Jackie stood in front of her dorm room mirror, carefully applying a fresh coat of lipstick. She pressed her lips together, ensuring the color was even and vibrant. Satisfied with the result, she turned her attention to her hair. With practiced movements, she adjusted a few strands, tucking some behind her ear while letting others fall just right. She then reached for a hairpin, securing them perfectly into place, making sure every detail was immaculate. The soft glow of the evening light through the window added a warm hue to her reflection, highlighting her meticulous effort. Satisfied, she stepped back from the mirror, giving herself a once-over. Her eyes scanned her outfit, taking in the stylish top that accentuated her figure and the perfectly fitted jeans that hugged her curves just right. She adjusted her top slightly, making sure it lay just so, and straightened her jeans to ensure they looked flawless. Her gaze then moved to her shoes, a pair of sleek, black ankle boo
Jackie's heart soared with hope as Cassie greeted her with a warm smile. Perhaps their strained relationship was on the path to recovery after all. Yet, Jackie's optimism received a boost when Cassie's brow furrowed slightly, indicating her curiosity. "You look nice, Jackie," Cassie remarked, her eyes lingering on Jackie's attire with a hint of admiration. "The outfit really suits you. Are you headed somewhere special?" Jackie hesitated for a moment, her gaze shifting away before she mustered the courage to speak. "Cassie, I've been feeling really bad about something lately, and I just need to know... Have you forgiven me?" Cassie's brows furrowed in confusion. "Forgiven you? For what?" she asked, genuinely puzzled. "Did you do something wrong?" Jackie stared at her cousin, wondering whether she was joking. They hadn't talked properly since the night at the bar—all because of Caleb—and now Cassie was acting as if nothing had happened between them. "Are you serious?" Jac
Cassie decided to keep Caleb's secret safe, no matter how tempting it was to reveal the truth to Jackie. Cassie was lost in her thoughts, a broad smile spreading across her face. She thought about Caleb and his sudden display of wealth—the purchase of the city's most expensive villa. She remembered walking through the grand entrance, marveling at the luxurious interiors, and envisioning a future there with Caleb. The thought of being married to him, living in that magnificent house, surrounded by comfort and opulence, filled her with joy. She couldn't help but smile, imagining the life they would share in such splendor. Cassie was so absorbed in her daydream about Caleb and the magnificent mansion he had purchased that she didn't notice Jackie calling out to her multiple times. "Cassie?" No answer "Cassie, are you even listening?" There was no response. Jackie frowned and walked up to her, shaking her shoulder gently. "Cassie!" she said, louder this time. Cassie blinked a
"Um, so where were you going?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with interest. Jackie smiled and said, "I'm meeting Tommy at the canteen in a while. After that, maybe we'll go somewhere romantic. Let's see how it goes." Cassie returned the smile, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Will Caleb also be there?" she asked, trying to sound casual. Jackie shook her head, her expression puzzled. "Why would he be there? I'm meeting my boyfriend, Cassie. Caleb's obviously not invited," she said, her voice tinged with annoyance. Cassie couldn't help but let out a small chuckle, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Oh, that's fine. I'll come with you anyway and find him myself," she said, her tone lighthearted. She couldn't wait to see Caleb again, even if it meant tagging along with Jackie and Tommy. Jackie's smile wavered at Cassie's words. A flicker of confusion crossed her face as she tried to understand why Cassie suddenly wanted to meet Caleb, the so-called loser. Cassie ha
Jackie chuckled, the tension in the room easing. "Nice one, cousin. I'm proud of you, Cassie. There's nothing wrong with wanting to get back at that loser Caleb." Cassie stopped what she was doing and turned to face Jackie, a confused expression on her face. "What do you mean, get back at Caleb?" she asked seriously. Jackie rolled her eyes and said, "Duh, revenge on that delivery boy. What else?" Cassie froze, her eyes widening in shock as Jackie’s words sank in. She stood there for a moment, processing, then asked, "Why would I want to take revenge on Caleb?" Jackie laughed, shaking her head. "You're really good at that innocent look. Keep it up. You'll easily fool that loser. Remember that day in the bar? He embarrassed you, pretending to be rich and all. You found out the truth in front of everyone, and I'm sure that must have been horrible for you. So, I’m guessing you plan to return the favor by embarrassing him in front of the students at Castle College, right?" Cassie b
Back to the castle college sports field... The bell rang, signaling the end of PE class. The students, sweating from the heat and basketball practice, sighed with relief as they grabbed their water bottles and drank hungrily. "Man, Carl was gruesome today with his orders," Tommy said, wiping sweat from his brow. "Seriously, it's like he's out to get everyone." Jake and Caleb chuckled and nodded in agreement. Jake, feeling the heat, poured the rest of his water bottle over his head. "Yeah, he definitely pushed us hard today," Jake said, shaking his wet hair and feeling a bit cooler. Tommy looked down at his watch and saw the time. He realized he wouldn't be needing to meet Jackie for a while, not until after he had seen his professor. His stomach growled, reminding him that he needed to grab something to eat first. "I'm starving," he muttered. Caleb overheard and turned to both Jake and Tommy with a grin. "Hey, how about I buy lunch for us? My treat." Tommy looked at Ca
As they approached the cafeteria, Tommy's phone chimed once again, and he sighed as he saw Jackie's name on the screen. Jake and Caleb exchanged amused glances, anticipating what was about to unfold. "Someone's missing her honey bunny buns," Jake teased in an exaggeratedly sweet tone. Tommy shot him a hard look, and Jake quickly pretended to zip his mouth shut. "Jackie, we're almost there.... " Tommy answered, bracing himself for her impatience. "Well, hurry up," came Jackie's voice, laced with frustration. "I've been waiting forever. Cassie and I are starving, and we need to eat something soon." Tommy rolled his eyes, feeling the familiar exasperation rise. Before he could respond, Jackie continued, "And make sure you bring that loser friend of yours, Caleb. Cassie wants to meet him." Tommy's expression shifted from annoyance to confusion, the sudden change in Jackie's attitude catching him off guard. "Wait a second..." he said, glancing over at Caleb. He walked a few steps
Tommy walked quietly, his mind racing as he tried to figure out what Jackie and Cassie could be up to. He replayed their conversation in his head, searching for any clues or hints that might shed light on their sudden change in behavior. Was there something Jackie wasn't telling him? Why did she seem eager all of a sudden for Caleb to come? She hated the man with a passion and would normally never allow Cassie within a hundred feet of him. Tommy couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the situation than met the eye. As he approached the cafeteria, he resolved to keep a close eye on Jackie and Cassie, determined to uncover the truth behind their mysterious actions. Outside the cafeteria door, Caleb put his hand on Tommy's shoulder, prompting him to stop and look over his shoulder at him. "Hey, you okay?" Caleb asked, his concern evident in his eyes. "You seem a bit off." Tommy sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, I'm fine. It's just... Cassie is here with Ja