The lecture ended, and students filed out of the classroom. Chris noticed Taylor walking ahead of him, her steps quick and purposeful.
"Taylor…" he called softly, trying to catch up.
She didn't look back, her pace speeding up. I need space, she told herself firmly. She avoided his gaze, keeping her shoulders rigid and her hands clutching her bag straps tightly.
Chris frowned, quickening his own pace. "Hey, wait! Did I do something?"
Taylor kept walking, ignoring him, until they finally reached the college gate. Outside, the sky had darkened, and fat drops of rain began to fall.
Chris cursed under his breath, noticing that Taylor hadn't brought an umbrella. Without thinking, he quickly removed his coat and draped it over her shoulders. "Here… take this," he said, his voice gentle but soaked from the rain.
Taylor blinked, surprised, her hair dampening slightly under the coat. "Chris… you'll get wet!"
"I'm fine," he said, shaking rain from his hair. "I need to know — did I do something I shouldn't have?"
Taylor hesitated, looking down at the wet ground, then back at him. She wanted to say something, to explain, but the words caught in her throat. It's not just him… it's everything I heard… everything I think…
Chris stepped closer, water dripping from his hair and coat, his eyes searching hers. "Taylor… I didn't do anything wrong, did I? Tell me. I can't fix it if I don't know."
Taylor swallowed, feeling guilty for her coldness but unable to fully trust her own instincts yet. "I… I don't know," she admitted softly.
Chris gave a small sigh, his gaze softening. "Alright… just know I'm not going to hurt you. Not ever. I care about you too much for that."
Taylor looked up at him, their faces inches apart, rain dripping between them. She wanted to believe him, wanted to let herself trust, but doubt lingered like the storm around them.
Chris held her gaze for a long moment, then finally offered a small, reassuring smile. "Come on… let's get you somewhere dry. You're not walking home in the rain like this."
Taylor nodded reluctantly, slipping her hands into the coat. As Chris led her toward shelter, her heart pounded — caught between the trust she wanted to give and the doubts she couldn't shake.
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