The days passed in a strange blur after that.
Classes, lectures, cafeteria gossip...
Melissa tried to melt into the background of it all, moving through her new life like a ghost with a painted smile.
If she kept busy, maybe the memories wouldn't catch up to her.
At least, that was the plan.
"Lisaaaaa!"
Ginny flung herself onto the bench beside Melissa during lunch, dramatically laying her head on her lap.
"I'm dying from boredom. Tell me something interesting."
Melissa laughed, brushing a strand of hair from Ginny's forehead.
"You're such a drama queen."
"And proud," Ginny said with a wink.
"Hey, mind if I join?" Dayne's voice cut in.
Melissa's heart skipped — not painfully this time, just... a little flutter she hadn't expected.
She glanced up and saw him, tray in hand, looking hopeful.
Ginny shot her a mischievous look before answering for her, "Of course! Our little group is incomplete without you!"
Dayne grinned and sat down, bumping his shoulder lightly against Melissa's.
For a few minutes, it felt almost normal.
Ginny talked about some weird club auditions she witnessed.
Dayne shared a story about how he once mistook a teacher for a student and got detention.
Melissa listened, laughed, even added a few words here and there.
And then...
A shadow fell across their table.
Melissa didn't even have to look up.
She felt him.
"Alec!" Ginny chirped, clearly oblivious to the sudden tension in the air.
Melissa stared hard at her sandwich, hands trembling slightly.
"Hey," Alec said smoothly, his voice richer than she remembered.
Too rich. Too close.
"Mind if I sit here?"
Ginny nodded eagerly.
Dayne hesitated.
Melissa said nothing.
Alec slid into the seat across from her anyway, flashing that practiced, movie-star smile that once made her heart race and now made her stomach churn.
"So," Alec said casually, tearing open a pack of fries, "small world, huh, Melissa?"
Melissa's head snapped up.
There was a mocking glint in his brown eyes — or was she just imagining it?
"I didn't expect to see you here," he added, his tone deceptively light.
Melissa found her voice, but it sounded brittle.
"Me neither."
Alec leaned back, arms stretched lazily across the back of the bench.
He was watching her too closely, too knowingly.
Dayne cleared his throat loudly.
"So, uh, how do you two know each other?"
Before Melissa could form words, Alec answered first, his lips curving into a smirk.
"We go way back," he said, eyes never leaving hers. "High school sweethearts, right Melissa?"
Melissa's heart slammed against her ribs.
Was he serious?
Was he seriously going to rewrite history like this?
Ginny looked between them, wide-eyed.
Dayne's hands curled slightly into fists.
Melissa forced herself to sit up straighter.
"No," she said quietly but firmly. "We weren't sweethearts."
There was an uncomfortable silence.
Alec chuckled lowly, tossing a fry into his mouth like he hadn't just cracked open old wounds.
"Well, we had our moments," he said. "Good to see you, though."
Melissa bit the inside of her cheek to stop the scream rising in her throat.
Why is he doing this? Why can't he just leave me alone?
She could feel Dayne's gaze burning with questions he wasn't asking. Yet.
The rest of lunch was a blur.
Ginny tried to keep the conversation going, bless her.
Dayne stayed mostly silent, tense and stiff.
Alec played the charming devil, throwing casual jabs and pointed glances her way.
By the time Melissa escaped, her nerves were shot.
She made it to her dorm room and locked the door behind her, sinking to the floor, head in her hands.
A soft knock startled her.
"It's me," Dayne's voice said from outside.
Melissa hesitated, then opened the door a crack.
Dayne didn't push inside. He just leaned against the doorframe, concern etched deep into his features.
"You okay?" he asked gently.
Melissa shook her head.
Dayne's eyes softened.
"You don't have to tell me anything," he said, echoing the words he spoke that first day. "But... just know I'm here. Okay?"
Melissa swallowed hard against the lump in her throat.
"Thanks," she whispered.
Dayne smiled — not the wide, teasing grin he usually wore, but a soft, steady smile that somehow made her feel less like she was drowning.
For the first time since seeing Alec again, Melissa felt like maybe — just maybe — she wasn't completely alone.