(Kaia Verene's POV)
I'm not early.
I just… got here before everyone else.
There's a difference.
A very important one.
The classroom is still half-empty when I walk in. A few people scattered around, talking quietly, not paying attention.
Good.
Less noise.
Less—
I stop.
My steps slow for half a second.
Then I continue like nothing happened.
Back row. Window seat.
Same as always.
I drop my bag on the desk, sit down, and pull out my notebook. Routine. Familiar. Controlled.
I don't look at the door.
Not even once.
Because I'm not waiting.
That would be stupid.
I start writing—anything, really. Notes from yesterday, random words, things I don't need to rewrite.
Just to keep my hands busy.
Just to—
The door opens.
I don't look.
Voices follow. Laughter. Movement.
Normal.
Still normal.
I keep writing.
Another minute passes.
Then two.
Then—
"She's not here yet?"
I pause.
Just slightly.
My pen hovering above the page.
"…Who?" someone asks.
"Elara."
My grip tightens.
I don't react.
Obviously.
"Late again, probably."
"Or making an entrance," another voice says, amused.
A quiet laugh follows.
I press my pen down harder than necessary.
The ink bleeds slightly through the page.
Annoying.
I flip it.
Continue writing.
It doesn't matter.
Why would it?
She's not—
"Kaia."
I look up.
Wrong move.
Lena slides into the seat in front of me, turning around with that look on her face. The one that means she's about to say something unnecessary.
"You look weird."
"I always look like this."
"No," she squints slightly. "Weirder."
I stare at her.
"…Leave."
She grins.
"Oh my God—you're waiting for her."
I blink.
Slow.
Dangerous.
"For who."
"Elara."
"No."
"That wasn't a question."
"Good," I say flatly. "Because the answer is still no."
She leans closer, lowering her voice like she's sharing something important.
"She hasn't come in yet, you know."
"I don't care."
"Mhm."
"I don't."
"Mhm."
I exhale sharply. "Do you want something?"
"Yes," she says immediately. "I want you to admit it."
"Not happening."
"Kaia—"
"Lena."
She pauses.
I hold her gaze.
"…Go away."
She studies me for a second longer.
Then she smiles.
Slow. Knowing.
Annoying.
"Okay," she says, standing up. "But when she walks in, don't look, okay?"
"I won't."
"Sure."
She leaves.
Finally.
I look back down at my notebook.
Silence.
For a second.
Two.
Then—
the door opens.
Again.
And this time—
I look.
I shouldn't.
I know I shouldn't.
But I do.
And there she is.
Elara Quinn.
Late.
Of course.
She steps in like she always does—easy, effortless, like the room adjusts around her without her asking.
People notice.
They always do.
She smiles. Says something to someone near the front. Laughs lightly.
The usual.
I look away.
Immediately.
Not interested.
Not my problem.
Not—
"Sorry, traffic."
Her voice.
Closer.
Too close.
I don't turn this time.
I won't make the same mistake twice.
There's a pause.
Then—
a chair scrapes softly against the floor.
Beside me.
Of course.
"You're late," I say, still looking down.
I hear the smile in her voice when she answers.
"You noticed."
"I didn't."
"You just said it."
"I made an observation."
"About me."
"I make a lot of those."
"Do you?"
I finally glance at her.
"…No."
She laughs quietly.
I hate that sound.
I hate that I don't.
"You're early," she says.
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
She tilts her head slightly, studying me again.
"Were you waiting?"
"No."
Too fast.
I realize it immediately.
She does too.
Her smile changes.
Just a little.
Softens.
"…Okay," she says.
Like she doesn't believe me.
Like she doesn't need to.
I look away.
Again.
Annoyed.
At her.
At this.
At—
everything.
"You missed me," she adds, casual.
I freeze.
Just for a second.
Then I scoff.
"No."
"Mhm."
"I didn't."
"You looked at the door."
"I look at doors all the time."
"That's concerning."
"It should be."
She laughs again.
Quiet.
Warm.
Close.
I press my pen down harder than necessary.
"You're talking too much."
"And you're still listening."
"I'm not."
"You are."
I don't answer.
Because—
I am.
And that's the problem.
The class starts.
Finally.
Something to focus on.
Something normal.
The professor talks. People take notes. Chairs shift.
Everything falls back into place.
Except—
it doesn't.
Because now there's this constant awareness beside me.
Not overwhelming.
Not loud.
Just—
there.
And steady.
Like she's not going anywhere.
Halfway through the lecture, someone approaches.
I don't notice at first.
Until—
"Hey, Kaia."
I look up.
A guy from class. I don't remember his name.
"Can I borrow your notes later?" he asks.
I stare at him.
"…Why."
"You write fast," he shrugs. "And yours are complete."
I consider saying no.
Actually—
I am saying no.
"No."
He laughs awkwardly. "Come on, just for today—"
"She said no."
The voice is soft.
But firm.
I glance sideways.
Elara doesn't even look at him.
Still focused on her notebook.
Like she didn't just—
"I was just asking," he says.
"And she answered," Elara replies calmly.
Silence.
A beat.
Then—
"Yeah. Okay. Sorry."
He leaves.
Just like that.
I look at her.
"…I didn't need help."
"I know."
"Then why—"
"He was going to keep asking."
I pause.
She finally looks at me.
Calm.
Certain.
"You don't like repeating yourself."
I frown slightly.
"…You don't know that."
"I do."
"You don't."
"I'm learning."
I don't like that answer.
At all.
I look away again.
"…Stop doing that."
"Doing what?"
"That."
"That what?"
I hesitate.
Then—
"…acting like you understand me."
A small pause.
Then, softer—
"I don't."
I glance at her.
She's still looking at me.
"But I want to."
That—
I don't—
I look away.
Again.
Because for some reason—
that felt more dangerous than anything else she's said.
The rest of the class passes too quickly.
Or maybe not fast enough.
I don't know.
All I know is—
when the bell rings, I don't leave immediately.
And neither does she.
Silence lingers.
Then—
"See you tomorrow?" she asks.
I should say no.
I always say no.
It's easy.
Automatic.
Safe.
But this time—
"…You're still going to show up anyway," I mutter.
She smiles.
I don't have to look to know.
"Yeah."
I grab my bag, standing up.
Annoyed.
For no reason.
Or maybe for one.
I walk past her.
Not stopping.
Not slowing down.
Not—
"Kaia."
I pause.
Just slightly.
"…What."
"You looked at the door."
I close my eyes for half a second.
Then open them.
"…Shut up."
She laughs.
And somehow—
that follows me all the way out.