Drawn To You (GirlxGirl)

Part 37

Allie's P.O.V

I sat on the edge of Casey's bed, staring at the open rucksack in front of me. Tomorrow was the first day of uni, and I still couldn't wrap my head around it. My new notebooks, pens, highlighters, and folders were spread out across the comforter, all of it brand new and untouched, a gift from Casey and Lola. It felt like a lifeline, like they had known I would forget to buy these things amidst the chaos of everything else. And they had been right.

I smiled to myself, thinking about how thoughtful they'd been, quietly stepping in to support me in ways I hadn't even thought of. It was a small thing—stationery—but it felt big, like I wasn't going into this new chapter of my life alone. I had them.

And Jessie.

That thought hit me harder than I expected. Over the past week, Jessie and I had spent so much time together. Walks in the park, grabbing coffee, going to the movies, and just hanging out in her studio. Sometimes we didn't even talk. I'd sit quietly in the corner while she worked, the steady sound of her brush on canvas somehow calming me down.

I could still feel the warmth of her presence, the way her energy filled a room. How easily we'd fallen into a rhythm, comfortable and easy. Jessie was unlike anyone I had ever been with before—so open, so confident in who she was.

I closed my eyes, replaying some of the moments we'd shared this past week. Her laugh when I told a dumb joke, the way she nudged me with her elbow as we walked side by side. The soft, lingering touches between us—light brushes of our hands, the way she would tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. It felt intimate in a way that left me both excited and terrified.

But now, with uni starting, I knew our time together would be more limited. My schedule would get packed, lectures and assignments would pile up, and we wouldn't be able to see each other as much. That thought made my chest tighten.

I sighed and picked up the notebooks, carefully placing them into my rucksack. It was almost embarrassing how much effort Casey and Lola had put into organising everything for me. They even colour-coded the tabs for my subjects, which would have been laughable if it wasn't so sweet. It was just like them to take care of the details I'd forgotten while my head was somewhere else.

As I zipped the bag up, my phone pinged on the bed beside me. I glanced at the screen, expecting it to be a text from Jessie or Casey, but my stomach dropped when I saw the subject line.

Glasgow University: Your Textbooks Have Been Delivered.

"Shit," I muttered, my heart sinking as I read the email.

The textbooks I needed for tomorrow had been delivered to my old address—Mark's house. I rubbed my temples, feeling the tension build behind my eyes.

Of course, I hadn't updated my address with the university. Another thing I'd overlooked in the whirlwind of the last few weeks.

I sat there for a moment, staring at the email, trying to talk myself out of the bad mood that was creeping up on me. I didn't need this. Not today. I could just ask Casey or Lola to pick them up for me. I wouldn't have to go anywhere near Mark or the house I once called home. I could avoid the awkwardness, the tension.

But as I started mentally planning that out, my phone buzzed again.

Mark's name flashed across the screen, and a wave of dread washed over me.

'Your textbooks are here. I'm guessing you'll need them for tomorrow. I'll be free in about an hour if you want to come by for them.'

I groaned, tossing my phone onto the bed.