aly

You never thought it’d get this bad. The comments were endless. New ones, more cruel and vicious than the last, flooding her latest Instagram post.

Dani was strong. Fierce and confident. Although she knew hate would always come with stardom, often able to brush off the callousness so many people showed her, the sheer resentment she’s faced in the past week is starting to take its toll. The guardian shield was resilient, not indestructible.

As her girlfriend, you saw the moments where her confidence wavered. You saw the way her shoulders sagged when she was alone. The way her gaze was more often on the ground than anywhere else. The way she’d curl up on the couch, scrolling through socials she should be ignoring, when she thought you weren’t looking.

Last you checked, she had almost twenty thousand comments, more than half of which were laced with venom.

Dani had never been one to think twice about the lies or assumptions made of her. She was comfortable in her own body. She knew who she was. She loved who she was.

The media saw it differently.

It hit like an earthquake. Fast. Unpredictable. The “fans” were ruthless.

They dug into her deepest insecurities.

She didn’t belong.

Her style is unoriginal.

A mean white girl who can’t even sing.

The other girls knew she was struggling, Sophia especially. She tried to comfort her. Offered her quiet hugs in the mornings, brought her cookies before bed, but no one saw the way she crumbled like you did. 

Behind closed doors, she couldn’t hold back the tears.

One night, she came to your apartment after rehearsal as usual. As soon as she closed the door, and you emerged from your bedroom with that soft gaze that always told her you cared, she fell apart.

She all but collapsed into your arms, tears already spilling down her cheeks. You wrapped your arms around her waist, trying to keep her together. Her breaths were shaky. Her fingers trembling.

“I’m here…” you murmured, absentmindedly stroking her back.

She curled into you, fingers grasping onto your hoodie. Her face was buried in your shoulder and her curls tickled your cheek. 

“I can’t- I can’t do this anymore. I’m so fucking sick of this,” she muttered. 

You helped her towards the couch, where she completely melted into you.

“I know…I know you are,” you whispered.

You wished there was something you could do. Wished you could promise her everything would get better. But with the current state of the group, Katseye was far from secure.

“Everything they say is bullshit. They don’t know you, Dani. They have no lives and just say all this shit to make themselves feel better about their own shitty lives,” you said earnestly, fingers now playing with her curls.

“I know you. I love you. Nothing will ever change that. This will all blow over soon. You just gotta keep your head help up high. You don’t owe them anything.”

She nodded against you, because she knew you were right. She knew this was just stupid parasocial internet drama. She just needed a break. Time to breathe without feeling like she had to apologize to someone.

“Thank you…” she said quietly, still refusing to let go of you. “Just hold me.”

And of course, you held her all night. When she fell asleep in your arms there on the couch, you slowly, carefully carried her to bed. And when you laid her down in bed, she reached for you, brows furrowed until you finally held her again. 

~

In the morning, Dani woke up feeling a little more rested than she had been lately. She sat up and glanced at her reflection in the mirror. Messy curls, faint lines beneath her eyes. But then, you rose. You wrapped your arms around her waist and rested your chin on her shoulder. She blushed and couldn’t help but smile. You always looked so cute in the mornings.

“My pretty girl,” you murmured against her ear, while pressing a gentle kiss to the side of her neck.

Her heart fluttered. You made it so easy to forget everything. 

You glance out the window. Little bits of snow fall to the ground, and a delicate frost covers the glass. The house is cold, even with the heater buzzing and the blanket enveloped around you. 

You check your phone, hoping for an “omw” from Tara, but you only find an Instagram notification. You sigh as you check the clock. 7:04. She should be here soon, it’s not like her to be late. You decide to send her a text, as you’ve done every 30 minutes that she hasn’t shown up.

u okay? waiting for u

You put the phone down and snuggle deeper into your fluffy blanket, wishing it was Tara instead. Thoughts of the worst possible scenarios plague your mind. What if something happened to her? What if she’s cheating on you? No. She would never. But what if? 

To take your mind off things you make some hot chocolate. You start heating the milk, then stirring the packet of powdered chocolate into it. The two mugs are steaming and hot to the touch. You go back to the couch and settle into the cushions, hoping Tara will be back to soothe your aching heart. 

But the steam dissipates and the untouched mug becomes cold. You try not to cry as you think of the worst, but it’s nigh impossible. You text her again.

baby im really worried. please tell me ur okay

Another hour passes without a response. You’ve put on one of Tara’s hoodies, wanting to engulf yourself in the comfort of her scent. It isn’t until nearly 10 that she shows up. 

She bursts through the door, hair sprinkled with flakes of snow, skin beet red. You throw yourself into her arms, hugging her shivering figure.

“Where were you?!”

She wraps her arms around you, soaking up your warmth. Her face is buried in your neck as she squeezes you tightly. 

“T-the s-snow blocked the road. I had to walk home…and my phone died. I’m s-so sorry, my love…” she stammers, her voice trembling. 

Your heart sinks as you hear this. You cradle her in your arms, wanting to warm her up as quickly as possible. 

“Shhh…it’s okay. Come to the couch. I made you hot chocolate.” You lead her to the couch and you wrap the blanket around her. As the hot chocolate warms up in the microwave, you brush the snow out of her raven hair. You run your fingers through it, nails gently scratching her scalp.

“I’m just happy you’re home,” you whisper softly.

“Me too.”

You hand her the hot chocolate and sit beside her, immediately wrapping your arms around her petite body. The blanket is draped around you both, as you try to get as close as physically possible. The pink has faded from her cheeks, but she still blushes as you kiss the cold away. 

“Thank you for taking care of me,” she says shyly.

“I’ll always take care of you.”

You were rifling through your clothes, trying to find the perfect outfit for your date with Jenna. She would adore you in anything, she even said you could wear a trash bag and she'd still find it hot, but you wanted to look perfect for her. You opened drawer after drawer, but nothing seemed to call out to you.

You were about to open another, when a pair of strong arms wrapped around your waist, and soft lips brushed against your neck. You giggled and leaned back into her.

"Hi, baby," you whispered.

"Hi," Jenna replied, peppering kisses all over your neck.

"I can't find anything to wear," you groaned, turning to face her properly.

"Actually I have something for you, if you don't mind wearing it. I just think you'll look really good in it."

"Oh yeah?" you teased, raising your brow.

She left briefly, and came back with a long, elegant dress, one that would bring out your eyes and hug your curves perfectly. You nearly swooned when you saw it. Jenna always had good taste.

"You like it?" she asked nervously.

"It's perfect. Thank you baby." You kissed her lips softly and she left to give you privacy.

When you walked out of the closet, her eyes widened and she let out a little gasp. Her brown irises twinkled with love and admiration.

"So hot," she whispered under her breath. You laughed and stepped closer to her.

"Charming," you muttered sarcastically.

"I mean it. You're so hot, Y/N."

"Says you."

She reached over and grabbed your jaw, pulling you in for a heated kiss. Her arm snaked around your waist, and her tongue skillfully traced your bottom lip. You groaned in pleasure, parting your lips, and she took the opportunity. Her tongue grazed yours sensually, eliciting another moan from you.

"Mmph, Jenna," you mumbled into her lips, pushing her away. "You should change. We're gonna be late."

"Fine," she sighed. Clearly she didn't want your little makeout session to end.

When she finally revealed her outfit for the night, your jaw went slack. She was adorned with a powerful black suit, and she smirked when she saw your reaction. And she thought you looked hot.

You stepped towards her and pushed her against the wall, before crashing your lips onto hers. But unlike earlier, the kiss didn't last long.

"I thought we were gonna be late," Jenna teased while pushing you back.

"Shut up," you mumbled. She chuckled and pecked your cheek.

