❝ 𝐋𝐔𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 ❞ ʲᵃˢᵖᵉʳ ʰᵃˡᵉ ( EN )

☇ 𝟬𝟴

Théodora left the school grounds with Eleanor and her other friends, hoping the fresh air would help her shake off the troubled thoughts swirling endlessly in her mind. Eleanor teased her gently about her persistent daydreaming, and Théodora did her best to join in their laughter. She wanted to feel normal, just for once, but the image of Jasper still haunted her.

"So, you really disappeared from the party like a shadow, huh?" Chloe said with a mischievous look. "Was there a boy chasing after you or something?"

Théodora rolled her eyes. "Oh yeah, of course, a prince charming came to sweep me away on his white horse," she replied with just the right amount of irony. "Actually, he was wearing a dark suit and looked like he'd stepped right out of an old gothic novel."

Everyone burst out laughing, even though Théodora's heart raced, knowing that, in a way, it wasn't too far from the truth. Still, she tried to keep up with her friends, letting herself be swept up in their energy.

They all headed to the park, their usual gathering spot after school. Seeing Eleanor jump onto the highest swing, Théodora couldn't help but smile. "You know you're not supposed to swing upside down, right?" she called out.

Eleanor pretended to be offended. "And you're not supposed to spend your day with your head in the clouds, Théodora. We all have our little secrets!"

Théodora shook her head, laughing, but the moment of joy was quickly interrupted by a strange sensation, as if someone was watching her. She discreetly glanced around, trying to spot one of the Cullens. Was it Jasper today, or another member of his family?

"Lost in your thoughts again, Theo?" Chloe murmured, leaning in toward her. "Honestly, this boy must really have you hooked if you're this out of it!"

Théodora sighed and pretended to think. "Oh, you know, he's a very... chilly guy. Not really my type, but he has this irresistible... something."

"An Edward Cullen 2.0?" Thomas suggested, raising an eyebrow. "You should go for it, Theo!"

"No thanks," she replied with a wry smile. "I already have enough problems in my life."

The remark, though innocent, made her friends smile, but it left Théodora with an odd sense of dizziness. Trying to shake off the feeling, she joined Eleanor on the swing and launched into a contest of who could go the highest.

For a moment, she managed to forget about Jasper, forget about the Cullens, and reclaim that lightheartedness she missed so much.

The early evening sun gently bathed Théodora's garden, lighting up the freshly cut grass and neatly trimmed hedges. The volleyball bounced rhythmically off her palms as she'd been practicing alone for over an hour. Her hits were precise, fast, and each time she struck the ball, she heard that satisfying sound of leather meeting her hands. It reassured her, made her feel alive. The net, stretched between two trees, seemed like just a simple obstacle against her determination. Her movements were fluid, almost graceful, and she felt in control of every motion, every movement. In this moment, nothing else mattered.

Sweat beaded on her forehead, tracing thin lines down her temples, but she didn't mind. She liked that feeling of warmth, the burn in her muscles. It was her escape, her way of clearing the thoughts cluttering her mind. Each jump, each pass pulled her deeper into a state of intense focus, allowing her to forget the worries of the past weeks.

Her volleyball practices had become a true obsession, a routine she didn't want to break. At school, it was her moment of freedom, the time when she felt like herself. There, she trained with her teammates, sprinting, perfecting her receptions, and working on her endurance with every exercise. She loved feeling her legs propel her into the air during jumps, feeling the power of her arms when she smashed the ball. Every movement brought her closer to that state of satisfaction, that sense of achievement. So when she got home, she kept going. Her garden became her playing field, a space where she could hone her technique.