I Don’t Fight It–1
The next morning is quieter than I expect. We all slept separately, tied from the days in the cabin and wanting some alone time. I wake up still feeling exhausted, still feeling the tiredness in my bones, but I begrudgingly get ready for school.
No one says much over breakfast; we just talk about our plans for the day and what we want to do for dinner. I’m grabbing my bag as Jake leans against the counter, scrolling through something on his phone, and Zaid pours himself coffee without looking at
anyone.
Our run in with Sadie yesterday has my stomach turning. I dont know what to expect today and I hate how much it’s affecting me.
I think about Will and how much it upset her when she thought I was trying to take Aiden from her. Now, she feels the same about
Zaid. What will she do?
Jake kisses me by the door, his thumb brushing along my jaw. “Call me if you need anything. If you want me to pick you up or whatever. Just call, okay?”
I nod. “Okay.”
His lips press against mine again, but this time it’s deeper. Slower. Like he doesn’t want to let go. When he finally does, I have to catch my breath a little.
Zaid watches as Jake walks away, and then he steps closer. I turn to him, not sure how to read the look in his eyes. He cups my face lightly, his thumb just ghosting over my cheek.
“I’m sorry,” he murmurs.
I look up into his eyes and feel my chest tighten. There’s so much there. Too much. Regret, guilt, apologies he isn’t saying out loud. Is he thinking about Sadie?
n
I frown without meaning to, and Zaid flinches. His hand drops away as he steps back, like I burned him. Like he knows I won’t accept his half assed apology.
I want to pull him back and talk, to know what he’s thinking and how he feels. I want to know if he cares, but he’s walking away.
Aiden appears beside me. “Come on,” he says simply. His fingers wrap around mine, soothing me as he pulls me toward his car.
The ride to school is quiet at first, but not in a bad way. Aiden keeps one hand on my knee while he drives with the other, and it’s enough to keep me from thinking too hard.
He doesn’t speak up until we’re pulling into the parking lot. “Are you okay?”
I swallow and nod.
“I won’t let her do anything to you.”
I keep my eyes on the window. “Thank you.”
“Are you okay with Zaid?“.
I shrug. “We’ve never really talked about what he did at the rehearsal dinner.”
He puts the car in park and his eyes eyebrows lift. “Shit. I forgot about that.”
“Yeah.” My stomach twists, but I don’t want to have this conversation, not now. I open the car door and step out, keeping my head
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I Don’t Fight It–1
down as I head to my class.
Aiden doesn’t leave my side. Not for a second.
Even when I tell him it’s fine, that I’m okay, he shrugs and follows me into every class. The teachers don’t say a word. They just smile like they’ve already decided Aiden can do whatever he wants, and he kind of can.
I roll my eyes when he leans in to whisper something that makes Ms. Harper blush in the middle of calculus, but it works. He stays
with me.
By lunch, I feel a little more like myself. We sit at the usual table outside, the sun warm on my skin. Nikki’s talking about Parker and Aiden has his arm draped over the back of my chair, his thumbzily tracing circles on my shoulder as he laughs.
Nikki stops mid story, her eyes going to mine, and I feel her before I see her.
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I Don’t Fight It–2
Love Romance
That cold prickle at the back of my neck. 1 look over my shoulder, and there is Sadie, walking toward us like she owns the school. Her two shadows flanking her, both of them wearing identical, mocking smirks.
Sadie flips her hair over her shoulder as she comes to a stop in arm around me.
front of us, her smile stretching wide when her eyes land on Aiden’s
“Well, well,” she says, her voice syrupy sweet. “Isn’t this cute?”
Aiden doesn’t move. His fingers stay exactly where they are, relaxed
Sadie laughs, like this is all a joke. “You might want to be careful, Aden. Your girlfriend’s a cheater.”
She says it loud enough for the other tables to hear. I feel the weight of all those stares pressing down on me and Aiden’s fingers press into me.
I know it’s his way of comforting me. He keeps his expression blank, not even blinking.
“With your brother,” she laughs, shaking her head.
Aiden sighs. “You done, Sadie?”
Sadie’s smile falters then. She looks at Aiden, then at his arm still around me, then directly at me. “You already knew.”
Aiden inhales deeply. “You can leave now.”
Sadie stares at him like he’s lost his mind. Then her eyes widen as it clicks. “Oh, my God. You’re sharing her.”
My throat goes tight.
Sadie’s gaze cuts to me, disgust twisting her face. “You’re an even bigger whore than I thought.”
The words hit like a punch. My lungs squeeze tight. The world tilts.
Everyone’s looking.
They’re staring.
It feels just like it did after the accident. The whispers. The pitying looks. The judgment.
My breathing turns shallow. Too fast. I try to stand, but my legs barely work.
Aiden drops his arm and stands, blocking me from her view. “Get the fuck away from us,
Sadie.”
I hear Nikki’s voice, sharp and angry. “Bitch.”
They start yelling at each other, but I don’t care. I bolt.
^
Nun inside and down the hall until I find the bathroom. I shove the door open and stumble into a stall, falling against the cold tile. My stomach twists painfully, and then I’m throwing up.
“Alina!” Nikki’s voice is close, and then her hand is on my back, holding my hair out of my face as I shake and gasp for air.
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I wipe my mouth, my hands trembling. “I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not.”
The door creaks open again.
Aiden’s voice is low as he squats next to me. “Jake’s on his way.”
I nod, still breathing too fast, but I manage to straighten a little.
He watches me, eyes soft, and he hands me his water. I take it with shaking fingers and sip slowly, the cold a shock to my system.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“I’ll walk you to the office,” Aiden says.
I nod again because I don’t trust my voice.
Nikki stays close as we walk back through the halls. I can feel eyes on me, but I keep my head down. Aiden walks with his arm around me, clearing the way and protecting me.
Jake’s already there when we reach the office. He looks up, his jaw tight when he sees me.
“You okay?” he asks quietly as we walk out together.
I shake my head. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
He nods, his hand finding mine and squeezing gently. “Okay.”
The ride home is quiet. He doesn’t push, and I’m grateful.
By the time we get there, I’m so tired I can barely keep my eyes open.
“I’m going upstairs,” I mumble.
Jake kisses my temple. “I’ll be here.”
I nod and climb the stairs to my room. I don’t bother changing. I just crawl into bed and pull the blankets over my head.
Sleep pulls me under fast.
And for once, I don’t fight it.
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