Collided Souls

I M O G E N

I clung to his shirt—tight. 

So tight, I was sure my fingers had gone white. 

Cane's lips were accidenting—plump, soft, kissable. I knew what we were doing was wrong beyond words, but the stronger our connection grew, the closer we edged toward madness. 

His body pressed mine harder against the wall, shielding us from the classroom beyond. Voices of passing students floated in, but we were in our own world. There were no cheers, no noise—just us. 

Only our sounds could be heard. 

But I knew how this ended. All good things do. 

As if doused with ice water, I shoved Cane away, breaking our kiss. I didn't look at him—only his lips.

Red. Plump. Wrong. 

"Imogen—" 

"I... I have to go." I cut him off, breathless. 

My body moved before my mind could stop it. I ran from his classroom, leaving him behind. I couldn't believe what I'd done. I kissed someone I never thought I'd kiss—worse, I liked it. 

Dodging through the crowd, pushing past people, all I could think about were his lips. The way he said my name. The way our bodies— 

"Miss Stokes, I—" 

"Not now," I snapped at the student, rushing out of the school building. 

Might as well call out sick—for the way I was feeling.

"Christian, stop!" I begged, fighting against his grip. His eyes darkened the more I resisted—kicking, screaming, pleading. 

"What did I tell you about kissing other men?" he growled. "Huh, Immy? Huh?" He dropped me suddenly and kicked me hard in the gut. 

I screamed. "I... I didn't!" 

"I SAW YOU!" 

"I—" I gasped. "I didn't. I swear. It might've looked like it, but please... please, I didn't." 

Christian knelt, yanking my hair back, a dark laugh escaping his lips. He wiped away my tears with his thumb and kissed me. The nausea hit immediately—especially when he bit my bottom lip. 

"I believe you... now." He pulled me to my feet. My body felt like dead weight. "But if I ever—ever!—hear about you seeing, talking, or worse—kissing another man? Let's just say it won't end well. Not for you. Not for him. You want that, Immy? You want a man dead because of your disobedience?" 

I shook my head violently. "No... no." 

"Good girl." He smiled.

I gasped for breath when I finally made it to my car. Flashes of his face rammed through my mind, poisoning the memory of Cane's kiss. I blinked away tears threatening to spill. I hadn't seen or heard from Christian in a while—yet he still haunted me. 

I hadn't been with anyone since him. 

Buzz! 

I jumped as my phone buzzed violently in my pocket. I pulled it out, heart hammering. 

"Hello?" My voice cracked. 

"Imogen Eliza Stokes! I've been calling you for the past hour!" Thank goodness—Leona. "What's it take to get you to answer?" 

"Sorry, sorry," I exhaled. "What's up?" 

"First—lunch. Second—have you seen my red heels? Going out tonight and need those." I could hear the smirk in her voice. 

"Lunch, sure. Heels? No. Didn't you lend them to Jenny?" 

"She said she gave them back." 

"Then I don't kno—" 

"Never mind!" she chirped. "Found them! Lunch. Now." 

She hung up before I could respond. I sighed. I needed lunch. Friends helped me forget. Even if just for a while. 

I opened my door, shivering like someone was watching, and slid in. The car roared to life. 

Here we go.

◊◊◊◊

"His name's Zion," Leona said, biting a fry dipped in ketchup. 

"Sounds nice," Jenny smiled. 

"Sounds isn't the problem," Leona narrowed her eyes. "Let's hope he is." 

"And if he isn't?" Jenny raised an eyebrow. 

"Then no ride home." Leona winked, brushing her hands off and grabbing her Diet Coke. 

"Anyway," Jenny said cautiously. "Any school updates?"

"Hm? What? I didn't kiss anybody—why would you ask that? Who said that?" I blurted, shaken from thoughts of Cane... and him. 

Leona and Jenny stared at me like I'd grown two heads. 

"Who said anything about kissing?" Jenny asked softly. 

"Yeah, and who did you kiss?" Leona leaned in with a knowing smirk, chin resting on her palms.

"Uhh..." I gulped. "Nobody. I just talk a lot." 

"True," Leona said slowly. "But you only babble when something happens. So, I'll ask again—who did you kiss?" 

My silence spoke volumes. 

Then it hit them. 

"Was it him?! Was it Cane?" Leona squealed. 

"Oh, sweetie no," Jenny groaned. 

"Yes." I winced. 

"I knew it! Everyone owes me ten!" Leona clapped, wiggling in her seat. Strangers stared, and she returned their looks with a middle finger before turning back to us. 

"First off, Rip owes you ten," Jenny sighed. "Second—Immy, really?" 

"It just happened. I don't know what I was thinking." I crossed my arms over my stomach. The thought of Cane brought back the butterflies—fluttering, unshakable. 

"Of course you don't. Have you seen that man?" Leona gestured wildly, cheeks flushed. 

Jenny gave her a look, then placed a hand over her baby bump and one on mine. 

"Look, mistakes happen. But they're not going to happen again. Right?" she asked pointedly. 

"Right," I nodded. 

"Good." She patted my hand. 

"So we're ignoring me now?" Leona pouted. 

"No one's ignoring you," Jenny said. 

"Yes you are." She crossed her arms. 

I let them fade into the background as thoughts of Cane overtook me again. His face. His voice. His lips— 

Ring! Ring! 

My phone jolted me out of my daydream. 

"Who's that?" Leona peeked over. 

"Don't know." I stood. "I'll be back." 

"Okay," they said in unison.

I blew them a kiss and rushed across the checkered floor to the bathroom. The phone kept ringing. Finally, in the privacy of the ladies' room, I answered. 

"Hello?"

Silence. 

Then, a familiar voice cut through.

My heart stopped. 

My breath caught. 

It couldn't be. 

No. 

"Long time no see, Immy."

A/N

I'm back! Btw, I won't be updating on Sunday's and something happened over the weekend but I'm back and better 💌