Chloe adjusted the strap of her shoulder bag as she walked through the main square. She had been running late, again. Aiden had texted her ten minutes ago that he would meet her at the cafeteria before their first lecture.Her heart fluttered, a reaction she still wasn’t used to.Being Aiden's girlfriend wasn’t something she had planned or even expected but she was happy it had happened regardless. But as she thought happy thoughts about this, she suddenly had a reflection of Lena’s words the other day and it almost put a damper on her mood but she pushed it aside.At least for now.She hadn’t thought about Lena much since that awkward encounter at the restaurant a few days ago and then a few days ago when they met in front of her lecture hall.One one hand, she had taken Lena’s words as something more like an advise from someone who cared.But on the other hand, she only saw Lena as Aiden’s ex, the one who had looked like she wanted to rip Chloe’s throat out but smiled anyway.She
Within seconds all the papers that littered the ground had been picked up by both girls.“Yeah, sorry again about that,” Lena said, chuckling softly. “I can be so clumsy sometimes.”“You’re fine,” Chloe said quickly, waving it off. “I actually thought it was nice bumping into you again. I don’t know many people who know Aiden personally.”Lena’s lips curled faintly. “Well, we do go way back.”Chloe’s eyes lit with curiosity. “You were together, right?”Lena tilted her head slightly, feigning modesty. “For a while, yeah.”Chloe nodded, thoughtful. “He mentioned you once. He said things didn’t really work out, but he didn’t sound bitter about it.”“Of course he didn’t,” Lena murmured under her breath, then smiled. “Aiden was always good at hiding what he really felt.”Chloe frowned softly. “What do you mean?”Lena hesitated. She had practiced this moment in her head a hundred times. “It’s nothing,” she said quickly. “I shouldn’t talk about it.”Now she waited. She could almost cou
The afternoon sun moved through the college courtyard with soft wind brushing against the tall trees that lined the pathway leading to the lecture hall. The chatter of numerous students filled the air with laughter, gossip, footsteps and the sounds of life Lena no longer felt connected to.At least not anymore since she had found out something that almost made her go mad.She crouched low behind a bush opposite the lecture hall, her pulse quick, her eyes sharp. Her fingers gripped the edges of the bush until the rough twigs scraped against her palm. The faint scent of earth filled her nostrils, grounding her, but her attention was fixed elsewhere.Accomplishing her goal mattered so much more than her comfort right now.Across the courtyard, Chloe stood among a small circle of friends, laughing in that light, effortless laugh Lena had come to hate. Her dark hair shimmered under the sunlight, her smile soft and unguarded. She looked perfect, the kind of perfect that didn’t need to t
The night air was cool as Lily and Maya stepped out of the respective cars, laughter still echoing faintly from inside.They were near the dorms, the towering building glowing faintly against the dark sky.“Well,” Graham said, leaning against his car with a grin. “I would say tonight was… unexpectedly not a disaster.”Lucas crossed his arms. “Not a disaster is a win in our book.”Liam laughed lightly. “Agreed. Thanks for coming, everyone. Really, I needed that.”Maya tilted her head. “You better keep needing it, because we’re not doing another emotional intervention anytime soon.”The group laughed again, and Lily felt warmth spread in her chest. Liam looked around at them all.“You know what? No matter what happens, I’m glad I have you guys. You’re my family.”Maya grinned, nudging him. “That’s sweet, but if you ever pull another Lena stunt, I’m disowning you.”He laughed, hands raised in surrender. “Noted.”Lucas glanced at Lily again, his tone shifting to something softer.
The restaurant glowed with bright lights and low chatter that rolled across the room like gentle waves. A classical band played faintly from a corner, their music weaving through the hum of conversations. The scent of expensive steak, garlic butter, and red wine swirled in the air, mixing with the faint breeze that drifted through the half-open windows.Lily glanced at Maya, her best friend’s reflection shimmering in the tall glass of water between them. Both girls looked impeccable in their dresses. Maya in a lilac wrap dress that complemented her beautiful skin, and Lily in a black off-shoulder gown that hugged her curves. However, despite all the exquisite things that surrounded their table, there was still an undercurrent of tension none of them could deny.They were seated in a semi-circle large table with Lucas, Liam, and Graham across the table in impeccable suits but the air was still thick with unease.For the first few minutes, only the clinking of cutlery and murmurs fr
The moment she saw him, Lena’s world slowed down, but what drew Lena’s eyes wasn’t just him.It was the girl beside him.The stranger had soft blonde hair, loosely curled, falling down her shoulders. She was laughing, her hand brushing Aiden’s arm as if it were the most natural thing in the world.They looked comfortable.Lena’s breath hitched in her chest, though she masked it quickly.She took a quiet breath, pretending to check her phone, though her reflection stared back at her from the black screen — composed, cold, but with a trace of something raw underneath.For a few minutes, she just watched them from across the room.They found a table near the window and Aiden helped the girl remove her coat, his hand brushing hers briefly, and she smiled again. They looked like a picture-perfect pair and Lena wanted to look away.She tried, she really tried.She told herself it didn’t matter, that Aiden was free to see whoever he wanted, that he had just been nothing but a pawn and she w