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Damian had been acting weird.
Not cruel, not cold, not like he used to be back when they were younger and every conversation felt like a battle. Just... distant.
He still sat next to her in Literature, but he kept his eyes on the textbook. He still walked beside her between classes sometimes, but their usual banter had faded into awkward silence. His answers were shorter. His smile—when he gave one—was tight around the edges, like it cost him something.
Anya didn't need to read his mind to know what was going on.
He was embarrassed. Still raw from what he'd told her in the library days ago. And she got it—kind of. She hadn't exactly made things easier. She'd told him she wasn't into Kai, but she hadn't said anything about how she felt about him.
Because she wanted to be sure before taking that first step. And she didn't want to hurt him. But she did want to be close to him. She missed their conversations, the small eye rolls he gave when she made dumb jokes, the way he would go quiet when she smiled at him like he was trying not to melt in public.
So when she saw him at lunch—sitting under the courtyard tree with Emile, Ewen, George and Bill, studiously not looking in her direction—she felt that now-familiar ache creep up her chest.
''Go talk to him,'' Becky whispered at her side, popping a grape in her mouth. Anya had told her what had happened in the library, eager to hear her best friend's opinion.
''I will,'' Anya said, ''I just—'' Her words were cut off when she spotted someone approaching from across the grass.
Kai.
He was carrying a soda can and two mochi buns in a paper bag. Anya's eyebrows lifted.
''Hey,'' Kai said, smiling that charming, easy smile that made other girls at Eden giggle. ''Got your favorites.''
''Oh,'' Anya blinked. ''That's... really nice. Thanks.''
Kai sat down beside her without asking. ''I was hoping we could eat together. Just the two of us.''
Becky immediately narrowed her eyes. ''I was sitting here—''
''I won't be long,'' Kai cut her off with a tight smile.
Anya didn't appreciate Kai ignoring that Becky was with her, and she glanced over at Damian on instinct.
He would never do that, she thought. And it had nothing to do with him and Becky being friends. He would never make anyone feel like they were a nuisance.
He wasn't looking at her. But he had seen. His body was turned slightly in their direction, and his hand—resting on the grass—was curled into a fist.
Anya took a breath. ''Kai, that was sweet, but—''
''Is it the mochi? I can get a different flavor,'' he said, reaching into the bag, like that was the problem.
''No,'' Anya said gently. ''It's not the food. It's just... I think maybe we've gotten our signals crossed.''
Kai looked confused. ''What do you mean?''
She hesitated, trying to be careful. ''You're really nice. And I've enjoyed hanging out. But... I don't like you the way you like me. I'm not interested in anything romantic. I should've said something sooner, but I never thought you saw me that way.''
For a second, Kai just stared at her. Then something changed.
His jaw clenched. He rose to his feet.
''What—so I'm just some idiot who brought you snacks and listened to your dumb stories for nothing?''
Anya blinked, her blood turning ice-cold, ''What?''
''You used me,'' Kai snapped. His voice was sharp now, cutting through the warm air. ''You led me on, and now you're playing innocent?''
''She didn't lead you on—,'' Becky started, but Anya stood, her voice steady but firm. ''I thought we were friends. I was honest with you. I never said anything to make you think I felt that way.''
''Oh, come on,'' Kai scoffed bitterly. ''You think I didn't see you eyeing that rich brat? You were always going to pick him. Guess it figures, huh? You're just like every other girl in this place.''
Students were starting to turn their heads towards them. George and Ewen glanced at each other in alarm, Bill frowned, and Emile clenched his fist. But Damian stood up.
He was already halfway across the grass before he realized he was moving. His heart pounded in his chest, rage and panic crashing like waves in his ears.
He didn't think.
He just moved.
''Hey!'' Damian shouted, voice slicing through the courtyard like a blade.
Kai turned—and immediately paled.
Despite Damian being one of the tallest boys in their grade, he wasn't the strongest. But at that moment, he looked like someone you shouldn't mess with.
''Back up,'' Damian said, stepping between them. ''Now.''
Kai bristled. ''This isn't your business, Desmond.''
''It became my business the second you raised your voice at her,'' Damian growled. ''You're upset? Fine. Be upset. But don't you dare speak to her like that again.''
''She rejected me,'' Kai spat.
''So what?'' Damian's tone was icy. ''That gives you the right to humiliate her in front of everyone?''
Kai opened his mouth—but Anya stepped forward before he could speak.
''It's over, Kai,'' she said, voice low but clear. ''You don't get to yell at me because you didn't get what you wanted. Go away.''
The silence that followed was heavy.
Kai stood there for a moment longer, seething. But finally—seeing Anya's dismissal, seeing the fire in Damian's eyes—he turned and walked away, his shoulders rigid and his pride bleeding all over the courtyard.
As soon as he was gone, the whispers started.
Anya's hands were trembling slightly, but she held her chin up.
Damian turned to her slowly. His voice, when he finally spoke, was quieter than she expected.
''Are you okay?''
She nodded, swallowing hard. ''Yeah. Just... shaky.''
''You didn't do anything wrong,'' he said. ''You were honest. You were kind. He just didn't know how to take a 'no'. That's on him.''
Anya stared at him. ''Why did you come over?''
He looked away. ''Because I knew something was wrong. I saw your face. And...'' He hesitated. ''I didn't want to stand there and do nothing. Not when it's you.''
Anya's heart did something traitorous in her chest.
''I wanted to talk to you,'' she said softly. ''After the library. But... you've been kind of avoiding me.''
''I wasn't avoiding you,'' Damian said quickly. Then sighed. ''Okay, I was. But not because I'm mad. I just... I said a lot of things that day. I didn't know where we stood.''
''I—,'' Anya started, then stopped. ''I'm not sure either. But what I know is that I'll always be there for you. And I missed you. I missed us.''
He looked at her—really looked— and, for the first time in days, he smiled. A real smile.
''I missed you too.''
He then took her hand, and she put her head on his shoulder. Becky exchanged a smug smile with Bill, George, Emile and Ewen.
There were still so many questions between them. Feelings left unspoken, moments still to come. But for now, standing in the center of the courtyard with the wind rustling the trees and the tension beginning to fade, it was enough.
They stood there, side by side.
And everything felt just a little less loud.