I gasped and spun around, my entire body tensing as I instinctively clutched Saun's ring on the necklace hidden beneath my shirt, feeling my stomach tie in knots.
"Are you alright?" Noah asked, his voice laced with concern.
"Simone," I stammered nervously. The boys approached us, but Annette continued towards the changing rooms.
"Oh my god, Mina!" Simone exclaimed as she hugged me tightly. "It’s so great to see you!"
"Yeah, um, you too," I replied breathlessly, stepping back. "I didn’t know you went here."
"Yeah, home sweet home," Simone confirmed,
but then I reminded her, "I thought you were going to Australia."
"I was, but after Saun…" She hesitated, quickly backtracking, "I just needed to get away."
"Yeah, I get it," I said, looking down.
"I guess you would," she murmu
