[UPDATED WEEKLY ON FRIDAYS]
When Lilah, an innocent eighteen year old, moves nearly eight hours from her rural town and rough past to have a fresh start at college in New York with her best friend and her older brother, the last thing she expected...
Guys nearly 1,000 reads! This is insane!! 😭 I really hope you're enjoying the story. I know a lot of the chapters have been from Lilah's perspective, but honestly I have just been enjoying writing in her POV recently. Please enjoy, favorite and share! And have a wonderful week and weekend! 🫶🏻
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Without a second thought, my brain immediately agreed upon staying in Jackson's apartment. My whole body was sore as if I had ran a marathon, and I was too exhausted to go back to my place even if I wanted to.
But I didn't.
I wasn't sure if it was because he was the one who had saved me, or if it was because of my desire to have the friendship we used to have as kids, but I desperately wanted Jackson's presence at the very least. Although, we had ended on a very sour note. I think my face scrunched into a wince from the memory, and he took it as me being hurt.
I noticed Jackson's eyes instantly darken as they intensely looked me over, trying to find any injury on me. He quickly closed the distance between us, my breath hitching in my throat.
"Did he hurt you?" His voice came out in a deep, breathy murmur. The sharp tone of his voice almost made me flinch. I could practically feel the anger reemerge.
The same cluster of images flashed through my mind again, my eyes glazing over as I became trapped in that awful place. My nervous smile fell, and my gaze remained locked on the dark wood floor ahead of me, but I felt like I was truly reliving everything all over again from the moment we left the restaurant onwards.
I could feel Nate drape his shirt around my shoulders to offer me warmth. I could smell the sangria and his cologne invade my nose. I was looking straight ahead at the drunk group of friends joking around, pushing each other playfully as they grew further and further away until it was just Nate and I.
Alone.
Suddenly, I felt my numb hands push against Nate's rigid body and barely even phase him as he continued to close the distance between us. I inhaled a shaky breath and desperately tried to keep my arms locked straight to keep us apart. When Nate's rough hand wrapped around my arms and pinned them to my side and his body also wrapped around mine, it all felt too real.
"Lilah?"
I could hear Jackson's voice muffled in the distance, as if he was a couple blocks down the street. I thrashed my head side to side in my weak attempt to keep Nate's lips from touching me. Tears began rapidly trailing down my numbed cheeks, barely able to feel the warmth from them. A hand gripped my wrist, restricting me even more so I couldn't fight to get away, and I resolved to crying out for help.
"Lilah!"
Jackson's voice shouted, the ringing in my ears almost tuning it out. The relief of hearing his voice made me more desperate to escape. Nate's warm lips pushed against my neck, sending a shiver through out my whole body.
