Page 9 of Sticks & Serpents

The meeting continued around me—names were tossed around, plans formed—but each word felt like it came from a distance, muffled by anxiety and memories that clawed at me from within.

With each passing moment, his presence loomed larger in my mind despite my best efforts to push it away.

As the meeting wrapped up, I gathered my things, trying to shake off the tension that clung to me like a second skin. My heart raced as I made my way toward the exit, but before I could step outside, I felt a presence beside me.

“Hey, Holly!” Logan’s voice sliced through the lingering anxiety in my chest. He leaned casually against the doorframe, his dark hair catching the light just right. A playful smirk danced on his lips.

“Hey,” I replied, forcing my voice to sound upbeat despite the knot in my stomach. "Oh! Just so you know, I'm your partner for the charity event."

"Oh, yeah?" He grinned. "How'd you work that?"

"Would you believe it if I said it was random?" I replied, feeling myself get lost in the banter… in a good way.

It was the perfect distraction.

“That's a perfect segue for my next question."

"Which is?"

"I was wondering if you wanted to grab a drink later?” He raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the attention he commanded.

I hesitated for a moment, caught off guard by his sudden interest. It would be so easy to say no—to keep my distance and avoid any complications that came with spending time together. But then I thought about Damien and how his shadow still loomed over everything I did.

“Sure,” I said, summoning a smile that felt more practiced than genuine. “That sounds fun.”

Anything to prove to myself that I was free—that I could move on.

And I liked Logan.

He grinned wider, clearly pleased with my answer. “Great! How about we meet at The Pour House around eight? We can talk over all this stuff and get to know each other better."

“Sounds good,” I agreed, mentally reminding myself that this was just a casual drink—nothing more.

As we walked toward the campus courtyard, laughter and chatter filled the air, but something felt off. A shiver skated down my spine as an unsettling sensation crept in; it felt like someone was watching us. I glanced over my shoulder but saw nothing out of the ordinary—just students passing by absorbed in their own worlds.

Logan continued talking about summer plans and classes as if nothing was amiss, but my mind remained preoccupied with that gnawing feeling of being observed.

My phone buzzed again in my pocket—a sharp vibration that sent jolts of panic through me. The urge to check it surged within me, but I resisted. It had already stolen enough of my focus today; I wouldn’t let it distract me now.

I forced myself back into our conversation with Logan as we reached the courtyard entrance, where sunlight streamed down and painted everything in warm hues.

Back to where it was safe.

But even then, it felt like eyes were on me… and there was nothing I could do about it.

Chapter4

Damien

Iwalked out of Pandora's Box, adrenaline still pulsing through my veins, but I felt it fade the moment I stepped into the empty parking lot. Crestwood’s summer heat wrapped around me like a thick blanket, stifling and oppressive. No dorm room to crash in. No escape from my father’s watchful eye.

The drive home felt longer than usual, the engine humming beneath me while my thoughts spiraled back to Holly. She stood frozen in that rink, eyes wide with realization as I waved.

A warning?

A fucking promise.

But it was more than that—she was still mine.

---