"C'mon, let's go, my love."

—

Jenna had taken you to a lavish, fancy restaurant far away from the city, just in case the paparazzi decided to trail you.

The drive was a little long, but just being with her made it seem so short. When you arrived, Jenna got out quickly before you so she could open your door.

"Such a gentleman," you giggled. She held out her hand and when you gave her yours, she brought it up to her lips and kissed it softly.

"Only for you," she teases.

She happily led you inside, and the waiter took you to your table. It was in the back corner of the restaurant, dimly lit with the glow of a few candles. A soft melody of song played throughout the restaurant, and couples talked amongst themselves. It seemed love was in the air.

You skimmed the menu and decided to order the pasta, Jenna deciding on fish. Your waiter came and filled your glasses with wine. Jenna took your hand and stroked it softly.

"You look beautiful, baby. I'm so glad we were finally able to do this," she said, eyes twinkling in the candle light.

"Yeah, I missed you." Jenna had been away filming her newest movie, Winter Spring Summer or Fall, alongside someone you absolutely despised. So having Jenna back in your arms, where she belonged, comforted you deeply.

"How was filming?"

She sighed.

"Exhausting if I'm being honest. With all the talk and rumors going around, I just... needed to get that movie over with."

You smiled and squeezed her hand softly.

"I'm just glad you're back home."

The waiter came back and took your orders.

"So...when's your next project?" you ask curiously. You didn't want her to go, but it was always good to have the date of her leave in the back of your mind.

"I have another movie in a few months," she answered grimly.

You, seeing her face, decided it was probably best to change the subject.

"When will I get to meet your family?" you asked, stroking the back of her hand with your thumb.

Her face brightened with the question.

"Whenever. They keep telling me how much they want to meet you," she said, taking a sip of her wine.

"We should totally plan a dinner then! Though, if I'm being honest, I'm a little nervous. I mean, your family is huge."

"They'll love you, I promise."

Soon, your food arrived, and you both talked the night away. The sun quickly sunk, and couples slowly left the restaurant, leaving just you and Jenna still having pleasant conversation.

She checked the time and her eyes widened.

"We should probably get going, babe. I think the restaurant closed ten minutes ago," she giggles.

She paid the bill, albeit there was a lot of argument from you, and you two left. You shivered at the bitter cold, and Jenna removed her suit and wrapped it around your shoulders.

"Shoulda brought a jacket."

"Eh, it's okay. I have you," you tease, pecking her cheek.

"What if I get cold?" she pouts. You kiss her frown away.

"I guess that's the price you pay when you devote yourself to your girlfriend."

She rolls her eyes and grabs your hand, tugging you onto the sidewalk.

"I actually have one more thing planned for tonight," she tells you.

"Oh yeah? And what's that?"

"You'll have to find out."

She leads you around the corner of the restaurant, into an alley.

"Uh...you're not gonna murder me are you? I know you're in Scream, but I'm pretty sure Tara isn't Ghostface. Though that would be hot..." you mumble.

"Relax, I'm not gonna murder you."

She tugs towards a set of stairs leading to the roof of the building, and she starts to climb the steps slowly.

"We're technically not supposed to do this, but I bribed one of the waiters with an autograph and a picture," she tells you.

"Perks of being famous, I guess."

When you reach the roof, your breath hitches at the sight. She had set up a bunch of fairy lights all across the roof, and her record player sat on a table.

"Oh, Jenna..." you coo, kissing her deeply.

She walks over to the record player and plays some old 60s song. Its melody echoing into the night. She turns back to you and extends her hand.

"May I have this dance?"

"So cheesy," you giggle, rolling your eyes, before accepting her hand.

She brought her hand around your waist and held yours in her other. You rested your hand on her shoulder and leaned into her embrace.

"I love you, baby. Thank you for being so patient with me and my work. I know it's hard when I have to leave."

"I love you too, Jen. And trust me, it's all worth it."

You swayed to the beat of the song, dancing the night away. Crickets chirped around you and the stars twinkled above. Everything was perfect. When the song ended, you tugged her by her tie and pulled her into a passionate kiss, one of pure love and admiration.

"I love you so much," you whisper, pressing your forehead against hers.

You were brushing your teeth and getting ready for bed when Amelia texted you.

Amelia: y/n come over. vada hasn't slept in days

You: be there in 15

You sighed and stared at your phone background. It was a picture of you and Vada, her eyes closed and her lips against your cheek. Before the shooting, when she was happy. You smiled sadly, then shut it off and got ready to leave.

The shooting had caused Vada to distance herself from you, and while you understood that, you missed her. You haven't texted her since last week, and any response from her was short and half-hearted.

When you arrived at the Cavells' house, Amelia all but shoved you towards Vada's room. Hesitantly, you knocked softly. In all honesty, you were afraid of what you would see behind her door, as it's been weeks since you've seen her.

"Go away, Amelia. I don't wanna talk," the muffled voice of your girlfriend said.

"It's me, Vads," you spoke tenderly.

Silence.

You sighed and opened her door, and your heart sank at the sight of her. Maybe giving her this much space wasn't the best idea. Her room was dark, devoid of any light, and clothes were strewn about all over the floor. And there, in the middle of her bed, curled up into a ball, was Vada. She was slightly shaking and her eyes were shut tightly.

"Oh, Vada," you sighed. Her eyes slowly opened, but they never met yours. Her usual bright and lively brown eyes were weighed down with dark, heavy bags beneath them.

You approached her bed and sat on the edge.

"What are you doing here?" she croaked. She fiddled with the sleeve of her sweatshirt, and still avoided any sort of eye contact.

"Just...checking up on you. And I miss you, V."

"I'm fine."

You scooted closer to her and took her hand in yours, brushing her knuckles with your thumb.

"You know, I'm always, always gonna be here for you, right?"

She opened her mouth as if to say something, but ultimately swallowed it down.

"Please look at me, Vada."

And for the first time in weeks, her eyes met yours. As your eyes locked together, you truly saw how broken she was. You wordlessly cupped her cheeks and rubbed her brow with your finger. She let out a small sigh, and her tense expression began to soften at the comforting touch.

"C'mon, you should get some sleep, my love," you told her.

You removed your shoes and got into her bed, opening your arms for her to join you. She rested her head against your chest and sighed deeply in content. Her arms snaked around your waist while she nestled deeper into your embrace. You brushed the knots out of her hair with your fingers, and pressed little kisses to her head every few minutes.

"I'm sorry, Y/N," Vada whispered after a while.

"For what?"

"Pushing you away."

"You don't have to be sorry, Vads, I get it."

She said nothing. You resumed combing her hair, trying to coax her to sleep.

"I love you, Y/N."

You smiled and squeezed her tighter.

"I love you too," you whispered back.

She giggled softly and poked your side, playfully.

"Go to sleep already, Vada."

 Your eyes met Jenna's for the millionth time that night. She had caught your intense gaze of pure envy yet again. Her lips curled into a slight smirk, and she threw her head back in laughter as she flirted with the man next to her. He leaned over and whispered something in her ear. She blushed and brushed her hand along his bicep. Your jaw clenched in fury and you shot up from the couch and stormed over to the pair. Her eyes found yours again, and something flickered behind them. Triumph. She had you right where she wanted.

"Jenna, let's go."

"No, I'm okay," she said lightly.

"Yeah, she's okay," the man said cockily beside her.

"I wasn't talking to you," you spat. "Jenna. Let's. Go."

You grabbed her wrist and pulled her away from the guy. He rolled his eyes and walked away, sauntering to find another girl to prey on.

You wordlessly led Jenna into a vacant bedroom upstairs. The muffled music of the party below thumped through the walls. Avoiding her piercing gaze, you sat on the edge of the bed. She didn't join you.

