Emma’s POV
"Already did, sweetheart."
The words hit like a dagger, slicing deeper than I thought possible. Before I even register what I'm doing, my hand flies up—sharp, fast—connecting with his cheek in a stinging slap.
“What I do isn’t your business anymore, Logan. You don’t get to question who I spend my time with—or what I do. You lost that right the moment you stood by and did nothing while Vanessa humiliated me.”
“You think you can just move on like this? Like I didn’t mean anything to you—or none of what we had?”
“You’re the one who let it slip away. You chose to stay silent when it mattered most.”
He stepped even closer. “I made mistakes—yes. But you think Caleb is going to make you happy?”
I sighed, shaking my head, tired of this back and forth. “That’s not your concern anymore. And by the way, Caleb’s just a friend. Unlike you.”
His gaze darkened, his voice a low rumble now. “You’re mine, Emma. If I see Caleb touch, I swear…” he didn’t finish. He just turned around.
I watched him go with an uneasy feeling in my chest. I still missed him, despite everything, but the pain from his betrayal hadn’t disappeared. It lingered—quiet and sharp—reminding me of what we once had and lost.
***
I was walking to my next class, my mind still tangled in the confrontation I’d had with Logan not long ago, when Caleb appeared beside me, a wide grin stretched across his face.
“Skip class with me.” Caleb had a knack for trouble. It was part of his charm, the magnetic pull that seemed to draw people in, even when they should’ve known better.
“Are you serious?” The hallway was bustling, but it felt like all eyes could suddenly turn on us. “I can’t just—”
“Yes, you can,” he interrupted smoothly, grabbing my hand before I could protest further. “Come on, Emma. Live a little.”
The warmth of his hand and the mischievous glint in his eye were impossible to resist. Against my better judgment, I let him lead me out of the building, my heart pounding with equal parts fear and excitement. As soon as we stepped into the crisp morning air, I felt a rush of exhilaration I hadn’t expected.
We wandered through the city, stopping at a park where Caleb dared me to jump off the swings mid-air, laughing when I landed awkwardly.
Then we found a food truck tucked away on a side street and stuffed ourselves with greasy burgers, not caring about the mess.
Eventually, we ended up by a fountain, the cool water spray a perfect contrast to the warm sun. We laughed until my cheeks hurt, and for a few hours, it felt like nothing else mattered. The fun ended when I got caught.
Detention was my punishment, and Caleb, of course, thought it was hilarious. He sauntered up to me outside the classroom afterward, his grin as wide as ever.
“See? You’re finally getting a taste of the dark side.”
The night Caleb handed me a fake ID was the first time I really started to question what I was doing.
“What’s this for?” I asked.
“We’re hitting up a club tonight,”he said, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
My stomach twisted with a mix of anticipation and dread. “Caleb, I don’t think—”
“Don’t think,” he placed his hands firmly on my shoulders. “Just trust me. You’ll have the time of your life.”