Aria’s POV
———
I bolted out of Inkwell University like my life was dependent on it, my duffel bag slung over my shoulder, bouncing against my hip with every step. The second my last class ended, I was done. Done with the lecture halls, done with school drama, done with seeing Ethan’s stupid, perfect face everywhere I turned. I needed out. I needed home. So, I hopped on the first bus back to my family’s place, my phone on silent because I couldn’t deal with one more text from Zianne asking if I was okay. Spoiler... I wasn’t.
The whole ride, I stared out the window, watching the city blur into suburbs, then into the familiar tree-lined streets of my neighborhood. My chest felt like it’d been hollowed out with a rusty spoon, but I plastered on a smile anyway. My family didn’t need to know I was a walking disaster. Mom, Dad, Allie, Kai... they’d freak if they knew Ethan was the reason I was basically a human raincloud right now. Nope. This weekend was about escaping, not spilling my guts.
When I walked through the front door, the smell of Mom’s famous lasagna hit me like a warm hug. The living room was chaos, per usual, Dad was sprawled on the couch, yelling at some soccer game on TV, while Allie was pacing with her phone glued to her ear, probably arguing with some poor client. Kai was in the kitchen, sneaking a meatball from the pan and dodging Mom’s spatula like he was still twelve.
“Yo, Aria!” Kai called, spotting me first. His grin was all teeth, and for a second, I forgot how much I wanted to crawl into a hole and die. “You’re back! Missed us that much, huh?”
I rolled my eyes, dropping my bag by the stairs. “Yeah, sure. I just couldn’t live without your dumb face another second.”
He laughed, tossing me a meatball he’d swiped. I caught it mid-air, popping it into my mouth before Mom could scold me too. “Aria Grey,” she said, turning from the stove with her hands on her hips, “you’re not starving at school, are you? You look like you’ve lost five pounds since I last saw you.”
“Mom, I’m fine,” I said, forcing a laugh. “Just been, uh, busy. You know, college stuff.”
She narrowed her eyes, her doctor radar clearly pinging, but Dad saved me by yelling from the couch. “Hey, kiddo! Come watch this with me! These referee are blind, total robbery!”
I bolted to the living room before Mom could grill me further, plopping next to Dad. He slung an arm around me, ranting about some offside call, and I let myself sink into it. The noise, the warmth, the chaos. It was home, and for a minute, I could pretend everything was okay.
But they knew something was up. I could tell. Mom kept sneaking glances at me over dinner, her fork hovering mid-air like she was debating whether to ask. Allie, all lawyer-mode, side-eyed me every time I got quiet, which was a lot. And Kai? He was the worst, he kept trying to cheer me up with his dumb jokes, like, “What do you call a bear with no socks? Barefoot!” I’d laugh, but it was hollow, and he’d frown, like he could see right through me.
They didn’t push, though. Thank God. Mom just piled extra lasagna on my plate, Dad rambled about his glory days on the soccer field, and Allie muttered something about “needing to focus more on your studies, Aria.” Kai, though... he was too quiet by the end of the night, and that’s when I knew I was in trouble.
———
Saturday morning, I was curled up on the couch with a mug of coffee, pretending to watch some trashy reality show, when I heard Kai on the phone in the kitchen. His voice was low, all serious CEO vibes, which wasn’t weird, he’s always on calls but then I caught a name that made my stomach drop.
“Ethan, man, you sure? She’s been off since she got here.”
I froze, coffee sloshing over the rim of my mug. No. No way. He wouldn’t. I crept closer, pressing myself against the wall like some ninja spy, my heart hammering so loud I was sure he’d hear it.
“Nah, she’s not saying much,” Kai went on, pacing now. “Just moping around. You’d tell me if something went down at school, right? Like, if she’s failing a class or some jerk’s messing with her?”
My blood ran cold. Ethan was on the other end of that call, and Kai had no idea he was the jerk messing with me. I held my breath, straining to hear what Ethan would say, but Kai’s phone was on speaker, and Ethan’s voice came through, smooth and steady, like he hadn’t just ripped my heart out days ago.
