freedom taste like you

Chapter 23

Timothy's POV♤

The first day of school started off fine — better than fine, actually.

I showed Amber around campus, and she looked like she was glowing, even if she didn’t see it herself. The whole time we walked through the gardens, the massive library, and the football field, she kept her hands clasped nervously, asking polite little questions like she was scared to bother anyone.

I could tell she liked it here though. Her eyes always gave her away. Every time she saw something new, they lit up — that quiet, curious way of hers that made me want to keep showing her more.

And honestly, it felt good to be around someone who didn’t expect me to have it all figured out. She didn’t judge me for wanting a break or for not being the “perfect son.” She just listened.

Our walk was interrupted by a voice I hadn’t heard in a long time.

“Timothy?”

That familiar, soft — but haunting — tone made my stomach twist. Lydia.

I didn’t think I’d run into her this soon, especially not after the way things ended and the distant, half-hearted text I’d sent before leaving.

She came closer, her expression cautious. “Hey,” she said softly.

“Hey,” I replied, not sure how to feel.

She smiled, but I knew that smile — it carried a trace of hurt, maybe even disappointment. Then her gaze shifted to Amber, like she was only just noticing her beside me. “Oh, hi,” she said. “I don’t think we’ve met.”

“No, I don’t think so… I’m Amber,” Amber said quietly beside me.

“Amber,” Lydia repeated, still studying her. “Nice to meet you.”

But I could tell it wasn’t nice at all. I knew that look — curiosity mixed with quiet judgment. She was already drawing her own conclusions, as usual.

“You two… friends?” Amber asked after a long, awkward silence.

Lydia’s smile faltered slightly before she answered softly, “Yeah… something like that.”

I almost scoffed but held it in. “We used to. It’s been a while,” I said simply.

“Well… it was good to see you, Tim. You look… good,” she said, her tone light but distant — like she wanted to sound indifferent, but couldn’t quite pull it off.

“Thanks,” I said, quieter than I meant to.

“Decided to come back?” she asked, already half-turned to leave — like it didn’t matter to her either way.

I shrugged. “Maybe.”

She nodded, offered a small smile, and walked away.

Amber looked uneasy, so I apologized quickly. She just smiled and said something about Lydia seeming nice. I couldn’t help but chuckle — a dry, sarcastic one — and agreed, “Yeah. Sure.”

After the tour, Mum drove us home, and to my surprise, Amber decided she wanted to stay on campus. I half-expected Lydia to have scared her off, but of course, she didn’t. Amber actually loved the place, and I was glad she did.

Since she was moving in the next day, I decided to go back with her — so she wouldn’t feel alone.

Later that night, I caught myself thinking that maybe this semester wouldn’t be so bad after all.

---

A few days later, classes officially started.

Campus life hit harder than I remembered — the noise, the endless chatter, professors acting like they were training us for battle. I thought taking a break would make me feel better, but being back just reminded me how exhausting it all was.

Still, I made sure not to abandon Amber. I checked on her between classes, helped her with directions, made sure she knew she could always ask for help. It was a chaotic few days, but a good kind of chaos.

I was leaving one of my lectures when I heard my name again.

“Timothy?”

That voice. Familiar. Unwanted.

I turned, and there she was again — Lydia.

Same perfect hair. Same confident smile that used to drive me crazy. Only now, it looked practiced. Forced.

“Hey,” I said carefully, shoving my hands into my pockets.

She walked closer, head tilted. “So, you decided to come back?” she said, referring to our last conversation.

“Yeah. Guess so.”

“Good,” she said lightly, though her eyes were sharp, studying me. “Heard you’ve been busy showing the new girl around.”

I tensed immediately. “It’s not what you think.”

Her lips curved into that knowing smirk I used to fall for. “Relax, Tim. I’m not jealous. Just… curious.”

I wanted to walk away, but some part of me — the stupid part — stayed.

We talked for a few minutes. Small talk about classes, football, the usual. But the whole time, I could feel her testing me, inching closer, trying to see if she still had her hold on me.

