Elisa's POV:
I was finding solace in art again. A local gallery was hosting an exhibition of emerging regional artists, and I'd slipped away from campus for a few hours. The quiet contemplation of the paintings was a welcome reprieve from the relentless campus buzz. I was lost in a vibrant abstract piece when a voice pulled me back.
"Elisa? Fancy meeting you here."
My shoulders tensed. Jake Evans. He was everywhere, it seemed. He looked genuinely at ease, casually dressed in a fitted polo shirt, a knowing smile playing on his lips.
"Jake," I replied, a polite smile fixed on my face. "What are you doing here?"
"My aunt's actually got a piece in the show," he explained, gesturing vaguely towards a corner. "Came to support her. But I saw you and figured I'd check in. How's that headache? Fully recovered, I hope?" His blue eyes held that same intense, solicitous concern that had characterized all our interactions. He genuinely seemed to care, and yet his persistence was starting to grate on my nerves.
"It's fine, really," I assured him, trying to keep my tone light but firm. "No need to worry."
He just chuckled, a low, easy sound. "Can't help it. My fault, after all. Look, I'm getting a coffee from the cafe downstairs. Mind if I grab you one? Or maybe we could just, you know, look at some art together? Get my mind off basketball for a bit." He leaned in slightly, his smile inviting.
I hesitated. He was amiable, charming even, but a part of me felt a growing sense of unease. It wasn't malice like Liam, but a gentle, relentless encroachment. "No, thanks, Jake," I said, trying to decline without being rude. "I'm just about to head back to campus."
He nodded, though his smile faltered slightly. "Alright. But seriously, if you ever need a break, or just someone to chat with, let me know. I'm around." He gave me a final, lingering look before heading towards the cafe. I watched him go, a sigh escaping me. He wasn't taking the hint, and his presence was starting to feel less like a coincidence and more like a carefully orchestrated omnipresence.
2. The Party Revelation: Uncomfortably Close
Elisa's POV:
A few weeks later, my Aunt Maria was throwing her annual summer cookout, a sprawling affair with half the neighborhood and distant relatives. It was exactly the kind of warm, boisterous family gathering I loved, full of laughter and familiar faces. I was helping my mom set out a platter of spring rolls when I heard a voice that made me drop one.
"Mrs. Reyes! Great party, as always!"
My head snapped up. Standing by the grill, chatting animatedly with my mom and Aunt Maria, was Jake Evans. He was laughing easily, completely at home, holding a plate of barbecue. My mom was smiling, clearly delighted.
"Jake! So glad you could make it, honey!" my mom exclaimed, giving him a quick, affectionate pat on the arm. "You remember Elisa, of course!"
Jake turned to me, his blue eyes widening in feigned surprise, though a faint, knowing smirk played on his lips. "Elisa! Wow, small world. What are the odds?"
I could only offer a strained, fixed smile. "Jake," I managed, my voice flat. My mind raced. What. Is. Happening?
"Oh, you two know each other from university?" Aunt Maria chimed in, oblivious to my internal crisis. "That's wonderful! Jake here practically grew up with your cousins, Elisa. His parents, the Evanses, they're old friends from way back. Such a lovely family. His mom and I went to high school together!"
The words hit me like a physical blow. Old friends. Grew up with my cousins. High school together. It wasn't just a campus coincidence. It wasn't just persistent charm. This was a deeper, more insidious connection. His appearances, his casualness, his "accidental" hit on the head – it all took on a new, unsettling meaning. He wasn't just someone trying to approach me; he was Jake Evans, the one who somehow knew my family. The relaxed atmosphere of the party suddenly felt stifling, and I felt a profound sense of my personal space being invaded, far beyond a basketball court or a cafeteria.
Felix's POV:
I'd received a curt text from Elisa: "You will not believe who just showed up at my aunt's party." That was all. My gut immediately twisted. Liam was a non-issue now. Daniel Vance was contained. The Thorne crisis was simmering but under control. My mind instinctively went to the most recent irritant: Jake Evans.
A few days earlier, I'd seen him trying to corner Elisa at that art gallery downtown. He was a persistent one, all earnest apologies and charming smiles. He wasn't malicious like Foster, but he was undeniably tenacious. My annoyance, which had been simmering since the basketball court incident, flared. This wasn't just some random campus jock; this guy was making a concentrated effort.
But "showed up at her aunt's party"? That ratcheted up the irritation to a new level of infuriating suspicion. This wasn't a campus setting. This was personal. How did he even know about her aunt's party?
I called her. "Elisa. Who." My voice was clipped.
"Jake," she said, her voice tight, a mix of disbelief and annoyance. "Apparently, his mom and my Aunt Maria went to high school together. He's 'old family friends.' He practically grew up with my cousins."
My knuckles whitened. Old family friends. The words echoed in my head, cold and calculated. This wasn't a coincidence. This wasn't just him trying to "get to know her." This was a maneuver. He hadn't just accidentally hit her head; he had found an in, a legitimate reason to insert himself into her life, beyond the superficial campus interactions. He was using a pre-existing connection to worm his way closer to her, to solidify his presence in her personal sphere.
A hot, unfamiliar surge of anger went through me, sharp and possessive. This wasn't merely annoying anymore. This was a direct, underhanded play. He wasn't just a competitor for her attention; he was an unwelcome, ingrained presence. And the thought of him, charming her family, making himself indispensable in her personal life, made me want to track him down and remind him precisely where his boundaries lay. This was getting out of hand.