The rain had stopped by morning, leaving Crescent High bathed in a cool, silvery light. The sky was still heavy with clouds, but the world seemed quieter—almost calm. Aria arrived earlier than usual, her steps slow but steady as she crossed the courtyard. Her thoughts lingered on the conversation from the day before, looping over Damian’s words, his expression, the rare honesty in his eyes.
She hated that she kept replaying it.
He had shown her something real—something she hadn’t expected from him—and no matter how much she tried to push it aside, that small flicker of trust refused to fade.
By the time she reached her locker, Luca was already waiting, leaning against the wall with his usual calm but observant expression. His presence, usually comforting, now carried a subtle tension th
