Campus was loud—too loud. People talked, laughed, moved in packs. I walked through them like I was half asleep, every sound muffled by the weight pressing against my chest.
When I got to Physics, I took a seat absentmindedly, only to realize May was sitting beside me. She glanced up, then immediately avoided my gaze.
"Are you angry with me?" I asked.
"Nope." She didn't even look at me as she said it.
I rubbed the back of my neck. "I'm really sorry about the other day. I didn't mean to be rude. I was just in a hurry."
She finally raised her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "You don't have to apologize. I really wasn't mad at you."
The day I spent the night at Miles's, he'd asked what I did to May. Said she was pissed at me and kept asking what happened between us. To shut him up, I told him I'd apologize to her.
"I'm glad to hear you weren't mad."
She gave me one of those big, genuine May smiles. The one that told me we were friends again.
I was grateful for it. The last thing I needed was drama in school too.
"I was thinking, I want to stop by the new bakery just outside school. Wanna come?"
I stared at her, contemplating. I wasn't in the mood for hang out and small talk. But I didn't exactly have an excuse not to. And though May didn't exactly like to pry, unlike Miles, she would still ask questions if I let anything slip.
"They're always opening new places. It's so hard to keep up." She said again, feigning a small laugh. "If you don't want to, it's fine."
"No. No. Let's check it out. Class doesn't start for another thirty minutes."
She smiled.
Maybe this would be a good distraction. Anything to stop me from thinking about last night's mistake.
"You're paying." She smirked, mischief lighting her eyes.
I almost smiled. "Sure."
After class, we went there. The air smelled like sugar and coffee—warm, comforting. For a moment, I almost felt okay. Normal.
May leaned against the counter. "Why didn't you come to the party?"
"My little sister's around. I couldn't leave her alone."
She nodded, satisfied with my explanation.
I ordered a croissant and a danish.
May tilted her head. "Did your taste change?"
I shook my head. "It's for my sister."
She smiled. "I see a new side to you. Sweet brother."
If only she knew.
On our way out of the bakery, we received an email. The class had been cancelled.
May groaned. "How does Miles always get so lucky? He didn't come to school today, and coincidentally, the class got canceled."
I laughed. "Yeah."
"Speaking of Miles…" She scooted closer as I packed my things into my bag. "Wanna go to his place? I can finally hear that new song you wrote. You promised, remember?"
I hesitated. Normally, I'd go—Miles's place was loud, easy. The kind of space where thoughts drowned in laughter and bad guitar chords.
Exactly what I needed right now.
"Sorry, I can't," I said. "I should get home."
She groaned. "You're such a killjoy."
"I'll make it up to you."
"You better," she said, pointing a finger at me before grinning and walking off, humming something under her breath.
I left campus before I could change my mind. The drive home was quiet—too quiet—and my thoughts wouldn't stop looping back to last night. Guilt still clawed at me.
But I just needed to see her. I told myself I just wanted to make sure she was fine. Keep things… normal.
When I reached the apartment, the first thing I noticed were the sneakers by the door.
Not mine. Not Faye's either.
My stomach dropped.
Inside, laughter floated from the living room—soft, careless, unmistakably hers. Faye's. But there was another voice too. A boy's.
I moved closer, slow, quiet.
"—that's not fair!" she laughed.
"Life's not fair," the boy teased.
I turned the corner and froze.
Faye was curled up on the couch, hair tied back, and more shocking was the fact that she had makeup on. She wasn't wearing much, just a touch of color on her lips and a shimmer around her eyes. A bowl of popcorn lay on her lap and next to her sat a guy—hoodie, jeans, sneakers that now made sense. He turned when he heard me, his easy grin faltering.
Faye's smile vanished. "Harry. You're home early."
Her tone said everything—surprise, guilt, maybe fear.
I didn't say a word at first. Just looked at her, then at him.
"Who's this?" My voice came out low, colder than I meant.
Faye straightened, setting the bowl down. "He's a friend from school."
"A friend?" I echoed.
"Yeah," she said, too fast.
The boy stood up, awkward but confident enough to hold out his hand. "Hey," he said. "I'm Daniel. Faye's boyfriend."
The words hit like a punch to the chest.
I didn't take his hand. I just stared at Faye.
She couldn't even meet my eyes.