"What was that about, Y/N?" Her tone was curious, but you could pick out the hint of smugness laced within.

"Nothing. That guy looked like an asshole. I was saving you."

"Oh yeah? That was all?" she taunted, taking a step closer and sitting beside you.

You swallowed nervously, trying to ignore the pounding of your own heartbeat. This was how Jenna operated. She'd coax you into going to some random party, then flirt with someone else all night until you'd break and take her into a bedroom. Like an idiot, you fell for her charms every time.

"We're just friends, Y/N. Just sex. No strings."

"I know," you grunted bitterly.

But you wanted more.

She reached over and cupped your cheek. The touch of her soft skin against yours sent heat rushing through you. Her fingers curled around your jaw, and she pulled you into a heated kiss. And just like that, your resolve broke. She guided you onto her lap, her teeth sucking and bruising your neck.

The sensible part of your brain was screaming at you to stop. This relationship was unhealthy; toxic. But the feeling of Jenna caressing your skin, and her lips brushing over every inch of your body pushed any and all rational thoughts out of your head. You were addicted. Addicted to the intense rush and excitement you felt whenever you were with her.

You simply couldn't let go.

❖    ❖   ❖

Jenna rose from your body and began to put her clothes back on. Your breaths were erratic, and your skin glistened with sweat. She was in a rush. It was clear from the way she rapidly threw everything on herself. And even though you knew the answer– as it was the same every time – you couldn't help but ask the question you both dreaded.

"Can you stay?" you whispered, voice breaking at the end.

Her gaze hardened and a pitiful smile spread across her perfect features. It was an expression of hers that you've grown to reluctantly memorize.

"Y/N, you know I can't"

"Not even just one night?" you all but begged.

"I'm sorry. If I stay, that would...mean something."

"Is that so bad?" you asked cautiously. Her eyes widened a little. You've never pressed this much before.

"I'm sorry, Y/N. I just don't see you like that."

And with that, she was gone.

You sank back into the pillows and tried not to cry. This was routine. You would ask her to stay, and she would hurriedly decline, leaving you in broken pieces. She always seemed to have one foot out the door, ready to bolt whenever you two finished. No matter what you did, or how good you were to her, you were never enough.

❖    ❖   ❖

You sat on a bench with Devyn, doodling on her arm, waiting for your next class to start. Devyn was your best friend. She knows about your thing with Jenna, and she knows you have feelings for her, but she doesn't know how toxic your relationship with her is.

"Devynnnn. I'm so borrrred," you whined, slumping over on her lap.

"Ugh, same." She glanced at your drawings and giggled. "You wanna go to a party tonight?"

"Sure. Why not?"

"Yay! We can get ready at my house."

If you were being honest, you were a little nervous. If there was a party, Jenna would surely be there. And once again, she would try to sneakily coax you into bed with her. But, you had Devyn, worst case you could always rely on her.

This party would be different, you mentally told yourself. You weren't in any mood for Jenna's games.

❖   ❖    ❖

Hanging out with Devyn had proved to be a great distraction for your internal woes. For once, Jenna was far from your mind, and you could finally breathe.

As you drove to the party, singing loudly with Devyn, you had nearly forgotten why you were so nervous about this party in the first place.

When you walked into the house, Devyn immediately pushed through crowds of people to get you two a drink.

"Jesus, Dev, slow down," you called.

"What, I just wanna get my girl a drink, is that so bad?" she teased.

She grabbed a red plastic cup and walked over to the assortment of alcohol on the counter.

"What would you like, pretty lady?" Flirty nicknames were common with Devyn. It's how she shows affection. She wiggled her eyebrows in amusement and traced each bottle with her finger.

"Hmmm....surprise me."

She nodded and grabbed a bottle, then poured a shot's amount into the cup.

"Cheers," she smiled.

You tilted your head back and gulped down the clear liquid, wincing at the sharp burning taste.

"Okay, let's go sit down," she said, taking your hand and leading you to find an empty couch. You grabbed a beer and joined her.

"So...how are things with Jenna?" she asked teasingly.

"I don't really wanna talk about Jenna right now," you sighed, looking down dejectedly.

She raised her eyebrow and examined you for a moment, but ultimately left it alone. You two chatted for a while and even danced for a bit, but on your way back to the kitchen for another drink, you saw her.

She stared at you, her eyes boring through you. A girl was beside her, practically leaning on her, and touching her in any way possible. A smirk made its way across her lips. She was expecting you to go to her.

Your heart sank. Normally, jealousy would flourish through you like an angry, green-eyed beast, but now, you were just disappointed. Without another thought, you turned around and went back to Devyn.

"Hey Dev, I think I wanna go home," you told her.

"Why what's wrong?" she asked worriedly.

"Nothing. I'm just kinda...over it." You rubbed the back of your neck anxiously. "You can stay if you want. I'll pick you up when you're ready."

"It's okay, I'll call an Uber." She pressed a kiss to your temple, offering whatever form of comfort she could. She knew why you were upset, but she didn't want to force you to talk about it. Especially not in the middle of a party. "You're okay to drive?"

"Yeah, I'm good."

"Okay. Get home safe. Love you."

The drive home was difficult, to say the least. Every time you thought about Jenna, tears clouded your eyes, making it difficult to focus on the road. It infuriated you. All you wanted was to curl up in Jenna's arms. You wanted to hear her sweet voice, telling you she loved you, and that everything would be okay.

You wiped your eyes in frustration. You were so good to Jenna. You willingly made yourself an outlet for her. Whatever she needed, you would comply. You offered her your heart, and each time, she would snatch it from you and stomp on it. You didn't deserve to be treated this way, and you knew that. But, you were so in love with her, that the extensive torture she put you through was worth it for just a little bit of her attention.

When you got home, you slammed your bedroom door shut and collapsed into your bed. Your body shaked with gut wrenching sobs, heart aching as you thought about every memory with Jenna. It became strenuous to breathe, and tears soaked your pillowcase. Hours passed by as you cried, failing to notice the flurry of texts from Jenna.

A knocking sound came from your door, barely audible over the sound of your erratic breathing. Dragging yourself to the door, you wiped the tears from your eyes and tried to look presentable. It was likely Devyn checking up on you.

You swung open the door and gasped lightly. It wasn't Devyn. No, it was Jenna.

"What are you doing here?" you asked lowly.

"Well I came to have some fun...but now I'm a little worried." She reached up to cup your cheek, but you slapped it away. For once, you didn't want her hands on you.

"Don't...touch me, Jenna. And don't pretend like you care," you spat bitterly.

"I do care," she defended angrily. You scoffed in disbelief.

"No. You don't. All you care about is having me in your bed. And when I'm not, you try to make me jealous so I come crawling back to you."

"No I-"

"And you know how I feel about you. It makes you feel good. You don't actually give a shit about me, you just want to keep me around to keep yourself feeling wanted. And I'm fucking sick of it. All you care about is yourself, Jenna."

You stormed out of your own apartment and slammed the door, not giving her a chance to reply. You angrily sped off to Devyn's place, anxious to get as far away from Jenna as possible.

❖     ❖   ❖

It's been weeks since your dispute with Jenna. You've ignored every text and every call, instead devoting all your time to school and Devyn. You never went to any parties or any place Jenna could be found, and quite literally removed her from your life. Admittedly you were a lot happier.

Jenna, on the other hand, was the exact opposite. Only until after you were gone did she realize how much she needed you. She felt empty.

Love was an unfamiliar thing to her. She never felt it, at least, not romantically, and thus, she was afraid of it. The idea of letting her guard down and exposing herself to someone was terrifying.

