(Don't be a ghost reader)
Fray's POV
One year, I think I was about fifteen, and I was prescribed sleeping pills to help with my insomnia. My nightmares had been getting worse, and the people at the foster home insisted I needed them. I never took them consistently, though. I was afraid I'd become an addict like my parents once had. Plus, the pills made me feel sluggish all day.
The only positive? They kept the bad dreams away.
But for the past few days, I'd been waking up from vivid dreams, ones that dragged up memories I wished I could forget. Like being dragged down the long hallway of my uncle's basement, land eft there to starve for days.
I sat on the couch, soaking in the quiet. I got a lot of quiet in my apartment, but I could never get enough. Every time I had a chance, I found myself savoring the silence.
"Hey, sorry to interrupt," Arya's friend appeared beside me on the couch. "What do you have for breakfast around here?"
I lifted my head, offering her a smile. She was nice. She and Arya had a bond that felt effortless, and complementary. Arya was calm and grounded, and her friend? Well, she was loud, sometimes to the point of obnoxiousness, but I didn't mind it. For the most part, I liked her.
"I can whip something up," I said, not quite ready to let her rummage through my kitchen.
She pulled out one of the island chairs and sat down. With my back turned, I heard the faint creak of my bedroom door opening. Arya stepped into the kitchen, and I caught myself staring—longer than necessary—her curly, light brown hair cascading past her shoulders. The freckles on her face made her hazel eyes pop, and I couldn't help but remember how soft her lips had been, how tempting they were.
"Good morning," she smiled, settling beside Carmen at the counter.
"Uh, good morning." I turned back to the stove, trying to focus. I wasn't much of a breakfast person. It never sat right with me. So, I cut up some fruit instead, something light to get me through until later in the day.
Arya's POV
Spending the night with Fray had quickly become one of my favorite things. There was an energy about her that lit up the space, something I didn't know I'd been missing. I wasn't expecting to kiss her so soon, but the moment was right. Her lips, full and soft, had been irresistible.
I loved Carmen, but her timing could be off sometimes. Not that she had anywhere else to go. I'd spent enough time in this apartment to know that Xander and Isaiah didn't care who was around—they'd take any opportunity to get their hands on someone.
I sat with my hand resting on my cheek as we ate breakfast, watching Fray as she leaned against the counter, her posture perfect, her body toned and undeniably alluring. Everything about her had me on edge in the best possible way. It wasn't fair for someone to be this beautiful, this captivating. My thoughts strayed as I looked her up and down, wishing I could erase the thoughts racing through my head. Then, my eyes wandered lower, and I couldn't stop myself from imagining what it would be like to have her in my arms. Damn.
"I can't lie, Rya," Carmen whispered from behind me, breaking me from my trance. "I'm a little jelly."
I took a slow sip of the coffee Fray had poured for me. "Hmm? About what?"
Carmen shook her cup, raising an eyebrow as she motioned to Fray, who was still lost in her world, cleaning up. "I mean, she can cook, she's tall, she's fine... the whole package."
I shot her a look. "If I stab you with this fork, would I be wrong?" I growled, half-joking but with some truth in my voice. I was known for being possessive, but this was new, even for me.
