When Heart Collide

~~ Chapter Sixteen ~~

The courtyard was loud again.

Students everywhere, conversations overlapping, life moving on like nothing had happened.

Janessa spotted Riley near the benches.

“You survived,” Riley said.

“Barely,” Janessa replied.

They started walking together, talking about the exam, what questions were weird, what they guessed on normal things.

For a moment, everything felt normal.

Then, “Well, if it isn’t both of you.”

Winter.

Janessa didn’t stop walking.

Riley rolled her eyes. “Not today.”

But Winter stepped in front of them anyway.

No soft smile this time.

No careful tone.

Just… direct.

“I wasn’t talking to you,” she said to Riley, then looked at Janessa. “You.”

Janessa crossed her arms slightly. “What do you want?”

Winter glanced past them briefly.

At Daniel.

Watching.

Then back at Janessa.

“That,” she said.

Janessa frowned. “What about him?”

Winter let out a quiet scoff. “You really don’t see it?”

“See what?” Janessa asked, irritation creeping in.

“He shows up out of nowhere,” Winter said. “Gets close to you in, what-two days? And you’re just fine with that?”

Janessa’s expression hardened. “That’s none of your business.”

Winter stepped closer.

“It becomes my business when it starts affecting people around you.”

Riley stepped in immediately. “Okay, back up.”

Winter ignored her.

“Have you even asked yourself why he’s here?” she continued. “Or are you just...”

“Enough,” Janessa cut in.

Silence.

Tight.

Winter held her gaze for a second longer, then smirked slightly.

“Fine,” she said. “Learn the hard way.”

She stepped aside.

But as Janessa and Riley walked past, she added quietly “Just don’t say nobody warned you.”

A few steps away, Daniel leaned casually against a pillar.

Like he had been watching the entire thing.

Riley’s expression shifted immediately.

Sharp.

Protective.

Janessa didn’t notice at first. She was still annoyed, still thinking about what Winter said.

“I don’t get why she thinks she can just...”

“I’ll be right back,” Riley said suddenly.

Janessa looked at her. “What?”

But Riley was already walking toward Daniel.

Fast.

Focused.

Daniel straightened slightly as she approached.

“Well,” he said lightly, “that didn’t look....”

“Don’t.”

His smile faded just a little.

Riley stopped right in front of him.

Close enough to make it clear this wasn’t casual.

“I don’t know who you are,” she said quietly. “And I don’t care.”

Daniel watched her, calm.

“But if you’re here for anything other than being normal,” she continued, her voice dropping, “you stay away from Janessa.”

A pause.

Daniel tilted his head slightly. “That sounds like a threat.”

“It is,” Riley said.

Silence settled between them.

Students passed by, unaware.

“You don’t get to show up out of nowhere,” Riley added, “act like everything’s fine, and drag her into whatever this is.”

Daniel’s eyes flickered.

Just slightly.

Then he smiled again.

Calm.

Controlled.

“You’re protective,” he said. “That’s good.”

Riley didn’t move.

“I mean it,” she said. “If anything happens to her...anything...I won’t wait to figure it out. I’ll come straight to you.”

Daniel held her gaze.

And for the first time, he didn’t joke.

Didn’t deflect.

He just looked at her.

Measuring.

Then.....

“Noted,” he said quietly.

Riley stepped back.

Still watching him.

Then turned and walked back to Janessa.

“What was that about?” Janessa asked.

“Nothing,” Riley said. “Just setting boundaries.”

Janessa frowned slightly. “Riley…”

“I’m serious,” Riley said. “You don’t know him.”

Janessa glanced back at Daniel.

He gave her a small, easy smile.

Like nothing had happened.

But something had.

Because now, Riley was watching him.

Winter was watching her.

Enzo was watching all of them.

And Daniel?

Daniel was right in the center of it.

Exactly where he wanted to be.