I was still standing outside the photography club building when I spotted Tyler in the distance. His steps were calm, his face glowing under the morning sun. In that moment, the world just… stopped. It was only him and me.

I froze.

Isolde’s voice rang in my head, full of excitement.

“Selena, he saw us!” she squealed, practically bouncing inside my skull. “He’s walking this way!”

My heart started pounding faster, and a smile crept onto my lips without me realizing it. I felt so nervous, my fingers fidgeting restlessly as he got closer. But then… he walked right past me. Like I was invisible. Like I was nothing.

The blow was crushing.

I swallowed hard, trying to steady myself. But the pain was real, like the air had been sucked right out of my lungs. Slowly, I turned to watch his back as he walked away. Not once did he look in my direction.

---

After that day, I ran into Eve and Tyler even more often. They were practically glued together, like some inseparable package deal. Every time I entered the photography club room, Tyler was there, waiting for Eve.

In the cafeteria, they sat side by side, their laughter so familiar and easy that people around them would comment on how “perfect” they looked together.

Naturally, this drove Isolde insane. She sulked in silence inside my head for days. Not that I was any better. Honestly, I was dying inside too. But I kept pushing it down, forcing myself to focus on my routines, even though my mood was in pieces.

“I need some air,” I muttered one day.

“How about you come with me to a party tonight?” Dave suggested with a mischievous grin.

I gave him a doubtful look. Well, everyone on campus knew about the… let’s say, wild reputation of Dave’s friends.

“Come on, Selena. A little fun won’t kill you,” he said when I didn’t answer right away.

In the end, I gave in. Maybe he was right. Maybe I did need a distraction.

---

The club was loud, flashing with lights and thumping with music that rattled through my bones. At first, I felt out of place, awkward even. But Dave made sure I wasn’t alone. He politely dragged me into the crowd, and we danced for a bit, letting the atmosphere carry us.

“Try this,” he said, handing me a glass filled with pink liquid.

“Alcohol?” I asked, hesitant.

“Just a little. It’s sweet, I promise you’ll like it,” he said with that easy smile.

I took a sip. It was sweet, with a faint bitter aftertaste. Before I knew it, I’d finished my second glass. Warmth spread through my body, loosening me up. For once, the heavy weight on my chest felt lighter.

“Careful, Selena,” Isolde’s voice warned in my head. “I don’t like this. You’re gonna do something reckless.”

I ignored her. Just this once, I wanted to feel… normal. Human.

But Isolde was right. One of Dave’s friends came over and tried pulling me to dance. At first, I declined politely, but he kept pushing. His hand grabbed my arm, and I instantly felt uncomfortable.

“Let go!” I snapped, yanking at my arm.

I glanced around for Dave, but he was too busy laughing with his buddies to notice.

“Selena, we need to leave. Now!” Isolde’s voice was sharp, almost like an order.

I decided to listen. I shoved the guy’s hand off and rushed out of the club.

“I’ll walk you home,” Dave said, chasing after me as I stepped outside.

“No need,” I cut him off, brushing his hand away. “I want to be alone.”

Dave didn’t insist, just stood there stiffly as I walked away. There was guilt in his eyes, but I didn’t care. I just needed to get away from everyone.

I chose to walk, letting the cold night air calm me down. My thoughts drifted to my mom, dad, and Rowan, my brother.

“I’m sorry, Mom, Dad…” I whispered, my voice breaking.

Isolde was there, softly whispering from the corner of my mind. “We can still go back, Selena.”

My chest ached, and the tears came.

But go back? For what—just to be ridiculed by the rest of the pack?

And what about Tyler? I hadn’t even been able to talk to him properly, let alone tell him how I felt.

“No, Isolde,” I said firmly, even though my heart was crumbling.

She fell silent then, retreating deeper into my mind. I was completely alone.

---

I kept walking slowly, letting the night air brush against my face. But the peace didn’t last. A car pulled up beside me, and when I turned, Dave’s friends climbed out with grins that made my skin crawl.

“Hey, Selena, no need to rush home,” one of them called out, his voice dripping with fake sweetness.

I took a step back, my fists clenched tight. I was ready to act if they tried anything.

“Back off, or you’ll regret it.”

They all laughed.

“Whoa! Didn’t know you were the feisty type. Lucky for me, I like that.” The same guy who had grabbed me earlier stepped forward with a smirk, reaching out again.

“She’s with me.”

The guys turned, startled. Tyler was standing a short distance away, hands shoved casually in his pockets, his face cold.

“Tyler?” I breathed, almost not believing he was there.

“What’s it to you, man?” one of the guys asked, puffing up his chest.

Tyler didn’t answer at first. He just smirked faintly and said, “I’m here to pick her up. You don’t wanna make this messy.”

Of course, they didn’t take him seriously. One of them shoved him hard in the chest. I gasped, ready to step in, but Tyler didn’t need me. With one swift move, he dropped the guy flat on the ground.

And just like that, a fight broke out.

One of them tried to grab me, but Tyler moved fast, landing a solid punch that sent the guy stumbling back.

“I don’t like repeating myself,” Tyler said, his voice low and icy.

But then another guy lunged at him from behind. I snapped out of my shock and threw my own punch, knocking him down. Tyler turned, eyes wide.

I shrugged. “I’m learning,” I said simply.

Eventually, Dave’s friends ran off, leaving just me and Tyler standing there. I fixed my clothes, trying to catch my breath.

Tyler looked at me, his expression unreadable.

“You need to be more careful,” he said coldly. “Having a few fighting skills doesn’t mean you can just wander around at night with random guys.”

I stared at him, jaw dropping. The audacity.

“You—”

But before I could finish, he turned and walked away without a word.

“What an infuriating jerk,” I muttered, glaring at his back as he disappeared into the distance.