Brooklyn slammed her door shut and dropped her bag on the floor, her pulse still racing from the scene outside. She sank onto her bed, pressing her palms over her face.
Amanda, perched cross-legged with a bag of chips, looked up. "Whoa. You look like you just escaped a war zone."
Brooklyn groaned into her hands. "It feels like I did."
"Spill." Amanda tossed her a chip. "And don't leave anything out."
Brooklyn hesitated, then let the words tumble out—the walk with Mani, his sudden confession, and Bryant showing up like a storm at the worst possible moment.
Amanda listened quietly, eyebrows steadily climbing higher with each detail. When Brooklyn finally stopped, Amanda whistled low.
"Girl. You've officially become the lead in a love triangle drama."
Brooklyn dropped back against her pillow. "Don't joke. It's awful. They practically fought over me."
Amanda leaned closer. "Okay, but real question: who did your heart react to more?"
Brooklyn shot her a glare. "Amanda!"
"I'm serious," Amanda said, her tone softening. "Look, Mani's confession was sweet—predictable, even. But Bryant? That boy doesn't open up to anyone. You saw it in his eyes, didn't you?"
Brooklyn's chest tightened. She remembered the raw edge in Bryant's voice: Because I do. The way he'd stared at Mani, protective and angry all at once.
Her silence was answer enough.
Amanda sighed, tossing another chip in her mouth. "Thought so. You don't have to admit it out loud, but you're already leaning one way. The question is… do you trust it?"
Brooklyn pulled her blanket tighter around her shoulders. She wanted to deny it, to say it was just the stress of everything. But deep down, Amanda was right.
Her heart was already choosing.
And that terrified her.