Lily's POV

  "Remember... if you tell anyone, all this goes away," Woody said, his voice quiet but way too close. "And you'll all go back to your old, pathetic lives." I hear him zip up his shorts before lying right next to me.

  He was behind me. The room was still, the hot air circulated round the room. I could hear the stupid ticking of the clock on the wall and the way the sheets crinkled every time he shifted. I didn't move. My eyes were stuck on the white cupboard across the room. I couldn't cry anymore, even if I wanted to.

  My body just felt... gone.

  He pulled the blanket up like it mattered, like I was cold or something. Like I wasn't already sinking inside myself.

  "You'll get it soon," he said, his voice soft like he was talking to someone he cared about. "It's not that hard. You just need time."

  His arm came around me, slowly, like we were in some romantic movie or something. I wanted to scream. I wanted to throw up. But I didn't do either. I just laid there and stared. The corner of my dresser had a scratch on it. I focused on that.

  "You're not like the rest of them," he mumbled into my hair. "You see me. I know you do."

  I could feel his breathing. I could feel everything and nothing all at once. The walls of my room felt like they were closing in, but not fast enough.

  "You're different," he murmured, voice sinking deeper into the air. "You feel things the way I do. I've seen it. The way you watch me. The way you dress around me."

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  "You don't need to be scared," he whispered. "I know you're confused. You probably think this is wrong, but it's not. You'll see."

  He tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear like it was the most loving thing in the world. Like I hadn't flinched when he first touched me. Like I hadn't begged him with my eyes that night in the hallway, or cried myself raw the second time while he held me like he was saving me. There was no us. There was never going to be.

  He said something else, something about how Madison didn't understand him the way I did. I stopped listening. I couldn't. My brain just kinda... floated.

  The bed creaked when he moved, his hand brushing my side, like we were something real. I wanted to punch him. I wanted him to disappear. But all I did was blink.

  He sounded so calm. Like he was explaining something basic. Like I was dumb for not getting it.

  His hand just stayed there, resting on my waist like he owned me or something. Like he earned it.

  "I like Madison... I guess," he added after a moment, like it made everything better. "But you... you get me. You really do."

  I didn't move. I didn't speak. I didn't even breathe too loud. Because if I did, he'd talk more. Or touch more. Or worse. So I just laid there, curled on my side, pretending to be nothing.

  "You should be careful," he said finally. "I mean, you don't want people to misunderstand, right? You'll ruin everything. The wedding that just happened. The house. The family. You wouldn't want to do that, would you?"

  I felt my throat tighten. My heart didn't even race anymore. Just slow, heavy thumps like it was tired too.

  He sighed like he was the one hurting. Like he had to be patient with me. Then he just got comfortable, like this was normal. Like we were just a couple going to sleep.

  "I know it's hard," he whispered. "But you'll come around. You'll see I'm the only one who is really for you."

  His arm pulled me in closer, like that was supposed to feel good. Like I should be thankful or something. I wanted to scream. Or bite. Or throw myself out the window.

  "Tomorrow we can talk about Payton, okay?" I just stared straight in silence, my mind going through it all.

  When did it go so wrong. Everything was fine, My life was good, Madison was happy, Mom and dad. Everyone.

  WHY THE FUCK DID THIS HAPPEN? Maybe I was too approachable? I didn't seem flirty... Or was I?

  I just waited for morning, for it to be over.