When I finally excused myself, I thought that would be the end of it.

I was wrong.

---

By the time the cafeteria lunch came around a few days later, I was actually starting to feel good again. Amber sat across from me, quietly reading over her notes like always. I slid the small white box toward her just to see her reaction.

Her expression was priceless — shock, gratitude, disbelief all at once.

“It’s from Mum — well, technically from both of us,” I said, laughing softly. “She didn’t want to hand it over herself because she knew you’d refuse it.”

She looked like she might cry. I didn’t tell her how hard I’d fought Mum about it — how I’d told her Amber needed it, that it wasn’t charity. Seeing her smile now made it all worth it.

“For classes,” I added casually, “and, you know… to talk to me sometimes.”

Her shy laugh made me grin like an i***t.

Everything felt calm — perfect — until that voice cut through the air.

“Wow. Upgrading people already, huh, Tim?”

Lydia.

I didn’t even need to look. My jaw clenched the moment I heard her.

When I turned, she was standing there, perfect as ever, that smug look in her eyes like she owned the room.

“Hey, Lydia,” I said flatly.

She ignored the tone, eyes flicking toward Amber. “Didn’t realize you two were this close now. New phone?”

Amber tried to answer, but I cut in before she could. “Gift. From Mum.”

“Oh.” Lydia’s tone dripped with sarcasm. “That’s sweet. Is she your new experiment now?”

The anger flared instantly. “That’s enough, Lydia.”

“I’m just saying,” she went on, twirling a strand of her hair like she wasn’t purposely being cruel. “You move fast, that’s all. But hey, I guess we all cope differently, right?”

“Don’t start,” I warned, my voice low.

She smiled — that fake, cold smile. “Relax, Tim. It was nice seeing you again.”

Then she turned to Amber with a look that could freeze the sun. “Good luck, Amber.”

And just like that, she was gone.

Amber’s face was pale when I sat back down.

“Sorry about that,” I muttered.

“It’s okay,” she said softly, trying to smile.

But I couldn’t focus for the rest of the meal. Lydia’s words stuck in my head like a thorn. Calling Amber an experiment. Who the hell did she think she was?

---

That night, I couldn’t sleep.

I kept pacing, replaying the whole thing — her smug tone, the way she looked at Amber like she was disposable.

So, I did something stupid.

I went to find her.

Her dorm wasn’t far — same building, two floors up. I told myself I just wanted to clear things up, to make sure she knew I wasn’t playing her games anymore.

When she opened the door, she looked surprised.

“Tim?” she said softly. “What are you doing here?”

“We need to talk,” I said, stepping inside before I could change my mind.

She crossed her arms, leaning against the wall. “About the cafeteria?”

“Yeah. That was out of line.”

She shrugged, her tone cool. “Maybe. But I was just being honest.”

“Honest?” I snapped. “You embarrassed her. You embarrassed me.”

“Oh, come on, Tim. You don’t actually care what she thinks of you.”

“Yes, I do.”

Something flickered in her eyes. “You like her?”

I hesitated — too long. I wasn’t sure how to answer.

She smiled then — that sad, dangerous kind of smile that reminded me exactly why we never worked. “You always did need saving projects,” she said quietly. “First it was me, now it’s her.”

I should’ve walked out. I should’ve left before it got worse.

But Lydia always knew how to pull me back — the way she stepped closer, her perfume filling the space between us, her voice low and trembling like she actually cared.

“I miss you, Tim,” she whispered. “Even if you hate me right now.”

And somehow, I let her.

I let her talk. I let her touch my arm. I let her pull me in.

By the time I left her room, the lines were blurred again — like I’d stepped backward into something I swore I’d never return to.

And as I walked back to my dorm, guilt sat heavy in my chest.

Because somewhere down the hall, Amber was probably still awake — maybe smiling at the phone I gave her, maybe thinking I was better than I really was.

But I wasn’t.

Not even close.