I was just 12 years old when my world changed forever. Every day after school, I'd call out to my mom the moment I stepped inside the house.
"Mom! Mom!" I yelled, my school bag slipping off my shoulder and landing with a soft thud on the floor.
But that day, something was wrong. The usual warmth of her voice didn't greet me. There was only silence, heavy and unsettling. My heart started racing as I walked through the house, calling for her again, my voice cracking.
I searched everywhere.
And then, in the small room near our living room, I found her.
She was lying there—motionless. Blood covered the floor, dark and horrifying. She had been shot. Dead.
I froze, my body refusing to move, my mouth open in a silent scream. Fear gripped me like ice, freezing every part of me. My mind was racing, screaming for help, but I couldn't even move. Everything...everything stopped.
---
It was a warm afternoon in Redwood's open campus. Riya and Lana sat on the grass, the sounds of students bustling around them, but Lana's focus was only on her best friend. Her brow furrowed as she leaned in, her voice quiet yet full of concern.
"Riya, can you please tell me what's going on with you and Logan? Are you two... dating?" Lana asked, her tone carrying an edge of disbelief.
Riya shifted uncomfortably, her fingers playing with the blades of grass. She wasn't sure how to define what was happening between her and Logan. "Maybe yes," she replied softly, her lips curving into a small smile.
Lana's frown deepened, frustration flashing in her eyes. "You know Logan's not that kind of guy, right? He's a liar. A manipulator. He's playing you."
Riya sighed, shaking her head slightly. "No, Lana. He's not like that with me. He's different. I can see it... He's got a good heart, underneath all the bullshit."
Lana wasn't convinced. "Or maybe that's exactly what he wants you to think. Have you ever considered that?"
Riya's expression softened, but there was a quiet firmness in her voice. "Lana, I see real feelings in his eyes when he's with me. He's not pretending. I... I think I should give him a chance."
Lana threw her hands up, clearly frustrated. "Do whatever you want, but I've known Logan long enough to say this—he's not what you think he is."
Riya's voice grew quieter, more contemplative. "Let's see."
The two of them stood up, heading toward their next class. Soumya joined them halfway, her carefree energy cutting through the tension between Lana and Riya.
"Hey, Riu!" Soumya greeted with her usual playful grin. "How's everything going with Logan?"
Riya smiled, though she said nothing.
Soumya leaned closer, her voice teasing. "So... should we start calling you Mrs. Logan?"
Riya let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "Stop it, Soumya."
Soumya giggled, giving Riya a playful nudge. "He's definitely got the looks, though. You can't deny that."
Lana, who had been quiet, finally spoke, her irritation bubbling to the surface. "Are you two done yet? We're gonna be late for class."
Riya nodded, still smiling. "Yeah, let's go."
---
Before they could step inside the classroom, Logan appeared. He had a way of showing up just when Riya least expected it. His presence immediately drew attention—his confident stride, his casual yet charismatic demeanor.
"Hey, Riu," Logan said, his voice smooth as silk, his eyes locking onto hers.
"Hey," Riya replied, her smile growing as she looked up at him.
Logan tilted his head slightly, a playful spark in his eyes. "You heading to class now?"
"Yeah," she nodded, adjusting her bag. "It's English."
Logan smirked, stepping a little closer. "Can we meet after college? Just the two of us?"
Riya felt her heart skip a beat. She smiled softly and nodded. "Definitely."
Logan leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss on her forehead before walking away. Soumya giggled, her cheeks flushing slightly, while Lana stood there, glaring with open irritation.
"Wow," Lana muttered under her breath as they finally headed inside.
---
In the concert hall, Zane Holloway and his band were practicing for Redwood's upcoming music night. The atmosphere was alive with excitement as the sound of guitars and drums filled the air. Zane, lost in the music, didn't notice when Soumya walked in.
"Hey, Zane!" Soumya's voice cut through the noise, pulling Zane's attention.
He turned, wiping the sweat from his brow, giving her a nod. "Hey, Soumya. What's up?"
"Nothing much," she replied with a smile. "I was passing by and heard you guys playing. Everyone knows you're the best musician at Redwood, so I had to stop and listen."
Zane chuckled, shaking his head. "Thanks. We've been working hard."
Soumya stepped closer, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Singing has always been a passion of mine. Do you think I could get a chance to sing with your band? I'd love to work with you guys."
Zane paused, considering her request. "We're actually looking for a female co-singer for one of our tracks. I'll let you know if we need you."
