~~ Chapter Twelve ~~
896 Words
Earlier That Day
Janessa spotted Riley near the campus walkway, leaning against a railing and scrolling through her phone.
“You’re late,” Riley said without looking up.
“I’m two minutes late,” Janessa replied.
“That’s late for you.”
Janessa smiled slightly. “Fair.”
They started walking together, the usual rhythm between them settling in easily.
“So,” Riley said, glancing at her, “the café guy.”
Janessa sighed. “His name is Daniel.”
“Mhm. And?”
“He’s… nice,” Janessa admitted. “Easy to talk to.”
Riley gave her a look. “You trust ‘nice’ a little too quickly.”
“I don’t trust him,” Janessa said. “I just… don’t have a reason not to.”
“Yet,” Riley muttered.
They turned the express, and stopped.
Winter stood ahead, like she had been waiting.
Riley’s expression immediately flattened. “Of course.”
Janessa stayed calm. “Hi, Winter.”
“Hi,” Winter said, offering a small, almost careful smile. “Can I talk to you guys?”
Riley didn’t answer.
Janessa nodded slightly. “Go ahead.”
Winter took a breath, like she was preparing for something rehearsed.
“I wanted to apologize,” she said. “For everything. The project, the arguments… how I handled things.”
Silence.
Janessa watched her closely.
Riley crossed her arms.
Winter continued, softer now. “I wasn’t fair. And I think I made things worse than they needed to be.”
Janessa tilted her head slightly. “What exactly are you apologizing for?”
Winter hesitated.
“Just… everything,” she said again.
Riley let out a quiet, unimpressed breath. “That’s not specific.”
Winter’s smile tightened. “I’m just trying to move forward.”
Janessa nodded slowly. “That’s fine.”
But her tone was neutral.
Careful.
“We can keep things respectful,” she added.
Not warm.
Not friendly.
Just… distant.
Winter nodded quickly. “Yeah. That’s all I want.”
Riley didn’t look convinced.
A small pause followed.
Then Winter added casually, “I saw you talking to someone earlier. New friend?”
Janessa didn’t miss the shift. “Yeah.”
“What’s his name?” Winter asked.
“Daniel.”
For a split second, something flickered in Winter’s eyes.
Interest.
But it disappeared just as quickly.
“Seems like a nice guy,” she said.
“He is,” Janessa replied.
Riley glanced between them, sensing something under the surface.
“Well,” Winter said lightly, stepping back, “I’ll let you guys go.”
Janessa nodded. “See you.”
They walked past her.
Once they were out of earshot, Riley spoke immediately.
“She’s fake.”
Janessa exhaled. “I know.”
“She didn’t apologize,” Riley continued. “She just said the word ‘apology’ a lot.”
Janessa let out a small laugh. “Yeah.”
But her mind wasn’t fully on Winter anymore.
It drifted.
To Daniel.
To Enzo.
And how those two worlds had suddenly crossed.
Later That Night
The warehouse lights flickered faintly.
James leaned against the table while Sean stood nearby, arms crossed.
The door opened.
Enzo stepped in.
His expression was already serious.
“You saw him,” Sean said immediately.
Enzo nodded once. “Yeah.”
James pushed off the table. “And?”
Enzo took a few steps forward. “It’s him. No doubt.”
Silence filled the room.
Sean spoke next. “Daniel doesn’t show up anywhere without a reason.”
“I know,” Enzo said.
James frowned. “So what’s his play?”
Enzo didn’t answer right away.
Instead, he ran a hand through his hair, pacing slightly.
“He’s already made contact,” he said.
Sean’s eyes narrowed. “With you?”
Enzo shook his head.
“With her.”
James straightened. “Janessa?”
Enzo nodded.
The tension in the room shifted instantly.
“That’s not good,” James said.
“That’s calculated,” Sean corrected.
Enzo stopped pacing.
“He approached her before school even resumed,” he said. “Then again today. Like it was nothing.”
Sean exhaled slowly. “So he’s inserting himself into your life.”
James added, “And using her to do it.”
Enzo’s jaw tightened.
“He doesn’t do coincidences,” Enzo said. “If he’s near her, it’s intentional.”
Silence.
Heavy.
“What do you want to do?” James asked.
Enzo looked up.
His expression had changed.
Colder.
Focused.
“He’s a threat,” Enzo said.
Sean nodded. “We agree.”
James crossed his arms. “So we deal with him.”
“Not yet,” Enzo said immediately.
Both of them looked at him.
“We move too fast, we play into his hands,” Enzo continued. “He wants a reaction.”
Sean considered that. “So we watch.”
“For now,” Enzo said.
“And the girl?” James asked.
That question lingered longer.
Enzo didn’t hesitate this time.
“He stays away from her.”
James gave a short, humorless laugh. “You think he will?”
Enzo’s voice dropped.
“I’ll make sure he does.”
Sean studied him carefully. “You’re getting personal.”
Enzo didn’t deny it.
Because this wasn’t just about old business anymore.
It was about Janessa.
- Writer
