One Week later .
The café buzzed with lazy chatter — the kind that drifted like background music between the clinking of mugs and the soft hum of conversation. The campus sun filtered through wide glass windows, landing in gold stripes across the table where Raye and Jane sat, half-drinking iced lattes and half-pretending to study.
Raye stirred her drink absentmindedly, eyes fixed on the foam forming lazy swirls on top. Jane sat opposite her, legs crossed, scrolling through her phone like her life depended on it.
"You know," Jane said, not looking up, "this is probably your fifth cappuccino this week. Are you planning to replace your bloodstream with caffeine?"
Raye arched an eyebrow. "I could say the same about your iced lattes."
Jane gave her a smug grin. "Touché."
They both chuckled. The morning sun filtered through the glass windows, catching the golden strands of Jane's hair and the soft sheen of Raye's shoulder-length curtain bangs. The world outside moved fast—students rushing to class, professors buried in papers—but for once, it felt calm.
"I'm telling you, Jane, Professor Ellington has it out for me. No one should assign a full essay on cell division and expect a smile."
Jane smirked, flipping a page of her notebook. "Maybe if you hadn't nearly set fire to a Bunsen burner last week, he'd still have faith in you."
"That was peter's fault!" Raye protested, laughing despite herself. "He said to turn up the flame. I didn't know he meant figuratively."
Jane rolled her eyes. "Sure, blame peter , when it was all your fault ...your hands turned it on not him ???"
Raye exhaled, staring out the window. "You know… I still can't believe everything that's happened this semester. Suspension, drama, Kyle…"
Jane smirked. "Ah, Kyle. The Kyle. Should I fetch tissues, or will you survive talking about your love life?"
Raye threw a napkin at her. "Shut up, Jane."
Jane laughed, leaning back. "I'm serious, though. You've been quieter about him lately. Don't tell me you're actually shy now?"
Raye blushed faintly. "I'm not shy. It's just—" she paused, lowering her voice, "—he kissed me, remember?"
Jane's phone clattered to the table hitting her open book . "Wait, wait, hold up—that kiss? " . Jane laughed out shaking her head at her friend ." The one in the biology lab you were pretending didn't happen , come on girl that was like a week ago grow up ?"
Raye groaned. "I wasn't pretending—"
Jane cut in, dramatically gasping. "Oh my God. You totally were! Raye, my sweet little disaster, you kissed him in a lab! Were there microscopes watching? Did the Bunsen burners cheer?...that's why you hauntingly destroyed it the following day "
"Jane!" Raye hissed, trying not to laugh. "It wasn't like that!"
"Then what was it like?" Jane teased, eyes gleaming. "Please, enlighten me. I'm living for this."
Raye sighed, smiling despite herself. "Fine. It was… unexpected. He leaned in, and it wasn't planned. But it felt… right. Like something clicked.....I already told you this before " she eventually smacked her head wondering why she brought up the topic again when she was fully aware that Jane was just trying to poke fun out of her .
Jane clasped her hands dramatically. "So, we're calling it fate now?" She asked wiggling a brow bursting out in a fit of laughter at Raye glare but she pressed on ."What? I'm just saying," Jane teased, leaning forward, her grin wide. "You've been zoning out since that whole 'biology table moment.' You're not fooling me."
Jane just loved to tease Raye , especially when she had the opportunity to , come on this was her friend first kiss .
She wouldn't let it die in a week that was why she was being dramatic like Raye told her she won a lottery .....a hot lottery
"I'm not zoning out," Raye said, face heating up. "I'm just… thinking."
"About his lips, apparently.... Ugh this is why I always say never stay single "
Raye swatted her arm. "Oh my God, stop."
Jane only laughed harder, nearly spilling her drink. "You're too easy, Raye. You've been floating since that day. Admit it — he's under your skin."
Raye sighed, hiding her smile behind her hand. "Maybe a little."
Jane raised a brow. "A little?"
"Fine," Raye muttered. "A lot."
They burst into quiet laughter again, the kind that made their shoulders shake and heads lean together like always. For a moment, it was peace — normal, light, warm.
Then, the sound of approaching footsteps broke it.
"Hey, Raye… Jane."
Both girls looked up.
Danielle stood there — her posture neat, expression calm, almost too calm. Gone was the sharp glare or bitterness they'd grown used to.
She held a small cup of coffee in one hand, her tone polite.
Jane's smile faded slightly. "Oh… hey, Danielle."
Raye blinked, unsure. "Hi."
Danielle hesitated for a second before speaking, her voice low but measured. "I was wondering if I could talk to you both. Just for a moment."
Jane exchanged a glance with Raye — the kind that said be careful — but Raye, always the softer one, nodded slowly. "Sure."