“Dude, relax,” Ethan said, and I could picture his stupid, calm smile. “She’s fine. Probably just missed you guys. You know how she gets homesick and dramatic. Nothing’s wrong at school, I swear.”
Liar. Liar! My fists clenched so tight my nails dug into my palms. He was covering his tracks, spinning some BS story to keep Kai off the scent. And Kai, bless his clueless heart because he bought it.
“Yeah, you’re probably right,” Kai said, chuckling. “She’s always been a little extra. Alright, man, thanks. Keep an eye on her for me, okay?”
“Always,” Ethan replied, and I wanted to scream. Keep an eye on me? Like he cared? Like he hadn’t just dumped me without a real explanation?
Kai hung up, and I ducked back to the couch before he could catch me eavesdropping. He strolled out of the kitchen, all casual, and ruffled my hair like I was still five. “Hey, sis, you good? Ethan says you’re just homesick.”
I forced a grin, my teeth gritted so hard I thought they’d crack. “Yep. Totally homesick. That’s me.”
He squinted at me, like he wasn’t sure if I was lying, but then he shrugged. “Cool. Wanna hit the arcade later? I’ll let you win at any game this time.”
“Deal,” I said, because what else could I do? Tell him his best friend was a heart-breaking coward? Nope. Not today.
The rest of the weekend was a whirlwind of family stuff... Mom fussing over me, Dad dragging me to watch his old soccer tapes, Allie grilling me about my “social circle” like I was hiding some secret boyfriend (ha, if only she knew). Kai stuck close, pulling out all the stops to cheer me up... arcade runs, late-night ice cream, even a dumb karaoke session where he belted his favorite song so off-key I actually laughed for real.
They didn’t know about Ethan. They didn’t need to. But they knew I was hurting, and they rallied around me like the chaotic, overprotective squad they were. It wasn’t enough to fix the hole Ethan left, but it was something. A lifeline.
Sunday night, I was packing to head back to campus when Kai poked his head into my room. “You sure you’re okay, Aria? You’ve been… quiet.”
I zipped my bag, avoiding his eyes. “I’m fine, Kai. Just tired. School’s kicking my butt.”
He nodded, but I could tell he wasn’t sold. “Alright. But if anything’s up, you tell me, okay? I’ll kick whoever’s ass I need to.”
I smirked, shoving my bag onto my shoulder. “Noted, big bro. I’ll call if I need a hitman.”
He grinned, pulling me into a quick hug. “That’s my girl.”
As I hugged him back, I felt a lump in my throat. Kai didn’t know Ethan was the one he’d want to punch. And Ethan? He’d lied to Kai’s face like it was nothing. I didn’t know what hurt more... the breakup or the fact that he could still play the good guy while I was falling apart.
The bus ride back to school was quiet, just me and my headphones, blasting music loud enough to drown out my thoughts. Ethan’s face kept creeping in anyway, his smile from that night by the river, his stupid lie in his office. I wanted to hate him. I should hate him. But all I could feel was this dumb, aching mess where my heart used to be.
When I got back to the dorm, I’d have to face it all again... Ethan’s class, Aiden’s cold shoulder, the symposium looming like a guillotine. But for now, I leaned my head against the window, letting the hum of the bus lull me into a shaky truce with myself.
I’d survive this. I had to. Even if it sucked.
———
I stepped off the bus, the familiar scent of Inkwell University’s sprawling campus hitting me like a bittersweet punch,. Pine trees, coffee from the carts, and that faint whiff of regret I couldn’t shake. My duffel bag hung heavy on my shoulder, stuffed with the weekend’s worth of laundry and the emotional baggage I’d tried to leave at home. The sun was dipping low, painting the quad in shades of orange and gold, and for a second, I just stood there, letting the chaos of students rushing around wash over me. Back to reality. Back to the mess I’d run from.
