LOVES UNEXPECTED TURN | 18+ W...

I sat at the edge of my bed, my knee bouncing like it had a mind.

My phone was still in my hand, screen dark, her name stamped across the top of our last conversation like a bad rash I couldn't scrub off.

She left me on read. Again.

Now, every creak in the hallway, every hum of a car outside, made my stomach twist. I didn't want her in my space.

Not when my mom would fawn over her like some long-lost daughter and I'd be expected to pretend everything between us was... fine.

But it wasn't. It never was.

Then it came—the dreadful ring of the doorbell.

I was already on my feet before my brain could catch up.

And there it was: my mother, arms wrapped around Thalia like a long-lost family reunion.

Fucking great.

When they pulled apart, my mom turned to me with that expectant sparkle in her eye.

"Hun, why didn't you tell me Thalia was coming over?"

Maybe because she invited herself into my fucking house without asking?

"Uh... must've slipped my mind, Mama. I apologize."

And there it was. Her stupid smirk.

She liked this—seeing me flustered and frazzled like some broken doll.

I hated it.

"Ah, it's no biggie, Ms. Monroe!" Thalia chirped, fake sweet. "And Val we are just gonna work on our school project and then I'll be out of your hair!"

It always amazed me how easily she put on that mask.

Like none of this tension existed.

Like we were still those stupid little girls braiding friendship bracelets in my backyard.

"Yep, let's get to it," I said, already walking off. "The faster we finish, the faster Thalia can go home. I'm sure she wouldn't wanna miss dinner or whatever."

My mother shot me a look. The kind that screamed, *Stop being rude to the guest.*

But Thalia wasn't a guest.

She was a roach.

A roach that kept crawling back into my life no matter how many times I tried to kill the son of bitch.

I made direct eye contact with her, hoping she'd catch the message.
Aka: *Get the fuck out of my house, you witch.*

"Right... anywho, nice seeing you, Ms. Monroe," she said with that performative little giggle.

"Tell your mother I said hello!" my mum called after her. "Ooh, we should have dinner sometime! But I'll let y'all work. Have fun, girls!"

"Oh, of course, dinner would be amazing! I'll let my mom know for sure she'd love it."

I was already halfway up the stairs while Thalia chatted with my mom about dinner plans—like nothing.

She's such a fucking masochist. I swear, she lives for getting under my skin.

Silence followed, and then I heard it—her footsteps, soft but steady behind me. This wasn't some twisted dream. She was here.

I reached my room and didn't even bother closing the door. What was the point? She'd be walking in right behind me anyway.

There it was—the sound of the door clicking shut behind me. I spun around, already bracing for her.

"What the actual fuck, Thalia? Why are you here? And don't give me that bullshit about 'the project.'"

She rolled her eyes. "Calm your fucking tits. First of all, I am here for the project. Second, what crawled up your ass?"

Why is she like this? Always so smug. She always acts like my feelings are some joke to her.

"Don't tell me to calm down. I don't want you here. You can't just show up uninvited. It's bad enough we got paired together—I'm not in the mood to deal with any of this today."

My palms were slick, my heart pounding like fireworks against my ribs.

I hated how she always acted like nothing was ever her fault—like everything she did was just some cosmic coincidence.

"Well, I'm here now," she said, stepping in fully. "So let's get started. Or are you gonna fucking break down again, Val?"

The walls felt like they were closing in as she moved a few steps closer.

"No, I'm not going to 'break down,' you bitch. You can be such a fucking tyrant sometimes."

I didn't wait for her reply. I turned my back and walked to the desk, grabbing the project packet Ms. Anya gave us—more to ground myself than anything else.

And of course, when I turned back around, there she was: sprawled across my bed like she owned it.

"Get off," I snapped. "Like, now."

She didn't flinch. "And where exactly should I sit, then?"

"On the fucking ground." I motioned to the carpet right in front of her to wait for her to get up.

But Thalia, being Thalia, didn't move. Because why would she ever do something I asked?

"Thalia, I'm serious," I snapped, my voice climbing with irritation. "Get up."

This project was going to be hell.

She shifted, just enough to sit up — not to cooperate, but to look me dead in the eye.

I could see the wheels turning in her head. Thinking. Calculating. About what, I had no clue.

Then she smiled. That smug, infuriating smile.

"You're gonna have to get on your knees and beg if you ever want me to move, Valentina."

Was she seriously doing this right now?

"You know what?" I huffed. "The floor looks so inviting. Please, take my bed — you hog."

I dropped onto the plush pink carpet with a dramatic sigh.

"Hog?" Thalia raised an eyebrow, unbothered. "Ouch. Resorting to body-shaming? That's a new low, even for you, Val."

"Don't speak unless I ask you to." I didn't look at her as I reached for the project packet. "You've already pissed me off — your voice is just background noise at this point."

