Unlikely Hearts - Logan Huntzberger

Chapter Sixteen

The following week at Yale felt like an uphill battle. The cold winter air and constant pressure of looming finals added to Alouette's unease. After seeing Logan with Rory at the bar, she had tried to convince herself that it didn't matter. It was just a fling, after all. But every time she passed him on campus or caught sight of the two together, the knot in her stomach tightened.

The coffee cart became her refuge, a place to collect her thoughts before facing the chaos of finals. One morning, as she stood in line, she felt a familiar presence behind her. She turned to see Logan, his expression slightly guarded as he approached her.

"Hey, Lou," he said, his voice a mixture of warmth and hesitation.

"Hey, Logan," she replied, trying to keep her tone light. The brief memory of their playful banter hung in the air between them like a ghost.

"Been a while," he noted, leaning casually against the counter as he glanced at the menu board.

"Yeah, you know, finals and all," she said, her heart racing slightly. She couldn't shake the image of him and Rory from her mind, but she didn't want to bring it up. Not here. Not now.

Logan nodded, his eyes flicking over to the barista as he ordered his usual. "I heard you were out celebrating last weekend. With your friends?"

"Something like that," Alouette said, shrugging as if it were no big deal. "Just needed a break."

Their conversation felt like walking a tightrope. On one hand, she wanted to reach out and reconnect, but on the other, the chasm created by his new relationship with Rory loomed large. As she waited for her drink, Alouette took a deep breath, attempting to keep her thoughts steady.

"So, how's it going with... you know, Rory?" she asked, forcing herself to sound casual, though she felt anything but.

Logan looked at her, surprise flickering across his face. "Oh, we're just having fun. You know how it is. Nothing serious."

Alouette tried to ignore the sting of jealousy that shot through her. "Right," she said, attempting a nonchalant tone. "Glad to hear it."

Just then, a burst of laughter caught her attention. She turned to see Rory across the room, chatting with a couple of friends. Her heart sank further as she noted the way Logan's gaze softened at the sight of her.

"Looks like she's got a lot of friends," Alouette commented, keeping her voice light even as her insides churned.

"Yeah," Logan replied, his tone shifting slightly. "She's really smart. I think she'll do well here."

Alouette swallowed hard, forcing a smile. "That's great. You deserve to be with someone who fits in with your crowd."

Logan's brow furrowed slightly at her words, and Alouette could feel the weight of unspoken things hanging between them. "And what about you? How's everything?"

"Busy, as always," she replied, picking at her coffee cup as she avoided his gaze. "You know how it is. School, studying, and a bit of stress."

"Is that all?" Logan pressed, a hint of concern in his voice.

Alouette shot him a look, her heart racing. "What do you mean?"

He hesitated, his expression shifting to something more serious. "I don't know. Just seems like you've been off since... you know, since we saw each other at the bar."

She opened her mouth to respond, but the truth was tangled inside her. "I'm fine, Logan. Just focused on finals."

"Okay," he said, though she could tell he didn't believe her.