She never meant to hurt you, but she didn't want to hurt herself either. By allowing herself to truly fall for you, she would be risking the total annihilation of her heart. It was always easier to just push you away. Push love away.

She never acknowledged the feelings she had for you. Blaming it on alcohol, or simply just pure confusion made more sense to her. But now she knows. She has fallen completely and utterly in love with you. No matter how hard she tried to stop it, her heart beat for you.

She recognized that, she needs you. She had to make it up to you, to fix everything, if only to soothe the aching in her chest; she needs to be with you.

She grabbed her phone to check the time. 1:03 AM.

"Fuck," she muttered under her breath. She supposes she could do this tomorrow but- no. She has to see you now.

Not willing to contemplate this any further, she ran to her car and drove off to your house. Her breathing became erratic, her eyes wild. She was afraid.

It took multiple minutes of knocking to get you to answer the door. Jenna shuffled her feet and fiddled with her jacket nervously while she waited for you to open it. When you finally did, her breath hitched at the sight of you.

"What the fuck are you doing here at 1 in the fucking morning?" you demanded. Your voice was raspy with exhaustion. "Could you not just wait until tomorrow?"

"No. I- I had to see you," Jenna croaked softly. She wanted so badly to curl up in your arms like you always wanted her to, and internally kicked herself for always refusing your requests.

Without a word, you turned around and left the door open for Jenna to join you. She walked in hesitantly and followed you to your kitchen.

"What do you want, Jenna?" You leaned against the kitchen counter and stared at her expectantly. "You better not be trying to fuck."

For a moment, Jenna couldn't find her voice. She couldn't believe she was with you right now, after you–with good reason–shut her out. She couldn't believe how much she missed you.

"Well?" You were getting impatient.

"I want- I want to apologize. For everything," she breathed out. You scoffed.

"Oh yeah? Now you want to apologize? After how fucking long?" She flinched at the malice in your voice.

"I'm sorry, Y/N." Tears began to well in her eyes. "I'm sorry for the way I treated you. If I could take it all back I would." Her words were shaky and quiet.

Your eyes softened at her words. You've never seen her look so small before. She lacked the usual confidence she always had. And you realized that, this was the first time she's ever been truly vulnerable with you.

"I didn't realize it until now, but-" she took a deep breath and laughed dryly, wiping the tears from her eyes. "I love you."

You gasped softly and your heart stopped. Jenna's words caught you off guard, your heart beating faster in your chest. Your eyes met Jenna's, searching for any hint of hesitation or regret, but instead, you saw the raw vulnerability and honesty in Jenna's gaze. You felt tears prick at the corners of your eyes as you realized that she finally said the words you've been dying to hear for months.

"I've always been so afraid of falling in love. I- I just didn't want to get hurt and now, I've hurt you. I'm sorry. A-and I get it if you hate me or if- you never wanna see me again but- I- I'd hate myself if I never asked for another chance. I know I don't deserve it, I know I don't even deserve to be here right now, but I love you. And if you give me another chance, I swear I'll be better."

"Please," she finished. Tears were now streaming down both of your faces. She looked up at you hesitantly and awaited your response.

Your brain was running a million miles a minute. You've wanted this so badly, for god knows how long, but at the same time, you didn't want to get hurt again. You searched her eyes for any hint of deception, but all you found was pure sincerity.

"Okay," you whispered. As the word escaped your lips, you felt a mix of emotions flood through you - relief, excitement, and a twinge of fear. It was a simple response, but it held so much weight.

As you gazed at her, you saw the hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. A small smile spread across your own.

"Really?" she asked softly.

"You have a lot of making up to do, and we're gonna take things slow." you told her, pointing your index finger at her chest while she stepped closer to you. A full, wide grin was now spread across her face.

"I'll do anything you want," she whispered gleefully. You smirked and put your hands on her waist, tugging her closer.

"You better," you grumbled.

You moved your hand up her body and gripped the back of her neck, searching her eyes one last time to be safe. Her brown irises were filled with love and adoration. Something you've never seen before. It filled you with excitement.

You pulled her into a searing kiss, full of love and passion. But before she could deepen the kiss, like you knew she would, you pulled away. A pout formed on her lips.

"I mean it, Jenna. We're taking things slow."

"Okay, okay," she said, holding her hands up in surrender. "Can I at least stay the night?"

A knock at the door startled you. You put down your mascara wand and double checked yourself in the mirror. Perfect. Your hair cascaded in loose curls over your chosen outfit: A crop top and some baggy jeans. It was cute and casual.

"Coming!" you called to the door and rushed to answer it.

You swung open the door and blushed at the sight of her. She had a navy blue crewneck over a white tee, accompanied with baggy jeans. Her fuschia streaks shone brightly against her brunette hair. In her hand was a beautiful bouquet of red carnations, your favorite flower.

"Didn't expect you to be such a romantic, Camila," you smirked, taking the flowers.

"Yeah well...gotta woo you somehow. You look super hot by the way." You flushed at her compliment, heat rushing to your face.

"Says you," you replied with a smile.

"Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah one sec, lemme just grab my wallet."

When you returned, Camila grabbed your hand and led you to her car, where she opened the door for you.

"Such a gentleman," you teased. She rolled her eyes playfully and got into the driver's seat. As she started the engine she noticed your lack of a jacket.

"Aren't you gonna be cold?" she asked worriedly. You loved how much she cared for you. Even just simple things like this.

"Well luckily chivalry apparently isn't dead, so I can just wear yours," you said happily, poking her cheek in delight.

She laughed and shook her head, then started the drive to the movie theater. You had begrudgingly agreed on a horror movie for your second date, though it took a lot of convincing on Camila's part. You didn't even know what it was called, since frankly, you didn't care. All you wanted was to spend time with Camila. If that meant watching people get brutally murdered on a huge screen, so be it.

Upon arrival she opened the door for you once again, taking your hand as you walked out.

"Okay, Casanova, let's go."

She put her arm around you and kissed your cheek.

"You smell good," she mumbled. Once more, she made you blush.

You two bought your tickets and popcorn and went to find your seats. Previews for other movies were already playing, and you started to get a little nervous. Even the trailers were a little frightening.

"Cami, I'm scared," you sighed, not missing her little smile at the nickname.

"Don't worry baby, I'll protect you." She winked and dragged you down into your seat.

"Ugh I never should have agreed to this."

You grumpily munched on popcorn as the movie began. And right you were, you never should have agreed to this. Within the first thirty minutes, an eye was stabbed and an arm was twisted and ripped off. You yelped and jumped with every new kill. Camila was enjoying this thoroughly, giggling whenever you got scared.

"You wanna come sit with me?" she asked playfully, wiggling her eyebrows.

You quickly nodded and slipped into the little empty space beside her, your leg resting on top of hers. She snaked her arms around your waist and kissed your shoulder. Her affections made your heartbeat rise, and the warmth of her kisses lit your body aflame. Soon enough another character was butchered, the woman's throat getting slit open. You jumped in Camila's arms, and she pulled you closer to her, trying to ease your worries.

"Relax. I'm here," she whispered in your ear. Though she loved to tease you, sometimes you forget how sweet Camila could be.

Throughout the whole movie, you only melted closer into Camila's embrace. By the end of the film, you were completely on top of her, your back facing the screen. Only when it finally ended, you pulled away. The lights came back on, and the other people in the theater began to file out.

You noticed Camila's raised eyebrows, and yours furrowed in confusion. She glanced down at your lap and you realized the compromising position you were in. Your legs were straddling her lap, and her hands still haven't left your waist. Clearing your throat nervously, you rapidly removed yourself from her body.

