Morning came quietly.
I woke up before my alarm and lay still, staring at the ceiling, my heart oddly restless. The events of the night before played in my head—the hallway, his voice, the way he'd looked at me.
I turned my head.
Xavier was already awake, sitting on his bed, tying his shoes. He glanced up when he noticed me looking.
"Morning," he said.
"Morning," I replied, quickly sitting up.
Nothing felt awkward.
Nothing felt normal either.
Calvin's voice burst through the calm from the other room. "Why does it feel like something changed?"
"Because you overthink," I said immediately.
Mira laughed. "No… I feel it too."
Xavier said nothing, but when we walked out together for breakfast, he naturally matched my pace. Not close enough to cause rumors. Not far enough to feel distant.
Just enough.
During breakfast, we didn't talk much. But whenever our eyes met, there was a pause—as if both of us were holding onto something we weren't ready to name.
Later, when the group split up for activities, Xavier stayed beside me without saying why.
And somehow, that felt louder than words.