Chapter 5: After the Impact

Hannah’s POV

I kept replaying it in my head the entire walk back to the dorm.

The hallway.

The sudden impact.

My books falling again.

And him—Zachary Reed—standing there like I was just another mistake in his way.

By the time I stepped into the room, my mood was already heavy.

Maya looked up from her laptop immediately. “You’re back.”

Tiffany sat cross-legged on her bed, chewing chips loudly. “Okay, talk. What happened this time?”

I hesitated at the door for a second before walking in slowly.

“I bumped into him again,” I said quietly.

Tiffany froze mid-bite. “You mean again again?”

I nodded.

Maya straightened slightly. “Zachary?”

“Yes.”

Tiffany let out a long groan and fell backwards onto her bed. “This guy is starting to sound like your personal nightmare.”

I dropped my bag beside the bed and sat down slowly.

“It wasn’t even dramatic,” I said. “He just… looked at me like I was annoying him again. Like I shouldn’t exist in his space.”

Maya’s expression softened instantly.

“Hannah…” she said gently, moving closer.

“Listen to me. That says more about him than it ever will about you.”

Tiffany sat up again, suddenly serious.

“Exactly. And if he ever crosses the line again, we’re not ignoring it… this time, please I really want to slap his head so bad,” she added, shaking her hand like she was already imagining it.

Despite everything, I let out a small laugh.

“You say that like you can actually reach him,” I teased lightly.

Tiffany pointed at me. “Don’t underestimate my anger.”

That made both me and Maya laugh.

The tension in my chest loosened a little.

Maya sat beside me and gently bumped my shoulder. “You’re not alone here, okay?”

I nodded slowly.

“I know,” I whispered.

And for the first time since the incident, I actually believed it a little.

A few minutes later, Tiffany suddenly clapped her hands loudly.

“No depression allowed in this room,” she announced. “Emergency distraction plan activated.”

Maya sighed. “Here we go.”

Tiffany grabbed the remote like she was commanding an army. “Movie. Now. Snacks. No sad thoughts.”

Soon, the room shifted completely.

Lights dimmed. Snacks opened. Shoes kicked off. Phones ignored.

We were sitting together on the bed, the movie playing softly in the background.

But before it even properly started, Tiffany turned to me again.

“Okay serious question,” she said.

I blinked. “Again?”

“Yes,” she said firmly. “Boy talk.”

My eyes widened slightly. “What?”

Maya laughed. “Tiffany…”

“What?” Tiffany defended. “We’re girls. We’re allowed.”

I felt my cheeks heat up immediately.

“I don’t really have anything to say,” I admitted awkwardly.

Tiffany gasped. “You’ve never had a crush?”

I shook my head quickly.

“I’ve never really… talked to boys properly,” I said honestly. “I was always focused on school, books… my goals.”

Tiffany stared at me like I had just revealed a shocking secret. “Girl, you were in academic isolation.”

Maya laughed softly. “It’s okay, Hannah. There’s no timeline for that.”

Tiffany leaned closer. “But college changes things. Trust me.”

I swallowed nervously.

“I don’t even know how to talk to guys,” I admitted quietly.

Maya smiled warmly. “Then you learn slowly. No pressure.”

Tiffany nodded. “And we supervise.”

That made me laugh again.

The movie started properly after that, but none of us were really focused on it the entire time.

Tiffany kept commenting on every scene loudly, Maya kept correcting her, and I kept laughing in between trying to follow the plot.

For a while, everything felt light.

Like the hallway didn’t exist.

Like Zachary Reed didn’t exist.

Just girls talking, laughing, and sharing space like we had known each other forever.

And I liked that feeling more than I expected.

Zachary’s POV

The house was loud when I got back.

Tyler and Adrian were already arguing about a football replay on the TV again, their voices bouncing off the walls like always.

“That was a clean hit,” Adrian insisted.

“No it wasn’t,” Tyler shot back. “Ref was blind.”

I walked past them without saying anything and dropped my keys on the table.

“Bro, you’ve been weird today,” Tyler called after me.

“I’m not weird,” I replied flatly.

Adrian smirked. “You’ve said that three times already.”

I ignored them and sat on the couch for a while.

Football highlights played on the screen, but I wasn’t watching.

My mind kept drifting.

Back to the hallway.

Back to her.

The way she looked when she fell again.

The way she quickly apologized like she was used to being blamed.

The way she avoided my eyes immediately after.

Tyler flopped down beside me. “You’re zoning out again.”

“I’m not,” I said immediately.

Adrian laughed. “Bro, you’re definitely thinking too much.”

“I don’t think,” I replied coldly.

That made them quiet for a second.

Then Tyler leaned back. “Party tomorrow.

You’re coming.”

“No.”

“You always say no,” Adrian said. “Then show up late anyway.”

“I’m not going,” I repeated.

Tyler sighed. “You’re getting boring, Zachary.”

I scoffed. “Good.”

They went back to arguing about girls and football, but I stopped listening.

Everything sounded distant.

Even them.

My phone rang suddenly.

I glanced at it.

My sister.

I answered immediately.

“Hey,” I said, tone softening slightly.

“Zacharyyyy!” she shouted through the phone.

I exhaled. “You’re too loud.”

“I miss you,” she said. “When are you coming home?”

“Soon,” I replied.

“I got top marks!” she added proudly.

I smiled faintly. “Of course you did.”

“I miss you too,” I said quietly.

Tyler mouthed “soft spot” again from across the room and I ignored him.

After the call, I stood up.

“I’m going upstairs.”

“Of course you are,” Adrian muttered.

I didn’t respond.

My room was quiet.

Too quiet.

I sat at my desk for a long time before opening my sketchbook.

At first, I tried drawing anything else.

Lines. Shapes. Random shadows.

But my hand stopped.

Her face appeared again.

Loose sweater.

Long skirt.

Quiet eyes.

I froze.

“…Why do I keep drawing her?” I muttered.

I shut the sketchbook immediately and leaned back in my chair.

“She’s just another student,” I said quietly.

But even as I said it

My mind refused to listen.