When you left the theater an immediate chill ran up your spine. Camila noticed and began to remove her sweatshirt, shaking her head in amusement. The garment was soft and warm, and smelled just like her. You snuggled into it, causing another smirk to spread across Camila's face.

"So...did you like the movie?" she asked playfully.

"Yep. So good," you grumbled sarcastically, tugging her closer when you remembered the morbid gore of the movie. "Did you like it?"

"Yeah it was alright, but I've seen better," she replied. "I did enjoy having you on my lap though," she added.

Heat rose in your cheeks once more. Camila was gonna be the death of you if she kept shamelessly flirting like this. You giggled and leaned up, pressing your lips to her cheek. (ik jenna's like 5'1 but camila gives tall vibes so jus roll w it if ur taller than her)

You two just slowly walked back to the car, enjoying the company of each other and the playful banter. You've only known Camila for a few months, but you already feel like you've known her forever. She made you feel safe, and happy. People warned you about her, saying that she'd only date you for a fuck, then leave you high and dry. But they were all wrong. Camila was sweet and effortlessly funny, and it was clear that she cared about you.

As she drove you home, you talked and talked, laughing at all her jokes. The horrible images of the movie quickly washed away, Camila easing away all of the fear. Her hand found its way to yours, the other firmly gripped on the steering wheel. Something so simple as this was insanely attractive. Everything about her was so enticing. Her hair, her style, her effortless confidence. She was a drug and you were willingly addicted.

"See something you like?" Her voice broke you from your trance. The smug grin was back. You quickly averted your eyes, trying to focus on something other than the girl beside you. She chuckled and squeezed your hand softly. "It's okay. You know I don't mind."

She pulled up to your house and stopped the car at the curb. The date had reached its end. But, you didn't want it to. You wanted to stay with her, go wherever, it really didn't matter. You just wanted, needed to be with her.

"Do you want me to walk you?" she asked, curious as to why you haven't opened the door yet.

You met her gaze and swallowed nervously. Unintentionally, you quickly glanced at her lips. You unconsciously bit your lip, ideas of kissing her flooding your brain. You tried to ignore them, tried to push them away, it was only your second date after all, but the thoughts stubbornly stayed put. You gulped nervously and shook yourself from the enchanting spell she had you under.

"No, I'm okay." You smiled and leaned over the console, kissing her cheek once more. "This was fun, but next time I'm picking the date."

You opened the car door and began to step out, but her hand on your wrist stopped you. She yanked you back into the seat and leaned into you. Her hot breath fanned over your face, her eyes completely locked on your lips. She stopped right before they touched, and your breath hitched at the close proximity.

"Can I kiss you baby?" she husked.

Any and all rational thoughts flew out the window. You nodded fervently and she firmly pressed her lips against yours. You sighed in pleasure at the awaited contact.

She pulled away in hesitation, silently asking if you wanted to take it further. You wordlessly climbed over her lap, and straddled her, aggressively kissing her once more. Her tongue expertly traced your bottom lip, before softly entering your mouth. Your tongue sensually grazed hers, and you moaned quietly at her touch. Her hands gripped your waist tightly, one sliding up to tug your hair. Her lips moved to your neck, and you tilted your head to give her more access. The pleasure was intoxicating, groans of enjoyment escaping your lips.

"Eres tan hermosa, mi amor," she mumbled against your neck.

Her hands liften your shirt and slid underneath, rubbing your back and moving towards your bra. You tensed at the movement and pulled away from her lips.

"Uhm, Cami? I'm loving this right now, but I don't think I'm ready for sex yet," you said softly, avoiding her eyes.

She grabbed your chin with her fingers and forced you to look at her. Her thumb traced circles over your cheek.

"Hey, it's okay. I won't pressure you into anything," she said earnestly.

You mentally swooned. Everyone was so wrong about her. You rested your forehead against hers and pecked her lips.

"Do you wanna stay the night?" you asked softly, your eyes never leaving hers.

She smiled and laughed, wrapping her arms around you and pulling you close. She kissed your cheek and you melted into her.

Tara pulled up to the house in which the party she told you about was held. You could see the bright neon lights through the windows, each one packed with people. The music was blaring so loud you could hear it within Tara's car. A few people were out in the front yard, where they laughed stupidly at their moronic drinking games. As you stepped out, you shivered instantly, surprised at the bitter cold. Tara shut her door and walked over to you, offering you her hand. You blushed and laced your fingers with hers, letting her lead you to the party. Even before you entered, you could feel the vibration of the music in your feet.

You and Tara have been dating for the past few weeks. It was fairly new, but you've never felt feelings like this with anyone before. You looked over at her as you walked, and she smiled at you, making your stomach churn. When you opened the door, a thick, pungent odor of sweat and alcohol hit your nose.

"Oh, Jesus," you muttered, scrunching your nose in disgust.

"Oh, relax. We all know you'll be drinking tonight," Tara smirked teasingly beside you.

"Well yeah but, I always forget how gross parties are."

She giggled at your complaints and took you to go find some drinks. Bodies of other teenagers pressed against your own, cups in every hand. The kitchen was extremely crowded, with everyone trying to drink their nerves away. Grabbing a cup, Tara poured a dark, amber colored drink for the both of you.

"Shot to start off the night?" she asked, wiggling her eyebrows playfully.

"Hell yeah." The bitterness of the drink burned pleasantly in your throat.

"Hey!" you heard a voice call. It was Chad, accompanied by Mindy and some other people you've never seen before. "You guys came!" he exclaimed excitedly. He walked over to Tara and put his arm around her, a wide grin spread across his face.

You rolled your eyes in distaste. It was so obvious he had a crush on her. You wanted to like Chad, he was sweet and easy to talk to, but his feelings for Tara made that impossible. A knot twisted and tightened in your gut as you watched them. Bitterly, you poured yourself another shot, downed it, and slammed your cup on the counter.

"I'm gonna go find my friends," you told Tara and left before she could respond. You liked Tara's friends, but you didn't wanna be around Chad's insatiable flirting with your own girlfriend. Plus, you weren't one to make a scene, so you let her be. You made your way through the house, searching for familiar faces. All around you people laughed obnoxiously loud, some bumping into you. Couples made out aggressively in every corner.

"Hey Y/N!" a voice called.

It was your friend Scarlett, along with everyone else in your group, spread out across a couch. Gaby's legs laid across Scarlett, red solo cup in hand, while talking to Noah. Noah's eyes were hooded, evident from the cart in his hand. He pressed it to his lips and inhaled, the blue light illuminating the pen. They all turned and smiled lazily at you as you approached the couch.

"Come sit!" Scarlett exclaimed excitedly, patting an empty space next to her. Her blonde hair was curled perfectly and her makeup highlighted all of her best features. You sat next to her and she instantly shoved a drink in your hands. "Soooo, how are things with Tara?" Scarlett asked.

You blushed upon hearing her name, shaking your head and letting your hair hide your face.

"Things are good. She's really sweet and I really like her," you said, shrugging your shoulders. You took a sip of the mystery concoction Scarlett handed you. It was pleasantly sweet, just enough to compliment the bitter taste of alcohol.

"Awwww. You're so in loooooove." Gaby cooed.

"Ugh, shut up, Gaby," you groaned, playfully shoving her.

"Yo, Y/N, wanna play beer pong?" Noah asked.

"Sure, why not? Lemme hit that first though," gesturing to his cart. He tossed it to you with a knowing smirk. You brought it up to your lips, held down the button, and inhaled. The vapor expanded in your lungs, before you exhaled and let it out in a slow, hazy puff of smoke. "Alright, ready to get your ass kicked?" you taunted Noah.

"You wish."

