For a moment… it felt like everything was finally calm.
Too calm.
We had just turned the corner away from the gym, the tension from earlier slowly fading. Ethan was already talking about food like nothing dramatic had just happened, and I was starting to relax again.
Starting.
Then—
"Austin!"
We all froze.
I didn't even have to turn around.
Mary.
Ethan sighed immediately.
"I knew it. I KNEW IT."
Austin didn't look surprised this time.
Just… tired.
We turned.
Mary was walking toward us quickly, her expression no longer calm like before.
Something had changed.
"Austin, wait," she said.
He didn't move.
"What is it, Mary?" he asked, voice steady.
She stopped in front of us.
Too close again.
"I'm not done," she said.
Ethan muttered under his breath,
"Of course you're not."
I shot him a look.
"Not helping."
Mary ignored both of us.
Her eyes were locked on Austin.
"You can't just walk away like that."
"I'm not walking away," Austin said. "I already said what I needed to say."
"No, you didn't," she insisted.
He frowned slightly.
"Yes, I did."
"You didn't explain anything," she said, her voice tightening. "You just—picked her."
The way she said her made my stomach twist.
Austin didn't react.
"I didn't 'pick' anyone like it's a competition."
Mary let out a small, frustrated laugh.
"That's exactly what it feels like."
"It's not."
"Well, it is to me," she snapped.
Silence fell for a second.
Then—
Before anyone could react—
Mary stepped forward suddenly and grabbed Austin's arm.
My eyes widened.
"Mary—"
And then she did something none of us expected.
She threw her arms around him.
Not just a hug.
Clinging.
Desperate.
"Austin, please," she said quickly. "Just—just forget this. We can go back to how things were."
Everything froze.
My chest tightened.
Ethan whispered,
"Oh wow."
Austin didn't move at first.
Like he was processing what just happened.
Then—
He gently but firmly pulled her arms away.
"Mary."
His voice was calm.
But final.
"This isn't happening."
She shook her head.
"It can. You're just being stubborn."
"I'm not."
"You are," she insisted. "You don't actually—"
"I do."
That stopped her.
Completely.
Austin stepped back slightly.
"I do," he repeated. "I like her."
Mary's eyes flickered toward me.
Then back to him.
"No," she said. "You just think you do."
Austin exhaled.
"I know I do."
She shook her head again, more desperate now.
"No, Austin, you don't get it. We had something—"
"And it's over," he said.
Not harsh.
But firm enough that there was no misunderstanding.
Mary's expression cracked slightly.
"You're really choosing her?"
I tensed.
Austin didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
Silence.
Heavy.
Then Mary stepped closer again.
"Then prove it," she said.
Austin frowned.
"What?"
"If you really mean that," she continued, her voice almost challenging now, "then prove it."
Ethan whispered,
"This is getting intense."
I couldn't even respond.
My heart was racing.
I didn't know what she expected.
I didn't know what he would do.
But Austin didn't look confused.
He just looked… certain.
He glanced at me.
For a second.
Just a second.
Like he was checking.
Like he was asking without words.
And this time—
I didn't panic.
I didn't overthink.
I just met his gaze.
And stayed.
That was all he needed.
Austin stepped closer to me.
My heart immediately went wild.
"Alright," he said quietly.
Then—
Before I could even fully process it—
He pulled me gently closer…
And kissed me.
Right there.
In front of her.
Not rushed.
Not uncertain.
But sure.
Clear.
Like he wasn't trying to prove something—
He was just showing the truth.
Everything around me faded for a second.
The school.
The tension.
Mary.
All of it.
Gone.
Until he pulled back.
And reality snapped back into place.
I blinked.
My heart racing.
My face probably completely red.
Ethan, somewhere behind us, whispered,
"…Okay wow."
Austin didn't look at me.
Not yet.
His eyes went straight back to Mary.
"That enough proof?" he asked.
Silence.
Mary stood there, completely still.
Like she hadn't expected that.
At all.
Her eyes flickered between us.
Then she let out a quiet breath.
"…Yeah," she said.
Not angry.
Not loud.
Just… defeated.
She looked at me.
Then at him.
And for the first time—
There was no challenge in her expression.
No fight.
Just acceptance.
"I get it," she said quietly.
Austin didn't respond.
He didn't need to.
Mary nodded slightly.
Then stepped back.
"I'm done for real this time."
Ethan muttered,
"Third time's the charm."
I elbowed him again.
Mary ignored him.
She looked at Austin one last time.
"Take care of her," she said.
Then she turned…
And walked away.
This time—
She didn't look back.
We stood there in silence.
For a few seconds.
Then—
Ethan clapped once.
"Okay. That was cinematic."
I covered my face.
"I can't believe that just happened."
Austin finally looked at me.
"You okay?"
I peeked at him.
"…You kissed me in front of her."
"I did."
"You didn't even hesitate."
He smiled slightly.
"I didn't need to."
My heart did that thing again.
That annoying, impossible-to-ignore thing.
Ethan grinned.
"Well, I'd say that settles it."
"No one asked you," I said.
"I'm still saying it."
Austin chuckled.
And this time—
There was no confusion.
No almost.
No interruption.
Just something real.
Something clear.
And finally—
Something no one could question anymore.