seen Ryan

way he held her like she was the only thing that mattered - she thou

t. Not cold. Not dis

t passed without hearing from him made Maya feel like she was floating betwee

the in-

, she couldn't take

ey. Are

ted. An

lot on my mind. I

didn't call her "M" like he used to.

Her brain raced with every possible reason he might be pulling a

egretted e

ed again, but

Alex's tonight. Come o

ed, staring

ying. But maybe that was

e. Pick m

s swaying. Maya stepped inside and instantly felt overwhelme

sure what she

cup. "Drink this.

ting the burn distract her

boy?" Tasha a

't know. Haven't he

ed. "He gho

quickly. "Just..

s finall

rink. "What?! No. We

that much tension? I'm shocked th

ed, but it

mped into her shoulde

as R

art fl

ya

ly surprised. "Ma

anning his face. "You did

," he replied. "Alex

rrounded by noise bu

o read something - anything - th

ould ask, someon

ots!" It was Zach, his ba

ologetically. "I'll

no

he d

passed.

e scanned the crowd, she saw Ryan - laughing with his friends, talking to some gi

omething into the girl's ear - her hand on

, the cool air hitt

ay

as Ryan. Of cour

ay?" he

't I be?" s

. "You lo

en standing in there like an idiot watching

e said, stepping close

ood there and le

want to ma

ats. You mad

"This is exactly why I didn't text m

, stunned. "So thi

n't sa

ing like yo

silence... it cut deeper

pped bac

ay

t this - if you're no

ight. "I'm scared too, okay? I've never felt t

he whispered. "That'

r with broken e

't know if so

her eyes as she walked home alone. It wasn't even that h

Brielle came for her. And not when s

ne buzz

to me. I didn't

ed at th

ned her

in bed. Her chest ached in that ugly way heartbreak al

ped by in

, sitting on the edge of Maya's bed. "If h

s slipping silent

for him to decide," she wh

Then three. Ryan

h, even though her heart still stung. She wore her f

ss the hall still m

pt. Eyes dark, hair messy, a

ept w

ng books from her locker when

ay

tu

y

nervous.

talk?" h

"Say what you

ard, and it scared the hell out of me. I didn't know ho

fect," she replied. "You j

t. But I want to now

him, her hear

ow," she said softly. "But

with hope. "I'll wait.

im a small

by walking m

e in days - and fell into step b

ire between them bur

ndle. Waiting,🔥 Whe

nsion (Additio

relieved. She felt raw - like every word he said

But believing and trusting were two different th

the warm wind tousle her curls. Everything felt too bright, too loud. Like the world was

and headed straight to the fridge. Nothing looked appealing.

he couch in silence, pho

y?" a voi

Jordan, leaned against the doorfra

say that,"

her and raised a brow.

dded s

e been acting lik

ke one," s

Do I need to beat someone up, or is this one

d faintly

ed. "Let'

as. And then we kissed. And now... everything's different. We're in this we

sca

ed. "Ter

f fear usually means it's real. But it doesn't mean it

he sting in her eye

e your time. Make him show up. L

ugh the stillness. Her stomach

[Voice

ng over the play button. Jord

alone with that d

cked shut behind

Raspy. Like he'd reco

need you to know that I haven't stopped thinking about you - not for a second. I miss your laugh

ng you. But I see now... I might've l

tter. Just don't shut me

est ti

at he said - but because she could hear the regret in his voice. The

de whether to reply,

Can we talk?

disbelief. Brielle? Brielle, who had fl

stinct was t

as time she stopped being th

Sure.

Back table. Afte

I'll b

be it was a test. But deep down, Maya was tired of playing

n't stay sile

ibrary after her last class. Part of her expected Brielle to flake - but there she was, tuck

le said with

te her and crossed her arm

aw. "I figured you dese

n eyebrow. "I

e we were kids. He's charming. Sweet.

nd you're tellin

Brielle said. "But after seeing how he l

tunned int

- but because he chose you. And he chose hard. Even when we

away, her

friend," Brielle added. "Bu

like she was in a rivalry.

she said

't let him off easy

way, Maya sat f

were messie

n't the only one trying t