Atlas's POV
The moment they walked out of the hallway, I couldn't shake it. Their hands. Linked. Casual, deliberate, and unflinching.
I'd told myself not to care. Over and over again, I'd sworn I was immune. But the image of her fingers threaded through his… it crawled under my skin, lodged deep, refusing to leave.
I pressed my palms against the cool metal of my locker, bowing my head as if that could shut out the storm in me. But even then, Alex's voice slithered back.
"She'll use you. Just like she used Talia. Just like she used me."
I'd laughed at her venom once. Swore she was just bitter, jealous, desperate to twist a knife because she couldn't stand losing. But now? Now those words echoed like a curse.
Because hadn't Zara ditched me before? Twice, in fact. And hadn
