( The following section includes scenes that may be distressing to some readers, including non-consensual behavior and substance use.)
It was getting light outside.
I was sitting in James's house with the rest of the group. I'd been tricked— they told me it would just be the six of us, but ten more people showed up.
Throughout the entire party, I sat on the couch, lost in thought, thinking about everything and nothing.
Everyone was basically drunk, passed out in corners or in beds with random people. Even Jeremy drank too much— which I honestly didn't expect from him.
I'm turning eighteen soon, and life in Willow Hollow is starting to wear me down.
Not because I'm invisible— but because I don't belong here.
Even though I still have a shred of humanity left in me, I feel it slowly slipping away.
Like I'm becoming less and less human.
Lost in my thoughts, I didn't notice the used condom on the floor and stepped right on it.
"Gross," I whispered to myself.
I quickly took off my shoe and walked into a room, thinking it would be empty. I was wrong— Ryan was there, sleeping and snoring loudly.
The room was small, messy, and smelled like old socks mixed with cheap deodorant.
Near the bed Ryan was on, there was a window with a full view of the sky.
The small clouds floating in the bright blue sky made me feel a strange kind of longing— for something I couldn't quite name.
"Mike?"
I turned away from the window. Ryan was staring at me with a blank look in his eyes.
Even from a distance, I could smell the alcohol on his breath. I hate that smell.
"It's already morning," I said.
"Shit," he groaned, holding his head. "Can you hand me that water?"
He pointed at a bottle lying near the bed. Without thinking, I went to grab it. I picked it up and was just about to give it to him when he suddenly pulled me into a hug and held me tightly against him.
"What are you doing, let me go?!" I shouted.
He didn't listen—he licked my ear, leaving behind a sticky, disgusting fluid.
"I've wanted you for two years... please, it'll be our little secret," he whispered, ignoring me and how hard I was trying to fight him off.
He threw me down and started reaching for my pants, but at the last second, I kicked him in the groin and managed to escape.
He doubled over in pain.
Ryan was still drunk and didn't immediately realize I'd slipped out of his grip.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" I said.
"It was just a joke, Mike! You're overreacting. I have a girlfriend," he tried to explain.
I stared at him, wide-eyed, still trying to process what had just happened.
"Mike, please…don't tell anyone about this," he begged, hands clasped together.
I lowered my head and quickly walked out of the room, slamming the door behind me.
***
Cassie turned back and immediately ran up to the guy, jumping on him.
I slowly turned around to see who it was.
My breath caught in my chest when I saw the familiar face.
It was Ryan.
Cassie turned around and immediately ran toward a guy, jumping into his arms.
I turned slowly to see who it was.
My breath caught in my chest when I recognized the familiar face.
It was Ryan.
When he noticed me, his eyes went wide in shock—he couldn't believe I was here.
Cassie came over with him and introduced him as… her boyfriend.
"Ryan, this is our new model, Mike," she said happily.
I looked down, avoiding his eyes. He did the same.
"Do you two know each other or something?" she asked.
Ryan quickly jumped in.
"We're… good friends."
Cassie glanced at both of us, clearly picking up on the weird tension.
"Small world, huh?" she said seriously.
"Yeah," I replied.
"Maybe we should get something to drink—coffee?" Cassie offered.
"I don't drink coffee," I said.
"I'd love some," Ryan answered after swallowing hard.
She walked over to the coffee machine.
An awkward silence fell between us.
"So… what are you doing here?" he asked.
"I could ask you the same thing."
"Umm… my dad is one of the founders of this agency."
Everything felt wrong. He could say anything about me—make up lies, twist the truth, get me kicked out just to stop me from escaping Willow Hollow.
What if he already had?
What if it was already over for me and they'd show up any minute to tell me not to come back tomorrow?
I'd go home ashamed, with my tail between my legs, and my mom would be disappointed.
"James will be here in a moment," he interrupted my spiraling thoughts.
"What?" I answered, shocked.