Sugar before the Burn

haunted he

ked los

that ab

d in confidence-too familiar for a

rk, her blanket pooled around her waist, her hea

idn't

so didn't

he top of her inbox like a

the haze h

reene's silence somehow louder than noise. Elena sat across from her

aunt said without lookin

inked. "

and assessing. "Fine is a lie women use w

sed her li

g. You've got

buildings looked like they'd been dipped in gold. Even the students sparkled in their cu

de curls, red sunglasses, combat boots, and a sarc

ell," Ava said i

el li

es or hot

despite herse

Was i

know wh

they started walking toward the

ake sure no one was listening. "Actually.

brows. "Seriously?

. Like he saw me. S

you r

N

but her tone held something deeper-co

hey slid into their seats as the lecturer st

passed by the library

yn

aning against the railing like the world mov

alk past like

o my texts," he sai

. Her pulse

ed, turning slowly. "How

big deal. "Come on. This is Ze

y wanted to talk," she said, arms folding acros

eing called dangerous. "You look

d at him, u

" he said as he turned aw

n bed, staring at the ceili

exted

yne. He's the on

F. Don'

fresh on her screen

reep you out like that. I find you rea

d at it.

iterally saw me yester

Love at first

d despite

: Oh

are dead 💀 What d

angerous. And that you'd

Wow. Ve

w do you

I know

ts more. But s

brows

hat do y

was a

bed, baby gir

at the la

y g

part was how it didn't feel forced. It slid under her skin

ers hovered abo

idn't

orning cam

ough the blinds, warming her face and reminding her that ignoring reality wouldn't mak

th

that made

dge near the fountain, chewing gum and scrolling thr

a hesitant energy sh

oked u

beside her.

ow, popping her

to Zayne

. "Okay, pause.

ized. Said he didn't mean to creep me out and that he fo

ffed. "

ogy, the attraction, the cheesy "love at first sight" line, the part about knowing everyone. S

ut the par

said she wanted mor

were better

g for a beat too long. Then she popped her gum again

es. "What's so danger

how much to say. Then she pulled her sung

ryth

d, trying to smile. "Is he like.

in slight

than a serial killer?

quietly. "Just don't r

tone cut through

"Have you guys..

ke it hurt. "In the history of my boyfri

l, n

hat's not a

e if she should feel confused

on, Elena co

y the one he'd said about Ava. "Ava

hell did

s Ava