The hours quickly went by, and you were about to win your second game out of three. Your body tingled with intoxication as you grabbed the small white ball. Brows furrowing in concentration, you tossed the ball shakily, and it somehow sank right into the cup, beer splashing out onto the table. You threw your hands up in victory and watched as Noah chugged the cup. When you turned to the crowd around you, you were met with Tara's gaze of amusement.

"Taraaaaaa! I won beer pong! Twice!" you slurred with glee and you put up three fingers proudly to emphasize your pride. You stumbled closer and threw your arms around her.

"Wow. You're super drunk. Remind me to never leave you unattended at a party." she said giggling.

"I'm not even that drunk, silly."

"Right," she said, unconvinced. "Let's get you upstairs, okay?" She put an arm around you and carefully led you back inside. The rest of the party was a blur. Literally. Your head spun dizzily, and your arms swung numbly at your sides. It felt as if you were floating, grounded only by Tara's arm wrapped around your shoulders.

Somehow, you made it up the stairs without falling, though you came close. Tara found an empty bedroom and tugged you inside. You flopped on the bed, eyes closed, and dragged her with you. She laid her head beside yours, enjoying your inebriated state. She brought her hand up to your face and tucked a strand of hair behind your ear. Your eyes shot open at the sudden contact. It spread warmth throughout your whole body, as if setting it on fire. You wanted, no, needed more of her touch. Scooting closer to her, you gazed into her deep, chocolate brown eyes. They were dilated, no doubt from her own intoxication, and they widened a bit as you got closer. Though you were dating, you've never been this close to her; just inches away.

"Taraaa," you slurred.

"Yes?" she asked playfully.

"You're so prettyyyy." you whined, saying the words as if it physically hurt you. Sometimes, you swore it did. She flushed at your comment, then opened her mouth to say something, but you cut her off. "Your hair is just- so perfect. And your eyes are so so so so sooooo beautiful. I could stare at them all day long." you said gleefully. She smiled at you and tried to reply but you cut her off yet again. "Your face is just perfectttttt. I love your freckles so much. They make you look sooooo cuteeee. And your lips...god your lips are so..." you trailed off and zeroed in on her smooth, supple lips. "...pretty...god I just wanna..." your words fell again, and thoughts of her lips pressed against yours caused your body to erupt in flames once more.

You yearned to kiss them, but the fear of the uncrossed territory between you two scared you. A brief flash of Chad's arm around her crossed your mind, and that fear was quickly replaced with jealousy. You knew that he probably thinks about kissing her too, and that if Tara wasn't currently involved with you, she would likely be with him. The thought angered you, and desire and lust over Tara clouded your mind. Refusing to contemplate this anymore, you leaned over and finally pressed your lips against hers. She gasped quietly into your mouth, eyes wide at your sudden bold move. You cupped her cheek and pressed your body against hers, and she quickly melted into the kiss. It started soft and tender, both of you a little scared to take the kiss any further. But soon, any and all nerves washed away and the kiss quickly heated up. Air didn't matter to either of you as you kissed each other fervently. Her hand slid up your shoulder and into your hair, tangling in it and tugging it lightly. You intertwined your legs with hers, and brought an arm around her waist, pulling her even closer. There wasn't anymore space between you two, both desperately craving more contact. You moved to lay on top of her and she sighed, letting you take control. Your lips moved to her neck, where you sucked and bit, leaving trails of bruises all across her collarbone. She moaned quietly at the pleasant sting of your teeth against her skin.

"More," she whispered. You complied with a smirk, and continued your assault on her neck and lips for hours.

The next morning you woke up with a throbbing headache. Sunlight shined brightly right in your eyes, as if it was teasing you, urging you to wake up and face your inevitable hangover. You grumbled bitterly, desperately wanting to go back to sleep. But the nausea in your stomach made that impossible.

You rubbed your eyes, finally taking in your surroundings. Noticing you weren't in your own room, your heartbeat quickened.

"Morning," Tara said quietly beside you. You turned sharply towards her, then relaxed, realizing you were in Tara's room. Her eyes were still closed and her body was still covered in the warm comforter. "How do you feel?" Her morning voice was attractively raspy, and you knew you would never get used to it.

"Like shit," you groaned.

"Do you remember anything?"

"Oh god, what did I do?" you whined, sinking back into the pillows.

"Well, for starters, you won beer pong. Twice." Brief images of you at the table sinking ping pong balls into cups and chugging beer flashed through your head.

"And thennnn, since you were super drunk, I took you to a bedroom to get you to sober up..." she said slyly with a smirk.

"Why did you say it like that..?" you nervously asked, scared to see what stupid thing you did this time.

"Well..." she trailed off and sat up, letting the covers fall from her body. Your heart stopped. Her neck was covered in dark purple bruises, surrounded by angry irritated skin. Her hair was disheveled, and her lips were stained with your lipstick. Your jaw went slack, eyes almost bulging out of your skull. "You uh...got a little bold," she giggled.

"Oh...my god," you whispered in disbelief. Mortified, you retreated back into the covers and pulled a pillow over your head. "I'm so sorry, oh my god."

She laughed at your muffled response and lifted the pillow off of you. "It's okay it was super cute." Laying back down beside you, she grabbed your jaw and turned your head, forcing you to look at her. "...And hot."

You flushed at her remark, and closed your eyes in embarrassment. She laughed, then climbed over your body and laid against you. Wrapping the blanket around her, you let her relax into your arms. She sighed happily, and pressed little kisses all over your face.

"Wait did we...?" you started but didn't finish, afraid to say the word.

"We didn't fuck if that's what your asking."

Relief washed over you. As appealing as that idea was, it'd probably be much better if you two were sober. She then pressed kisses all the way up to your ear lobe, nibbling and tugging softly with her teeth.

"But if you want to, I'm down." she husked in your ear.

You stared frustratingly at the countless papers laid out across your desk. No matter how hard you studied the notes and study guides, you couldn't seem to grasp the subject, and frequently got question after question wrong.

A text from Anika tore you from the math problem you were struggling with.

Anikaaa: hey can i come overrrrr

Your eyes flitted back to the stack of math problems. The smart decision would be to have Anika come over another day so you could study, but that idea was more than unpleasant. You've been at it for hours, and you deserved a little break. Besides, you really missed your girlfriend.

You: yes please i miss u

Anikaaa: okayyy be there in 15

Though it was only fifteen minutes, it felt like hours before Anika finally knocked on your door. You threw it open and practically jumped into her arms.

"Hi, pretty girl," she cooed.

You nuzzled into her neck and inhaled the sweet scent of her perfume. She pressed a soft kiss to the crown of your head. Warmth radiated off of her, relaxing you and melting away any previous stress you had about your class. She wrapped her arms around your waist, and her thumb rubbed circles against the exposed skin beneath your shirt. You closed your eyes and sighed in content, feeling completely content in her embrace.

"I missed you," you mumbled.

"We saw each other like two days ago," she giggled.

"I know but...I still missed you."

"You are so cute."

Pulling away from her grasp, you slid your hand around the back of her neck, and your fingers tangled in the strands of bleached-white hair. Her hair was soft and silky, and her lips curled up in a small smile as you stroked circles into her nape. You tugged her down into a searing kiss, and her arm slid up your body to cup your cheek. The taste of her lips was intoxicating; one you could never get used to, and you groaned softly when she deepened the kiss.

When you pulled away, you were both slightly out of breath and panting.

"As much as I loved that, Ani, I'm a little too tired for anything further," you whispered.

"Don't worry my love, it's no big deal. C'mon."

She took your hand and led you back into your living room. You followed her happily, but stopped when she saw the state of your desk.

"What's all that?" she asked curiously, turning around to face you.

"Oh, I was just doing some studying for this math test tomorrow..." you said quietly.

