The transition from "private" to "public" felt like the world had suddenly shifted from a muffled hum to a high-definition roar. Walking through the college corridors with Liam's fingers interlaced with hers, Layla felt the weight of a thousand eyes. It was a different kind of attention than the whispered rumors surrounding the "Something Like That" girl. This was official. This was sanctioned.
Sarah was the first to intercept them near the student lounge. She didn't say a word at first, her gaze dropping pointedly to their joined hands before traveling up to Layla's face with a triumphant, beaming smile.
"Finally," Sarah breathed, leaning against the wall as they approached. "The vision has finally manifested. You two look… correct. It's about time you let the rest of the world in on the secret."
Liam gave a modest, "Golden Boy" chuckle, pulling Layla slightly closer. "I was just waiting for the green light, Sarah. You know me, I follow the rules."
"Well, the rules look good on you both," Sarah said, giving Layla a supportive wink.
For a moment, Layla let herself sink into that approval. Sarah was happy, Liam was glowing, and for the first time, she wasn't hiding in the library stacks. She was standing in the light, and it felt like the "Safe Mode" had finally become the default setting.
The bubble burst near the Agora exit. They were heading toward the parking lot when the air seemed to chill by several degrees. Jade was standing by the concrete pillar, alone for once, leaning back with his hands in his pockets.
As they walked by, Layla felt her heart do a frantic, familiar kick against her ribs. She expected him to look away. She expected him to play the part of the ghost she had told him to be. Instead, he pushed off the pillar and stepped directly into their path.
He didn't acknowledge Liam. He didn't even glance at the boy holding Layla's hand, treating him like he was as invisible as the wind. His focus was entirely, dangerously fixed on Layla.
"Congratulations," Jade said. His voice was a low, jagged rasp that cut through the chatter of the hallway. "You finally got what you deserved. I hope you're happy."
He didn't move. He just stood there, staring down into her soul with an intensity that felt like he was peeling back every layer of the "perfect girlfriend" mask she had spent the last week crafting. It wasn't an insult, but the way he said happy felt like a challenge, a reminder of the chaotic, unscripted heat that had existed between them.
Layla's body jolted, a sharp, electric shock of static running through her nerves. She was happy with Liam. She loved him first. He was the right choice. But the way Jade looked at her made her feel like she was lying to herself, even as she gripped Liam's hand tighter.
"I am," she managed to say, her voice sounding thinner than she wanted.
Jade didn't reply. He just gave a slow, hauntingly knowing nod before turning and walking away, leaving the air behind him feeling heavy and thin.
To distract herself from the jolt of Jade's gaze, Layla focused on the one thing that was finally within her grasp: the trip. After months of saving every cent from her shifts at Tim Hortons, the money was finally complete.
The trip was only three days away, and the final payment was due. She headed to the administrative office, the envelope of cash feeling heavy and real in her bag. It was the ticket to a clean break, a way to leave the Montreal winter and the "neighbor drama" behind for a while.
As she stood at the counter waiting for her receipt, she felt a presence beside her. She turned to find Kianna standing there, looking effortlessly cool in a vintage leather jacket.
"Hey, Layla," Kianna said, her tone surprisingly casual. "You here to finalize for the trip too?"
"Yeah," Layla said, pulling her receipt toward her. "Just paid the balance."
"Same," Kianna replied, leaning against the counter. "I'm stoked. I think everyone needs a change of scenery right now. You ready for it?"
They spoke for a few minutes about the itinerary and the packing list, the conversation surprisingly normal. There was no edge to Kianna's voice, no hidden jabs about Jade. It was just two girls talking about a vacation.
But as Layla walked away, she couldn't help but think about how intertwined their lives had become. In three days, they'd all be in a different place. Liam would be there as her boyfriend. Kianna would be there. And somewhere in the middle of it all, Jade would be there, too, staring into her soul and asking if she was really as happy as she claimed to be.
Walking out of the administrative office, Layla felt a strange sense of vertigo. The physical weight of the trip money was gone, replaced by a paper receipt that felt like a contract for her future. She should have felt light, but the "congratulations" from Jade was still echoing in her head, a low-frequency hum that wouldn't shut off.
When Liam met her at the campus exit to drive her home, he was humming along to the radio, his hand resting comfortably on her knee. He was talking about the logistics of the airport, what time he'd pick her up, which terminal they needed, but his voice felt like it was coming from a long distance away.
"You okay?" he asked, glancing over as they hit a red light. "You've been quiet since you paid the balance."
"Just tired," Layla lied, offering a small smile. "It's been a long week of shifts at Tim Hortons to get that money together."
"You worked hard for it," Liam said, his voice full of genuine pride. "And in three days, it's going to be worth every second."
When she finally stepped into her house, the silence of the hallway felt heavy. She went straight to the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face, leaning over the sink as she stared at her reflection.
She looked like the girl Jade described, the girl who "got what she deserved". She was 19, bilingual, a student with her life on track, and the girlfriend of a boy who treated her like a priority. But as she looked into her own eyes, she looked for the "jolt" Jade had caused. Why had her body reacted that way? Why did a simple wish for her happiness feel like a condemnation?
She realized that Jade hadn't been mocking her. He had been identifying the one thing she was most afraid of: that her happiness with Liam was a performance. She loved Liam, she had loved him first, but Jade was the only person who knew that she was capable of a chaos that didn't fit into Liam's "Safe Mode".
She walked to her bedroom and looked at the suitcase sitting open on her floor. She began to pack, folding her clothes with a mechanical precision. She tucked her sketchbook into the side pocket, the charcoal pencils rattling against each other.
She didn't look out the window at the house next door. She didn't check to see if Jade was back on his porch. She just focused on the three days ahead. The trip was supposed to be the "delete" key for the static. It was supposed to be the place where she finally became the version of herself that Liam deserved.
But as she zipped the suitcase shut, the sound of the zipper echoed in the quiet room like a snarl. She was ready to go. She had the money, she had the boy, and she had the plan. But as she lay down to sleep, the last thing she saw wasn't the tropical sun or Liam's smile; it was the dark, soul-piercing stare of the boy next door, daring her to actually be happy.