"This time, about us."
Silver walked back to her dorm in a daze, snow soaking through her clothes, Eli's words echoing in her head.
Maybe love isn't enough right now.
The campus felt different. Wrong. Like everyone was watching her. Judging her.
Because they were.
She passed a group of students huddled near the library entrance. They went quiet when they saw her. Started whispering the moment she passed.
In the dining hall, getting coffee she didn't want, she heard fragments of conversation from the next table over.
"—saw the video. It's all over—"
"—his coach is furious—"
"—she ruined his draft chances—"
"—heard they broke up—"
Silver kept her head down. Grabbed her coffee. Left.
Back in her dorm room, Americus was pacing. Riley and Maya sat on Maya's bed, both looking worried.
"Finally," Americus said when Silver walked in. "We've been trying to reach you for an hour."
"Phone died." Silver set down her coffee. Started peeling off her wet coat.
