3
The usual buzz of chatter and laughter filled the campus café as Zara slid into a booth with her closest friends—Maya, a fierce fashionista with a sharp tongue, and Lila, the queen of campus gossip. Their faces lit up the moment Zara appeared, like she was the lead actress returning to the spotlight.
"So, spill it," Maya said, eyes sparkling with curiosity. "What's up with Sky? He was all smiles the other day. Now he looks like he swallowed a lemon—and not the fun kind."
Lila nodded in agreement, stirring her iced latte with exaggerated drama. "Seriously, how does a cute guy go from Mr. Sunshine to Mr. Grumpy in, like, one lunch?"
Zara rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. "I don't know. One minute, he's charming, and the next, he's this cold wall. Like, does he even know how to have fun?"
"Maybe he's just not used to us regular folks," Maya teased, flicking her perfectly manicured nails. "Maybe he needs a lesson in how to chill."
Zara laughed, grateful for the lightness. But even as they joked, a part of her couldn't shake the unease. Sky's silence wasn't just a mood swing—it felt like a warning.
After the usual teasing and laughter, Zara's phone buzzed. A message from Henry, her childhood friend and unofficial life coach: "Shoot me a text. Need your expert opinion on a party invite."
Zara excused herself from the group, finding Henry near the basketball courts where the fading sun caught the sweat on his brow as he shot hoops.
"Hey, stranger," Henry greeted with a grin, wiping his hands on his shorts. "Long time no see."
"Yeah, been busy playing detective," Zara joked, nodding toward the campus.
Henry chuckled, tossing the ball between his hands. "Sounds serious. Want to swap stories? I'm just trying to figure out if this weekend's party is worth the hype."
Zara smiled, feeling the familiar comfort of his easy presence. "Family vacation this summer was wild," she began, leaning against the fence. "We hit the coast—sun, sand, the whole cliché. You?"
Henry shrugged, a lazy smile tugging at his lips. "Mostly chilling with the crew, but we're planning a road trip soon. Maybe hit some concerts, explore new spots."
They fell into a rhythm, trading stories about summer plans, favorite music, and the parties they both kind of dreaded but wouldn't miss.
For a moment, Zara forgot about the cold glances and silent treatments. With Henry, life felt simple—no shadows, no secrets, just old friends and the promise of good times ahead.