CHAPTER FOUR
391 Words
Sullivan High has never felt so loud
Evelyn noticed it the moment she stepped into campus-the chatter, the footsteps, the rustle of uniforms. Everything felt the same, yet something essential was missing.
Becca.
She usually walked beside her, close enough that their shoulders brushed . Today, Becca arrived earlier and slipped into class without a glance back.
Evelyn hesitated before following.
In Advanced politics, the seating had been rearranged again. Evelyn sat where she always did. Becca took a seat two rows ahead, close enough to see, far enough to feel intentional.
Evelyn told herself she was imagining it
Prince Cyrus entered moments later, taking the empty seat beside Evelyn. "Good morning", he said quietly.
"Morning", she replied
Throughout the lesson, he leaned in occasionally to exchange notes or quiet comments about the lecture. Evelyn responded automatically-but her attention kept drifting forward, to the back of Becca s head, to the way she never once turned around.
When the bell rang, Evelyn stood quickly
"Becca", she called.
Becca paused, turning slowly "yes?"
"Do you want to walk together?"
There was a pause for a second-so brief
"I'm meeting someone", Becca said, "I'll see you later".
she didn't wait for a reply
Evelyn remained standing, books clutched to her chest, a hollow forming where certainty used to live.
At lunch, Evelyn scanned the courtyard automatically. Becca sat at a different table, laughing softly with classmates they rarely spoke to before.
Cyrus noticed Evelyns distraction
"you seem elsewhere today", he asked
she smiled faintly, "just tired"
He studied her for a moment, "if you ever want to talk- about school, I mean- I'm around ".
she nodded, grateful and unsettled all at once.
By the end of the day, Evelyn tried again
She found Becca at her locker." Did I do something wrong? "
Becca's hand froze on the lock
"No", she said. "why would you think that?".
Evelyn searched her face "you've been distant".
Becca finally met her eyes. There was no anger there, only something quieter.
"I just need some time",Becca said "That's all".
Before Evelyn could respond, Becca closed her locker and walked away
Evelyn stood alone in the corridor long after the halls emptied.
she had always believed closeness was effortless-that it would simply remain.
For the first time, she realized how fragile it could be when left unattended.
- Writer
