When Heart Collide

~~ Chapter Seventeen ~~

The tension had been building for days.

Small comments.

Looks.

Unspoken things sitting just under the surface.

It didn’t take much to break it.

It started outside the lecture hall.

Students gathered in small groups, waiting for class to begin.

Janessa stood with Riley, going over a few last-minute notes.

“Okay, if that essay question comes up, I’m actually finished,” Riley said.

“You’ll be fine,” Janessa replied.

“Easy for you to say.”

Then, “Well, look who’s pretending everything’s normal again.”

Janessa didn’t even have to turn.

“Winter,” Riley muttered.

Janessa slowly looked up.

Winter stood a few feet away, arms crossed, expression sharp.

Not hiding it anymore.

“What do you want?” Janessa asked, already irritated.

Winter stepped closer. “Just observing.”

“Then do it from a distance,” Riley snapped.

Winter ignored her completely.

“I warned you,” she said to Janessa.

Janessa let out a short breath. “About what?”

“About him,” Winter said, glancing briefly toward where Daniel stood talking to someone.

Janessa’s patience thinned instantly. “Don’t start.”

“Oh, I already started,” Winter replied. “You just chose not to listen.”

Riley stepped forward slightly. “Okay, you’re doing too much now.”

Winter’s eyes flicked to her. “Stay out of it.”

“No,” Riley said. “You stay out of her life.”

Janessa raised a hand slightly. “Riley....”

But Winter spoke again, louder this time.

“You really think he’s just some random nice guy?” she said. “After everything that’s already happened around you?”

That hit.

Janessa’s expression changed.

“Say what you’re trying to say,” she said.

Winter didn’t hesitate.

“He’s connected to Enzo.”

Silence.

A few nearby students started paying attention.

Janessa’s voice dropped. “They know each other.”

“Do they?” Winter challenged. “Or are they both lying to you?”

“That’s not your concern.”

“It is when you’re too blind to see it,” Winter shot back.

Riley stepped in again. “Watch your mouth.”

But Winter kept going.

“Or maybe you just like the attention,” she added. “Two guys, both acting weird around you, and you’re just.....”

Before she could finish.....

SMACK.

The sound cut through everything.

Silence dropped instantly.

Winter’s head snapped to the side.

Janessa’s hand slowly lowered.

Her chest rose and fell, anger written clearly across her face.

“Don’t,” Janessa said, her voice shaking slightly, “talk about me like that.”

No one spoke.

Not Riley.

Not the students watching.

Not even Winter for a second.

Then Winter turned her head back slowly.

Her expression wasn’t shocked.

It was… cold.

“You just proved my point,” she said quietly.

Janessa didn’t respond.

Riley stepped closer to her. “Let’s go.”

They walked away, leaving whispers behind them.

Later

Enzo stood near the far end of campus, hands in his pockets.

He had heard.

Everyone had.

The slap.

The argument.

Everything.

“Didn’t think she had that in her,” a voice said.

Enzo didn’t turn.

Riley walked up beside him.

“She shouldn’t have had to,” she added.

A brief silence passed between them.

Then Enzo spoke. “What exactly happened?”

Riley exhaled. “Winter pushed too far. Said things she shouldn’t have.”

Enzo nodded slightly.

His gaze shifted toward the main campus path where Daniel was now walking alone.

“And him?” Enzo asked.

Riley followed his gaze.

“I don’t trust him,” she said immediately.

“Good,” Enzo replied.

Riley looked at him. “So it’s not just me.”

Enzo shook his head. “Not even close.”

A pause.

Then Riley crossed her arms. “You know something.”

Enzo didn’t answer right away.

But he didn’t deny it either.

“That guy isn’t random,” Riley continued. “I can feel it.”

“He’s not,” Enzo said finally.

Riley’s expression hardened. “Then why is he around her?”

Enzo’s jaw tightened.

“Because of me.”

Silence.

That wasn’t the answer Riley expected.

“What?” she said.

Enzo looked at her now.

Serious.

Focused.

“He’s here because of me,” he repeated. “And if he gets close to her, it’s not by accident.”

Riley processed that quickly.

Then, “Okay,” she said. “Then we handle it.”

Enzo raised an eyebrow slightly. “We?”

Riley nodded. “Yeah. We.”

A beat.

“You don’t trust him,” she added. “I don’t trust him. And Janessa’s not seeing it clearly right now.”

Enzo looked back at Daniel in the distance.

Then back at Riley.

“…we watch him,” Enzo said.

“And if he tries anything?” Riley asked.

Enzo’s expression darkened.

“He won’t get the chance.”

Riley nodded once.

No hesitation.

Because now, this wasn’t just suspicion anymore.

It was a problem.

And they were about to deal with it.