In Love, Against All Odds

After the Bell Rings

As Patrick and I talked, the bell rang, signaling the end of class. Our brief moment was interrupted by the sound of footsteps and the familiar creak of the classroom door opening. Mrs. Page, our strict professor, stepped out, her gaze immediately falling on us. Her lips pressed into a thin line as if she had been waiting for the perfect opportunity to catch us off-guard.

"If you two misbehave again, you'll both be severely punished next time," she warned, her tone icy and sharp.

I could feel my cheeks heat up with embarrassment, but Patrick? He just shrugged it off, grinning like he hadn't a care in the world. His carefree attitude made everything feel less intense, and despite myself, I couldn't help but grin, too.

"Catch ya later, Kat," Patrick said, his eyes meeting mine for a second longer than normal before he turned and walked away, his footsteps light like he was floating, unaffected by the whole thing.

The second he was out of sight, I felt my friends' presence—like they were practically burning holes into the side of my head with their intense stares. I didn't even need to turn around. I knew they were dying to know every little detail. Sure enough, when I finally did look, there they were: Alista, Brailey, and Vinita, standing just a few steps away, smirking like they'd caught a glimpse of something they shouldn't have.

We all headed toward our usual bench under the big oak tree in the courtyard—our spot for lunch, gossip, and moments just like this, where my friends could grill me for every detail of my life.

Alista, as usual, was the first to break the silence. She nudged me playfully with her elbow. "So, what happened with Patrick, huh?" she asked, her voice full of that mischievous tone I knew all too well. The look in her eyes made it clear she wasn't gonna let this slide.

I shrugged, trying to play it cool. "We were just talking about class. Nothing special."

Before I could even finish, Brailey cut in, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Girl, do you know? Patrick's got a crush on you!" she said dramatically, causing Vinita and Alista to gasp and giggle in unison.

I felt my face turn into a full-on tomato. "What? No way!" I stammered, brushing it off, but my voice came out all shaky and not at all convincing.

Alista smirked, leaning in like she was about to drop some secret tea. "Oh, come on. After hearing about your breakup with Bradwin, I bet he thought this was his moment to swoop in. That's why he had that whole fight with Mrs. Page on purpose and came out just to talk to you. He was worried, Kat."

I rolled my eyes, but I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks. "Shut up, y'all. I just broke up with Bradwin, and now you're trying to ship me with Patrick already? Seriously?"

We all burst out laughing, but deep down, I could feel the teasing sink in. I tried to ignore it, but my mind couldn't stop going back to Patrick—his easy smile, the way he looked at me. It was different from how Bradwin ever looked at me. Softer. Almost... like he cared. I shook my head, trying to snap myself out of it.

Just as I turned my attention back to the conversation, I noticed Patrick in the distance, walking past us. His usual confident stride was now replaced with something lighter like he was walking on air. When his eyes met mine, he smiled again, and I swear, my stomach flipped. I smiled back, the blush on my neck giving me away before I could even think about hiding it.

Alista saw it, of course. She leaned in and whispered, "I swear, he's probably the happiest guy right now, all thanks to your breakup."

We all burst into laughter, but I felt the heat of my blush deepen. I tried to play it off, but honestly? I couldn't ignore the warmth that spread through me when I thought about Patrick being interested. It felt... nice. After the mess with Bradwin, it was kind of a breath of fresh air.

We eventually headed to class, but the whole time, I couldn't shake the thought of Patrick. He kept popping up in my mind, and every time I looked up, I caught him sneaking a glance at me. My stomach did that fluttery thing again, and before I knew it, I was smiling despite myself.

Class ended with the usual droning of the professor's voice, and before long, I was at the bus stop, my thoughts a whirlwind of confusion. How had I gone from crying over Bradwin one minute to thinking about Patrick the next? I felt guilty—like I wasn't giving myself enough time to heal like I was already moving on too fast.

When I got home, I needed a distraction. Austin, my little brother, was glued to his PlayStation as usual, his thumbs flying across the controller.

"Move over, it's my turn!" I demanded, striding over to the couch.

He groaned without looking up. "Nah, Kat. You always hog it."

"Am not!" I shot back, but that didn't stop me from snatching the controller from his hands after a quick wrestle.

"Victory's mine!" I declared, holding the controller above my head like a trophy.

Austin just grumbled, but he didn't try to fight back. With a grin, I settled in and started playing, pushing all thoughts of Patrick—and Bradwin—out of my head. For a while, it worked.

After a few rounds, I had enough and wandered into the kitchen for dinner. My parents were chatting quietly, the sound of their conversation blending with the clinking of dishes. I sat down at the table, feeling the comfort of my usual routine. It was nice, and for a minute, I could forget everything that had been going on.

But that peace didn't last. Later, lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, Patrick's smile crept back into my thoughts. How could I be thinking about someone else so soon after Bradwin? It felt wrong like I was supposed to be mourning the end of my relationship, not thinking about another guy. But I couldn't shake it. The way Patrick made me feel—like I was still someone worth noticing—was something I hadn't felt in a long time.

My mind replayed every moment from today: the hallway, his smile, how he seemed genuinely interested in me. It was so different from Bradwin's attitude toward me, especially at the end. Patrick's attention felt warm, comforting, and maybe even a little exciting.

But the guilt kept creeping in. Shouldn't I be more broken up about Bradwin? Wasn't I supposed to be mourning? But then I thought about how it ended—how it wasn't even real love. Maybe I was just holding onto a fantasy of love that never really existed.

I sighed, hugging my pillow tighter. It was too soon to think about anyone else. Too soon to feel anything but hurt. But Patrick's smile stayed with me, lingering in my thoughts as I drifted off to sleep.

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