𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞 𝐈𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞|| 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐱𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝

13.

*Some day's later*

Willow got up to get ready for school, like she usually did. It was her first time going back since the incident. She decided to wear a black graphic beanie over her locs, paired with a purple graphic tee and a black jacket over it. She slipped into some boy-cut jeans, but as she looked at herself in the mirror, she couldn't shake the feeling that something or rather, someone was missing.

She noticed multiple missed calls from Reese but decided it was better if she didn't answer. Maybe it was best for her and Reese to go their separate ways.

Willow grabbed her book bag and walked out of the house without saying a word to her mother, who was sitting on the couch, absorbed in a book. As Willow took her usual route to school, she spotted something from the corner of her eye Reese's car slowing down.

Reese's heart skipped a beat when she saw Willow walking, and she called out, "Willow!"

Willow heard Reese's familiar, raspy voice but kept walking, trying to maintain her composure.

"Willow!" Reese called again, more urgently this time.

Reluctantly, Willow turned around as Reese parked her car. Reese got out, and Willow couldn't help but notice how tired she looked. Her cornrows had grown out, and she was dressed in basketball shorts and a black compression t-shirt. There were bags under her amber eyes, which seemed duller than usual.

They stood there, staring at each other. The silence between them was heavy with unspoken words, emotions neither of them could express.

"Reese, I gotta go to school," Willow finally said, her voice distant.

"Willow, let me explain," Reese began, her voice shaky. "You ain't a part of this... of any of this, and I'm sorry." Tears welled up in Reese's eyes as she wiped them away. "Just... give me a chance, please."

Willow looked down, trying to hold back her own tears. She glanced at her phone, feeling the weight of everything between them. "Alright," she finally whispered, licking her lips and shaking her head. "I'm gonna be late for school. I'll text you."

As she started to walk away, Reese quickly offered, "Let me drop you off."

Willow sighed, hesitated for a moment, and then got into Reese's car.

Willow got out of Reese's car, and they said their goodbyes, but both of them lingered, enjoying each other's presence. Even though it had only been a few days since they last saw each other, it felt like much longer. Neither of them wanted to part ways, but they did.

As Willow walked into the school building, she could feel the stares from everyone. Her anxiety started to build. Just then, Ashley approached with a smirk on her face.

"I told you Reese don't give a shit about you," Ashley sneered.

"Get the fuck outta my way," Willow snapped, pushing her aside.

Raylyn, Ashley's new girlfriend, then stepped up, her eyes narrowed. "I know you didn't just put your hands on my girl," Raylyn said.

Willow sized them up and thought to herself how much they looked like two frogs together. "Yeah, I did. What you gonna do bout it? I know you don't want your face bruised up again. Maybe you should go wash your stank ass first," Willow shot back, staring them both down. "I don't care how big you are, I'll beat your ass, and I stand on that."

Disgusted, she tried to walk past them. "I've got class to get to," she muttered.

But Raylyn wasn't having it. She pushed Willow, causing her to stumble. Willow quickly regained her footing and shoved Raylyn hard, sending her into a locker.