"Y/N! Why did you let me come over when you have to study!" Anika exclaimed, raising her brow.

"I don't know...it was so boring and I wanted to see you," you pouted.

"Are you at least somewhat prepared?"

"Mhm," you mumbled unconvincingly. You tried to tug her back into you but she didn't budge.

"You're such a bad liar."

"Ugh, Anika, I've been studying for hours," you sighed, rubbing your eyes in frustration.

"Well, what if I help you?"

She grabbed your hand again and pulled you towards the desk. She scanned the stack of papers, shuffling through your work, before pulling out a paper and handing it to you.

"Here, sit down," she said, a little smile on her face. You obeyed begrudgingly, grumbling curse words under your breath. "Okay, try the first one, and I'll go grab another chair."

You finished the problem within a few minutes and slid the paper to her. She examined it for a few moments, before sliding it back to you.

"It's wrong."

You groaned and slammed your head on the desk.

"That's it, I don't care anymore. I'll just take the F and dip," you sighed.

"Nope. I'm not letting you fail. Here, I'll show you how to do it," she said, rubbing your back comfortingly. She erased your work and redid the problem, carefully explaining each step. "You get it?"

"I think so," you said with a nod.

"Okay, try the next one."

You finished the problem in shorter time and you were a lot more confident. But the furrow of her brows told you your answer was incorrect yet again.

"I give up," you said, crossing your arms in disappointment.

She smiled sadly and kissed your temple.

"Oh! I have an idea!" she exclaimed suddenly. Her eyes were bright with excitement. "How about...each time you get a question right, I'll give you a kiss."

You eyed her slyly. "That could be fun," you said, a smirk spreading across your face. You grabbed the paper and studied the next problem, before getting to work on solving it. She watched you write, adoring your look of concentration. When you turned to her, she had a wide, triumphant grin on her face.

"You did it, baby!"

She cupped your cheeks and pulled you in for a sweet, loving kiss. You both smiled into it, and when you pulled away she squeezed your hand softly.

"Okay, do the next one."

At first, your answer was incorrect, but when you restarted, it was right. Before Anika could react, you crashed your lips onto hers. You tangled your fingers in her hair and pulled her into you. She started to push you away, but you pecked her lips several times before her lips finally left yours.

"Hey, I said one kiss," she said pointedly. You shrugged and laughed, turning to do the next problem.

You two spent the whole night studying, and a few hours later, you had mastered the subject and were prepared for your test the next day. By the end of your little study date, both of you had swollen lips, red with the many kisses you shared; some longer than others.

"Thanks for helping me study, baby," you whispered. Your head was resting against her chest, rising and falling as she breathed. The two of you had gone to bed, both tired from the several hours of studying. You traced circles into her pale, creamy skin, and she combed her fingers through your hair.

Anika had invited you over for a little girls' night in, spa date. She had just bought all these new products and couldn't wait to try them out. You two haven't been dating long, but the chemistry between you is undeniable. She's just so insanely attractive. She's confident and kind-hearted, and just so effortlessly charming. Quite literally, she was perfect.

You knocked on her door, and she opened it almost immediately.

"Were you waiting at the door?" you asked teasingly, stepping inside.

"Shut up. I'm just excited." 

You brought your arms around her waist and pulled her closer to you. Her black and white hair laid across her shoulders, and her body was covered with a soft white bathrobe. She looked up at you with a small smile, eyes shining with affection.

Without a word, you leaned down and kissed her lips softly. It was gentle and tender, and she sighed in pleasure at the loving contact. She responded in kind, wrapping her arms around your neck and deepening the kiss.

As the kiss came to an end, you pulled away slowly, gazing into her eyes. There was a sense of warmth and contentment between you, a feeling of safety and security in each other's arms.

"Ready?" she whispered against your lips. "I have a robe for you."

You smiled and let her lead you to her bedroom. She handed you the robe, and she turned around to give you privacy while you changed. 

With the robe on and your clothes discarded, you stepped closer to her. You wrapped your arms around her waist and pulled her into your chest, her back against your front. She leaned back into you, sighing contentedly as she felt your warmth and strength envelop her.

You nuzzled into her hair, breathing in her sweet scent. Your hands stroked up and down her sides, caressing her gently and making her shiver with pleasure.

"C'mon let's start," she said giddily.

She pulled away from your embrace and took out all her new skincare supplies. Her face was alight with excitement as she spread out all the bottles on her nightstand. 

"Go lay down," she told you. 

As you lay back on the bed, you connected to her speaker and played some music, starting with "Shame" by Summer Walker. 

Anika approached you and straddled your lap, causing heat to rise in your cheeks. She started applying a gentle cleanser and massaged it in with her fingertips. You closed your eyes and relaxed, enjoying the feeling of her hands against your skin.

"You're so pretty," she whispered while caressing your cheek.

"Says you," you replied. She giggled in response.

"Okay, go rinse your face," she told you, tapping your nose.

Once the cleanser was removed, she took out some face masks. She pushed you back onto the bed and started laying it gently across your face. She smoothed it out, then put on her own. While you waited, she pulled out her phone and started taking selfies with you. 

Afterwards, she applied a moisturizing serum and she gave your shoulders a massage. You groaned in pleasure as she worked out the knots in your neck.

"How are you so good at this?" you sighed.

"I've always been good at this." She chuckled. "And I just love taking care of you."

You blushed and turned your head to peck her lips. 

"You're so sweet, Anika," you cooed.

You fully turned around and straddled her lap, pushing her back against the pillows. Bringing your hand up to her face, you caressed her shiny exfoliated skin.

"Is it too soon to say I love you?" you whispered.

Her eyes widened and her lips curled into a wide grin.

"It's never too soon to say that." She pecked your lips in pure delight. "I love you too."

The sound of sirens blared from outside of the apartment complex. Finally. You looked down to the girl in your arms, her breathing shallow. The bleached white streaks of her hair were now tainted with sticky, crimson red. Her eyes were closed, and she was unresponsive. She didn’t have much time. Blood still steadily oozed out of her stomach, even with the pressure from your hands. You tried not to think about it, tried not to think about the fact that she might not survive.

Loud footsteps stormed through the hallways, and paramedics burst through the door. 

“Ma’am you have to let go.” a voice distantly said. But you didn’t want to. You needed to save her, you couldn’t let go, or she would die.

A pair of strong arms wrapped around your waist and yanked you off of her. It was Danny.

“No!” you screamed. “Let me go! I need to- I need to-” tears streaked down your face.

The paramedics formed a wall, effectively barricading you from her. Words of meaningless comfort spewed from their mouths, trying to reassure you that they knew what they were doing. 

“Y/N. It’ll be okay, alright? She’ll be okay, but they need to take her to a hospital,” Sam told you.

She opened her arms for a comforting hug, and you threw yourself in her embrace. The adrenaline was fading away, and the reality that Anika could die was sinking in. You sobbed uncontrollably as they rolled her away on a stretcher. Away from you.

“I need to- I need to go,” you mumbled before tearing yourself away from Sam. You sprinted down the dingy steps of the complex and raced to your car. Your friends tried to stop you, warned you it was too dangerous, that Ghostface could still be out there, but you didn’t care. You needed to make sure Anika was okay. 

The drive to the hospital was thankfully quick. You ran to the front desk, your shoulders heaving as you panted for breath. 

“I need- I need to see Anika,” you told the woman behind the desk.

Her eyes widened as she got a good look at you. Your hands and clothes were covered in Anika’s blood and dozens of bruises adorned your skin.

“My god. What the hell?” she asked incredulously. She stood up a little to get a better look at you.

“I’m fine. Just please- where is Anika? Anika Kayoko? She just got here. She-” Her eyes softened when you started to tear up again. “Please? I need to- need to be with her.”

