared into the kitchen, I knelt down and began unpacking my books, stacking them neatly along the floor. The knot of excitement in my stomach tightened, mixing with the nerves I couldn't quite shake. This year had to be different-no more flying under the radar. No more letting things happen to me. I was going to make my mark.
My phone buzzed in my back pocket. I glanced at the screen, already knowing who it was before I opened the message.
Jake: You all moved in? Need any help? I'm close by.
