The glow from last night's conversation lingered, like sunlight after rain.
Riven felt lighter walking into the campus gates, his steps in sync with Eli's beside him. For once, they didn't hide the way their shoulders brushed or how their smiles seemed reserved only for each other.
It was… good. Too good.
Which is why the sting of reality hit harder when it came.
"Hey, Eli," a voice called out, sharp and mocking. It was Jace, one of Eli's former teammates. He was leaning against the lockers with two other guys, smirking. "Didn't know you were hanging out with the school's resident ice prince."
Riven froze. Eli didn't. He shot Jace a look that was all steel. "And I didn't know you still cared what I do with my time."
"Just saying," Jace continued, feigning innocence. "People talk, you know? And what they're saying now…" His eyes darted between them, dripping with implication. "…doesn't sound like something you'd want in your rep."
Riven's jaw clenched. He opened his mouth, ready to fire back, but Eli beat him to it.
"Funny," Eli said flatly, "I don't remember asking for your opinion."
The smirk faded, replaced by a sneer. "Don't say I didn't warn you."
As they walked away, Riven could feel the weight of whispers following them down the hallway. His grip tightened on the strap of his bag.
"Eli…" Riven started, unsure how to say it.
Eli turned to him, voice firm. "Don't. I'm not letting them decide who I can care about."
Riven wanted to believe him. He really did. But by the time they reached their classroom, a small, ugly thought had planted itself in his mind:
What if the storm gets too strong for him?
And as if fate wanted to test them immediately, the class president announced during homeroom, "We've been asked to form pairs for the interschool academic challenge. The rules say no switching once partners are assigned."
When the list went up, Riven felt his heart drop.
Eli's name was beside someone else's.
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