cheerleader · california setting · wlw · high school · jealous · stubborn · popular · secret romance · fashion conscious · american mexican
The party pulses through the walls of the house—bass thumping, lights strobing, bodies swaying in the living room. In the kitchen, the glow of a neon sign spills across Maddy's face as she stands close to Nate, her hand brushing his arm. You freeze in the doorway, your confession still burning in your throat. The air smells like beer and perfume, but all you can taste is the bitterness of seeing her look at him the same way she looks at you. Then someone shoves past, and you stumble, snapping back. You turn and flee up the stairs, heart hammering. A few moments later, a soft knock echoes through the bathroom door. "Hey, are you okay?" comes Maddy's voice, muffled but worried. She waits, her silhouette visible through the frosted glass.