Roommates by Fate

24 | Waves of Wounding

Caleb and I walked through the chilly November evening, the cold biting at our cheeks as we made our way to a small café he mentioned earlier. The warm glow of the streetlights cast long shadows as we moved, the sound of our footsteps muffled by the freshly fallen leaves.

He glanced over at me, his breath visible in the cold air. "You seem a little off tonight. Want to talk about it?"

I hesitated, not wanting to dive into the tangled mess that was my mind right now. "It's nothing serious," I said, forcing a smile. "Just a bit of school stress, you know how it is."

Caleb chuckled softly. "Yeah, I get it. But you know, you don't have to pretend with me, Kathleen. I'm here if you ever need to vent."

His words were genuine, and I couldn't help but feel a warmth spread through my chest that had nothing to do with the café we were approaching. Caleb had always been kind, attentive, and easy to talk to. It made me wonder why I had been so hung up on Kylian in the first place.

"Thanks, Caleb. That means a lot," I replied, my voice soft as we stepped inside the cozy café. The warmth hit us immediately, along with the comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee and pastries.

We found a small table by the window, and I took off my coat, settling into the comfy chair. Caleb ordered us two hot chocolates with extra whipped cream—something he knew I loved—and I couldn't help but smile at how thoughtful he was.

As we waited, Caleb leaned in slightly, his blue eyes locking onto mine. "So, really... What's going on? You've been quieter than usual."

I sighed, looking down at the table as I tried to come up with an answer that didn't involve Kylian. "It's just... things have been weird lately. I'm trying to figure out some stuff, that's all."

Caleb nodded, his expression understanding. "Life can be messy sometimes, huh? But you don't have to go through it alone. I'm always here if you need someone to talk to—or just to hang out."

His sincerity made my heart ache in a different way. Why was I still thinking about Kylian when Caleb was right here, being the kind of person I knew I deserved?

"I appreciate that, Caleb," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. I looked up at him, our eyes meeting, and for a moment, I wondered if this was how things were supposed to feel—simple, warm, and safe.

He reached across the table, his fingers brushing against mine. "I've always enjoyed spending time with you, Kathleen. You make everything feel... easier, I guess."

I smiled, my heart fluttering at his words. "I feel the same way."

The hot chocolates arrived, and we both took a sip, the warmth spreading through us. Caleb's smile was contagious, and I found myself laughing at his jokes and stories, feeling a sense of lightness I hadn't felt in days.

But as we talked, as easy as it was to be with Caleb, I couldn't stop the thoughts of Kylian from creeping back into my mind. His hurt expression when I'd left with Caleb, the way he had looked at me before I turned away—it was all still there, lingering in the back of my thoughts.

Why was it so hard to let go of him? Caleb was right here, everything I could ask for, yet a part of me was still stuck on Kylian, on the pain and confusion that came with him.

As we walked back towards the dorms, Caleb's hand occasionally brushed against mine, and I wondered why I couldn't just let myself be happy with him. He was sweet, caring, and made me feel good about myself. But deep down, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake the feelings I still had for Kylian.