RIVALS IN THE HALLWAYS

Chapter Eight: Shifting Dynamics

The tension from the poolside incident still clung to the air, but the party eventually resumed, albeit at a slower pace. Aella sat on a lounge chair away from the crowd, wrapped in a towel that Grayson had draped over her. Her fingers trembled as she tried to sip from the water bottle Grayson had handed her, but her mind was still swirling with the panic she had felt in the water.

Grayson sat beside her, silent but protective, his presence reassuring. His anger had simmered down, but his eyes still shot daggers toward Emily whenever she came into view, now sulking at the edge of the crowd with her friends.

Aella’s breath hitched as she replayed the moment in her head—the sudden fall, the cold water engulfing her, the overwhelming panic that had drowned out all rational thought. She wasn’t sure if she would’ve made it out of the water without Grayson’s help, and that fact weighed heavily on her.

"You okay?" Grayson asked quietly, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. He’d been checking on her every few minutes, as if afraid she’d disappear if he looked away for too long.

Aella nodded, though her voice was still hoarse. "Yeah… just shaken up."

He didn’t press her for more, just gave her a small nod and leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. It was in these quieter moments, when his usual arrogance and cockiness faded, that Aella found herself seeing Grayson differently—more than just the enemy she used to bicker with. He had been the one to save her, and that thought lingered in her mind longer than she wanted to admit.

Across the pool, Alex was watching them. His jaw was set, and while he didn’t approach, his eyes flicked back and forth between Aella and Grayson. The playful, flirty demeanor he usually wore seemed to have been replaced with something more serious. There was a weight behind his gaze, one that hadn’t been there before.

Finally, Alex stood up and walked over, his expression softening slightly as he crouched down in front of Aella.

"I just wanted to check on you," Alex said, his blue eyes sincere as they locked onto hers. "That was... scary. You good?"

Aella offered him a small smile, grateful for his concern. "Yeah, thanks. It’s just… been a rough day, I guess."

Grayson, who had been silent until now, suddenly shifted in his seat, his eyes narrowing at Alex. "She doesn’t need a constant check-up, Alex. I’ve got it covered."

Alex’s lips twitched into a half-smile, though his eyes didn’t match the amusement. "Relax, big bro. I’m not here to steal your thunder."

Grayson shot him a look, the tension between them thickening again, and Aella could sense it growing by the second. She sighed, running a hand through her damp hair.

"You two seriously need to get over this whole ‘who’s the bigger man’ thing," she muttered, half-joking. "It’s exhausting just watching you."

Alex chuckled lightly, but there was an underlying seriousness in his tone. "Hey, I’m not the one with something to prove." He glanced at Grayson, his eyebrows raised. "Isn’t that right?"

Grayson didn’t take the bait, though his jaw tightened. "I don’t need to prove anything. You’re the one making this a competition."

Aella groaned, standing up. "Okay, enough. Both of you, stop." She tossed the towel aside and straightened her shoulders. "I’m going home."

Grayson immediately stood, concern flashing across his face. "You sure you’re okay to leave?"

"Yeah, I need some air," Aella replied, feeling the weight of the evening bearing down on her. She didn’t need the awkward standoff between Grayson and Alex right now. "Thanks for—well, for everything." Her gaze lingered on Grayson for a moment, knowing how close she had been to something much worse if he hadn’t jumped in.