Enemy Lines
232 Words
"Pairs," Professor Alvarez said, far too cheerful. "Chen and... Park."
Vanessa looked like she'd been informed of a death in the family. "There has to be a mistake."
"There's no mistake."
It wasn't a nightmare, though — not the kind Mia expected. Vanessa was sharp, infuriatingly so, and actually listened when Mia pushed back.
"You're better at this than I expected," Vanessa said, sounding personally offended by her own compliment.
It was almost nice — until Theo dropped into the chair across from them, delighted. Vanessa's posture changed instantly. "Don't you have somewhere to be?"
"Didn't realize being near you was a federal offense again."
"It's not again anything. Just go, Theo."
He went. Mia caught the loaded look between them.
"What was that?"
"We dated," Vanessa said, pen tapping fast. "Back home. Two years, on and off. Ended right before college. Funny how the universe works."
"That wasn't the energy of a whole story ending."
"Drop it, Chen."
Two weeks later, at a party, Mia caught Theo and Vanessa tucked into a corner, deep in tense conversation.
"That's not nothing," Priya said.
"I'm not jealous," Mia said, too fast.
Vanessa glanced up, caught her staring, and smiled — the smile of someone who'd just found a weapon. Mia felt it land like the first cold drop of something she wouldn't name until later. Like being a piece on someone else's board.
- Writer
