Elara couldn't sleep.
She lay on her old bed, staring at the ceiling, surrounded by textbooks, stuffed animals, and posters from a life she never thought she'd see again. The familiar floral bedsheets, the squeaky fan spinning above, the soft creak of the hallway floor—everything was just as it used to be. But inside her, nothing felt the same.
Her heart was still pounding from what had happened that day.
She had seen him.
Liam.
Not her Liam. Not the kind man who used to make her tea when she worked late or warm her hands in his during cold walks in the park. This Liam was different. He was younger. Rougher around the edges. Distant. Angry. He hadn't recognized her, of course. Why would he? In this version of time, they hadn't met. Not really. Not yet.
But she remembered everything.
The sound of his voice. The way he talked about his little brothers. The soft look in his eyes when he told her she made him feel like he mattered. The way she'd held him in the hospital when they both knew time was running out.
He had loved her with everything he had.
And she had loved him with everything she was.
Now, fate had brought her back to the beginning. And she wasn't going to waste it.
She had to get close to him again. Had to find her way back into his life.
But how?
She knew Liam. And she knew that walls like his didn't fall easily. He had been alone for so long. People had walked away from him too many times. Trust wasn't something he gave freely.
Still, she was determined. The next morning, she made up her mind.
At breakfast, she set her spoon down and looked across the table. Her voice was calm, but firm.
"Mom," she said, "I want to transfer schools."
Her mother blinked, mid-sip of her coffee. "Excuse me?"
"To Westbridge," Elara said, keeping her expression neutral. "I've always done well at St. Claire's. But I want to experience a different environment before college. I think public school will be a good challenge."
Her mother nearly choked. "Elara Vincent, are you out of your mind? Do you have any idea how hard we worked to get you into St. Claire's? The tuition, the application process, the interviews—"
"I already submitted the paperwork," Elara interrupted softly.
Her mother stared at her, open-mouthed.
The fight that followed was loud and dramatic. Voices were raised. Doors were slammed. Her father barely had time to weigh in before it was done.
But Elara didn't back down.
By Monday morning, she was wearing a new uniform and stepping into the unfamiliar halls of Westbridge Public as the newest transfer student.
Her first day felt like walking into a lion's den.
Heads turned as she passed by. Students stared, whispering behind hands, some pointing. She heard her name more than once.
"Isn't that the girl from St. Claire's?"
"Yeah, I heard she's rich. And smart. Like top of her class."
"Why would someone like her come here?"
"Maybe she got kicked out."
"She's kinda pretty, though…"
Elara ignored all of it. She held her head high, walked straight to the front office, and collected her class schedule.
Her eyes scanned the list of names. Math, English, History… and then—
There.
Liam Reyes. Same year. Same math class.
A small smile tugged at her lips.
It was a start.
The math classroom smelled faintly of chalk dust and pencil shavings. The paint on the walls was chipped, and the whiteboard had faded gray smudges that had never been properly erased.
Elara slid into a seat near the back, her heart thudding in her chest.
And then he walked in.
Liam Reyes.
He stepped through the doorway, hands stuffed in his hoodie pocket, eyes scanning the room lazily. When he saw her, he paused.
Their eyes met.
She smiled softly. "We're classmates now."
He blinked, then muttered, "Great," and walked to the farthest seat in the room.
It stung, but Elara had expected that. Liam had always needed time to trust. She wasn't going to give up that easily.
After class, she waited for him at the door.
"Hey," she said, walking beside him as he headed for the exit. "Can I walk with you?"
He gave her a sidelong glance. "Why?"
She shrugged. "Maybe I like your hoodie."
He frowned. "You're weird."
"Maybe."
They walked in silence for a bit.
Then he spoke again, voice low. "Do you need something?"
Elara looked over at him. "I want to know you."
That made him stop walking. He turned to face her, brows drawn together in suspicion.
"People like you don't talk to people like me," he said. "What's your game?"
"No game," she said honestly. "Just… give me a chance."
He stared at her a second longer, then shook his head. "I'm not interested," he muttered, and walked away.
Elara watched him go, her chest tight.
But she didn't cry.
She knew Liam. She knew that behind that cold voice and guarded expression was a heart that had once loved her deeply. Even when he tried to push people away, he had always wanted to be seen. To be believed in. To be loved.
She would try again.
And again.
Until he saw her.
The next morning, Elara got to school early. She waited near the back gate, where she knew he usually arrived.
Sure enough, he showed up right on time. Earbuds in, hoodie up, hands deep in his pockets.
She stepped in front of him.
He paused, blinking. "You again?"
She nodded. "Walk with me."
He stared. "You're seriously not gonna leave me alone, are you?"
"Nope."
He studied her for a long moment, then sighed and muttered, "Fine. Walk."
They fell into step together.
Silence hung between them again, but it didn't feel as sharp this time.
Halfway to the school doors, he finally asked, "What's your deal?"
Elara glanced at him. "You want the truth?"
"Try me."
"I came to this school because of you."
He stopped.
"What?"
She turned to face him fully. "I wanted to meet you. I wanted to know you. And maybe… help you."
He didn't speak. His eyes searched hers for a long moment.
Then his voice dropped, colder than before. "I don't need your help."
And just like that, he turned and walked away.
Elara stood there, her heart heavy. But her resolve didn't break.
She whispered to herself, watching him go, "You needed me once. And I'm not letting you go through life alone this time."
No matter how many times he pushed her away.
No matter how long it took.
She was going to love him again.
From the beginning.