Soumya's smile brightened. "Thank you so much, Zane."
As she left, Bob, one of Zane's bandmates, nudged him with a mischievous grin. "Who's the girl? She's new, huh?"
Zane shrugged. "She's just friends with Riya Kapoor."
Bob laughed. "She's cute. Maybe introduce me sometime."
Zane smirked. "She's all yours, man."
---
After school, as students spilled out of the buildings and onto the campus grounds, Logan appeared once more. He made his way toward Riya, his usual confident smirk in place.
"Hey, Riu," he said, his voice low and smooth. "Let me drop you home?"
Riya gave a small smile, shaking her head. "No need, Logan. I can manage."
Logan's tone softened, his smile turning more sincere. "Come on, babe. We're closer now. You can trust me, right?"
Riya hesitated, but then nodded. She smiled and followed Logan to his car. He opened the door for her with that familiar gentlemanly charm, and as she slid into the passenger seat, she waved goodbye to Lana. Lana, watching them from a distance, scowled, clearly irritated by the situation.
---
As Logan and Riya drove off, the tension in the air was thick, but it wasn't just between the two of them. Back near the entrance of Redwood, Lana stood with Soumya, her arms crossed, glaring in the direction of Logan's car.
Soumya noticed her frustration and let out a small chuckle, trying to ease the mood. "You look so pissed off. What's your problem, Lana?"
Lana whipped around, her eyes flashing with anger. "My problem? You wanna know my problem, Soumya? It's you."
Soumya raised an eyebrow, folding her arms across her chest defensively. "What the fuck did I do?"
Lana's voice grew harsher, her frustration spilling over. "You know exactly what you did. You dragged Riya into this mess with Logan! She doesn't know what she's getting herself into. You, on the other hand, should know better."
Soumya blinked, taken aback but refusing to back down. "I didn't drag her into anything! She's a grown woman, Lana. She makes her own choices."
Lana stepped forward, her voice laced with irritation. "Oh, don't give me that bullshit. You're from India, sure, but you've lived here your whole fucking life. You know this place, you know the people. You know how guys like Logan operate. Yet, instead of warning Riya, you're just pushing her further into this mess."
Soumya's expression hardened, her mouth set in a straight line. "What does that even mean? So what if I was born in India? I grew up here, I know how this place works—yeah, you're right. But Riya? She's new to this world, and all I've done is try to help her adjust."
Lana scoffed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Help her? You've done the exact opposite. You let her fall for Logan's charms, knowing damn well he's bad news. She doesn't know what kind of guy he is, but you do. And instead of telling her the truth, you just sit back and let her walk straight into the fire."
Soumya rolled her eyes, annoyed. "You're acting like Logan's some monster. Yeah, he's got his flaws, but so do you, Lana. Don't act like you're perfect."
Lana shook her head, her eyes blazing with anger. "This isn't about me being perfect, Soumya. This is about protecting Riya. She's not like us—she hasn't been here long enough to know how to deal with guys like Logan. But you? You've lived here your whole life, and you still dragged her into this shit."
Soumya's jaw clenched as she stared at Lana. "Fuck off, Lana. You're just jealous because she's getting close to Logan."
Lana took a step back, her face tightening with fury. "Jealous? You really think this is about jealousy? It's about Riya, and you being too selfish to see what's happening right in front of you. If Logan breaks her heart, that's on you."
Soumya snapped, her voice sharp. "Fuck you, Lana! Riya makes her own choices, and I'm not responsible for her decisions. If she's falling for Logan, that's between them."
Lana let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head as she turned to walk away. "Yeah, well, when it all blows up, don't say I didn't warn you."
Soumya stood there, watching as Lana stormed off, her chest heaving with frustration. She couldn't believe how Lana had turned this around on her, but deep down, she felt the sting of Lana's words. Maybe there was some truth in what she said, but Soumya wasn't about to admit it.
As she walked away, her mind was buzzing with thoughts of Logan, Riya, and the mess that was slowly unraveling. Whatever was coming next, she had a feeling things were about to get a lot more complicated.
---
Logan and Riya drove along the winding, hilly road leading out of Redwood, the cold wind whipping through the car. The silence between them was comfortable, but Riya couldn't shake the question lingering in her mind.
"Logan," she began, her voice soft, thoughtful. "Why are you doing this? Why are you so... invested in me?"
Logan's grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly, but his voice remained steady, sincere. "Are you asking because you're doubting me, or because you're curious?"
