Page 42 of Dreams and Desires

I stand in the middle of the living room, watching in horror as they destroy what little I have left. Every item they throw out feels like another piece of my heart being ripped away. The sight of my life being torn apart is more than I can bear, and I feel myself breaking under the impact of their hatred.

Jacob stands by me, his face pale with shock and anger. “Stop it! This isn’t helping! You’re just making things worse!”

But they don’t listen. The noise, the anger, the betrayal—it’s all too much. I feel like I’m drowning in it, unable to catch my breath as the walls close in around me.

Suddenly, Dominique bursts through the door, hervoice cutting through the chaos like a knife. “Enough! This isn’t solving anything! You’re tearing her apart!”

She steps in front of me, her back straight and her eyes blazing with determination. “She didn’t know, okay? She thought she was helping us. She was manipulated just like the rest of us!”

My dad sneers, his lips curling into a cruel smile. “And who are you to tell us how to deal with our daughter? This is a family matter, and you have no business interfering.”

Before Dominique can answer, Jacob speaks up. “She’s her friend!” He then glares at mom and dad. “I’m not going to let you destroy her like last time!”

The tension in the room reaches a boiling point. My dad’s fists are clenched so tightly that his knuckles turn white. He takes another step forward, but before he can say anything, Jacob suddenly sways on his feet, his face going deathly pale.

“Jacob!” I scream, catching him as he collapses into my arms.

Everything becomes a blur. I hear Dominique shouting for help. The crowd’s noise fades as all my focus narrows down to my brother’s unconscious form in my arms. His skin is clammy, his breathing is shallow, and my heart races with fear.

“Jacob, please,” I sob, holding him tightly, desperate to keep him with me. “Please be okay, please don’t leave me.”

The world around me disappears as the paramedics arrive. They take Jacob from my arms, laying him gently on a stretcher, their faces grim.

“Is he going to be okay?” I ask, my voice breaking as I clutch at one of the paramedics’ arms.

“We gotta get him to the hospital now,” one of them answers quickly, sounding rushed, not meeting my eyes.

I watch in a daze as they load Jacob into the ambulance, my heart shattering with each passing second. The crowd, once so loud and angry, has fallen silent. Their faces are now filled with guilt and unease. But it’s too late. The damage is done.

As Dominique climbs in the ambulance with Jacob, she tries to comfort me. “We’ll make it to the other side, Juniper. I promise. Jacob’s strong, and we’ll do everything we can to help him.”

But her words feel empty, like they’re coming from far away. I’ve lost everything—my town, my family’s trust, and now maybe even my brother. All because of Zade’s lies and my own stupid, gullible heart.

Chapter Nineteen

Zade

The music pounds through the room, the beat vibrating in my chest like a relentless hammer. The crowd around me is a sea of bodies, all moving in sync with the music. Flashing lights cut through the haze of smoke and alcohol, casting eerie shadows over the scene. The faces blur together, just like my thoughts—fuzzy, disconnected, lost.

“Zade, you're so tense,” a blonde murmurs, her fingers trailing down the front of my shirt. Her touch is light and teasing, but it feels like nothing. Just another hand on my chest, another warm body pressing against me.

From the other side, a brunette leans in closer, her breath hot against my ear. “Let us help you unwind,” she whispers, her lips grazing my skin as she speaks.

I force a smile, one that doesn’t reach my eyes. I let them pull me towards a private room, the door shutting out the noise of the party. Their hands are all over me, but it’s mechanical, empty. There’s no thrill, no spark. Just a hollowfeeling in my gut.

The blonde starts kissing my neck, her lips soft and warm, but all I can think about is Juniper. Her laugh, the way she looked at me, the way she made me feel something real. Damn it, she’s ruined me for anyone else.

The brunette’s hand starts to slide lower. I pull back.

That’s it. I’ve had enough.

“Stop.” I take a step back, sharper than I mean to.

Both of them glance at each other, confused now. Whatever playful thing they thought this was—it’s gone.

“Did we do something wrong?” The blonde asks and her voice sounds small, almost hurtful.

I run a hand through my hair, trying to shake off the irritation. “No, it’s not you,” I mutter, forcing a grin that feels as fake as this whole situation. “Maybe I’ll just watch.”

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