CHAPTER 11 (CRACKS AND CHEMISTRY)
492 Words
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The clouds had cleared by Wednesday morning, but Asher’s thoughts hadn’t.
He shuffled out of the faculty building with Zayn, books pressed against his chest. The breeze that ruffled his curls didn’t soothe the weight of the whispers still chasing him.
"I’m telling you, he’s not the kind that stays," someone had said behind him earlier that day.
Zayn bumped his shoulder playfully. “You’ve been awfully quiet.”
“Guess I’m still just figuring out what I’m doing,” Asher said.
Zayn looked at him. “About Rhett?”
Asher nodded. “I know I shouldn’t care what people say, but I do. I don’t want to be a joke.”
Zayn smiled softly. “You’re not a joke. You’re just someone who cares deeply. That’s rare.”
---
Meanwhile, Rhett was on the other side of campus, standing near the entrance of the student lounge.
Girls waved. Some handed over snacks, others love notes folded into hearts. He accepted them with that usual detached smile, nodded politely, but dropped everything on a nearby bench as he walked inside.
Jude caught up with him seconds later.
“You’re the worst famous person ever,” Jude said.
“They’ll be fine,” Rhett muttered.
“Someday you’re going to break one of their hearts too hard, and the whole school will protest.”
“Let them.”
Jude stared at him. “You thinking about him again?”
Rhett didn’t reply.
Jude rolled his eyes. “Fine. Stay mysterious.”
---
Back at the dorm, Asher sat on the lower bunk, flipping through his class notes when Zayn dropped onto the bed across from him with a dramatic sigh.
“I’m bored.”
“You could study,” Asher said without looking up.
“I could also jump out the window and land on a mattress of bad decisions. Same energy.”
Asher laughed.
“Okay, okay, hear me out,” Zayn sat up. “There’s a student festival in two weeks. Big one. You, me, mango juice, a ton of drama, maybe karaoke.”
“Karaoke?”
“Yes, please, let me hear your sad boy heartbreak songs.”
Asher raised an eyebrow. “I’ll think about it.”
Zayn leaned forward, serious now. “Ash… if you’re falling for him, that’s okay. But don’t shrink because others think it’s a bad idea. Be smart, but don’t stop feeling.”
Asher gave a small nod. “Thanks.”
---
Later that night, Rhett stared at the note stuck to his dorm wall—written in neat, curved handwriting:
> Sometimes, your silence is louder than the chaos you run from.
He didn’t know why Asher came to mind when he read that.
But he did.
And for the first time, he sat down and typed a message… then deleted it… then typed again.
Still didn’t send it.
But the thought of reaching out wasn’t terrifying anymore.
[TO BE CONTINUED...]
- Writer
