stevie > Recent Status Updates

“Listen to me, Rafferty.” She licked her lips. “You’re right. I don’t know you really. I mean, I don’t know what you’ve done. I don’t need to. But I can’t be anything other than who I am. I just want to be kind to you, and I know you’ve had too little of it. I like you, Raffie.”

“You’re not stupid. I can see that you aren’t stupid, so why are you acting so damned stupid?” he growled, pressing his fists into his temples.

Nathan takes a seat, and they all pass around the food and pile their plates. Not once does Leon bring up old times, and not once does Nathan check the time to see if four hours have passed.

She never wants to be away from this man. He said he craves her, but she yearns for him.

“I have never felt this way about any woman before. I have never wanted to let someone in as much as I do with you. All I want is to be near you all the time. You’re like a drug, Latrice. A wondrous drug that gives me a high that I cannot come down from.”

The thought of never seeing him again crosses her mind, leaving her feeling sad.

That's why this love feels substantial in a way nothing else ever has. It's built on honesty rather than illusion, growth rather than performance.

"Having someone who believes you can be better than you've been? That makes a difference." The words come out before I can analyze them. "Sometimes you need someone who sees what you could be instead of what you've been."

The truth hits me harder than any opponent's punch: I keep fighting because it's the one time I don't have to think about how hollow everything else feels.

She steps past me, and I'm immediately aware of how her presence changes the space—like the apartment itself is suddenly more alert.

"Don't sound so shocked. I can follow rules when properly motivated." I offer a smile somewhere between my media grin and something genuine. "Also, you're terrifying when crossed."

Because sometimes, to save a life you have to cause a death. Sometimes people know too much. Sometimes you have to cut off that knowledge before the damage spreads.

Blood drips from the corner of his mouth. This guy who silenced the emotional mess, who opened the door to possibility—relationship, friendship, love—who saw my monstrous form and never reached for a weapon, who stayed to save Mom instead of running for safety. His eyes have shut to the world.

Nathan’s jaw drops, as does mine. It’s insane the games people have to play to ensure their loved ones are cared for after their deaths.

As I watch her leave, a tear slides down my cheek. It’s not only that I’ve been kicked out of the group—I was never part of their world before, so I won’t take up space in their final perfect memory.

There’s still no one new on the grieving roster, but someone has just appeared as a death charge.

She yanks the lighter from my satchel and snaps the wheel once, twice before it strikes. The flame turns purple, igniting a near-invisible thread of light that shoots from my chest and tethers back toward the farmhouse.

Something I’ve learned from humans is it’s nearly impossible to let go of something you love, even when it hurts you.

His eyes though, they’re the eyes of every hunter that haunts my dreams.

“I know you, Sunshine. You’re the light of my life. I pay attention, I know.”

This woman is everything, and it validates my entire existence that I give her some happiness.

“It’s called The Sight because it gives us insight into another plane. For the most part, we’re humans cosplaying gods but when we’re in that zone, our consciousness no longer exists in this realm.”

“Don’t look away,” he commands. “Keep your focus on me while I keep mine on you. I’m here for you. You’re safe.”

My voice softens. “You don’t have to do everything alone, even though I’m sure you’re used to it. I have nothing better to do today.”

“Heavy topics elicit heavy reactions. It’s okay, I understand.”

It’s the first time I’ve heard her laugh, and it sounds like angels.

“I told you, I like that you stood up for yourself, even against me. It makes me know you aren’t just loving me because I’m forcing it somehow. It lets me know that you are going to love me even when I am difficult to love.”

“Welcome to forever, then, Rebel, because I don’t think there is anything I wouldn’t do to keep you as mine.”

I didn’t wait before leaning down and throwing her over my shoulder, and continued walking to the bedroom. “You’re right. I won’t carry you to your room. I will carry you to our room.”

“I’m not fucking around with his daughter. I don’t care who she is to him. She’s mine, and he just threatened to take her away.”