I adjusted my bag, ready to bolt to my dorm and hide under my covers until Monday, when my eyes snagged on something, someone... sitting on a bench by the fountain. Aiden. His dark hair flopped over his forehead, his nose buried in a sketchbook, pencil scratching away like he didn’t have a care in the world. My heart did this stupid flip-flop thing, half panic, half hope, and I froze mid-step. Not now. Not him. I’d spent all weekend dodging thoughts of Ethan, and now Aiden was here, like the universe was laughing in my face.
But then he looked up. Our eyes locked, and I swear, time screeched to a halt. His hazel gaze hit me like a jolt of caffeine, wide and startled, like he hadn’t expected me either. My breath caught, and I braced myself for him to look away, to keep up the cold-shoulder act he’d been perfecting for weeks. Except… he didn’t. He set his sketchbook down, stood up, and started walking toward me.
What the actual heck? My brain short-circuited as he closed the distance, his hands shoved deep in his hoodie pockets, his expression all soft and nervous, like the Aiden I used to know, not the guy who’d been icing me out. I clutched my bag strap tighter, my pulse racing as he stopped a foot away, close enough that I could smell that woodsy cologne he always wore.
“Hey, Aria,” he said, his voice low but steady, like he’d rehearsed this. “Can we… talk?”
I blinked, my mouth dry. “Uh… yeah. Sure.” 
He nodded toward the bench, and I followed him, my sneakers scuffing the pavement like I was dragging my feet to the principal’s office. We sat, the space between us buzzing with awkward energy, and I stared at my hands, waiting for him to drop whatever bomb he was holding.
“Arkin told me,” he started, and my stomach plummeted. “About you and Ethan. About what happened.”
My head snapped up, eyes wide. “He what? Oh my gosh, I’m gonna kill him—”
“No, no, it’s cool,” Aiden cut in, holding up a hand. “I mean, it’s not cool, what Ethan did. That sucks, Aria. I just… I’m sorry. For being a total jerk lately. The cold shoulder, ignoring you… I was stupid, and I regret it.”
I stared at him, my brain scrambling to catch up. “Wait, you’re… apologizing? To me?”
He nodded, rubbing the back of his neck, his cheeks tinged pink. “Yeah. I was pissed, you know? After I told you how I felt and you didn’t… well, you know. I thought freezing you out would make it easier, but it didn’t. It just made me feel worse. And then when Arkin said Ethan dumped you like that… I felt like such an ass for not being there.”
My throat tightened, and I swallowed hard, blinking back the sting in my eyes. “Aiden, I… I didn’t mean to hurt you. I swear. I was just so messed up about everything, and I didn’t know how to—”
“Hey, stop,” he said, his voice soft but firm. “You don’t owe me an explanation. I get it now. You didn’t feel the same, and that’s okay. I’ve set it aside, Aria. The feelings, I mean. I just… I miss you. As my friend. Can we go back to that?”
My heart did this weird fluttery thing, like a bird breaking free from a cage. “You mean it? Like, actually friends again?”
He grinned, that lopsided smile I’d missed so much. “Yeah, dude. Friends. No weirdness. Promise.”
I laughed, a shaky, relieved sound, and before I could overthink it, I lunged forward and hugged him. He tensed for a split second, then hugged me back, his arms warm and solid, like a lifeline I didn’t know I needed.
“Deal,” I mumbled into his shoulder, pulling back with a grin. “But you owe me coffee for all the brooding you’ve been doing.”
He chuckled, rolling his eyes. “Fair. Next one’s on me.”
We were still laughing, catching up like nothing had ever gone wrong, when I heard a familiar shout cut through the quad.
“No way!” Jiro’s voice boomed, and I turned to see him barreling toward us, Zianne and Arkin hot on his heels. “Are my eyes lying, or are you two actually talking?!”
Aiden and I stood, and I couldn’t help but grin as the gang swarmed us, all wide eyes and chaotic energy. Zianne grabbed my arm, practically vibrating. “Spill! Right now! What’s happening?”
“We’re good,” I said, laughing as Jiro fake-swooned into Arkin’s arms. “Aiden apologized, I apologized, and we’re friends again. Done deal.”
“Praise the drama gods!” Jiro exclaimed, clutching his chest. “I thought we’d lost you two to the angst abyss forever.”
