Love (not) at first sight
Hey guys,
Thank you for choosing to read my story. This is my first ever book, so it may not be the best work out there, but please do support me on this journey!
I hope you have a fantastic time reading (and please do not copy my work, guys). Because my life is so busy, my updates won't be consistent, but I'll try my best.
Also, this book has themes of kidnapping, violence, sexual tension, and psychological manipulation, so please don’t unnecessarily report my book if you don’t think you like these tropes.
And if you ever feel like the story isn't to your taste, the characters are not what you expect, or just that my writing style isn't your cup of tea... feel free to drop it. Just don't spread hate :(
Anyways, I'm not gonna hold you any longer. Dive in!
~J3m1Mw4h
“27... 28... 29... 30!”
I lay down on my couch, my hand up in the air, observing how the light dimmed slightly after every few seconds.
A visible joy crept to my face as the bulb grew a bit darker right when I predicted it would.
It’s not like I had any other job to do. Of course I did, as a 17-year-old about to graduate in, like, 2 years.
But for the first time in ages, my checklist was completely ticked.
Research on the Quantum Mechanical Model? Done.
Extra Questions on Projectile Motion my teacher dumped (just because she didn’t like seeing me relaxed)? Done.
That Sets worksheet which was uploaded an hour ago? Done. Pretty easy.
And that perceptron to show how AI can decide stuff better than me? That was the first thing I-
Didn’t. Do.
I’m so cooked.
I sprung up and rushed towards my sleek black bag, rummaging through the books like my life depended on it. Please be there, I begged.
But nope. It wasn’t.
My book was at SCHOOL.
The logical thing to do would’ve been reaching school right when the gates opened, scramble my book, and quickly copy down all the research I did here. And I’d still be safe. But my mind was stubborn.
No. I had to get it back.
I glanced at the fairy lights hanging near the translucent white curtains. I could make out the silhouettes of buildings in the dark. The street lights were still glowing. My brain suddenly switched on... or rather off.
I quietly put on my sneakers, grabbed a hoodie from my closet, whipped up a messy hair bun, and slowly crept out of the door. My plan? Sneak into school, grab the book, and leave.
If my parents noticed I was gone, I’d say I needed some fresh air. They’d believe that, I guess.
Outside, there was not a single human in sight. A few cars buzzed through the streets, but everything was oddly still.
But that didn’t stop my eccentric thoughts, which were especially frying my senses now.
By the time I reached the school walls, hesitation had vanished.
I jumped up, grabbed the wall, and started placing my feet carefully till I reached the top. Phew. Climbing them was easier than expected. And since there were no cameras, I didn’t have to worry about getting caught.
My footsteps echoed through the empty corridor. My mind did a double take. I kept thinking of all the sites I checked to convince myself that those possessed dolls don’t exist.
Oh, how badly I wanted snuggle up in my warm bed...
My fingers twisted open the locker and a pile of neatly stacked books greeted me. I had organized them just today. I smiled, grateful to my past self.
My hands stretched out to grab the book... but I simply couldn’t reach it.
Not now, I thought. This is not the time to show how being a 5′2 is probably the worst thing that has happened to me.
I tip-toed and tried to catch the book, but I still failed.
Tears were waiting to gush out of the corners of my eyes. I was at a loss, not knowing what to do.
Just as I was about to break down, I heard soft footsteps.
A shadow was behind me.
My heart stopped beating. Could it be a paranormal existence?
I turned, praying it was just my mind playing games, just to freeze in shock.
Yeah, it wasn’t a ghost. It was something worse.
A boy I never wanted to meet.
Wavy, chocolate brown hair that glimmered under the moonlight. His ethereal blue eyes, deep as the ocean, gazing into mine. His perfect facial features. No matter how I saw him, he was absolutely flawless.
Adrien.
The boy everyone either admired, envied, or had a crush on. I usually avoided him. If he was in a room, I tried to stay as invisible as possible.
My heart might have decided to go to the gym, which explains why it’s on a treadmill right now.
My eyes followed him as he effortlessly lifted that book from my locker and handed it to me. His veins stood out against his bare skin and muscles, and his hands were... long.
Snapping me out of my delusions, he spoke, his deep voice stirring something inside me.
“You got the book. Go home. Now."
I frowned.
“Why?” I asked, narrowing. “And how do you know I’d be here?”
His expression changed.
