Class had just started when the door swung open.
The room went quiet that kind of quiet that feels heavy. Even the pen Kylie was twirling froze mid-spin.
Then she saw him.
Devon.
Not the boy from her past, not the guy she'd danced with under the school lights but a man now. Clean-cut, confident, clipboard in hand and a whistle hanging round his neck like he owned the place.
"Alright, team," he said, voice steady, accent sharp and familiar. "I'm your new P.E. lecturer Mr. Rivers. Let's keep it chill, yeah?"
Kylie's stomach dropped. Mr. Rivers. She almost laughed sir, now? What kind of twisted joke was this?
Around her, whispers started.
"Isn't that the same Devon—?"
"Bruv, man looks proper different."
"Wait, wasn't he.....?"
Kylie looked down quickly, hoping he wouldn't notice her. But when his gaze swept the room, it landed on her and stayed there.
For a heartbeat, neither of them moved. Then Devon blinked, broke the eye contact, and carried on like nothing happened.
"Right. We're startin' light bit of warm-up, some movement drills. Grab a partner, yeah?"
The class shuffled outside to the track. The air was crisp, the sky stretched wide above the campus. Kylie stood beside Iver as usual.
He nudged her. "You alright, Kye? You've gone all ghost mode."
She exhaled slowly. "Just didn't expect him. Not here. Not like this."
"Yeah, I clocked that," Iver said with a grin. "Guy walks in like some celebrity. Thought you were gonna drop your pen."
Kylie gave him a weak laugh. "Shut up, bruv."
Devon blew his whistle. "Oi, less chatter, yeah? Run it up. Let's see some movement."
Iver rolled his eyes but started jogging. Kylie followed, her chest tightening as she felt Devon's gaze track them for a moment too long.
By mid-session, sweat clung to everyone's shirts. Devon barked orders with that calm authority no shouting, no chaos. Just command.
But when he caught Kylie's laugh drift across the field that easy, carefree sound he hadn't heard since prom night his focus wavered.
She was laughing at something Iver said. The two of them running side by side, bumping shoulders, eyes bright.
Jealousy burned low and sharp in Devon's stomach. What's he doing with her like that?
He looked away, gripping the clipboard tighter.
When class ended, Devon dismissed everyone with a casual, "Good graft, yeah. See you next week."
But as Kylie and Iver lingered near the benches, Devon couldn't help but glance over. They were still talking. Still close.
Iver noticed him looking and gave a small nod polite, but firm. A silent reminder: She's not yours anymore.
Devon pretended not to care. But inside, the weight of it pressed deep.
Later that afternoon, he was in the staff office, sorting lesson plans, when someone knocked.
He looked up it was Kylie.
"Hey," she said softly, standing by the door. "Didn't wanna interrupt, but… welcome back, I guess."
Devon smiled faintly. "Cheers. Didn't expect to see you here, either."
"Yeah, well," she said, folding her arms. "Campus is smaller than it looks."
A pause. Thick. Familiar.
"You look good, Kye."
She gave a small shrug. "You too, sir."
He laughed under his breath. "Don't start with that."
"Can't help it," she teased, leaning on the doorframe. "Bit weird, innit? You being all official now. Mr. Rivers and that."
"Yeah, well," Devon said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Trying to grow up, I guess."
"Guess we all are."
Their eyes met again and just like that, the years between them folded.
Then Iver's voice cut through the air from down the hall.
"Kye, you comin'? We've got seminar in five!"
She blinked, stepping back. "I should go."
Devon nodded, trying to hide the sting in his chest. "Yeah. See you around."
She hesitated just a flicker then smiled. "See you around, sir."
And she was gone.
Devon sat there a moment, listening to her footsteps fade. He knew what this was — a test from the universe. A cruel one.
He thought he'd moved on.
But clearly, he hadn't.
Outside, Kylie caught up with Iver.
He grinned. "So? You talk to him?"
"Yeah," she said, brushing her hair back. "Just said hi. Nothing mad."
Iver smirked. "Right. Nothin' mad. Sure, Kye."
She shoved him lightly. "Shut up, bruv."
He laughed. "Just sayin'. Man's out here tryna act chill but looked like his whole world stopped when he saw you."
"Stop chatting rubbish," she said, though her smile betrayed her.
Still, as they walked down the path, the feeling lingered the same one she thought she'd buried long ago.
Devon was back.
And no matter how much she pretended otherwise, her heart had noticed.