Shattered Reflections

Chapter 15

Sophie had been dodging Adam's attempts to talk to her all day at school. Every time she caught sight of him in the hallway, she quickly ducked into a classroom or disappeared into the crowd of students. She didn't want to deal with him, not after what happened at his house.

Despite Adam's persistence, Sophie remained resolute. She knew she needed space to sort out her feelings, and facing him would only complicate things further. So, she kept her distance, hoping that eventually, Adam would get the message and give her the space she needed.

From Adam's perspective, he couldn't quite figure out why Sophie was avoiding him. He knew he had messed up, but he didn't expect Sophie to give him the cold shoulder like this. Sure, he felt a twinge of guilt, but he also felt a bit relieved that she wasn't actively seeking him out either. It gave him some time to process things on his own without the added pressure of confronting Sophie. So, he decided not to chase after her and instead give her the space she seemed to want.

January 15, 2024

Fae sat nestled between Maddy and Ally at their usual lunch spot, the cafeteria buzzing with the usual noise of conversations and clinking cutlery. They talked, discussing weekend plans and the latest gossip, when Fae's attention was drawn to something unusual.

She followed Maddy's gaze as it drifted across the room, and then she saw him — Kai. He was leaning casually against a nearby pillar, his eyes fixed on her with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine.

"Hey, isn't that Kai?" Ally asked, her voice tinged with surprise.Fae nodded, feeling her cheeks flush with a mixture of excitement and uncertainty. "Yeah, that's him," she confirmed, her heart rate quickening at the sight of him watching her so intently.

Maddy leaned in closer, her voice hushed with curiosity. "Why do you think he's staring at you like that?"

Fae shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant even though her insides were doing somersaults. "I 

have no idea. Maybe he's just zoning out."

But deep down, she knew it was more than that. The way Kai's gaze seemed to penetrate through the crowd, focusing solely on her, made her feel like the protagonist in a romantic movie.

"He's been staring for a while now." Ally observed, her brow furrowed with concern. 

Fae hesitated, torn between the desire to know why Kai was staring. "Let's just ignore him and keep talking."

But despite her attempt to brush it off, Fae couldn't shake the feeling of Kai's eyes on her. It was as if they were connected by an invisible thread, drawing her in with each lingering glance.

Kai leaned against the pillar, his gaze fixed on Fae across the bustling cafeteria. He watched her intently, the noise of the room fading into the background as he focused solely on her.

There was something mesmerizing about the way she laughed, the way her eyes sparkled with every animated gesture she made. He admired the way she interacted with her friends, her confidence and warmth drawing people in effortlessly.

As he observed her from afar, Kai couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration. She had this magnetic presence that captivated him, and he found himself drawn to her in ways he couldn't fully explain.

Despite the distance between them, Kai felt a strange sense of connection to Fae. It was as if he could see past the facade she presented to the world, catching glimpses of the vulnerability hidden beneath her confident exterior.

Lost in his thoughts, Kai continued to watch her, a soft smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He knew he should probably look away, but he couldn't tear his eyes away from her. In that moment, surrounded by the chaos of the cafeteria, Fae was all he could see.