Shattered Reflections

Chapter 25

The next two weeks were a whirlwind of texts and late-night calls. Every day, Kai would leave school early, and as soon as he got home, he'd send Fae a message. His consistency was both reassuring and a bit exciting for her.

One afternoon, Fae's phone buzzed with a message from Kai.

Kai: Hey, how's your day going?

Fae quickly replied.

Fae: Hey! Not too bad. Just the usual school stuff. What about you?

Kai: Same here. Just trying to get through the day. Can't wait to chat tonight.

As soon as school ended, Fae got home and saw another message from Kai.

Kai: I was thinking about you all day. You've become my favorite part of the day.

Fae felt a smile tug at her lips and replied.

Fae: That's sweet. I've been thinking about you too.

Later that evening, they got on a call. The conversation flowed easily. They talked about their days, shared funny stories, and just enjoyed each other's company.

Kai: You won't believe what happened today. This guy in class was being a total asshole.

Fae: Really? What happened?

Kai: Just typical bullshit. I told him off. Some people just don't know when to shut up.

Fae: Sounds frustrating. I'm glad you're not letting it get to you.

Kai: Yeah, well, talking to you always makes things better.

Fae: You're making me blush over here.

As the calls continued over the next few nights, Fae looked forward to their conversations. Despite the unresolved issues and lingering doubts, Kai's attention made her feel appreciated and valued. The chats were a bright spot in her day, and she found herself smiling more often.

June 15, 2024

During lunch, Fae, Maddy, Sophie, Ally, and Fiona were gathered around their usual table, diving into their typical mix of gossip and complaints.

Sophie started, clearly frustrated. "Ugh, Adam just won't leave me alone. It's like he's glued to my side."

Fiona chimed in with a smirk, "Well, Sam's been trying to get back in my good graces. Can't say I'm thrilled about that even though I still love him, I just won't be pathetic going back to him."

Maddy groaned. "You think that's bad? I'm in love with a guy who's, like, way older than me. He's my football mentor too, and our age gap is basically illegal. It's so messed up."

Sophie raised an eyebrow and smiled. "The older the better. But honestly, Fae's situation is the worst. She's talking to some asshole who's probably stringing her along."

Fae shot her a sharp look. "Hey, don't switch the focus to me. And anyway, let's not act like Maddie's crush isn't a joke. He's 20 and still a senior? That's pathetic."

Maddy shot Fae a venomous glare. "Shut the fuck up, Fae. Not everyone's got their shit together."

Fiona, trying to steer the conversation back on track, turned to Ally. "At least you don't have to worry about any of this crap. God blessed you with an amazing boyfriend."

Ally rolled her eyes playfully. "Yeah, yeah. Thanks for the reminder."

Fiona winked at Ally. "Just saying."

The conversation continued with a mix of laughter and frustration as they talked about their complicated feelings and relationships.

It was them against the world.

Later that day, Sophie and Fae found themselves alone in the school hallway, the tension from earlier in the day still simmering. Fae was once again talking animatedly about Kai, and Sophie's patience was wearing thin.

"Seriously, Fae, can you stop talking about Kai for five minutes?" Sophie snapped, clearly annoyed. "It's like he's the only thing in your fucking world."

Fae's eyes widened in disbelief. "Excuse me? I'm just sharing something that makes me happy. Is that a crime?"

"It's not about sharing. It's about how fucking obsessed you are," Sophie retorted. "You act like he's some kind of savior or something. He's just another guy."

Fae's face flushed with anger. "You don't get it, Sophie. You don't know what it's like. He's actually been nice to me, unlike some other people."

"Nice? Are you kidding me?" Sophie shot back. "He's been an emotional rollercoaster and you're just letting him use you."

Fae's voice rose in frustration. "Oh, so now you're a fucking expert on my relationship? Maybe if you actually listened instead of judging, you'd understand!"

Sophie's eyes narrowed. "Listen? I've listened to you bitch about him for weeks. I'm tired of hearing about how perfect he is when he clearly doesn't give a shit about you."

Fae's hands clenched into fists. "You don't know what you're talking about. Just because you're bitter doesn't mean you get to ruin my happiness!"

Sophie threw her hands up in exasperation. "Whatever, Fae. I'm done with this. If you're going to act like this, then fine. I don't need to hear about your latest drama with Kai."

"Fine by me," Fae shot back. "If you can't support me, then maybe we're better off not talking."