8:03 a.m. – School Courtyard
I showed up in Damian's hoodie.
Okay listen. It was cold. It was comfy. It smelled like expensive trouble and bad decisions.
AND he gave it to me. With a wink. Last night.
Mina: spits out juice box
"YOU'RE BRAVE. Or very dumb."
Me: "It's just a hoodie."
Mina: "No. It's a FLAG. You just planted a FLAG on Team Damian."
I rolled my eyes. "It's not that deep."
Narrator: It was, in fact, that deep.
8:11 a.m. – Outside Biology Class
Enter: Aeron.
Late. Moody. Gorgeous. Brooding.
His eyes locked on me.
Or rather—on the hoodie.
His entire aura shifted.
The slow, dangerous kind. Like when the ocean pulls back before a tsunami.
He didn't say anything.
Just narrowed his eyes, nodded once, and walked away.
Jayce (whispering):
"…Did he just get hit with a jealousy truck?"
10:42 a.m. – Art Room
I was sketching in class, minding my business, still wrapped in HoodieGate™.
Then suddenly—
Aeron sat next to me.
Out of nowhere.
"Cold?" he asked casually.
"Um. Yeah?"
He reached into his backpack.
Pulled out his hoodie.
Dark green. Faint smell of pine and cinnamon and stormy thoughts.
"Here."
He placed it on my lap. Didn't ask. Didn't blink.
"Wear mine instead."
I—??
My brain flatlined.
"Dude. I'm already wearing one," I squeaked.
His smile was small. Dangerous.
"Exactly."
DAMIAN CHOSE THAT MOMENT TO WALK IN.
Saw the exchange.
Froze.
Raised a brow.
Oh no.
11:00 a.m. – The Great Hoodie Duel of 3rd Period
Picture this:
Me in Aeron's hoodie.
Damian staring like he just lost a chess match.
Aeron leaning back in his chair, smug.
Mina whispering "THIS IS BETTER THAN NETFLIX."
Damian: "So you switched sides now?"
Me: "I—I didn't know I was on a team?!"
Aeron: "She doesn't need a team. She needs warmth."
SIR.
Damian: smirks darkly
"Good to know you think she needs saving."
Oh.
It was ON.
Lunch – Cafeteria Table of Tension
I sat between them.
Big mistake.
Aeron kept adjusting his hoodie on my shoulders like he was RE-WRAPPING A PRESENT.
Damian kept offering to get me stuff.
Water bottle. Napkin. Emotional stability. A private jet??
Mina was absolutely THRIVING in the drama.
Me?
I was one second away from throwing myself into the vending machine.
Final Period – The Whisper That Killed Me
As we packed up, Aeron leaned down, voice low:
"You don't have to wear mine. I just… didn't like seeing you in his."
I turned, stunned.
He was already walking out the door.
AND THEN—
Damian passed by me and whispered:
"Mine looked better."
With a wink.
END ME.
End of Chapter 22