In Love, Against All Odds

Echoes of Jealousy

As the days went by, I got more and more chill with Patrick. We were pretty much inseparable—spending every free second together, whether it was strolling around campus, laughing our heads off in the cafeteria, or sneaking kisses in between classes. Honestly, I was vibing with him more than I ever thought I could, but something about it felt like trouble was lurking just around the corner.

The cafeteria was our go-to spot, where we could just be ourselves. It was always full of energy, people chatting and laughing, and I loved how we had our own little corner to just be us. That day, we were chilling, munching on fries, and talking about our weekend plans, when I felt a weird vibe in the air. A chill ran down my spine the moment I saw Olivia strutting towards us, her bright smile making the air feel heavy.

"Hi, Patrick!" she sang, completely cutting into our conversation like she had every right to.

I felt the heat in my cheeks rise, and a rush of anger started bubbling inside me. She basically acted like I wasn't even sitting there. Patrick, on the other hand, turned to her with this totally friendly smile, looking like he didn't notice a thing.

"Hey, Olivia! What's up?" he said, totally chill.

I shot Adri a look from across the table, my irritation obvious. She raised an eyebrow, sensing my discomfort, and leaned in. "Wanna let me handle this?" she whispered, her voice full of mischief. I didn't even have to think twice—I nodded, grateful for her backing me up.

Adri and Brailey both stood up at the same time and approached Olivia, their vibe was still friendly but firm. "Yo, Olivia, we'd love to chat, but can we do it somewhere else? Kat and Patrick were just vibing here," Brailey said smoothly.

Olivia glanced back at me, her eyes narrowing for a second before flashing that same fake smile. "Oh, come on, I'm just saying hi! Didn't mean to interrupt anything."

"No, but you did," Adri shot back, not even trying to hide the annoyance in her tone. "Why don't we all head to the quieter side of the cafeteria?"

Olivia huffed, crossing her arms and rolling her eyes. "Fine," she snapped before turning to leave. I couldn't help but feel a wave of relief as they walked her away from our table. I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the frustration, but it still stuck with me.

As soon as they were out of earshot, I turned to Patrick, who looked totally confused. "Sorry about that," I muttered. "She just—"

"It's all good," he interrupted, giving me a reassuring smile as he reached for my hand. "You know I'm all yours."

But the feeling didn't go away. Something about Olivia just didn't sit right with me. I knew this wouldn't be the last time she'd try to pop into our lives.

Sure enough, a few days later, while Patrick and I were studying in the library, I saw Olivia again. It was like she was always lurking around, just waiting for the chance to swoop in.

A few days after that, I got a text that made my stomach drop. It was from Patrick: "Hey, Kat. I gotta cancel our plans for Saturday. I need to meet Olivia's parents."

I froze, staring at my phone, heart pounding. "Is this about her trip?" I texted back, my fingers shaking.

He replied almost immediately. "Yeah, they wanna talk about her future and other stuff. I'll make it up to you, promise."

But that wasn't how it felt. It felt like he was picking her over me, and that jealousy hit me hard. I could already see it—she was gonna worm her way into his life, and he wouldn't even realize it.

That Saturday, I watched him leave to meet her parents. My stomach twisted as I stood by the window, feeling like the world had gone grey without him. Adri came in, sensing I wasn't okay.

"What's up, Kat?" she asked, her voice soft with concern.

I let out a shaky breath. "He canceled our plans to meet Olivia's parents," I said, trying not to sound too hurt. "I just thought we were getting closer, you know?"

Adri frowned and sat down next to me. "He's not dating her, Kat. He's with you. If he canceled just once, it doesn't mean he's chosen her over you."

"Maybe not," I said, biting my lip. "But it feels like she's always around, just waiting for her chance. What if he starts liking her again?"

"Listen," Adri said firmly, "You've got nothing to worry about. You're amazing, and he's lucky to be with you."

Just then, Brailey popped her head in, looking serious. "Have you seen Olivia? She's been looking for Patrick everywhere."

I sighed, frustration bubbling up again. "Of course she has. She doesn't stop, does she?"

As if on cue, Olivia appeared, chatting with someone, her eyes scanning the room. My stomach dropped. The thought of her constantly lurking around Patrick made me feel uneasy, and the idea of him getting pulled in by her charm was starting to drive me crazy.

The next week, things only got worse. Olivia seemed to pop up everywhere—library, cafeteria, even outside my classes. It felt like no matter where we went, she was always there, trying to insert herself into whatever was going on with us.

One afternoon, as I was heading to class, I saw Patrick waiting outside for me, a huge grin lighting up his face. "Hey, you! Missed you," he said, pulling me into a hug.

I melted for a second, but just as I was about to relax, I heard Olivia's voice behind us. "Patrick! There you are!"

I pulled away from Patrick, my heart sinking, and turned to see Olivia making her way toward us, that smile of hers plastered all over her face. "I've been looking for you! Are you coming to the game tonight?" she asked, totally ignoring me.

Patrick turned to her, clearly confused. "I'm not sure. Kat and I were just—"

"Oh, I get it! You have plans with Kat," she said, cutting him off. "But you can just meet me after, right? It's just a game."

I could feel my face burning with frustration. "We were planning to—"

"Kat, don't worry," Patrick said, glancing at me, trying to ease the tension. "I'll catch the game later. I wanna spend time with you tonight."

Olivia crossed her arms, clearly not happy with that. "Are you sure? I mean, I just got back, and I wanted to catch up with you, too."

"Yeah, but Kat is my girlfriend," Patrick said, his voice steady and sure. "We can catch up later."

I smiled at him, feeling a mix of affection and relief. But as quickly as the relief came, doubt crept in. Was he picking me, or was this just to keep Olivia from throwing a fit?

Olivia rolled her eyes and flipped her hair over her shoulder. "Fine, whatever. Guess I'll talk to you later." She shot me a glare before walking off, and I could feel my heart pounding.

As Patrick turned back to me, I couldn't help but feel a little lighter. "I'm sorry about her," he said, his expression softening. "I know it must be tough for you."

"It is," I admitted, biting my lip. "But I trust you, Patrick. Just... just be careful, okay?"

"I will," he said, leaning in closer. "You're the one I want to be with."

For a moment, everything else faded away. I felt a rush of warmth in my chest. Maybe things would be okay after all.

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