Danielle sat down across from them, setting her cup aside. Her fingers tapped lightly against the table, a habit they both remembered from the music class they used to share.
"Look," she started, exhaling softly, "I know things between us got… messy. I was angry, okay? Maybe more than I should've been."
Raye looked surprised. "Danielle—"
"No, let me finish." Danielle's smile wobbled faintly, but she forced it steady. "You and Kyle… I was jealous. I'll admit that. But it's exhausting, holding on to it. And I don't want to keep being the bitter one."
Raye's shoulders relaxed a little. "You don't have to apologize—"
"I do," Danielle cut in quickly, her voice carrying that sweet sincerity that could fool anyone. "I said things I shouldn't have. I pushed people away. I just want to move on. We're in the same campus, same circle — it's tiring to keep pretending we don't see each other."
"I, um…" Danielle's fingers fidgeted with her cup lid as she continued "I just wanted to say I'm sorry. For everything. I've had time to think, and I realize I was… harsh. I blamed you both for things that weren't really your fault."
Raye blinked, surprised. Jane's eyes narrowed just slightly.
Danielle continued, voice trembling just enough to sound sincere. "I miss how things used to be. The jokes, the late-night talks, all of it. I know I hurt you, Raye, and I don't expect you to forget that. But I'd really like to start over."
There was silence. Even the café's background noise seemed to dim.
Raye finally spoke, her tone gentle. "Danielle… I appreciate that. Really. I missed you too. It just… got messy."
Danielle nodded quickly, eyes glistening. "I know. I messed up. But maybe we can move on? Just… as friends again?"
Jane leaned back, sipping her drink slowly. "You sure about that?" she asked, not unkindly but with unmistakable skepticism.
Danielle met her gaze. "Yeah. I am."
Raye smiled softly. "Then let's try again."
Jane leaned back, sipping her drink quietly, her eyes never leaving Danielle's face.
Raye smiled faintly. "That's… really mature of you, Danielle. I didn't expect—"
Danielle gave a small laugh. "Neither did I. Guess people change."
There was a short silence before Jane finally spoke. "Well, that's good. It's nice to see you calm and not plotting murder."
Raye elbowed her under the table, horrified. "Jane!"
But Danielle just laughed, waving it off. "No offense taken. I kind of deserved that one."
They talked for a few minutes after that — surface-level stuff, like classes, the upcoming basketball scrimmage, even the food at the café.
Danielle was… normal. Friendly, even.
She cracked a few jokes that made Raye giggle and smiled softly when Raye mentioned her next performance in music class.
When she stood up to leave, Raye actually felt relieved. "It's nice to see you like this again," she said sincerely.
Danielle's smile softened. "Yeah. I missed this."
Just then, a shadow fell over the table.
Joshua.
He stood there casually, hands in his pockets, that familiar cocky half-smile on his lips. "Ready to go?"
Danielle turned slightly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Yeah, just a sec."
Joshua's gaze flicked briefly toward Raye — unreadable, sharp for a moment — before he looked away. Danielle grabbed her coffee and slung her bag over her shoulder.
"Well, I'll see you both around," she said with that same too-sweet tone. "And… thanks for listening."
"Sure," Raye replied with a small smile.
Jane just gave a short nod, watching her leave. Danielle and Joshua walked off together, their heads tilted close, whispering something as they disappeared into the crowd outside the café.
The air felt… off.
Raye exhaled. "See? That wasn't so bad."
Jane turned to her, one brow raised. "Mm-hmm. And I'm supposed to believe that was real?"
Raye frowned. "Come on, Jane—"
"No, seriously," Jane said, leaning closer. "Did you not see the way she looked at you? Like she was practicing for an Oscar??." she sighed tapping her finger on the table softly while staring into space . " My guts tells me she didn't mean any of those things "
Raye frowned. "What do you mean?"
Jane swirled her drink. "I mean—she shows up out of nowhere, gives a picture-perfect apology, and then walks off with Joshua 'Mr. Mysterious' like they're in a movie montage? Please."
Raye tried to brush it off but felt a strange knot in her stomach. "You're overthinking it."
Jane raised an eyebrow. "Am I? Bestie,but I can smell drama. And trust me—this smells like trouble with a capital T."
Raye sighed, staring at the café door where Danielle and Joshua had disappeared. "I hope you're wrong."
Jane gave her a half-smile. "I'm never wrong when it comes to trouble."
Raye sighed, stirring her drink again. "You always assume the worst in people."
Jane smirked, crossing her arms. "And I'm usually right."
Raye rolled her eyes, but deep down, she couldn't shake the tiny shiver that ran through her chest.
Somewhere in her gut, the same uneasy feeling whispered again — the one she always got before trouble.
And this time, it felt stronger.