Last Semester

Chapter 4: Bonds and Betrayal

Night had fallen, and the Stone Beach was alive with the sound of music and the crackle of a bonfire. Everyone seemed to be having fun, the flames casting wild shadows across the sand. There was no sign of Dean, of course-he never got invited to these kinds of things.

Sarah and Rina were there, mingling with the boys, their laughter blending with the others. But even as they danced and joked, there was something off.

"Dean's not here, right?" Rina asked, taking a sip from her cup, her voice laced with uncertainty.

"Don't worry," Sarah replied, though her smile faltered. "He wouldn't show up to something like this."

The group laughed and made jokes about Dean-mocking his weirdness, his love for horror stories. Sarah and Rina laughed too, but deep down, a knot was forming in their stomachs. We shouldn't be laughing at this.

The celebration carried on, mostly fueled by alcohol and weed. Faizal and Zul were the center of attention, the reason for the gathering. Their return was an excuse for everyone to cut loose, and they were doing just that-far beyond any restraint.

Amir, already buzzed, stood up and grinned at the other boys. "Hey, I've got an idea. How about we each pick a girl and find somewhere...private?"

The suggestion was met with cheers and laughter, the boys hyping each other up as they eyed the girls around the fire. There was a lecherous excitement in the air.

Eddie was the first to move, his eyes locking on Sarah. "Come on, Sarah," he smirked, his voice slurred. "Let's find a spot."

The other boys quickly followed suit. Amir grabbed Amelia by the waist and led her to the rocks. Alex pulled Maya into the bushes. Harris dragged Nina behind a car, while Ravi wrapped an arm around Rina. Zul and Faizal paired off with Aisha and Lisa, heading toward different corners of the campsite.

Sarah hesitated but followed Eddie to his caravan. Inside, they started getting intimate, clothes coming off, laughter turning into moans. But as Eddie quickened his pace, Sarah's eyes wandered. Her gaze fell on a keychain hanging from her bag-a picture of her and Dean eating ice cream, smiling, laughing.

She remembered that day, how Dean had confided in her about his feelings for Eddie. How he'd told her, "I love him so much," with that innocent, trusting look in his eyes. And she remembered her own promise to never betray him, to never be with Eddie.

The memory hit her like a punch to the gut, just as Eddie groaned and pulled out, heading to the bin.

"Why are you doing that?" Sarah asked, still lost in her thoughts.

Eddie laughed. "The comforter's too expensive. My mom would fucking kill me if I messed it up."

Sarah forced a laugh, but her mind was elsewhere, replaying Dean's face, his words. As Eddie returned, she sat up, the weight of guilt pressing down on her.

"Eddie," she said, her voice shaky. "What do you really think about Dean?"

Eddie hesitated, sensing the shift in her tone. "What? Why?"

"Just...what's your impression of him?"

Eddie sighed, scratching the back of his neck. "Honestly? He's weird. Too sensitive. I mean, I feel kinda bad sometimes, but he's just so...pathetic, you know? He makes it easy for people to bully him."

Sarah's heart sank. She could feel the tears threatening to spill. "He's not pathetic, Eddie. He's hurt...because of you. Us. Because of all of us. He cared so much about you, me and all of them and none of you guys gave a shit."

Eddie's face darkened as the weight of her words hit him. For the first time, a flicker of guilt crossed his features.

"What do you mean?"