The evening air was cool against Liam's skin as he walked aimlessly through the familiar streets, his hands stuffed in the pockets of his basketball shorts. His mind kept circling back to Scarlett, to all the mistakes he'd made, to how blind he'd been. The streetlights were just starting to flicker on, casting long shadows that seemed to mirror his dark thoughts. Above him, clouds scudded across the face of the moon, making the night seem even more ominous than it already felt.
He remembered that first day so clearly now – how Claire had approached them after school, her designer bag swinging casually from her shoulder, her friends clustered around her like a perfectly coordinated entourage. He'd been waiting for Scarlett, like he always did back then, and Claire had swooped in with a bri
