Luna had never hated blank paper before.
For years, it was her safe place—her escape. But now, every time she touched pencil to page, it betrayed her. No matter what she tried to draw, the lines curved into familiar shapes: a girl with sharp eyes, a teasing smile, and a name that clung to her thoughts like ink that refused to wash away.
Iris.
She tried sketching landscapes. Iris appeared in the horizon.
She tried drawing strangers in the café. Iris' silhouette slid between the lines.
Even when she closed her eyes, she saw Iris leaning against the rooftop railing, telling her to be careful.
This isn't good, Luna thought, burying her face in her hands. She's just… different. That's all. I'm not—
"Luna!"
Her head jerked up. Maya slid into the chair across from her, cafeteria tray in hand. "You've been spaced out all week. Don't tell me you're still living on the rooftop."
"I—I'm fine," Luna muttered.
Maya smirked, stabbing a fork into her fries. "Fine? You look like someone stole your soul. Wait—" she leaned forward, eyes sparkling. "Don't tell me you actually like someone?"
Luna nearly choked on her water. "What?! No!"
"Oh my god, you do." Maya laughed, loud enough that nearby students glanced their way. "This is a miracle."
"Keep your voice down," Luna hissed, cheeks burning.
But even as she denied it, her chest thudded with the weight of truth.
Later that afternoon, Luna tried to escape into the library. She found her usual quiet corner, opened her sketchpad—only for a familiar voice to break her focus.
"Found you."
Luna's heart jumped. Iris leaned against the bookshelf, arms crossed, looking like she owned the space. A few students at nearby tables instantly whispered her name, eyes following her every move.
Luna panicked. "What are you doing here?"
"Looking for you, obviously." Iris sauntered closer, ignoring the stares. She dropped into the seat across from Luna as if it were her right.
People were staring more openly now. Luna could feel heat creeping up her neck.
"Why—why are you sitting here?" she whispered urgently.
"Because you're here," Iris said simply. "Why else?"
Luna froze. She wanted to disappear, crawl under the table, anything to stop the burning attention. But Iris looked at her with that same infuriating smirk, like she enjoyed watching Luna squirm.
And yet—when their eyes met, the smirk softened. Just a little.
"You should get used to it," Iris murmured. "When you're with me, people will notice."
That evening, the rooftop felt different. The silence wasn't empty anymore; it buzzed with unspoken words.
Luna sat sketching quietly while Iris lay sprawled beside her, staring at the stars.
"You ever feel like you're living two lives?" Iris asked suddenly.
Luna's pencil paused. "What do you mean?"
"In one life, everyone thinks they know you," Iris said, her voice low, almost bitter. "In the other… you're just trying to breathe. And sometimes you forget which one is real."
Luna studied her profile. The confident, untouchable Iris from the cafeteria was gone. Here, in the quiet glow of twilight, she looked fragile. Human.
"Which one is real?" Luna asked softly.
Iris' lips curved into a sad smile. "That's the problem. I don't know anymore."
The words lingered heavy in the air. Luna wanted to reach out, to tell her she wasn't alone. But her hand stayed frozen on her sketchpad.
Instead, she drew Iris again—not the dazzling, public Iris everyone saw, but this version. Quiet. Vulnerable. Real.
As they left the rooftop together, Luna noticed someone standing at the base of the stairs.
Adrian Vega.
He leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed, a polite smile on his lips—but his eyes were sharp, too sharp. They flicked from Iris to Luna and back again, calculating.
"I didn't know you had new friends, Iris," Adrian said smoothly. "Care to introduce me?"
Luna stiffened. Iris' smile returned instantly, bright and practiced. "Adrian. What a surprise."
But Luna caught it—the slight tension in her shoulders, the way her grip on her bag tightened.
Adrian's gaze shifted to Luna, holding just a beat too long. "Interesting."
And in that moment, Luna realized Iris' warning wasn't just words.
Whatever Iris was running from… had just noticed her too.