Clara watched from a distance, her fingers tightening around the strap of her bag as she leaned against the brick wall just outside the cafeteria. Her sister, Samantha, sat beside her, talking about something trivial, but Clara wasn’t listening. Her eyes were locked on Mark and Jason, who stood across the quad, laughing with a group of girls.
The two guys had always been the center of attention, but not for the reasons most people assumed. Mark and Jason, handsome and kind, were different from the typical guys who soaked up attention. Their joy and warmth were genuine, and everyone around them couldn’t help but smile in their presence. Despite the attention they attracted from girls, they were always polite when turning down invitations, never cruel or dismissive. In fact, they had refused every invitation for a date, gently explaining that they weren’t looking for a relationship right now.
But none of that seemed to matter to Clara.
She had known Mark and Jason for years—since they were kids, in fact. Back then, the four of them had been inseparable: Clara, Samantha, Mark, and Jason. Their families were close, and summers were spent playing together in the same parks, laughing until their sides hurt. Jason had even been Clara’s first crush, though she’d never admitted it. But over the years, things changed. Clara changed. Somewhere along the way, the ease of their friendship had become strained.
Now, watching Mark and Jason from a distance, her chest tightened with something dark and bitter. They barely noticed her anymore. They still smiled and waved when they saw her, of course. That’s who they were—kind, thoughtful, always looking out for others. But Clara knew their smiles weren’t the same. Not like the ones they shared with those girls now laughing with them.
It wasn’t fair. After everything, after knowing them for so long, how could they just ignore her? Why didn’t they look at her the way they looked at other girls?
“Clara?” Samantha’s voice broke through her thoughts.
“Huh?” Clara blinked, turning to face her sister, who was giving her a curious look. “Sorry, what did you say?”
“I was asking if you’re okay. You’ve been staring at them for a while.” Samantha tilted her head toward the group. “Don’t tell me you’re jealous.”
Clara’s jaw tightened, but she forced a laugh. “Jealous? Please. They’re just talking.”
Samantha shrugged. “You’ve always had a thing for Mark, haven’t you?”
Clara’s eyes narrowed. “And you’ve always had a thing for Jason. So what? It’s not like they notice us anymore.”
Samantha sighed. “They’re just friendly with everyone. You know how they are—they’ve been like that since we were kids. You’re overthinking it.”
Clara scoffed but said nothing. She wasn’t overthinking it. She knew what she was seeing, and the jealousy gnawed at her insides, making it impossible to think straight.
Later that day, as Clara sat in her room, the idea began to form. It was reckless, maybe even dangerous, but she couldn’t shake it. If they wouldn’t pay attention to her willingly, maybe she could change that. Maybe she could make them stay close...even if it wasn’t by choice.
Clara’s plan began to take shape the next morning when she cornered Samantha in the dorm room.
“Hey,” Clara said, leaning against the doorframe. “I’ve been thinking… How about we throw a party for my birthday this weekend? Something fun, different from what we usually do.”
Samantha glanced up from her phone, intrigued. “Different how?”
“We could rent out that farmhouse on the outskirts of the city. You know, the one we used to go to as kids. It’s secluded, and it’ll just be us and the guys. No distractions, no one else to worry about.”
Samantha frowned, hesitant. “That place is kind of creepy, don’t you think?”
“Exactly,” Clara said with a grin. “That’s what’ll make it fun. Besides, Mark and Jason always liked that place. It’ll be like old times, just us.”
Samantha studied her sister for a moment. “You really think they’ll come? They’ve been turning down every invite they’ve gotten lately.”
“They’ll come,” Clara said, her voice darkening. “They won’t say no to us.”
In the small town where childhood friendships once flourished, Clara finds herself grappling with the complexities of unrequited love and jealousy. For years, she and her sister, Samantha, shared carefree summers with their childhood friends, Mark and Jason—two kind-hearted boys who always brought warmth and laughter. But as the years have passed, Clara feels an unsettling shift in their dynamics.
Now, as she watches Mark and Jason revel in the attention of other girls, Clara's heart aches with bitterness and longing. Determined to reignite the bond they once shared, she concocts a reckless plan for her upcoming birthday—a party at the secluded farmhouse where their childhood memories were made. Will Clara's desperate attempt to reclaim her friendship with Mark and Jason draw them closer, or will it unveil the darker side of her desires?
Dark Desires is a gripping tale of love, jealousy, and the lengths one will go to reclaim a lost connection. As Clara navigates the treacherous waters of her emotions, she must confront the thin line between affection and obsession.
Comments (2)
See all