Aria's Pov
The door clicked shut behind me with a soft thud.
I leaned back against it, eyes closed, trying to steady my breath. My heart was still racing not from the walk upstairs, but from everything that had happened moments ago.
The night replayed in flashes: the look in Liam's eyes, his voice, the way his words cut through the silence. A mistake. I'd said it like it meant nothing, but the truth pressed heavier with every second.
I exhaled slowly, pushing off the door. The room was dim, the only light spilling from the bedside lamp on Aubrey's side. She was already asleep, her hair fanned across the pillow, breathing soft and even. For a moment, I envied her calm.
Dragging my suitcase across the floor, I did my best not to make a sound. I crouched beside the bed, unzipped it quietly, and pulled out a loose T-shirt and shorts. My mind felt cluttered like it was running and standing still all at once.
In the bathroom, I changed quickly, splashed cold water on my face, and caught my reflection in the mirror. My eyes looked tired. Confused. Maybe a little guilty.
When I finally climbed into bed, I turned to face the window, the city lights glowing faintly through the curtains. The silence felt louder than usual.
I shut my eyes, hoping sleep would come fast hoping it would wash away the memory of his voice, the look on his face when I walked away.
But it didn't.
Because even as I drifted off, I could still feel it the warmth of his hand when he passed me the suitcase, the weight of the words I didn't mean but said anyway.
And somewhere deep down, I knew that things between us had just changed in ways I wasn't ready to face yet.
—-
Morning light slipped through the curtains, soft and golden, brushing against my face. For a moment, I wished I could stay in that warmth and pretend the world outside didn't exist. But reality doesn't wait for anyone.
I dragged myself out of bed, the cold floor biting against my bare feet. Aubrey was already halfway through getting ready, humming softly as she fixed her hair in front of the mirror. She looked peaceful lighter than last night and that alone made me smile a little.
I showered quickly, letting the water wash away the thoughts still clinging from yesterday. When I came out, I stood by the closet, staring at the rows of clothes for a moment before pulling my uniform . My hair fell in loose waves down my back, and I added a hint of gloss before grabbing my bag.
"You've got math this morning, right?" Aubrey asked as she slipped her shoes on.
"Yeah," I said, zipping my bag. "You?"
"Literature," she sighed. "Different halls this time."
We walked out together, the corridor filled with voices and footsteps of students rushing to their morning classes. At the intersection, we split ways she gave me a quick wave before disappearing down the other hall.
I took a deep breath and pushed open the door to my math class.
And there he was.
Liam sat near the window, his head bent slightly as he scrolled through his phone. For a second, I hesitated part of me wanted to turn back, to pretend I'd gone to the wrong class. But I forced my legs forward and took the empty seat beside him, the same one I always did.
He didn't even glance at me. Not once.
Throughout the class, he stayed quiet, focused, not a single word or look in my direction. It was as if the night before had been erased completely, as if I was just another face in the crowd.
I tried to focus on the formulas on the board, but the silence between us was louder than the professor's voice. My pen moved across the page automatically, my mind far away.
At one point, our elbows brushed just lightly and I froze. He didn't react. He kept writing, expression unreadable.
By the time the class ended, my chest felt tight.
He stood first, gathering his things with his usual calm, and without a single glance, walked out of the room.
I sat there for a few seconds longer, staring at the empty seat beside me, wondering how something could shift so quickly from warmth to distance, from being seen to being invisible.