Ash’s POV
The final bell rang like a mercy shot, cutting through the last lecture, but the relief I expected never came, the classroom emptying fast, students spilling into the hallways with their usual noise, laughter, complaints about homework, but all I could feel was the weight of last night still sitting heavy on my chest, regret and shame twisting together with that strange peace and yearning and pride I refused to name, refused to admit I felt. I packed my bag slowly, hoping to slip out last, hoping Devan would wait for me at the door like he usually did, hoping I could leave without running into anyone who’d seen the photo, without running into him.
Devan was there, leaning against the doorframe, voice low and urgent the moment I stepped out. “Ash, come on, let’s go the back way,
