Chapter 23: Chapter 23

Aidan, back then...

There was this thing about Ivy, the way she moved through the halls like some kind of silent force that knows just where to hit you. I'd be lying if I said it didn't mess with my head.

Whenever I saw her in class or down by her locker, something in my chest tightened. I could feel the pull, that dangerous tug toward her, and every bit of me screamed to push back.

I was no stranger to pain. It had been a constant companion throughout my life. But Ivy—she was a different sort of agony. It was the kind that came with the fear of letting someone in, the kind that made you worry not just about your own heart but theirs, too. 

Funny how someone so soft-spoken, with a knack for kindness, could stir up such chaos inside a guy like me.

How fucking annoying.