ENTANGLED HEARTS

n't anno

make it

, they were t

ting the temperature of w

lass turned in

ith long silences that

ogether withou

ite fri

y not a re

owing again. Somethin

rying to

idn't push. Didn't

st sho

midnight and she forgot to pr

ns, one magically appeared in her locker with

't expec

she g

ance that lingered

n wasn't just scary

t still race when h

to him about her dreams, her

d of moving on.

learning, didn't mea

ant you kne

d at her like she was the

tly what it felt lik

the same tree where they'd shar

what you said to m

u made me feel like I was mor

n you lef

, voice low. "I left myself. I

pau

might not,"

didn't

ticed th

she admitted.

"And that's wh

Wh

means I might sta

gently. "Then make sure he

on campus threw them in

s. Friends who rememb

. Someone whispered in Ava's ear ab

rted to

am foll

a, w

e snapped, eyes wet. "You and me-whatever this is-I c

nded-but he didn

closer. Vo

it stop. You're

bli

unds rehearsed

aid. "It's terrif

idn't

't pull away when

t, they met on t

rm tea. She br

ou to forget what

Because

that I'm trying to be someone bet

ooked

. Don't just s

he no

eginning of the

per

t f

t r

with the l

make her laugh-he

ut she noticed when he remembered her schedule, her

en't in l

it again. And that wa

either pu

Ava journ

cause Liam's name had started app

erent now,

Less like a stor

f that means he's r

words long after

truth was...

e way he used to pull her close by the sleeve and s

how that memory

ask for ano

just starte

ther's art fundraiser-becaus

ace, but texted her jokes at midnight

was the only one who stood up to clap

nt," Ava admit

a brow. "Di

doesn't try to fix eve

ou tru

hesit

want

t the same

t's closer

umid with too many bod

nned to go-but

be there either-but hi

other would be there

n, she saw Liam-cornered

o used to fl

red to Ava that Liam "was

stomach

't wait.

just as she turn

night, the music thumping be

e called, catc

"Don't follow me just to explain wh

. "Nothing

's about what I felt. And I don't

you're going to walk away bec

e been here before. And I promised myself I wouldn't

. I'm asking for time. Patience. A chance to pro

eyes

t. I just wanted real.

at I'm trying t

racked on th

cared. Scared that this time, it

d, something in

that? Tha

didn't

dn't hol

for an hour, neither saying much, t

leaned her head

for a

ath he didn't know he'd

hey found their way

tea. Ava broug

t need a gr

iet promise

day. Ev

d... Maybe second chances aren't about forgiving the past. Maybe they're

mayb

we write i