By third period, Velithra could feel it.
The looks.The whispers that stopped when she turned her head.The way people's eyes lingered a little too long when Kai sat beside her without hesitation.
Nothing loud. Nothing obvious.
But she noticed.
She always did.
Velithra kept her gaze on her notebook, pretending to read while her chest tightened. Old instincts stirred—stay small, stay quiet, don't draw attention.
Kai noticed her stiffness almost immediately.
He leaned slightly closer, lowering his voice. "You okay?"
She nodded out of habit.
Kai didn't accept that answer this time.
"You don't have to disappear," he murmured. "Not today."
Velithra swallowed and forced herself to breathe. She didn't respond—but she didn't pull away either.
That felt like progress.
At lunch, the tension grew sharper.
Velithra sat across from Kai, her hands folded around her drink. A few tables away, her old group laughed too loudly. She caught her name once—quick, careless, cruel.
Her shoulders drew inward without her permission.
Kai set his fork down.
"Do you want to leave?" he asked quietly.
Velithra hesitated. "I don't want them to think—"
"I don't care what they think," Kai said calmly. "I care what you feel."
She looked at him then—really looked. His expression wasn't angry. It was steady. Protective in a way that didn't cage her.
"…Okay," she said.
They stood together.
The whispers followed them as they walked out, but Velithra noticed something new—her steps didn't falter. Kai didn't rush her. He walked beside her, matching her pace like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Once they reached the quieter hallway, Velithra exhaled shakily.
"I hate that it still gets to me," she admitted.
Kai leaned against the wall, facing her. "It would be weird if it didn't."
She blinked. "You don't think I'm weak?"
Kai shook his head immediately. "No. I think you're still standing. That matters."
The words settled into her slowly, like something she wanted to keep.
Velithra glanced down, then back up. "You being with me like this… it's going to make things harder."
Kai didn't hesitate. "Then we'll handle harder."
Her heart thumped.
"That didn't scare you?" she asked.
Kai's mouth curved into a small, serious smile. "No. Losing this would."
Velithra felt warmth rise behind her eyes—not tears this time. Something steadier.
She nodded once. "Okay."
They didn't touch.They didn't need to.
The space between them felt chosen—not forced.
And for the first time, Velithra didn't feel like she was bracing for the fall.
She felt like she was learning how to stand.