In Love, Against All Odds

Friendship Rekindled

The next day, I found myself heading to the university with a strange sense of anticipation. After everything that had happened yesterday, I couldn't help but think about Patrick. His smile, his calm demeanor, the way he made me feel lighter even in the middle of all the chaos—it all ran through my mind as I walked through the university gates. I had barely spoken to him, yet his presence lingered in my thoughts like a half-remembered tune.

The air was crisp, and I pulled my beige trench coat tighter around me, the soft fabric shielding me from the chilly breeze. My brown boots clicked against the pavement, the sound echoing faintly in the stillness of the early morning. My hair was loosely tied back with a pastel green scrunchie, a small effort to appear put-together despite the mental whirlwind.

As I entered the building, Alista and Brailey were already waiting for me at the lockers. Alista, with her short blonde hair styled into effortless waves, leaned casually against the metal doors. She wore a rust-colored sweater tucked into a plaid skirt, paired with knee-high boots that made her look like she'd just stepped out of a magazine. Beside her, Brailey's honey-toned hair cascaded over her shoulder in loose curls. She was dressed in a baby blue cardigan over a white turtleneck, high-waisted jeans, and sneakers—cozy yet chic.

"Ready for another thrilling day of classes?" Alista quipped, rolling her eyes dramatically.

I laughed, though my mind was elsewhere. "Oh. I live for lectures and caffeine-fueled note-taking."

As we walked to class, I subtly scanned the crowd, hoping to catch a glimpse of Patrick. But he was nowhere to be seen. My chest tightened with a strange mix of disappointment and worry. Was he okay? Had something happened?

The moment we settled into our seats, I found myself waiting, hoping, but Patrick never showed up. I tried to focus on the lecture, scribbling notes half-heartedly, but my thoughts kept drifting. Brailey, ever perceptive, leaned over and whispered, "Looking for someone, Kat?"

Her smirk was infuriatingly knowing, and I shot her a sharp look. "Shut up," I muttered under my breath, though the heat rising to my cheeks gave me away. She chuckled softly before turning back to her notes, leaving me to stew in my thoughts.

By lunchtime, I was drained—not from work, but from the constant mental back-and-forth. We headed to the cafeteria, the scent of freshly baked pizza and coffee wafting through the air. I grabbed a chicken sandwich and an iced latte, hoping food would distract me. But just as I sat down, I saw him.

Bradwin.

"Katherine," he started, his voice dripping with the same faux sweetness that used to fool me. "We need to talk."

I crossed my arms, glaring. "I don't have anything to say to you, Bradwin. Just go."

He stepped closer, ignoring my words. "You can't avoid me forever. We had something, Kat. Don't act like it didn't mean anything to you."

The nerve of him. I stood up, facing him head-on. "We had something. But you threw it away when you cheated on me. With Brenda, no less."

His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he might argue. But before he could, Adri appeared beside me, her medium-length black hair brushing her shoulders. She was wearing an oversized brown jacket over a black top, paired with high-waisted jeans and combat boots. Her tomboyish yet effortlessly cool style made her look like she belonged on the cover of a streetwear magazine.

"Back off, Bradwin," Adri said, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "You've done enough damage. Leave her alone."

Bradwin faltered, glancing around at the curious eyes now watching us. His confidence wavered, and he muttered something under his breath before walking away, clearly embarrassed.

"Thanks, Adri," I said, exhaling deeply. I could feel the tension loosening in my body as relief washed over me.

She shrugged, a small smile playing on her lips. "He deserved that."

As we sat back down, the conversation turned lighter, memories of our childhood bubbling to the surface. "Remember that fair in high school?" I said, laughing already at the memory. "You lost that rock-paper-scissors game and had to wear the cupcake costume."

Adri groaned, covering her face with her hands. "Don't remind me! That was the most embarrassing day of my life."

"You looked adorable!" I teased. "It was for that cupcake shop we set up with the girls—what were their names? Oh, right! Maddy, Jamie, and Clara."

Adri laughed, shaking her head. "They didn't let me live it down for weeks. I still have nightmares about that giant foam cupcake."

We both burst into laughter, the memory of younger, carefree days warming the air between us. It felt good to reminisce, to reconnect after the months of distance that Bradwin had created between us.

"You know," I said, sobering slightly, "I should have listened to you back then. About him. You were right."

Adri's expression softened. "It's okay, Kat. I get it. You were in love. It's not easy to see the truth when you're caught up in it."

"I still feel so stupid," I admitted, fiddling with my straw. "He wasn't even close to me in school. He only approached me after we joined uni. I should've known."

"You're not stupid," Adri said firmly. "You're human. And you've learned from it, right?"

I nodded, grateful for her unwavering support. By the time lunch ended, it felt like we'd bridged the gap that had separated us for so long.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Though I tried to focus on my work, my thoughts kept wandering to Patrick. Why hadn't he shown up today? Was I reading too much into it? Or was I hoping for something I wasn't ready to admit to myself?

When I finally got home, Austin was, as usual, glued to his PlayStation. His dark hair was a mess, and he was still in his pajama pants despite it being late afternoon.

"Move over," I said, plopping down beside him. "It's my turn."

He groaned but handed me the controller. "Fine. But if you lose my progress, you're buying me snacks for a week."

We spent the next hour battling it out, laughing and arguing over whose turn it was. For a little while, it felt like everything else melted away—the worries, the disappointments, the swirling emotions. It was just me and my little brother, caught up in the simplicity of sibling rivalry.

But later that night, as I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, the thoughts crept back in. Patrick's absence, Bradwin's arrogance, the way Adri had stood up for me—it all swirled in my mind. And underneath it all, was the feeling that something was changing within me. Something I wasn't sure I was ready to face.

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