Arkin smirked, shoving Jiro off him. “Told you he’d come around, Aria. Took him long enough.”
Aiden shrugged, his grin sheepish. “Yeah, yeah. I’m slow, sue me.”
Zianne hugged me, then Aiden, her voice all mushy. “You guys, I’m so happy! The squad’s back, baby!”
We were all laughing, the kind of loud, messy laughter that makes your sides hurt, when Jiro’s face suddenly went slack, his eyes widening like he’d seen a ghost. “Oh, crap. Uh… guys? Brace yourselves.”
I frowned, turning to him. “What? What’s wrong?”
He leaned in, his voice dropping to a dramatic whisper. “Big gossip alert. Like, huge. Zianne and Arkin already know, but you two…” He pointed at me and Aiden. “You’re about to lose your minds.”
My stomach flipped. “Jiro, spit it out already!”
He took a deep breath, his grin turning wicked. “Professor Ramsey and Professor Davies are dating. Like, officially. Whole school’s buzzing about it.”
The world tilted. My breath caught, and I swear my heart stopped for a solid three seconds. “What?” I croaked, my voice barely audible.
Zianne nodded, her eyes huge. “Yeah, girl. It’s everywhere. Apparently, they’ve been spotted together, like, holding hands and stuff. Someone saw them at that fancy café downtown last night. It’s legit.”
Aiden’s jaw dropped, and he looked at me, his expression a mix of shock and worry. “Aria… you okay?”
I couldn’t answer. My head was spinning, Ethan’s face flashing in my mind... his smile that night by the river, his cold “I don’t want this” in his office last week, and now… this? Dating Professor Davies? After dumping me like 4 day’s trash? It didn’t compute. It didn’t freaking compute!
“Hold up,” Jiro said, snapping his fingers. “Last week he was all lovey-dovey with you, Aria, and now he’s with her? What kind of plot twist is this? Did he, like, clone himself or something?”
Arkin crossed his arms, his brow furrowed. “Or he’s a total snake. Dumping Aria and jumping to Davies in, what, 4 days? That’s shady.”
Zianne grabbed my hand, squeezing tight. “Aria, say something. You’re freaking me out.”
I blinked, my voice shaky but growing steadier with every word. “I… I don’t know what to say. He ended it 4 days ago, said it was ‘for my own good,’ and now he’s with her? After everything? I feel… I feel so stupid.”
“You’re not stupid,” Aiden said, his tone fierce. “He’s the idiot here. If he’s pulling this crap, he doesn’t deserve you.”
“Yeah,” Jiro chimed in, cracking his knuckles like he was ready to fight. “Want me to throw egg in his car?”
I laughed, a jagged, bitter sound, and shook my head. “No eggs. But… thanks. I just… I need to process this. How could he do this? Was it all a lie?”
Zianne hugged me, her voice soft but fierce. “It wasn’t a lie, Aria. He’s just a coward who couldn’t handle how awesome you are. And now he’s with Davies? Gross. She’s, like, the human equivalent of a stale cracker.”
Arkin nodded. “Seriously. You’re better off without him.”
I looked at them... Zianne’s fiery glare, Jiro’s goofy grin, Arkin’s steady calm, and Aiden’s quiet strength and felt a tiny spark of something cut through the hurt. They were here. My squad. My ride-or-dies. Ethan could go date whoever he wanted, but he couldn’t take this from me.
“Okay,” I said, taking a deep breath. “I’m pissed. And hurt. But… I’ve got you guys. That’s what matters, right?”
“Hell yeah!” Jiro cheered, throwing an arm around me. “Squad goals, baby!”
Aiden smiled, small but real. “Always.”
As we headed toward the dorms, laughing and plotting revenge (mostly Jiro’s ideas), I couldn’t stop the ache in my chest. Ethan with Davies? It stung like crazy. But with my friends around me, I felt a flicker of strength. I’d get through this. I’d face him in class, nail that symposium, and show him I didn’t need him.
Even if, deep down, a tiny part of me still wished he’d pick me instead.