“I _really_ can’t stand you.”

“Then why are you still listening to me?”

“Beacause,” I paused, “I don’t have a choice. And Neither. Do. You.”

Xavier kept a stubborn expression on his face, but he new I was right.

“Well, then,” he chirp as the edges of his mouth curved forming a smile, “I guess it’s time to set our plan in motion.”

He smirked then let out a small chuckle as I rolled my eyes i...

I stood at the door to Tyler’s house. I was going to give him some brownies, that after last night when I told mom everything. She agreed to help make.

I knocked three times, hoping that it would be Tyler who answered the door.

I took a deep breath as I heard it un lock.

The person behind the door wasn’t Tyler. He looked close to Tyler. Expect he had light, light ocean blue eyes and his hair wa...

It had been an hour since Grace had begun her rant on cats, and although Zoe had grown tired, she listened to her carefully, absorbing every word that tumbled from the blonde’s lips.

“You know, I really can’t stand you,” Zoe yawned, rubbing her eyes. Her friend’s face fell into a smug smirk.

“Then why are you still listening to me?”

“Because your voice is soothing, plus I get free head massag...

“I really can’t stand you,” I hissed.

He was surprisingly calm despite the two of us being in an argument.

“Then why are you still listening to me?”

I didn’t really have an answer for that.

“If I’m such an idiot, why are you willing to listen to what I have to say?”

“I’m not,” I snapped. “There’s a difference between listening to you and letting you talk.”

“Then how are you following along so well...

“I really can’t stand you.”

“Then why are you still listening to me?”

“None of your business.”

“Just face it already—you like me.”

“No I don’t! What kind of delusion caused your idiot brain to think that!?”

“I don’t know”

“Hmph”

“Maybe . . . it’s the way you still approach me despite how much you claim to hate my presence.”

“Yeah sureeee, I’m totally the one who approaches YOU. Dummy.”

“-...

Krissa is a girl. She’s alright I guess. I don’t know, there’s not a lot more to say about her. She talks so much it’s almost annoying… scratch that, it’s very annoying.

But we’re friends.

I guess.

“… so me and Jenna were talking and I was like OH MY GOSH he’s so crazy I mean how could he possible dump her… Jay are you even listening to me? My story is very important!” Krissa says pouting.

“I ...

“I really can’t stand you.” It felt weird hearing those words aloud. We both knew the truth behind them. Actions speak louder than words, and his actions as of late had been deafening. But hearing him actually say it made everything feel real. No more avoiding the inevitable. Defeated, I looked into the eyes of the person who at one point meant everything to me and replied. “Then why are you still...

The river glistened like the wind, the sky flowed like summer water. The trees poured out in lush beams of flower, a rainbow eclipse of beauty. News had broken out within the city walls, the war was won their king had succeeded. “Say? Do you think we’ll get a share of captured land.” A small boy with golden hair said

“You will” smirked another boy, hazel eyes shining through his skin.

“You think ...

Sepitus stomped his way into the drawing room where Romulus stood already waiting for him with a glass of brandy in hand. Romulus gulped down the last of his liquor before setting the glass back onto the small bar table against the wall, making a small click that was like thunder in the tense silence of the room.

“Dear brother, I have heard of your plan to marry the Brightwall girl.” Romulus sai...

Not a thing in sight moved at Brentview Court. The lake could have been a pane of still black glass as even the wind seemed to hold its breath over the moonless night.

A few neon signs buzzed uninvitingly over vacant shops and street lights rooted on the corners set a sleepy orange ambience. Here and there, the glimmer of a television could be seen basting front lawns and cobbled driveways.

C...