7

Not paragraphed well because it was copied off my notes.

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That night, Alicia lay in bed, deep in never-ending thought.

Alicia P.O.V.:

I don't know why I keep thinking about it.

It wasn't a big deal. People fall down stairs all the time. Minor sprain, gauze, nurse's office. End of story.

And yet...

I can still feel his hand around my wrist.

It wasn't rough or anything. Just—careful. Gentle. Like he was holding a fragile thing, and not just my stupid, overdramatic wrist.

Ish. Why am I romanticising this? He probably would've done the same for anyone.

He probably would've caught anyone's punch, teased anyone the same way, walked them to the nurse's office too.

He probably didn't even think twice about it.

Unlike me.

I shouldn't be overthinking this. It's not like I actually care what he thinks.

I mean... not like that.

...Right?

I roll over on my bed and bury my face in my pillow.

This is ridiculous.

I don't like Ali.

I don't.

...But I think I'm starting to wish he liked me.

I toss over again, then again. The pillow's suddenly too warm, and the blanket's too heavy. My room feels suffocating.

This is dumb. I'm not even thinking about him anymore.

I groan and sit up. Water. Maybe if I drink water, my brain will stop spinning like a broken drone. Hydration fixes things, right?

I drag myself to the kitchen. The house is quiet — that weird kind of silence where even the fridge hum sounds judgmental. I fill a glass halfway and lean on the counter as I sip, like this is some sort of movie scene. Except I look like a mess and feel worse.

My eyes flick to the window. The porch light casts a soft glow on the driveway. Peaceful. Boring. And definitely not helping.

I lean back against the counter and close my eyes.

It wasn't even a real moment. Not to him. Not like that.

I drink the rest of the water.

It shouldn't matter. It doesn't matter.

...So why does it?Honestly, punching myself the way I punch him doesn't seem too bad for this situation.There we go again.

Eventually, I must've fallen asleep. Or passed out from emotional exhaustion. Same difference.

Morning sunlight creeps in through the blinds, far too cheery for how I feel. I sit up, blink at the time, and groan. My wrist aches a little. My head does too.

Great. Love that for me.

I get ready like normal. Avoid the mirror like it's my enemy. Try not to think about anything—or anyone—in particular.

Of course, that works for about... ten seconds.

I couldn't be bothered to eat breakfast. It seemed to take too much effort, so I just drank a glass of water before heading out.

... 

The school hallway was bustling with noise, conversations weaving between students here and there—snippets of laughter, footsteps against tile. It was the usual morning chaos, loud and familiar, but somehow it all felt distant to Alicia, like she was walking through it without really being in it.

"Alicia, are you alright?" Mia asked, quickening her pace to match her friend's.

"Yeah," she replied—too dry and too fast. Of course Mia saw through that. Anyone could, really.

"You look pretty pale. Did you sleep well?" she continued.

Alicia paused for a moment. "...Not really?" It came out more like a question than an answer, but it amused her for some reason. Mia didn't push further. Thank goodness. She was already panicking about what she'd say if Mia did ask why—because if she knew the real reason, Alicia would never hear the end of it.

Mia's gaze flicked to the white cloth wrapped around her hand, but she didn't mention it. She didn't want to stress her friend out more—Alicia already didn't seem so great.

...

The bell had just rung. Alicia turned the corner toward class when a voice trailed in from behind.

"Still pretending?"

She didn't have to look. That voice had that same amused tone. Evan.

He passed by without stopping, eyes forward as if he hadn't said anything at all—except he added, just loud enough for her to hear,

"He doesn't see you the way you do."

She scoffed under her breath and kept walking. What nonsense.

As if he knew anything.

As if there was anything to see.

She slid into her seat near the edge of the room, letting the weight of her bag drop harder than necessary. The teacher hadn't arrived yet. Conversations buzzed all around.

But her mind wouldn't quiet.

He doesn't see you the way you do.

Her fingers curled slightly.

It was ridiculous. Stupid.

And yet... it clung to her thoughts like a splinter—small, but impossible to ignore.

Lunch duty meant patrolling hallways while everyone else chatted and laughed in the cafeteria. Fine by her. It kept her out of conversations she didn't want to have.

She took the quieter route by the side stairwell when a familiar sound made her pause.

"Meow,"

A nudge against her ankle.

"...Comot?"

It's been some time since she's seen the cat. Sure enough, the familiar streak of grey fur rubbed up against her. Typical. Comot was like any other affectionate cat out of missions.Sometimes.

She crouched down, brushing her ears gently. "What are you even doing here? Did you sneak out again?"

Comot blinked lazily and pressed her head into her palm. Alicia let out a soft sigh and sat back on her heels, hand still idly petting her.

"...You don't care if people lie, do you?"

Comot's tail flicked.

"I mean, it's not lying, exactly. Just... not saying things."

She purred in response. Not helpful.

Alicia looked away. "He doesn't see me the way I do," she muttered, just barely above a whisper.

Saying it out loud made it sound even more ridiculous. And real.

Comot climbed into her lap without a care, like she hadn't just been used as an emotional outlet.

Alicia ran a hand down her back and smiled bitterly. "You won't tell anyone, right?"

She blinked.

"...Yeah. I didn't think so."

...

Ali and Alicia somehow found themselves walking side-by-side once again, walking home. Silently, like always. The usual, calm silence that both of them didn't mind. However, it then broke.

"Your walk speed today is unusually aggressive. Angry at the pavement?" he began.

"No. Just trying to get home faster so I hear less of your voice." she shot blandly.

"See, I was going to say you look nice today. But now I'll save it for someone who deserves it." he replied, a look on his face.

"So you talk to mirrors now?"

"Only when the mirror talks back. You volunteering?"

"You talk like you're irresistible." she said, deadpan.

"I don't talk like that. I just let you stare until you realise it yourself."

Alicia rolled her eyes and looked away, a little too fast. "Delusional," she muttered.

After some time, she reopened the conversation."If you stare at me the way you do the mirror, I should be flattered."

Ali blinked, then let out a low chuckle."So you admit you're flattered? Didn't think I was getting to you already."

She scoffed lightly. "Don't get ahead of yourself." But her voice had lost some of its usual bite.

She didn't meet his eyes after that.

They slowed to a stop in front of her gate.

"See you tomorrow," he said casually.

She nodded, still not meeting his eyes."Yeah."

But her thoughts were anything but casual.