Heart Me

Chapter 7

Kayla's POV

I spent the next morning in a daze. The events of the previous night played on a loop in my mind, like a bad movie I couldn't stop watching. Nate had walked me to my room, insisting on staying until he was sure I was okay. But I wasn't. Not really. And nothing he could do would make it better.

I went through the motions of getting ready for the day. My reflection in the mirror showed the toll of the stress: dark circles under my eyes, a pallor to my normally vibrant skin, and a tension in my shoulders that made me look like I was bracing for an impact. I splashed cold water on my face, trying to shake off the fatigue and anxiety. I had to keep it together.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand. It was a message from Simon: "Meet me at the cafeteria. We need to talk."

With a sigh, I grabbed my bag and headed out. The hallway was abuzz with murmurs and whispers, students clustered in small groups, gossiping about the attack. As I walked past, their eyes followed me, filled with curiosity and something that looked like blame. My stomach churned with guilt.

I found Simon at a corner table in the cafeteria, his expression grave. He stood up as I approached, pulling out a chair for me.

"Hey," he said softly. "How are you holding up?"

"I'm... surviving," I replied, sinking into the chair. "Have you heard any news about Lily?"

"She's stable, but she's going to need some time to recover," Simon said. "The doctors are optimistic."

I nodded, feeling a mix of relief and residual guilt. "It's all so messed up, Simon. I keep thinking this is somehow my fault."

He reached across the table and squeezed my hand. "Don't do that to yourself, Kayla. None of this is your fault. Whoever did this is responsible, not you."

"I just can't stop thinking about it," I murmured, staring at the table. "The party, the attack, everything. It feels like a nightmare."

"Listen," Simon said, leaning in closer. "I have a feeling that whoever did this is going to be caught. There were cameras everywhere. It’s only a matter of time."

I nodded, trying to draw some comfort from his words. "I hope you're right."

Just then, Nate walked in, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on us. He made his way over, his expression unreadable.

"Morning," he said, pulling up a chair. "Any news?"

"She's stable," Simon repeated. "But it's going to be a while before she's back."

Nate nodded, his jaw tight. "Good to hear. What about you, Kayla? How are you holding up?"

"I'm managing," I replied. "Just trying to make sense of it all."

Nate reached out and brushed a strand of hair behind my ear, his touch sending a shiver down my spine. "We'll get through this," he said softly. "Together."

His words were comforting, but I couldn't shake the feeling of dread that clung to me. Something told me that this was just the beginning.

Mia's POV

I watched the cafeteria from a distance, my eyes narrowed as I saw Nate sitting with Kayla and Simon. It infuriated me how close they were, how Nate seemed to care so much about Kayla. That was supposed to be me. I was the one who knew him best, who had been there for him through everything. And yet, here he was, wrapped up in someone else.

I turned away, the bitterness rising in my throat. I had to remind myself that I was here for a reason. I had a plan, and I wasn't going to let anyone stand in my way. Not Kayla, not anyone.