Chapter Twelve

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The next morning, Lana woke up early, still feeling the weight of her unease from the previous night. She decided to go for a jog to clear her mind. As she ran through the quiet neighborhood streets, she tried to focus on the rhythm of her breathing and the steady beat of her footsteps

By the time she returned to her dorm, the sun was fully up, casting a warm glow over the room. Lana felt a bit better, the physical exertion having helped to burn off some of her anxiety. She took a quick shower and headed to the dining hall for breakfast.

Lana's OOTD post run :)

The dining hall was already bustling with activity when Lana arrived

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The dining hall was already bustling with activity when Lana arrived. She grabbed a tray and filled it with scrambled eggs, toast, and an iced chai. Scanning the room, she spotted Mila sitting at a table near the window, waving her over.

"Hey, Lana! Over here!" Mila called out, a cheerful smile on her face.

Lana made her way over and sat down across from her friend. "Morning, Mila."

"Morning! You look like you've been up for a while," Mila observed. "Went for a jog?"

"Yeah, needed to clear my head a bit," Lana admitted, taking a sip of her coffee.

"Everything okay?" Mila asked, her tone turning more serious.

Lana hesitated, then decided to confide in her friend. "I don't know, Mila. I feel like Tashi is trying to get closer to Art. I know I shouldn't feel this way, but I can't help it. It makes me uncomfortable."

Mila gave Lana a sympathetic look. "I get it, Lana. It's natural to feel that way. Have you talked to Art about it?"

"Not really. I don't want to seem jealous or insecure."

"Well, you should talk to him. If he's as great a guy as you think he is, he'll understand. And maybe he hasn't even noticed it. Sometimes guys can be pretty oblivious," Mila said with a reassuring smile.

Lana nodded, feeling a bit better. "Thanks, Mila. I'll try to talk to him after practice."

The two friends chatted for a while longer, finishing their breakfast before heading to the tennis courts together. When they arrived, Art and Tashi were already there, stretching and chatting. Tashi waved with a sly smirk when she saw them.

"Hey, guys!" Tashi called out, "Ready for some doubles action?"

"Hey, Tashi," Lana said, trying to match her enthusiasm. "Let's do this."

The four of them started warming up, hitting balls back and forth to each other. Lana focused on her form and tried to keep her thoughts from wandering. Despite her best efforts, she couldn't help but notice how Tashi seemed to be constantly gravitating towards Art, laughing at his jokes and seeking his advice on her serves.

During a break, Mila pulled Lana aside. "Remember what we talked about this morning. You should talk to Art."

"I will," Lana said, feeling a mix of nerves and determination.

Match Point  - Art DonaldsonWhere stories live. Discover now