ANGER
457 Words
Olivia still felt his hands on her skin.
The way he’d looked at her last night—like she was the only thing in the world that made sense. The way he kissed her, slow and deep, like he was trying to memorize her. It had messed with her head. She’d left the hotel thinking they’d turned a page. That maybe, somehow, against all logic and reason, the war between them was finally over.
But the peace shattered two hours later.
She was back home, hair still damp from the shower, when Ava’s voice cut through the phone like a blade. (Ava Blake was Olivia’s best friend)
“Wait—what? You didn’t know? Noah’s transferring. Westridge. He’s leaving this weekend, Liv.”
Silence. Followed by the sound of Olivia’s own heartbeat in her ears.
“What?” Her voice was barely a whisper.
“I thought you two were… you know. Closer now. After last night.”
Olivia ended the call.
She stood in the middle of her room, staring at nothing. Something inside her twisted—snapped. The kind of betrayal that didn't come from an enemy, but from someone you were just starting to trust.
Her phone buzzed again. Noah.
“Can we talk?”
She stared at the message. The same hands that had tangled in her hair, held her close, traced her skin—those hands had been hiding this. He’d known. He’d known all along.
She didn’t reply.
She got in her car. Drove nowhere. Just let the anger simmer and boil and spill over.
By the time she pulled up in front of his house, the sun was already low.
He opened the door like he’d been expecting her. Maybe he had.
“Liv—”
“You’re leaving?” she cut him off.
His jaw tightened. “I was going to tell you.”
“When? After the goodbye s*x?” Her voice rose, brittle and sharp. “Or maybe on your way to the airport?”
“It wasn’t like that.”
“Then what was it, Noah?” She stepped forward, eyes blazing. “Because I let you in. I trusted you. And you—” her voice broke before she could stop it “—you made me feel like none of it mattered.”
“It mattered,” he said, voice low.
“Then why are you leaving?”
He didn’t answer.
That was enough.
She shook her head, laughed bitterly, and turned away. “I hope Westridge is everything you want.”
He didn’t follow her. And that made it worse.
Because for once, she didn’t want to fight him.
She wanted him to stay.
And she hated him for making her want that.
- Writer
