"This is it, huh…" I murmured, staring at the school campus. I couldn't believe I was here again.
"Astrid!"
A voice suddenly called out before someone wrapped their arms around me from behind, nearly knocking the breath out of me.
"Ow, ow, ow!" I gasped.
"Oops, sorry!" The girl let go, and I turned to look at her. She had beautiful curly dark-gold hair with lighter golden highlights, her olive-green eyes sparkling with excitement.
"How have you been? I have so much to tell you!" she gushed as we started walking together. "You know, Elliot was so lost without you. He barely talked to anyone in class without you around," she added with a laugh.
I smiled at her words, but my attention drifted when I spotted him.
Darian.
He stood across the courtyard, laughing with a reddish-blonde-haired girl. My stomach twisted.
I didn't want to see him. I didn't want him to see me.
Turning abruptly, I tried to walk away—only to slam straight into someone.
"The hell?!"
I stumbled back, looking up to see a tall boy with messy brown hair and an annoyed expression. His uniform was now stained with coffee.
"Oh my God, I'm so sorry!" I blurted, reaching out instinctively to help.
"Stop it! You'll just make it worse!" he snapped, pushing my hands away.
"Are you okay?" My friend, Tessa, I suddenly remembered—rushed to my side, her tone concerned. Then she turned to the boy. "Luca, she didn't do it on purpose. I'm sure she's sorry."
Luca scoffed. "How am I supposed to know that, Tessa? You don't expect me to wear this all day, do you?"
"Well," Tessa shot back, crossing her arms, "maybe if you weren't staring at your phone while walking, maybe you would've seen her coming."
Luca glared. "And maybe I would have seen her if she wasn't running like a maniac and watched where she was going."
"It's fine, Tessa," I interjected, trying to defuse the tension. "It was my fault."
Before Luca could retort, another voice cut in.
"Okay, enough."
A girl with red hair stepped between us, placing a hand on Luca's shoulder. I recognized her immediately—Audrey. The same girl I had seen in my phone pictures, and one of the planners of the reunion.
"Luca, don't you have a club meeting to get to?" she asked pointedly.
Luca huffed but didn't argue. "Whatever. Let's go, Celeste," he muttered before stomping away.
Audrey turned back to me with an amused smirk. "Wow, Astrid. You just got here, and you're already making a scene."
I let out a nervous laugh. "Yeah… thanks for the save, Audrey."
Before we could say more, an all-too-familiar voice rang out.
"Hi, guys!"
I turned just in time to see Sadie sprinting toward us.
"Why are you still standing here? We're running late! Come on!" she said, grabbing my hand. Instinctively, I grabbed Audrey's hand, who in turn grabbed Tessa's, and we were all dragged forward.
---
We barely made it to class on time. As soon as we stepped inside, I let go of Sadie's and Audrey's hands, trying to catch my breath.
Then, just as I was about to sit down—
I slipped.
I yelped as I lost balance, bracing myself for the impact—
But it never came.
Instead, strong arms caught me, steadying me before I could hit the floor.
I looked up—
And my heart stopped.
Darian.
A younger Darian. The teenage version of the man I had desperately tried to avoid.
His familiar, warm, dark eyes locked onto mine, his grip firm yet gentle. And for a split second, I forgot how to breathe.