"Whatever you say... Mistress."

My eyes rolled so hard I saw stars. God, she was unbearable.

I flipped the packet open, pretending to focus — but I could feel her eyes on me. Watching. Waiting. Like she was enjoying every second of this stupid little power play.

Though I knew she was watching me, waiting for a response or reaction I didn't give her one.

Instead, I began to read out the packet's Intro page.

Final Project: "Through the Lens" – A Personal Documentary

Course: Advanced Photography & Visual Storytelling
Instructor: Ms, Anya
Due Date: Students will present on the last day of school.
Group Project —Pairs Only

Objective:
Your task is to co-create a visual documentary that captures the truth of everyday life through photography and video. This project is about perspective how we see ourselves, how we see others, and how those views can shift through a lens.

I could hear Thalia annoyingly growling in the back as I read.

"Sounds like therapy disguised as homework. "

"Well Thalia you need both so this tracks. Now shut up so I can read the packet."

Instructions:

1. Partner Up:
You will work in assigned pairs to document each other's lives.

2. Capture Reality:
Use photos and short video clips (2–5 minutes max each) to illustrate:
* Daily routines
* Personal spaces
* Family/home dynamics
* Joy, stress, stillness, chaos — real emotion only

3. Themes to Highlight:
*Identity
*Contrast
* Intimacy vs. Distance
*Perspective (How does your partner see you? How do you see yourself?)

"Intimacy vs. Distance." damn Ms, Anya has weird way of making us flirt."

"You wish."

4. Final Product:

* A 10–15 minute multimedia presentation combining curated photos and edited footage.
* Include a short written artist statement (1–2 pages) reflecting on what you learned about your partner — and yourself — through this process.

Grading Criteria:

* Authenticity (20%)
* Creativity & Composition (20%)
* Narrative Cohesion (20%)
* Collaboration & Effort (20%)
* Final Presentation (20%)

Note: You will be documenting each other. That means trust, communication, and yes —vulnerability. Be respectful. Be bold. The lens doesn't lie. Also, remember this overall percent of the project will be worth half your grade, so put in the effort you have the whole school year!

Once I finished reading, I closed the packet. The project was simple enough — it was going to take time, sure, but it was doable. If Thalia focused, we might even get a perfect score.

Big if, though.

I turned around to face the bed, and of course, she was already looking at me. Head tilted. That lazy smile playing on her lips. Like she was studying me, but in that annoyingly smug, unreadable Thalia way that made my stomach twist and my brain short-circuit.

"What's got your gears turning?" she asked, voice low and teasing.

I shook my head, trying to stay in reality — the one where I didn't notice how good she looked when the light caught her eyes like that.

What the actual fuck is wrong me. Stop it.

"If you tried," I said, giving her a look, "we could get a hundred on this. So maybe don't screw it up? Cool?"

She didn't answer. Just stood — slowly — eyes locked on mine, gaze lingering a second too long.

"Get up."

I blinked. "What? Why?"

"Because I said so. Don't make me repeat myself, Valentina."

The way she said my name... it was annoying. But also not. But also very annoying. I rolled my eyes and stayed on the floor a moment longer, because petty was a love language too.

"Only because my foot's asleep," I mumbled as I stood up.

"Mhm. Keep telling yourself that," she said, brushing past me just close enough to make my breath hitch.

"Okay but... where are we going?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. She was already moving toward the door like she hadn't just hijacked my entire day.

Can you blame me for asking? She was acting like we had plans — which we didn't. At least not ones I knew about. For all I knew, she was taking me somewhere remote to leave my body behind.

"You always ask this many questions?" she said over her shoulder. "Just put on your shoes and come on."

Before I could even open my mouth, she disappeared down the hall like this was completely normal.

I grabbed socks and my brown Birkenstocks, threw my bag over my shoulder, and headed downstairs like I had no other choice. Because apparently, when Thalia said "go," my feet just moved.

"Mom! Thalia and I are going out!" I called out as I reached the front door.

"Okay, honey! Be safe! I love you!" she called from the kitchen.

"Love you too!" I said, stepping outside and locking the door behind me.

Thalia was waiting in her car, window rolled down, arm draped casually on the door. Like something out of my nightmares.

She looked at me, expression unreadable, and then flashed a smirk. "Let's go princess, you got legs use them!"

My stomach dropped. Or flipped. I don't know.

What the fuck is going on?

✂︎
CHAPTER TWO
✂︎

Thank you so much for reading Chapter TWO of Love's Unexpted Turn! I hope you all enjoyed the chapter and where the 온라인카지노게임 is going so far!🖤

Reminder that all aesthetics for each chapter are in my Pinterest which is linked in my bio!

X O X O - am0iur