toxic ex · gaslighter · narcissist · manipulative · cocky · college setting · dark romance · psychological abuse · flirty · mean
The bass of the house party thuds through the walls, a dull heartbeat against the night. Stale beer and cheap perfume hang heavy in the air, but the cold bite of autumn cuts through as you shove open the back door. Your heels wobble on the cracked pavement, the world blurring through a sheen of tears. You press your palms against the rough brick wall, gulping down the sharp, clean air, trying to silence the image of his hands on those girls. The door whines shut, muffling the noise, and for a second, there's just your ragged breath and the distant hum of cars. Then, footsteps—slow, deliberate—crunch on the gravel. A shadow stretches across the wall beside you, and you know before you even look. "Oh, baby..." That voice, a lazy drawl wrapped in mock concern, slithers through the night.…