(Inspired by Your fault)
Noah stood in front of the mirror longer than necessary, her fingers lightly brushing a strand of hair behind her ear before it slipped free again. She tried once more, this time tucking it more firmly, as if control over something so small might quiet the restlessness inside her.
The room behind her was quiet—too quiet. Sunlight filtered through the tall windows, painting soft patterns across the polished floor. Everything looked perfect. Calm. Safe.
Exactly what she had once wanted.
So why didn't it feel that way?
She exhaled slowly, pressing her palms against the edge of the dresser. "You're overthinking," she whispered to herself, forcing a small smile. It looked convincing enough. Anyone else would believe it.
A soft knock broke the silence before the door creaked open.
"Are you ready?"
Nick's voice was low, familiar, carrying that effortless confidence that used to make everything else fade away. Noah met his reflection in the mirror before turning around.
He stood there like he always did—relaxed but alert, as if the world could shift at any moment and he'd be the first to react. There was something comforting about that. Something steady.
And yet, something heavy too.
"Yeah," she replied, her voice light.
Nick studied her for a second longer than usual. It wasn't obvious to anyone else, but Noah noticed. He always noticed.
"You sure?" he asked, stepping a little further into the room.
She nodded quickly. "It's just the first day. Not a big deal."
"The first day usually is a big deal," he said, a faint smirk touching his lips.
Noah rolled her eyes, grateful for the momentary ease. "Since when do you care about first days?"
"Since you started having them," he replied without hesitation.
For a second, she didn't know what to say.
There it was again—that intensity. That way he had of making everything feel like it mattered more than it should.
She looked away, grabbing her bag from the bed. "I'll be fine, Nick."
"I know you will," he said, but he didn't sound entirely convinced.
Silence slipped between them, quiet but noticeable.
Noah adjusted the strap on her shoulder, avoiding his gaze. She didn't want to think too much about why his words felt different today. Why everything felt different.
"Let's go?" she said, a little too quickly.
Nick nodded, stepping aside to let her pass. As she walked by him, she felt his presence linger—close enough to reach, close enough to hold.
It should have felt comforting.
And it did.
But beneath that comfort, something unfamiliar stirred.
Not fear. Not exactly.
Just a feeling she couldn't name yet.
As they walked down the hallway together, side by side but not quite touching, Noah couldn't shake the thought that maybe this "new beginning" wasn't as simple as she had hoped.
Somewhere, in the quiet spaces between words and glances, something had already begun to change.
And she wasn't sure if she was ready for it.