1. The past

Nine years ago.

My phones pings with a new notification waking me up from yet another restless sleep. For some reason, I haven’t been able to sleep well for the past two years.

Part of me thinks it’s because of Rowan. That my heart and head aren’t at peace because he isn’t near me anymore. My restlessness started when he joined university two years ago. During the time he’s away at Uni, I rarely sleep but when he’s home for the breaks, I sleep like a baby.

Groaning at yet another night without sleep, I wake up and check my phone. I’m surprised but it quickly turns to happiness when I see what the notification is.

I paid someone money to install an app that lets me track Rowan every time he’s around. Right now it just notified me that he was home.

Jumping out of bed, I get dressed quickly. He was probably back with Emma or maybe Travis or Gabe, but I didn’t mind. I just wanted to see him even if it’s from a far.

Once I’m done getting ready, I sneak out through my bedroom window. I had the furthest room in the house. It’s nearly Impossible for my parents or the maids to hear me leaving.

I get safely down and begin walking. Taking my phone out, I order an Uber.

“This is a terrible idea!” a voice niggles in my sub–consciousness

I ignore it. My head is already swimming with visions of my Rowan. I haven’t seen him in months and my eyes were dying to feast on him.

“Ava, go back home. You’re making a mistake” the voice continues shouting.

I stop in my tracks. That isn’t right. Nothing about Rowan would ever be a mistake. Cementing that in my head, I push all other thoughts to the back of my mind.

Minutes later, my ride arrives.

“Please, Ava, turn back” the damn voice pleads with me just as I am getting into the car.

I feel torn. Like I was fighting against my own mind and body. Finally I manage to push the thought aside and get inside the car.

+15 BONUS

I should have listened to its warning.

Another thirty minutes, we arrive at a bar. I pay the guy and get out. I stare at the dingy place

wondering what the hell Rowan was doing here. This wasn’t his kind of scene. 1

Squaring my shoulders, I walk towards it and manage to get in using a fake ID. Quickly, I walk to a hidden spot and survey the place looking for him. I locate him within seconds, surprised to find

he was alone.

I stay hidden for a while. Waiting to see if any of the others will arrive but none of them do. He was here alone.

“You’ve feasted your eyes, now let’s leave” damn that stupid voice.

I ignore it completely. This might be my chance to get him to notice me. Now that he was here alone and Emma wasn’t by his side.

I take a deep breath and walk the short distance to him.

“Hey Rowan” I greet shyly.

He turns and gives me a blinding smile. Catching me off guard. We rarely talk and he has always gone to great lengths to ignore and avoid me, so the smile catches me off guard.

“It’s little Ava” he shouts. “How are you doing?” he asks.

It’s then I realize he was completely drunk. That was the only reason he looked so happy and receptive towards me.

I take the chair next to him. Immediately he orders me a drink. I take my first taste and it was disgusting. I have never drank in my life but I force myself to do it.

“So how’s school?” I ask, feeling myself relax little by little.

He smirks and nudges my shoulder. “Is that really what you want to ask me?”

“No, I want to ask what you’re doing here drinking alone but I didn’t want to come off as rude.”

He sways in his seat as he leans forward. “Aren’t you sweet” he says then goes back to drinking.

“Are you okay?” I ask in concern. He wasn’t acting like his normal self

fie ignores me and continues drinking. I continue drinking too and just keep it Watína ř

+15 BONUS

I should have listened to its warning.

Another thirty minutes, we arrive at a bar. I pay the guy and get out. I stare at the dingy place

wondering what the hell Rowan was doing here. This wasn’t his kind of scene.

Squaring my shoulders, I walk towards it and manage to get in using a fake ID. Quickly, I walk to a hidden spot and survey the place looking for him. I locate him within seconds, surprised to find

he was alone.

see if any of the others will arrive but none of them

here alone.

eyes, now let’s leave” damn

chance to get him to notice me. Now

Emma wasn’t by

and

I

a blinding smile. Catching me off guard. We rarely talk and he has always gone to great lengths to ignore and avoid me, so the

Ava” he shouts. “How

That

receptive towards me.

him. Immediately he orders me a drink. I take

I have never drank in my life but I

I ask, feeling myself relax little

“Is that really what you

ask what you’re doing here drinking alone but

he leans forward. “Aren’t you sweet” he says then goes back

ask in concem.

drinking too

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marry me” he

at him. I was already feeling a kind

“Who? Emma?”

had the ring and I proposed. I even took

knee. I did everything right

to believe that he had asked her to marry him. I’m hurt, but I

it down.

she wants to focus on school first. Why didn’t she

ask, his

was glad she turned him down, while the other

see that it was tearing him

Rowan. If she doesn’t want to marry you then that’s her loss. I say

do so much better” I raise my

at me for a while before smiling. “You’re right, fuck her”

glasses.

We talk, dance and drink. By the time

drunk, him more so

his hotel room and I agree. I couldn’t go

given I

few minutes

door closes behind us, he is on me. Kissing me and touching me.

I’m left

been waiting for this for so long” he slurs, while removing his own

too..are you sure you want

true. That I

“Definitely”

+15 BONUS

blur. I feel his touch, his kisses and his love. It hurt at first since I was a virgin,

groaned her name as

can’t help but think that something was wrong. He just wouldn’t confuse me with

panicked voice

wondering what the hell was happening, and why Rowan was

I see him pacing the room shirtless. It’s

of bed. Holding the

start chanting. Fear

burning with rage and hatred. I try to think back to

What I thought was a

are

anger lacing his voice.

words refuse to leave my

mess but also because I didn’t know what to explain things. How

that tracks his movement when he’s in town? How do I explain that I

to sleep

The fact that I was sore

I had slept with my sister’s boyfriend. The

love with. The one she planned on having a

fucking question” he shouts, throwing

at a bar and we started drinking, that’s all

bits and pieces.

written all over his face. Rowan loved Emma and

just lose her

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after me since I

just conveniently there?” he growls, firing those

and put my clothes as best as

I planned all this?” I asks motioning

was drunk, Rowan”

have gone there intentionally but I hadn’t planned

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