"The finish line."
Willa
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Dom is nowhere.
I know because I've looked everywhere. The halls. The locker rooms. The back of the hockey rink where he sometimes hides when he needs a smoke. He's justâgone. And the longer I go without finding him, the heavier the weight in my chest becomes.
Something is wrong.
I feel it in my bones, an ache that only tightens as I search through the sea of students, my eyes darting from one face to another, desperate for his familiar sharp jaw and messy dark hair.
"Hey, have you seen Dom?" I ask Alec the second I spot him near his locker.
He frowns, shutting his book. "Not since this morning. Why?"
I shake my head, fingers twisting the hem of my sweater. "I don't know, I justâI have a bad feeling."
Roman, who's been leaning against the lockers, crosses his arms. "Someone said they saw Eli out back earlier."
My stomach plummets.
I stare at him, heart hammering in my chest. "With Dom?"
Roman hesitates, and that's all the confirmation I need.
I don't even wait for an answer before I'm moving.
I run.
My feet pound against the tiled floors, breath hitching as I push through the back doors, ignoring the stares, ignoring the warnings flashing in my head. All that matters is getting to him. Getting him away from them.
And then, I see them.
Dominic is standing with Eli.
My heart stops.
Eli is speaking in that low, casual drawl of his, one hand tucked into his pocket while the other holds a cigarette lazily between two fingers. The rest of his crew stands nearby, loitering in the midday shadows, watching, waiting.
Dominic is tense.
I can see it in his shoulders, in the way his hands are shoved deep into the pockets of his hoodie, jaw locked, expression blankâtoo blank.
Like he's trying to be unreadable.
Like he's trying not to care.
Fear surges through me.
I don't think. I don't hesitate.
"Dominic!"
He flinches. Barely. But I catch it.
His head snaps up, eyes colliding with mine, something wild flickering behind that cold exterior.
The whole group turns to look at me.
And that's when I realize I've made a mistake.
"Well, well," one of Eli's friends drawls, raking his gaze down my body like I'm something he can have. "Who's the slut you're messing around with, Dominic?"
Rage burns through my veins.
I take a step forward, hands clenched into fists. "Get the fuck away from him."
Laughter ripples through the group, low and amused, but Dominic?
Dominic doesn't laugh.
He moves.
A single, slow step forward.
His shoulders roll back, his body vibrating with something sharp and violent.
"Say that again," he says, voice low, quiet. Dangerous.
The guy grins. "Relax, man. Just sayingâI wouldn't mind taking her for a rideâ"
Dominic snaps.
Before I can even register what's happening, he shoves the guy so hard he stumbles back into the brick wall with a grunt.
"I'll kill you," Dominic snarls. His voice shakes with barely restrained fury, hands trembling at his sides like it's taking everything in him not to throw a punch.
Eli sighs, rubbing his jaw, looking more annoyed than concerned. "Alright, alright. Let's not get dramatic, Dom." His gaze flicks to me, and there's something lazy, something knowing in it before he turns back to Dominic. "You should get your girl out of here before she gets herself hurt."
"You shouldn't be here," Dominic mutters.
I freeze.
And then, the rage ignites.
"Right," I say, voice sharp, bitter. "Because I'm the problem here?"
Dominic's eyes snap to mine, frustration flashing across his face.
"You don't get to do this," I continue, voice shaking. "You don't get to act like I'm the one making things worse when you're the one standing here with them." I gesture at Eli and his crew, disgust curling in my stomach. "I thoughtâ" I suck in a breath, blinking hard. "I thought you were done with this."
Dominic clenches his jaw. "Willa, go back inside."
That's it?
That's all he has to say?
I shake my head, chest heaving. "You don't even care about yourself."
That does it.
His face twists, something breaking open in his eyes. "Don't start with that shit," he growls, taking a step toward me. "You don't know what you're talking aboutâ"
"Yeah?" I challenge, lifting my chin. "Then tell me, Dominic. Tell me why you're out here talking to Eli like nothing's changed."
He doesn't answer.
And that silence?
That silence hurts.
I swallow down the lump in my throat and take a step back. Then another.
His gaze follows me, unreadable, body still taut with frustration.
And then, I turn around.
I walk away.
I don't look backânot until I reach the door.
And when I do?
Dominic is still standing there.
Not moving. Not following.
Just watching.
Like he doesn't know whether to stop me. Like part of him already knows he's lost the right to.
I swallow hard, push the door open, and step inside.
As it closes behind me, shutting me away from him, I feel the weight of inevitable heartbreak pressing down on my chest.
Because this?
This is how it starts.
And I don't think I'll survive when it ends.
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This is just a lil something since I haven't posted in like two daysððð
oh lawd guys. This book is complicated.