The night of our first kiss had been like a dream, but now we were back in the real world, where we had to pretend we were nothing more than what we were. The memory of Zeke's lips on mine, the way he had held me, was a constant distraction. Every glance he threw my way, every fleeting touch, felt electric. We shared stolen kisses whenever we could, hiding in the shadows, stealing moments where the rest of the world couldn't see us.
I started sneaking out to meet him at our now secret spot, the clearing in the woods where we could be alone. The thrill of being with him, of defying the danger that surrounded us, was intoxicating. But it wasn't long before my best friend, Anna, began to get suspicious. She noticed how often I canceled plans, how distracted I seemed, and started asking quest
