Southern Charm | wlw

25

Aspen sat cross-legged on her bed, the faint sounds of laughter and chatter filtering through the walls from the common room. She stared blankly at her laptop, but the screen felt more like a blur than anything else. Rowyn was out on another date with Kyle, and despite the promise she had made to herself to stay busy and distract her mind, it only felt like a dull ache in her chest.

She had spent the day trying to shake off the uneasy feeling that clung to her, a mix of anxiety and jealousy that made her restless. The truth was, she couldn't help but think about Rowyn. Every time she had seen the girl over the past few weeks, her heart would flutter in a way she had never quite experienced before. Now, knowing Rowyn was with someone else, especially a guy like Kyle, made her stomach churn.

Aspen finally set her laptop aside, standing up to pace the room. She caught sight of her reflection in the small mirror on the wall. Her messy hair fell in soft waves around her face, and her Southern charm seemed to fade with every passing moment. The bright smile that usually adorned her lips was nowhere to be found, replaced by a frown as she tried to process her feelings.

"Ugh, come on, Aspen! Get it together," she muttered to herself, the frustration in her voice echoing off the walls. She grabbed her phone and opened her messages, staring at Rowyn's last text. Just a casual reminder of their friendship, the ease with which they connected. But now, that friendship felt more complicated than ever.

The clock on the wall ticked away the seconds, each one feeling heavier than the last. She found herself imagining what Rowyn was doing right now—laughing at something Kyle said, her eyes sparkling in a way that made Aspen's heart ache. The thought twisted the knife a little deeper, and she plopped back down on her bed, burying her face in her hands.

Just then, her phone buzzed, jolting her from her thoughts. It was a text from Maya, asking if she wanted to hang out and that she was walking back from class. Aspen hesitated for a moment, the thought of being around someone else not feeling particularly appealing. But she knew she couldn't wallow in her emotions forever. After all, Rowyn was out with Kyle, and there was nothing she could do about it. With a sigh, Aspen replied.

She couldn't shake the feeling of unease. She could only hope that Rowyn would be back soon, and that this time, they could talk—really talk—about what had been simmering between them. But for now, all she could do was distract herself and try to forget, if only for a little while.

As Aspen lounged on their couch, they were laughing and joking about the ridiculous plot twists in their current binge-watch. The two were in their own world, the noise from the show barely penetrating the bubble of their camaraderie. Just as Aspen was about to dive deeper into a particularly funny scene, her phone buzzed with a new message.

It was from Rowyn.

Rowyn: Hey! You won't believe this. Kyle's name isn't really Kyle...

Aspen's heart skipped a beat, her curiosity piqued. She quickly glanced at Maya, who was completely engrossed in the show, then typed back, her fingers shaking slightly.

Aspen: What do you mean? What's his real name?

After a brief moment, Rowyn's reply came through, each word making Aspen's stomach tighten.

Rowyn: His real name is Blake.