“Well she was just rushed to the ER, and she’ll be in surgery for a while, so unfortunately you can’t see her until we get her results. You can wait outside her room if you’d like.”

❖  ❖  ❖

The wait was extremely long. You sat there for hours, leg jiggling nervously. Your phone was blowing up, undoubtedly your friends wondering where you were, but it didn’t matter. All that mattered was the girl in the room in front of you, hopefully getting better.

The sight of Anika on the ladder flashed in your head over and over again. The pitch black, eyeless sockets of Ghostface’s mask staring at you as they shook the ladder violently. The rattle of it as it banged against the window sill. The sobs of fear and pain from Anika. The blood on her hands smeared all over yours, making it extremely difficult to pull her across. You were just barely able to save her, before the ladder gave and toppled to the concrete below, a second later and Anika would have joined it. The thought of her falling to her death terrified you. It was a pure miracle that Anika made it across.

The door opened, startling you from your thoughts. The doctor who stepped outside looked grim. Your heart instantly sank.

“Are you Miss L/N?” he asked politely, holding up a clipboard. You nodded in fear. His next words would make or break you. Your heart pounded in your ears.

“The surgery went well…” you immediately let out the breath you didn’t know you were holding. “...but we had to put her in a coma, and it is uncertain when she’ll wake up.”

“Can I see her?” you asked softly. He nodded and smiled. “But, she lost a lot of blood. When she wakes up she’ll be very weak.”

He opened the door for you and your heart sank again. There she was, hooked up to dozens of machines. Her eyes were closed peacefully and she was tucked into the covers. The beeping of her heart monitor sounded steadily throughout the room, a pleasant reminder that she was alive. 

You sat in the chair next to her bed and took her hand, squeezing it softly. Your thumb brushed over her knuckles, and you fiddled with the rings on her fingers. Standing up, you pressed a light kiss to her forehead, then scooted your chair closer to her. Exhaustion was inevitably settling in your bones. You rested your head against her thigh, your eyelids growing heavy, and you slowly began to fall asleep. 

“Goodnight, Anika.”

❖  ❖  ❖

Sunlight shining directly in your eyes woke you up. For a moment, you forgot where you were. But the beeping of Anika’s monitor quickly grounded you. She was still asleep. Her breaths were calm and steady. You checked your phone and saw a plethora of missed calls and texts. Sighing, you pressed Tara’s contact info and called her.

She answered after the first ring. 

“Where the fuck have you been, Y/N?! We thought you were dead!” she shouted over the phone. You winced at the volume of her voice.

“Sorry. I’m in the hospital with Anika,” you mumbled, still rubbing exhaustion out of your eyes.

“So she’s okay?”

“Yeah. But she’s in a coma, so I don’t know when she’ll wake up.”

“Okay. Well we have a plan to get Ghostface. Are you gonna come?”

“No. I wanna stay with her.”

“Okay.”

“Be safe, Tar.”

“You too.”

You sighed and put your phone down, looking back at Anika. 

“Please wake up, my love,” you whispered. No response. “Please. Wake up,” you begged. Nothing.

You grabbed her hand and leaned into it, kissing each finger softly. About to press your lips to the back of her hand, you stopped when you felt her index finger twitch. You snapped your gaze to look at her face, desperately searching for any signs of movement. Nothing changed. Her eyes were still closed, the rise and fall of her chest consistent. But it was still a sign. Soon enough she would be awake. Smiling softly, you rubbed your hand along her forearm, and rested against her bed once more.

It was still early. Might as well get a few more hours of much needed sleep.

❖  ❖  ❖

It’s been two weeks since Anika’s finger twitched. Sam and Tara had fought and defeated the trio of Ghostfaces, each revealed identity surprising you more. You never really trusted Ethan, but you really thought that Quinn was dead.

You’ve visited Anika everyday, and every time you walked through the door to her room, your heart was filled with hope, only to be crushed again. Your friends visited her too, but not nearly as much as you. In fact they were more worried about you. Eating and sleeping was last on your list of priorities, and your mental health has all but depleted. The doctors at the hospital have given up on enforcing their visiting hour policy after you practically begged on your knees for them to let you stay. 

You’ve basically moved into the hospital. Every night you sat in that same chair beside her and slept, resting your head against her unmoving body. More often than not, you cried yourself to sleep. You missed Anika so much, it hurt. All you wanted was to curl up in her arms, to hear her soothing soft voice, to feel her skin against yours. Though she was literally right beside you, it seemed miles away and out of reach. 

And as if her being in a coma wasn’t enough, every time you close your eyes and rest, nightmares plague you. You had watched her die. Over and over again. You’d see her fall off the ladder. You’d see her stabbed to death. You’d even see Ghostface attacking you both in the hospital. It wasn’t impossible. It happened to Tara. All because of a stupid black and white mask. It was almost routine for you to startle yourself awake, gasping for air, a thick layer of sweat coating your whole body. And all you had for comfort was Anika’s lifeless body in the dark, empty hospital room, and her constant ringing heart monitor.

You hated the nightmares so much that you tried to avoid sleep entirely. Your diet now consists of one meal a day and two energy drinks. Now, as you sat beside her, your body was shaking with drug induced energy, and your eyelid twitches every few seconds. It’s been two days since you’ve slept. 

Hours went by. Your body began to slowly shut off on its own. You sighed and reached into your bag for another Red Bull. But your hand grasped nothing. 

“Fuck,” you cursed under your breath. You could go out and buy more, but even the idea of driving all the way to the store was exhausting. 

One way or another, you would be sleeping tonight.

❖  ❖  ❖

You slowly woke up to the familiar sensation of your hair being combed. Nails scratched gently against your scalp, soft fingers threading tenderly through your hair. You figured it was Tara or Sam visiting you, trying to offer whatever comfort they could.

You groggily opened your eyes, expecting to see one of your friend’s faces, but instead you were met with someone else. Her.

Breath faltering, you rubbed your eyes to check if you were imagining things. But no, it was really her. Her lips were curled in a perfect smile, her eyes crinkling in joy as she gently stroked her thumb over your cheek.

“Hi,” she croaked weakly.

Tears instantly welled in your eyes, and you jumped out of the chair to get closer to her. You rested your forehead against hers and kissed her nose. 

“You’re finally awake,” you sobbed, tears steadily streaming down your cheeks. She quickly wiped them away.

“Please don’t cry,” she whispered. Her bottom lip came out in a pout, and her eyes saddened as she took in your appearance.

Your eyes were puffy and bloodshot, and dark circles lay beneath them. 

“What do you expect? You've been in a damn coma for two weeks.”

She giggled, then grabbed the back of your neck and pulled you in for a much needed kiss. Both of your lips were severely chapped, and her breath was admittedly unpleasant, but it didn’t matter. The only thing that did was her lips on yours. You’ve craved this desperately. After two weeks of her unresponsiveness, she was finally awake. Finally back to you.

“I’m gonna call a nurse, okay?” you told her after pulling away.

The nurse checked all of her vitals and checked her healing surgery wounds, making sure she was recovering. Before she left she told you Anika could come home in a few days. 

“Do you want me to tell the group?” you asked Anika, approaching her bed. 

“Nah, not right now. Just come lay with me.”

“Are you sure? I don’t wanna hurt you.”

“I’ll be fine. Just come here.”

You smiled and carefully got into the hospital bed beside her. She rested her head on your chest and leaned into your embrace. You kissed her head in pure delight.

“Is it weird that I kinda wanna take a nap right now?”

She turned her head to look at you, waiting for your response, but it never came. You were already asleep. She laughed softly and pressed a kiss to your head.