They Chose Their Duet, I Chose Freedom

Madeline's POV

Back in the dorm, I couldn't help checking my phone one more time. There wasn't a single message. Even though I knew they probably wouldn't care, my chest still tightened painfully.

I turned off the screen and started packing up the music textbooks piled on my desk. My roommate came in from the balcony, looking confused.

"You're back early today. Did they go with the sheet music you stayed up all week writing?"

"That doesn't matter anymore."

I sorted through the books one by one and packed them all into a cardboard box, my mind drifting as I did.

Last week in our major class, the professor assigned another group project. Reid Sullivan and Aria Merrill pulled me into their group without a second thought.

For some reason, I wanted to try my hand at the ensemble piece. The two of them thought it over, then agreed with a smile, telling me they'd let me join if I could write a flawless arrangement.

I was so encouraged I wrote nonstop without taking a break. But the arrangement was shot down before I even had the chance to hand it over. It turned out they'd already picked out the ensemble pieces on their own and just hadn't finalized anything yet.

"Then you should have told me sooner! This sheet music is something I—"

Aria looped her arm through mine with a guilty look, cutting me off. "We've been in the practice room every day and just got so busy we forgot. It won't happen again, I promise!"

Reid added, "That's on me. I forgot to tell you too, so don't blame Aria."

It was always the same. No matter what happened, they'd forgotten about me, and then came the apology.

I was about to say something else when Aria suddenly started coughing. Reid immediately pulled her into his arms, patting her back to help her breathe.

I watched the way he moved on pure instinct, and my hand froze halfway to the water bottle. Then I looked away and handed the water to Aria.

"Are you okay? Is it bad?"

Aria smiled faintly. "I'm fine, it's just the usual thing. You two don't need to fuss."

Reid frowned. "I told you last night it was getting cold and to put on something warmer, but you never listen. Maddie, talk some sense into her. She listens to you more than anyone."

I caught Reid's look, then glanced at the way they were pressed close together.

Aria had always been frail, so Reid and I took it upon ourselves to look after her growing up. After Reid and I started dating, he made a point of keeping some distance from Aria so I wouldn't read into things.

And Aria always made a point of brushing him off, saying things like, "I've got Maddie. What do I need you for?"

The way they both put me first used to make me shake my head and smile, completely disarmed. But at some point, this little world of three started running out of room for me.

I took a deep breath. "You really should take better care of yourself. Don't make us worry."

I turned to head back to my seat, but Reid caught my hand and slipped a heat patch and some Advil into my pocket. He tucked my hair behind my ear and said softly, "You should stay warm too. Your period's coming up soon.

"I'll come over every day to rub your back when it does, and you're not allowed to kick me out. Got it?"

Part of me wanted to give in to Reid's warmth all over again. It was just that these small moments weren't enough anymore, not nearly enough to outweigh years of built-up disappointment.

My phone rang, pulling me back. It was almost time for the next class.

When I got to the classroom, Reid and Aria were sitting in the front row with every seat around them taken. Reid saw me and said casually, "There's an open seat in the last row. I saved it for you with a book.

"You don't pay attention in class anyway, so just sit in the back and relax on your phone."

A heaviness settled in my chest. I lowered my head and walked slowly to the last row to sit down. Up in the front, Reid and Aria were leaning in close, laughing and talking about something.

I couldn't hear them, and I didn't want to anymore.