Damien
"You're staring at the door again."
I don't bother answering.
Luca smirks from his desk, spinning a pen between his fingers like he has nothing better to do than be annoying before 10 a.m.
"Let me guess—Vivienne's five minutes late, and now you're malfunctioning."
I glance at him. "I'm not malfunctioning."
"You are. It's kind of cute, actually. Terrifying. But cute."
I flip him off just as the door opens.
And there she is.
Vivienne freaking Crestwood, glowing like the sun at full blast—barely managing to balance two iced coffees, a tote bag, and what looks like an entire bakery in a paper bag.
"Hi," she sings, slightly breathless. "Someone take something before I drop it and cry."
I'm already halfway there, taking the coffees from her hands. She beams up at me like I just handed her a puppy made of gold. "You're the best."
"Obviously."
She plops down on my bed—like it's hers—and starts unpacking the pastries. "So. I'm coming with you to class."
Luca raises an eyebrow. "Aren't you done for the day?"
Vivienne shrugs, chewing on the straw of her coffee like she doesn't care that she's pure chaos. "I have a clingy personality. Damien doesn't mind."
Luca snorts. "He does, actually. He just doesn't know how to say no to you."
"I do," I say flatly.
Vivienne grins at me. "No, you don't."
She's right. Again. Infuriating.
Luca watches her with too much interest. "You know, I used to think she was a lot."
Vivienne looks up innocently. "Used to?"
He gives her a lazy smirk. "Now I think you're... kinda hot, too."
She laughs. I do not.
I don't say anything. But my jaw tenses. Hard.
"Back off," I mutter, too quiet for anyone but him to hear.
Luca lifts both hands in surrender. "Dude. Chill. I'm not trying to die today."
Vivienne looks between us, suspicious. "What are you whispering about?"
"Nothing," we say in unison.
She narrows her eyes but lets it go. "Anyway, I've decided I'm your emotional support best friend today. I even brought muffins."
"Viv—"
"Don't 'Viv' me," she says, dramatically tossing a mini muffin at my face. "I'm attending your boring med class and that's final. You're welcome."
Luca's shaking his head, laughing softly.
"You two are so married it's embarrassing."
"She's not my girlfriend," I say automatically.
It's a reflex. The kind you say without thinking.
But when I glance at Vivienne, there's a flicker in her eyes before she looks away.
And for some reason, that flicker stays with me for the rest of the day.