Maya's head throbbed. A slow, punishing ache behind her eyes. The light from the window stabbed through her skull like a knife, and her stomach rolled with each breath. She groaned into the sheets, dry-mouthed and dizzy, but none of it -- not the nausea, not the dehydration -- cut as deep as what she remembered.
That kiss.
It hadn't lasted. It wasn't planned. She had leaned in first, careless and burning, wanting to drown the ache in her chest. Damien had hesitated, just for a blink -- but he kissed her back. Warm. Real. Alive.
Then he pulled away, like the moment scared him.
Like she scared him.
Not a word. Not even a look of confusion. Just that blank, unreadable calm. The kind he always wore when he didn't want anyone to know what he was feeling.
And then he vanished into the crowd.
Now it was morning -- maybe noon -- and the only thing louder than the silence in the room was the echo of her own humiliation.
Her phone didn't buzz. No message from him. Not even a meme from Tessa. The party was over. People were checking out. Parents arriving. Dorms closing.
She was supposed to go home.
But she couldn't.
She didn't.
A sudden bang at the door made her wince.
Then Tessa's voice. "You alive?"
Before Maya could answer, the door creaked open and Tessa stepped inside, tugging a suitcase behind her.
"Damn," Tessa said, taking one look. "You look like the morning after a hurricane."
Maya mumbled something into her pillow.
Tessa tossed her bag on her bed. "So. What happened? I ditched you for one hot second, and poof -- you disappear. Don't tell me you went home with someone."
Maya sat up slowly, clutching her forehead. "I didn't."
"Uh-huh," Tessa grinned. "So nothing happened after I left you with Damien?"
Maya didn't answer.
"Okay now I know something happened. You've got that post-apocalyptic regret face." Tessa slid onto her bed dramatically. "Please tell me you didn't puke on him."
"No."
"Then what?" she pressed, eyes narrowing. "Did he say something? Was it awkward? Did he… kiss you?"
Maya stared at her, blood pounding in her ears.
"Whoa," Tessa whispered, leaning in. "You kissed him."
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Oh, babe, you definitely kissed him."
Maya flopped back on the bed.
Tessa flailed onto hers. "I mean, after all your Logan drama, it was about time. Didn't I tell you the best way to heal is to get under..."
"Stop."
"....someone new," Tessa finished with a smug grin. "I left you alone for one night and you finally grew some teeth."
Maya groaned. "You're impossible."
"I'm right," Tessa said. "Anyway, my night was insane. You remember that senior I danced with? Turns out he's leaving tonight. So we went behind the chem building, had a moment. His hands should be illegal."
Maya barely smiled.
Tessa sat up and started zipping her duffel. "I'm out in ten. Dad's outside in his ugly green van. You packed?"
"No."
"You okay?"
"I'm not going home."
Tessa froze. "What do you mean?"
"I didn't apply for break housing in time," Maya said slowly, eyes focused on a crack in the ceiling. "I missed the deadline. And now I can't stay."
"Wait...what?"
"I don't have anywhere to go, Tess."
Tessa stared.
"I thought I'd be fine. I thought I'd figure it out. But I ignored the emails and now... the dorms close tomorrow. And she's expecting me back."
Tessa softened. "Your mom?"
Maya's chest tightened. She didn't answer.
"I'd offer my place, but my dad's a nightmare and there's no space."
Maya nodded. "I'll figure it out."
Tessa stepped closer. "Text me. If anything happens. Seriously."
"I will."
Then she was gone.
The silence returned. And this time, it felt like it was closing in.
Later that afternoon, Maya walked aimlessly, hands in her hoodie pocket, head down. People bustled around her, dragging suitcases, hugging friends, calling out goodbyes. Laughter rang through the warm air. Even the trees looked like they were swaying to freedom.
She had nowhere to go.
A simple form. That's all she missed. She kept telling herself she had time. Then it passed. She hadn't realized what she lost until the final notice came through. Too late. No extension. No exception.
And now the dorms were shutting down. The school didn't care that she hated her mother. Or that the thought of going back to that house made her skin crawl. Or that it was the last place she ever wanted to be.
She wandered toward the old stone rail by the library. Her legs moved on autopilot.
And that's when she saw him.
Damien.
Leaning against the edge, duffel over his shoulder, his other hand running through his hair as he looked out across the field.
He hadn't seen her yet.
But she couldn't move. Couldn't breathe.
Then he looked up -- and their eyes locked.
No one else existed.
He stepped toward her.
She didn't walk away.
"Hey," he said, voice steady.
Maya nodded. Her throat was dry again.
"I was gonna say goodbye earlier," he added. "Didn't think I'd see you."
"Yeah," she managed.
"You don't sound too excited to leave."
She stared at the sidewalk.
"I'm not going home," she whispered.
His brow furrowed. "You're staying here?"
"I can't. I'm not allowed to stay either."
He paused. "What do you mean?"
"I missed the housing deadline for break," she said, quietly. "Didn't fill the form. It closed before I remembered. I didn't think I'd need it. Now there's nowhere."
He watched her, eyes unreadable.
"I don't want to go back," she admitted. "But I don't have a choice."
A long silence passed between them.
Wind brushed her cheeks. Somewhere in the distance, a car honked.
He shifted like he was about to say something.
Then he did. "How about you stay with me?"
She blinked. "What?"
"I mean… just during the break," he said, shrugging like it was nothing. "It's not like I've got a full house. Couch's decent."
She gave a soft, tired laugh. "Right. That's not weird at all."
He didn't smile.
Maya looked away. "Thanks, but I'll be fine."
"Okay," he said, quietly.
But he didn't walk away.
And for some reason, she kept thinking about it.