Exams had wrapped the campus in a strange sort of silence. The usual chatter in the quad had dulled down to murmurs and the occasional groan over revision. Even the group chats had gone dry for once.
Devon sat outside the library, hoodie up, notes scattered in a mess that didn't quite match the sharp focus in his eyes. It wasn't the exams that had him wound up, though. It was everything else.
Kylie and Iver.
He'd seen them together more lately studying, walking, even laughing by the vending machines. It shouldn't have bothered him. He told himself it didn't. But every time she smiled at something Iver said, it sparked that restless feeling in his chest again.
"Yo, you look like you're plotting someone's downfall," Malik said, dropping into the seat beside him with a grin.
Devon smirked. "Nah, just tired, bruv. Been revising too much."
"Yeah, sure. And I'm the bloody Prime Minister." Malik nudged his shoulder. "You've been staring at that lot for ten minutes. You and Kylie ain't even on speaking terms?"
Devon's eyes flicked up just long enough to see Kylie toss her hair back, laughing at something Iver had said. Iver, as usual, had that calm, steady look the kind that made people trust him without trying.
Devon clicked his pen and looked away. "We're fine. Just busy."
"Busy revising or busy being jealous?" Malik teased.
"Piss off." Devon shoved him lightly, but the edge in his voice gave him away.
Malik chuckled. "Mate, you better sort that before someone else does. Word around is Kylie and Iver've been getting close. Like proper close."
Devon didn't answer. He just zipped his bag and stood up. "I've got to head to practice."
"Course you do," Malik muttered, watching him go.
The sports hall was nearly empty when he got there, the echo of bouncing balls filling the air. Devon dropped his bag by the bench and started shooting hoops, trying to lose himself in rhythm one bounce, one shot, one breath at a time.
He didn't notice her at first.
"Still skipping revision for basketball, huh?"
Devon turned, ball still spinning off his fingertips. A tall girl stood by the door, hands in her pockets, a teasing smile on her lips. Her hair was jet-black, fringe cut neat above her eyes.
"Maureen?" he said, surprised. "Didn't expect to see you here."
"Yeah, I don't really do libraries," she said with a small laugh. "Too stuffy. I saw you from the courtyard. Figured I'd say hi."
Devon wiped sweat off his forehead. "It's been a while."
"Since that debate thing, yeah. You killed it, by the way."
He chuckled. "I wouldn't say that. Nearly killed the principal's patience, though."
"Still counts," she said. "Anyway, I heard you've been a bit... distant lately. Thought maybe you needed company."
Her tone was casual, but the look in her eyes wasn't. Devon hesitated, then smiled slightly. "You offering to distract me, yeah?"
"Maybe."
They both laughed, but the air between them shifted small, subtle, dangerous.
By the end of the week, Maureen had found her way into Devon's orbit like she'd always belonged there. She joined him after practice, brought him snacks during revision breaks, even teased him into skipping a few study sessions for walks across campus.
People noticed. Especially Kylie.
She saw them one afternoon outside the student café, Maureen tossing her head back in laughter while Devon leaned close, grinning in that way he hadn't done around her for weeks. Her stomach twisted before she could stop it.
"Oi, you alright?" Iver asked, setting his coffee down.
Kylie forced a smile. "Yeah, yeah. Just tired, innit."
Iver leaned back, arms folded. "You don't look tired. You look vexed."
"I'm not."
He gave her that patient look of his. "Kylie, come on. You think I haven't seen how you two been avoiding each other? Devon's got his head scrambled. And you.....you've been hiding behind your books like they'll fix your heart."
She exhaled slowly, fingers tightening around her cup. "It's not that deep. We're just... different now."
"Right," Iver said, his voice soft. "Different."
But when she glanced up again, Devon and Maureen were walking off together, and her throat tightened anyway.
Rumours spread faster than coursework deadlines.
By Monday, everyone knew. Maureen and Devon were "a thing" at least that's what people said in the cafeteria, the gym, even during lectures. Kylie heard it more times than she could count.
She tried to ignore it, but even Iver noticed her slipping focus.
"You're miles away again," he said one evening as they walked toward the library.
"Just thinking."
"About him?"
She hesitated. "A bit. Maybe."
Iver gave a small smile. "You don't have to lie, Kyles. You still care."
"Doesn't matter," she murmured. "He's moved on."
"Has he, though?" Iver asked quietly.
They stopped by the fountain outside the main quad, the water glinting under the campus lights. For a long moment, neither spoke. Then Iver reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"You deserve someone who actually sees you," he said.
Kylie's breath hitched. "Iver..."