Riya turned to face him, her gaze serious. "I just want to understand. What draws you to me?"
Logan slowed the car as they approached a familiar spot. He parked at the same place where he had once hooked up after a wild night, but this time, it was different. He wasn't thinking about the past.
Logan turned off the engine, then looked at Riya, his smile soft but full of meaning. "This place holds memories for me. It's where I come when I need to clear my head."
Riya raised an eyebrow. "Memories?"
Logan nodded, his voice dropping slightly. "Yeah, but today... it's different."
He turned to her, his eyes filled with an intensity she hadn't seen before. "Riya, you wanted to know why I care about you? Why I love you?"
He reached into the backseat, pulling out a bouquet of white roses, their scent filling the small space between them.
Logan's voice was lower now, soft and genuine. "Your beauty, Riya... it's not just what's on the outside. It's the way you move, the way you see the world. When I met you, I saw someone who's not like anyone else. Your strength, your kindness... everything…"
Logan paused, his eyes holding Riya's gaze as if the words he was about to say had been weighing on him for a long time. His voice was low, almost a whisper, but filled with raw emotion.
"When I saw you appreciating my art that day, I realized you weren't just looking at a painting—you were seeing me. The real me. Not the Logan everyone thinks they know. You saw something deeper, and that's when I knew. I've never felt this way about anyone. You... you've changed everything, Riya."
He handed her the bouquet of white roses, his fingers brushing hers gently, sending a soft shiver up her spine. "I don't just want you, Riya. I need you. You've become a part of me, and I can't imagine my life without you in it."
Riya sat there, her breath caught in her throat as she listened to him pour his heart out. The sincerity in his voice, the way his eyes softened when he looked at her—it all felt so genuine, so real. She could feel her walls crumbling, the doubts that had been lingering in the back of her mind slowly fading away.
"Logan..." she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "I don't even know what to say."
Logan smiled, his hand reaching up to gently cup her face, his thumb lightly brushing her cheek. "You don't have to say anything, Riya. Just being here with you, it's enough. I've never opened up to anyone like this before. I've never trusted anyone enough to let them in. But with you, it's different. I want to be better for you. I want to give you everything."
Riya's heart raced as his words washed over her. She had never expected this from Logan, never imagined he could feel so deeply for her. But now, sitting there with him, everything felt right. For the first time, she saw a side of him that no one else had—vulnerable, open, and full of love.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she leaned forward, her hand resting on his chest. "I... I love you, Logan. I didn't think it was possible, but you've made me feel something I've never felt before. You've made me feel like I'm enough."
Logan smiled, his own eyes misting as he pulled her into a gentle hug, his arms wrapping around her tightly. "You're more than enough, Riya. You're everything."
Riya melted into his embrace, her heart swelling with emotion as she rested her head against his chest. For a moment, the world around them disappeared. It was just the two of them, wrapped in each other's arms, sharing something that went far beyond words.
---
As they drove back, the wind still swirling outside the car, Riya felt lighter than she had in a long time. She glanced over at Logan, her heart full, her mind at peace. She had never imagined someone like Logan could feel so deeply for her. But as she replayed his words in her mind, something in her gut whispered that it wasn't over yet—that there was still more to uncover.
She shook the feeling off for now, choosing to focus on the warmth that flooded her chest. Logan had opened up to her in a way she didn't think he was capable of, and for the moment, that was all she needed.
---
Meanwhile, Lana paced back and forth in her room, her phone in hand, her mind racing with worry. Something didn't sit right with her about Logan and Riya. She had seen Logan play this game too many times before, and it always ended the same way—with someone getting hurt. And she wasn't going to let that happen to Riya.
"I swear, if Logan breaks her heart, he'll regret it," Lana muttered under her breath, dialing Soumya's number. It was time for them to talk.
---
As Logan parked outside Riya's house, he turned to her, his eyes softening once more. "Thanks for today. I don't think I've ever had a conversation like that with anyone."
Riya smiled, leaning over to press a soft kiss on his cheek. "Me neither. I'll see you tomorrow?"
Logan nodded, his gaze lingering on her as she stepped out of the car. "Goodbye, Riya."
"Goodbye, Logan," she replied, waving as she walked inside, her heart still pounding from everything that had happened.
As Logan drove away, the smooth hum of the engine the only sound in the quiet daylight, his mind began to turn once more. He had Riya's heart now. But there was still something else he needed to deal with.
No matter what, Logan wasn't going to let anyone, get in his way.
—