Alex’s POV
The afternoon sun hit too bright, like the world had no idea how much had happened inside me that morning. I’d spent the day pretending to be fine, pretending not to feel Rhett’s presence still clinging to my skin like paint that wouldn’t wash off.
Jennifer walked beside me as we left the academy courtyard, chattering about something I couldn’t quite keep up with until she nudged me.
“Earth to Alex. You good?”
“Yeah.” I forced a smile. “Just tired.”
“From what? Sitting?” she teased.
Jennifer had that kind of energy that filled silence without trying. New girl, big laugh, hair too perfect to be accidental. We’d met earlier in Lit class, shared an eye-roll over the professor’s endless metaphors, and somehow ended up talking until the bell. Now she walked like we’d been frien