Before she could say more, laughter drifted from across the courtyard. Devon and Maureen again, walking close, his arm brushing hers. Kylie looked away, but not fast enough for Iver to miss the pain flickering across her face.
"Forget him," he said softly. "He's not worth breaking yourself over."
Meanwhile, Devon was doing his best to pretend everything was fine. Maureen was easy to be around funny, confident, nothing complicated. She didn't ask about the past, didn't poke at old wounds.
But every time she laughed, his mind betrayed him with flashes of Kylie's voice, her half-smile, the way she'd say "bruv" when she was fed up with him.
"Dev, you still with me?" Maureen asked as they sat on the bleachers one evening.
He blinked. "Yeah. Sorry. Long day."
She smirked. "You're a rubbish liar, you know that?"
"I'm serious."
"I know." She nudged him. "You still thinking about her?"
Devon froze. "Who?"
"Don't play dumb."
He sighed, leaning back. "It's not that simple."
Maureen's voice softened. "It never is. But maybe you should stop chasing ghosts, yeah? You've got someone real right in front of you."
Devon looked at her then really looked and for a fleeting second, he almost believed her.
Things came to a head during the last day of exams. The campus buzzed with relief and celebration. Everyone spilled out of the exam halls, shouting, laughing, throwing notes in the air.
Kylie stood near the steps with Iver, both of them grinning like kids finally free.
"Done and dusted," Iver said, stretching his arms. "Man's ready to sleep for a week."
Kylie laughed. "You and me both."
That's when Devon appeared Maureen by his side, holding his hand.
The sight knocked the breath right out of her. Iver noticed instantly.
"You good?" he murmured.
"Yeah," she whispered, though her chest said otherwise.
Devon's eyes met hers for a split secondlong enough to see the hurt, long enough to look away before it consumed him.
Maureen caught the look, her smile tightening. "You wanna go grab a drink?" she asked him.
"Yeah, sure."
They walked off, laughter trailing behind them like nothing had happened.
Kylie stared after them, silent.
Then she turned to Iver. "Let's go."
Later that evening, the rumours hit again this time, twisted. Someone had posted photos: Kylie and Iver walking together, Devon and Maureen laughing at the café. The captions wrote the story themselves.
Raya saw them too.
And something in her snapped.
She found Iver by the benches outside the dorms, his headphones in, eyes closed.
"So it's true then?" she said sharply.
He pulled one earbud out. "What's true?"
"You and Kylie. Thought you said you weren't into her."
Iver frowned. "Raya, it's not like that."
"Then what's it like? 'Cause from where I'm standing, she's playing both of you Devon and you and somehow, she's still the victim."
Iver stood, calm but firm. "Watch your tone, yeah? Kylie's been through enough."
"Don't tell me who to watch, Iver. You think she's all sweet, but she's messing with everyone's heads. Including yours."
He shook his head. "You're out of line."
"Am I? Or are you just blind?"
He turned to walk away, but she grabbed his arm. "You used to have my back," she said quietly.
"I still do," he said, eyes softening. "Just not like that anymore."
Raya's hand fell. "Right. Guess I lost you too."
He hesitated, then left her standing there, eyes shining with tears she refused to let fall.
Hours later, Raya sat by the edge of the football field, knees pulled to her chest, the floodlights casting long shadows.
Elijah spotted her on his way back from the gym.
"Didn't think you were the type to sulk in the dark," he said, sitting down beside her.
She gave a bitter laugh. "Didn't think I'd turn into that girl either."
He looked at her for a moment. "Rough day?"
"You could say that."
"Wanna talk about it?"
"Not really."
They sat in silence for a while, the hum of the lights filling the space between them.
Then Elijah said quietly, "You don't have to keep fighting everyone, you know."
Raya looked up. "Feels like that's all I've been doing."
"Maybe that's the problem."
She let out a shaky breath. "He chose her. Again."
Elijah nodded slowly. "Then maybe it's time you stop choosing him."
Raya stared at him, then laughed softly. "You think you're some wise philosopher now?"
He grinned. "Nah, I'm just the bloke who knows when someone needs a mate."
That pulled a small smile from her. "Thanks, Elijah."
He shrugged. "Anytime."
They sat there, quiet but not alone. And for the first time in ages, Raya didn't feel like she had to pretend she was fine.
Across campus, Devon watched Maureen talk animatedly with her friends, laughter spilling from her lips. He smiled faintly but didn't feel it reach his chest. Somewhere deep down, he knew no amount of noise could drown out what still lingered between him and Kylie.
And somewhere else on the same campus, Kylie lay awake, wondering the same thing.
The frost had cracked, but the cold between them hadn't thawed. Not yet.