Page 3

Kairi

The sun was barely up when I woke. Ashlen was sprawled across her bed, snoring softly, her red hair a tangled mess around her face. I rubbed my eyes and stretched, feeling the slight soreness from last night—a reminder of how I’d ended up on the hard floor instead of a bed. I pushed myself up and shuffled to the kitchen, pouring a glass of water and taking a long drink, trying to shake off the fog still clinging to my thoughts.

As I sipped, my mind drifted back to that brief, confusing moment when Atlas seemed to actually notice me. I couldn’t make sense of it. Did it even matter? Probably not. I shook my head, trying to clear the cobwebs, and decided to go for a morning run. I was trying to be healthier, or at least that’s what I told myself.

The campus was dead quiet, the kind of quiet that only exists early on a Saturday morning. I started my run, letting the rhythm of my feet on the pavement and the steady beat in my ears drown out everything else. By the time I was done, I felt more centered, more like myself. When I got back to the dorm, Ashlen was still out cold. I left her alone. I took a quick shower, got dressed, and decided to head to the campus café for breakfast.

The café was packed, loud with conversation and the clatter of dishes. I found a quiet corner and ordered a latte and a croissant. As I waited, I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my messages. There was one from Mike, sent late last night:

Mike: Hey, it was great talking to you. Let’s hang out sometime.

I smiled and typed back a quick reply:

Kairi: Definitely! Let’s meet up later this week.

My food arrived just as someone slid into the seat across from me. I looked up, startled, to see Atlas, his green eyes fixed on me.

“Morning, Kairi,” he said, pronouncing my name with surprising accuracy.

“Hey,” I replied, keeping my tone neutral—not exactly eager to encourage conversation.

“I saw you running this morning,” he said, leaning back in his chair like he owned the place. “I was out for a jog too. I followed you.”

Before I could process the strangeness of his words, he kept talking.

“How’s Ashlen?” he asked.

“Still sleeping, I think,” I said, forcing a small smile. “She was pretty wrecked after the party.”

He chuckled, a low, rich sound that seemed to fill the space between us. “Yeah, she definitely knows how to have a good time.”

There was a beat of awkward silence, the kind that makes you hyper-aware of every little thing. Which was why I knew he stared at me the entire time—studying me like he was trying to fit me into a shape that made sense to him. I told myself it was nothing, that I wasn’t affected, but my pulse was skipping like double Dutch. This was too much for me. He was starting to fray my nerves.

I opened my mouth to excuse myself, but he cut me off.

“So,” he said, leaning forward, his gaze narrowing like he was trying to see something beneath the surface, “I was wondering if you’d like to hang out sometime.”

I blinked, trying to wrap my head around why in the hell he would want that. “Why?”

He shrugged, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth like he was in on some joke I didn’t get. “I like talking to you. You’re interesting. We should be friends.”

“Interesting how?” I asked, genuinely curious despite myself.

“For starters, you don’t fall all over yourself around me,” he said, like it was something that bored him now. “Most women do.”

I frowned, tilting my head at him. “You’re cocky, huh?”

He chuckled again, nodding like it was something to be proud of. “And you’re honest, like with the Hemingway thing.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, some of the tension easing out of my shoulders. “Well, I’m not about to pretend to like something just to impress someone.”

“That’s what I like about you,” he said, his eyes locking onto mine. “We really should hang out.” He held my gaze, like he was trying to hypnotize me into saying yes.

And it worked.

“Okay,” I said, surprising myself with how easily it came out.

He grinned, and for a split second, there was something almost predatory in his eyes, like he’d just won something. “Great. How about dinner tomorrow night?”

“Um,” I hesitated.

He frowned. “Don’t tell me no,” he said, very assertively. To the point I felt like I couldn’t say no.

“Okay. You can text Ashlen the info, and we’ll meet you,” I replied.

Atlas leaned in just a little, his face fully serious for the first time since I’d met him. His fingers drummed lightly on the table between us, his eyes never leaving mine. “No Ashlen. Just you and me.”

I blinked, my brain tripping over itself to process what he was saying. He was still watching me, waiting.

“I—” I started, then stopped. Why was he asking me this?

“You scared?” he teased, his voice smooth, dipping just enough to make my stomach flip.

I straightened, my fingers tightening around my coffee cup. “Of what?”

He grinned like he had me right where he wanted me. “Spending time with me.”

I scoffed, forcing a laugh, but the warmth creeping up my neck betrayed me. “You’re really feeling yourself, huh?”

He ignored my question. “Are you scared of being alone with me, Ki?”

“No.”

“So, dinner?” he pressed.

I should’ve said no. It would have been smart. It would have been easy.

“Okay,” I acquiesced.

“Give me your number,” he said, pulling out his phone. I did as I was told, not fully understanding why.

As Atlas stood to leave, he glanced back at me, his eyes lingering on my lips for just a moment too long. “See you tomorrow, Kairi,” he said, and there was something strange in the way he said my name—or maybe I was imagining things. I dismissed it.

I watched him walk away, my mind racing. This was unexpected, and I wasn’t sure what to make of it. Seconds later, I concluded that he was probably just trying to get close to Ashlen through me. Boys had done it before. One thing was clear—I needed to tell Ashlen about the encounter as soon as I got home so there would be no misunderstandings.

I finished my breakfast and headed to the library, where hours slipped by with me buried in my books. When I finally checked the time, it was already late afternoon. I packed up my things and headed back to the apartment.

When I opened the door to the living room, I was greeted by the sight of Atlas and Ashlen curled up on the couch like they were molded together. Her head rested on his shoulder, her lips parted just enough to show her teeth, her breath coming out in soft little gasps. His arm was hidden beneath the blanket, but the movement under the fabric—paired with the way Ashlen’s fingers curled into his hoodie—told me everything I needed to see.

I gathered myself quickly and backed away, step by step, slow enough that I wouldn’t draw attention, careful not to breathe too hard, because for some reason, my breath felt shaky. Unsteady. My ears were ringing, my body on autopilot as I retreated to the common area.

I should’ve known. I did know.

Atlas was like every other boy who had tried to work his way through me to get to Ashlen—only I had taken it the wrong way this time. Let myself get caught up in his attention.

I let out an exhale, but the knot in my stomach didn’t loosen. The feeling that had me trapped in the moment stayed, pressed against my ribs, made me grind my teeth and squeeze my hands into fists.

I wasn’t jealous. I felt more deceived.

A bitter taste crept into my mouth.

I felt stupid. Played.

However, I decided to leave the whole thing alone. Something was telling me that if I didn’t, things might get a lot more complicated.

He got what he wanted. I wished them well.