“Doesn’t matter,” he said coldly. “Go now, or else, I’ll report you tomorrow.”
Biting my lip in frustration, I turned and walked away, my pace quickening till I reached home.
The moment I entered my room, exhaustion should have knocked me out instantly. Instead, I switched on my laptop, replaying the whole encounter in my head.
Why was Adrien there? Had he seen me climb the walls? Was he going to report me?
“Ugh,” I muttered to myself as I opened my book. “That bastard. Why does he care?”
But more importantly... why did he look at me like he knew more than he let on?
Weird.
The next day, I got out of bed feeling like I’d been hit by a truck. My body was sore, my head was bombed, and my appearance was a total disaster.
I tried fixing the damage, but there was only so much I could do. By the time I got to school, I could feel my classmates’ eyes on me.
Sierra, my best friend, took one look at me and frowned.
“Girl, was there an apocalypse at your home or something?”
“Somewhat like that,” I mumbled.
Her eyebrows knitted in realization. “Wait. You weren’t answering my texts last night.”
I hesitated. Sierra was the one person I trusted the most, but for some reason, I wasn’t in the mood to spill everything just yet.
“Later,” I said, ruffling my hair.
She studied me for a second before sighing. “Fine. But don’t think you can get away without spilling the tea.”
She wasn’t lying.
By lunchtime, she was dragging me outside, insisting that fresh air would help me look less like a zombie.
And maybe it would have, if not for the sudden interruption.
“Hey.”
No. Not him again.
I turned to see Adrien standing a few steps away, his eyes scanning my expression. He looked like he wanted to tell me something.
His sharp blue eyes made me gulp. I felt more intimidated than angry.
I barely had time to react before he reached out, hands almost landing on my shoulders. My eyes popped out of their sockets as he pulled me in close and whispered.
“Tell what happened yesterday to anyone, and you’ll face the consequences.”
My stomach dropped.
He brought his face closer to my neck, his breath humid against my skin. It probably looked like he was in love with me... but only I knew.
Enraged, I whispered, clenching my fist.
“Let me go, bastard.”
Adrien grabbed my wrist as I tried to leave.
“Tell me your name,” he lowered his tone.
His voice was calm, but there was something about the way he said it, like he expected an answer.
He knew I’d show up at school yesterday night. He knew I’d struggle reaching for my book. He knew I’d tell Sierra everything... But he didn’t know my name.
Wow.
I decided to protect the one thing he didn’t know about me... at least for now.
“Lily.”
I cringed internally. He surely didn’t deserve to know my real name... but what a terrible choice.
He chuckled.
“Lily... Pure. White. Untouched. How ironic."
My blood boiled. Ironic? What does he even know about me?
I glared at him.
When he finally let go of my wrist, I turned and walked away, examining the red imprints his fingers left.
He was holding me that tightly.
Sierra smirked.
“I see someone’s got a boyfriend!” She whispered, nudging me.
I shot her a withering look, walking faster and faster.
“C’mon,” she called out, jogging behind me. “Is it love at first sight? And why’d you lie about your name?”
I smacked her head in frustration.
“Ow!” She winced in pain, then quickly recovered to persuade me into telling her.
His threatening words suddenly flashed in my mind. But what could he possibly do?
I shrugged it off.
Once I spilled the tea, Sierra smacked my head:
1) for doing something so dumb, and
2) for not realizing that I got a handsome... stalker.
I ignored her and frowned. “Why would someone seriously stalk me just to get me a book and tell me to go home?”
“Maybe,” she teased, “because he’s an overprotective secret admirer?”
My heart flipped at the thought. I always had a thing for those kind of fantasies. She knew that very well.
But I rolled my eyes. “That’s ridiculous.”
“Is it?” She grinned sneakily.
Before I could respond, the cafeteria doors swung open, almost knocking me out, and I was nearly knocked down by Celeste, Flora, and a bunch of Adrien’s fangirls.
“Bianca!” Celeste shrieked. “We saw that. How dare you bewitch Adrien?!”
Flora, dramatically clutching her heart, wailed, “Please don’t keep him forever!”
I stared at them, completely thrown.
“I... what Adrien?”
Before they could come up with another argument, Sierra dragged me inside the canteen. “You’re gonna need food to survive this nonsense.”
I didn’t argue. At this point, I wasn’t sure what else to do.
Guys, how is the story so far? Why do you think Adrien is acting strange? Let me know in the comments!
