Beneath His Cold Charm

06

Between the Lines

★★★

Zoey's breath caught in her throat as Matt's words hung in the air like a thick fog. She felt her heart racing, a tempest of emotions swirling within her. Anger, hurt, and confusion collided in a chaotic dance, making it hard to think straight.

"Drama queen?" she spat, her voice trembling with frustration. "You have no idea what I'm going through!"

Matt shrugged, his expression unwavering. "And you think I care? You're just another girl looking for attention. It's pathetic."

Zoey clenched her fists at her sides, feeling a wave of heat rush to her cheeks. "Pathetic? I'm not the one throwing around insults like they're confetti."

A flicker of surprise crossed Matt's face, but it vanished just as quickly. "Deal with your problems? Is that what you call self-pity? Because that's all I see."

Zoey took a step back, his words slicing through her like a knife. "Fuck you..."

"Then stop acting like a victim," he shot back, his voice cold and unyielding. "Life is tough for everyone. Get over it."

With that, he turned away, walking down the hall as if their conversation had meant nothing. Zoey felt a mix of fury and despair welling up inside her. The last thing she wanted was to be seen as weak or to give him the satisfaction of knowing he had gotten to her. But his words resonated like a dark echo in her mind, feeding her insecurities.

As she turned to leave, she nearly collided with Chris and Nick, who had been standing nearby, watching the argument unfold.

"Are you okay?" Chris asked, concern etched on his face. "That looked intense."

"Yeah, I'm fine," Zoey snapped, not wanting to delve into it. "Just the usual with Matt."

Nick raised an eyebrow. "That guy really knows how to push your buttons, doesn't he?"

"Whatever," Zoey muttered, brushing past them. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Zoey, wait!" Chris called after her, but she didn't stop. She needed space, needed to breathe, away from the swirling emotions that threatened to pull her under.

---

Lunchtime

When Zoey reached the cafeteria, she spotted Emely sitting at their usual table with Chris and Nick. The vibrant chatter of students surrounded her, but she felt detached, like she was watching a scene unfold from behind glass.

"Hey, Zoey!" Emely called out, her voice warm and inviting. "Come!"

Zoey forced a smile as she approached the table. "Hey, guys."

"Everything okay?" Emely asked, her gaze sharp with concern.

"Just the usual," Zoey replied, trying to brush it off. "You know how school is."

Chris shot her a look that told her he wasn't buying it. "That didn't look like just the usual. What happened with Matt?"

"Ugh, don't even get me started," she said, rolling her eyes. "He's insufferable."

"Sounds about right," Nick chimed in, smirking. "Dude needs a serious attitude adjustment."

"Seriously," Emely added, her brow furrowing. "He has no idea what you're going through."

Zoey felt a lump form in her throat. "You guys don't understand. He thinks I'm just looking for attention"

"Who cares?" Chris said, his tone fierce. "You're not responsible for his opinion. Just focus on yourself and your friends who actually care."