Morning Tension
The next morning felt… different.
Not heavy.
Not quiet.
Just tense.
Like something invisible had shifted overnight and everyone could feel it.
Andrea walked into school with her headphones on, even though no music was playing. It was just easier that way—people talked less when they thought you couldn't hear them.
But she still noticed.
The looks.
The small smiles.
The curiosity.
They know something.
She didn't know what exactly.
But something had spread again.
Andrea stepped into the classroom and froze for half a second.
Samuel was already there.
Leaning back in his chair.
Watching her.
Of course.
Their eyes met.
And for a moment—
Neither of them looked away.
Then Andrea broke it first and walked to her seat.
Act normal.
That was the goal.
But normal didn't feel possible anymore.
Teresa slid into the seat next to her immediately.
"You look… different."
Andrea sighed.
"Everyone keeps saying that."
Diana leaned over from the other side.
"Because you do."
Andrea frowned.
"How?"
Teresa smirked.
"Like something happened."
Andrea opened her mouth—
Then closed it.
Diana gasped quietly.
"Oh my god. Something happened."
Andrea shook her head quickly.
"Nothing happened."
Teresa narrowed her eyes.
"That's not a denial."
Andrea grabbed her notebook.
"It literally is."
Before Teresa could push further—
A voice from across the room said loudly,
"Hey Paisley."
Andrea looked up.
A guy from another group leaned back in his chair, smirking.
"Heard you've been busy lately."
The classroom went quiet.
Andrea's stomach dropped.
"What does that mean?" she asked coldly.
The guy shrugged.
"First Neyman… now Daňko?"
A few people laughed.
Andrea felt her chest tighten instantly.
There it was.
The new version of the story.
Samuel.
Andrea's jaw clenched.
"Mind your business."
The guy raised his hands.
"Relax, I'm just saying—"
"Say less," a voice cut in.
Samuel.
The room shifted.
Samuel didn't even raise his voice.
But it was enough.
The guy scoffed.
"Why do you care?"
Samuel leaned forward slightly.
"Because you're talking too much."
Silence.
The guy rolled his eyes and looked away.
Conversation slowly returned.
But the tension stayed.
Andrea didn't look at Samuel.
She couldn't.
Not right now.
Andrea stepped into the hallway quickly after the lesson ended.
She needed air again.
Always air.
Footsteps followed behind her.
She stopped.
"You're predictable," she said without turning.
Samuel stepped beside her.
"You're dramatic."
Andrea crossed her arms.
"You could've just stayed quiet."
Samuel shrugged.
"And let them talk like that?"
Andrea looked at him.
"That's not your problem."
Samuel tilted his head.
"Seems like it is."
Andrea frowned.
"Why?"
Samuel didn't answer immediately.
Then he said,
"Because you're letting them define you."
Andrea scoffed.
"They already did that a long time ago."
Samuel's expression shifted slightly.
"Yeah," he said. "I noticed."
Andrea blinked.
"What does that mean?"
Samuel looked at her.
"It means you expect people to think the worst."
Andrea's chest tightened again.
"That's because they do."
Samuel shook his head slightly.
"Not everyone."
Andrea laughed quietly.
"Who doesn't?"
Samuel held her gaze.
"I don't."
The words hit harder than she expected.
Andrea looked away quickly.
"That doesn't change anything."
Samuel stepped closer.
"It should."
Andrea shook her head.
"You don't get it."
Samuel's voice dropped slightly.
"Then make me get it."
Andrea looked at him.
Really looked at him.
For a moment, she almost said everything.
The bullying.
The teacher.
The names.
The scars.
But instead—
She stepped back.
"I don't trust people like that."
Samuel frowned slightly.
"Like what?"
Andrea gestured at him.
"You."
Samuel raised an eyebrow.
"Me?"
Andrea nodded.
"You're confusing."
Samuel smirked faintly.
"Good."
Andrea rolled her eyes.
"That's not a good thing."
Samuel leaned a little closer.
"Maybe it is."
Andrea's breath caught again.
The same feeling from last night.
Too close.
Too real.
She stepped back again.
"Stop doing that."
Samuel frowned.
"Doing what?"
Andrea shook her head.
"Getting close."
Samuel studied her for a second.
Then he stepped back.
"Fine."
The distance returned.
And somehow—
That felt worse.
Across the hallway—
Matthew was watching.
He had seen everything.
The conversation.
The tension.
The way Andrea stepped back.
The way Samuel looked at her.
Vanessa stood beside him.
"Are you even listening to me?" she asked.
Matthew blinked.
"What?"
Vanessa sighed.
"You're doing it again."
Matthew looked at her.
"Doing what?"
"Looking at her."
Matthew didn't answer.
Vanessa followed his gaze.
She saw Andrea.
And Samuel.
Standing closer than they should.
Vanessa's expression changed.
"Oh."
Matthew looked away immediately.
"It's not like that."
Vanessa raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
Matthew didn't respond.
Because for the first time—
He wasn't sure if that was true anymore.
Andrea stood in the hallway, pretending everything was normal.
But inside—
Everything was shifting again.
And this time…
Everyone could see it.