~ Gwen ~
Two days later, the air on campus felt unusually still, the kind of heavy warmth that usually precedes a storm. I was sitting in the love garden, tucked between Elodie and Gideon. We were supposed to be looking over our notes, but mostly we were just enjoying the rare peace of the afternoon.
That peace lasted until Jerome strolled toward us, his hands shoved deep into his pockets and a confident smirk playing on his lips. "Hey, what’s up?" he asked, his eyes landing directly on me.
"Hello to you too, Jerome," Elodie said, her voice dripping with enough sarcasm to stain the grass.
Jerome didn't even flinch. He just gave her a playful, dismissive look. "Sorry, El. Didn't see you there."
Elodie rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck. Jerome’s gaze shifted between
