Hearts Across Halls

Chapter 29

The days following Luca's departure to Italy felt unusually heavy. Elara threw herself into routines, her phone habitually in hand, hoping for messages to fill the growing silence. Luca's updates were sporadic, his texts warm but brief, each one enough to draw her in yet somehow leave her wanting more. Each time her phone chimed, she checked eagerly, but the messages were short, his replies hours apart. She tried not to dwell on it, busying herself with the group activities she'd sometimes missed while he'd been around, but every now and then, she found herself wondering where things stood.

After a week of restless nights and unanswered questions, Rachel and Kenzie took it upon themselves to drag her out to the club on Friday night. "You need a break from moping," Kenzie had declared, crossing her arms in mock seriousness. "A night of dancing, girl talk, and letting go. Doctor's orders!"

Elara hesitated, toying with the idea of just staying in. But a small, growing part of her missed the carefree outings, the laughter, the moments when everything felt light. Besides, a little distraction was what she needed.

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Getting ready was half the fun. The dorm room hummed with energy as Kenzie, Rachel, and Elara rummaged through clothes, swapping outfits and complimenting each other's looks. Laughter echoed off the walls as they applied makeup, trying out bold eyeshadows and sharing beauty tips. Rachel braided Elara's hair in an intricate style, framing her face in a way that made her feel a little bit bolder. Elara found herself laughing more easily than she had in days, the lingering weight of her emotions lifting with each joke, each teasing remark.

"This is exactly what you needed, El," Rachel said with a smile, handing Elara a pair of sparkly earrings to finish her look. "You've been hiding away too long."

As they walked to the club, the night air cool and crisp, the trio fell into an easy rhythm. The streets were alive with other groups heading to the same spot, laughter and anticipation filling the air. Elara could feel her spirits rising with each step, the thrill of an upcoming night out sparking memories of simpler times. By the time they reached the club, she was fully caught up in the excitement, all thoughts of what had been bothering her drifting to the background.

Inside, the bass thrummed through her, a heartbeat of sound that seemed to erase everything but the present. The three of them manoeuvred through the crowd, finding their way to a spot near the bar where they could dance without interruption. Kenzie and Rachel immediately threw themselves into the music, arms up, heads back, singing along as if they were alone in their own private concert. Elara joined them, letting the music fill her until she, too, felt lighter than she had in days.

They danced for what felt like hours, alternating between the floor and the bar, each drink adding to the carefree atmosphere they'd created around themselves. They were in their own little world, separate from everyone else, laughing and spinning under the flashing lights.

But just as she reached for her drink on one of their breaks, Elara felt a shift in the room. She didn't know what it was at first—just a sense that the moment was changing, that something had fractured the ease of the evening. It wasn't until she glanced over her shoulder that she realised why.

Standing by the bar, talking to a few friends, was Charlie.

It felt like a punch to the stomach. Her laughter died on her lips, her hand freezing on her drink. He hadn't seen her yet, or if he had, he was doing a very good job of pretending otherwise. She watched as he casually leaned against the bar, smiling at something his friend said, his posture relaxed. A sharp pang of regret cut through her—regret for how things had ended, for the way their friendship had fallen apart.

But then, as if he sensed her gaze, Charlie looked over. His eyes met hers for a brief, charged moment, and she saw his expression shift, that familiar look of disdain overtaking his features. It was subtle—just a slight narrowing of his eyes, a tightening of his mouth—but it was enough to make her feel small. The sting of his silent condemnation burned through her, each second making her feel worse.

"Hey, you good?" Rachel asked, noticing her sudden stillness.

Elara forced herself to smile. "Yeah, I just— I think I'm going to head back."

Rachel's face fell. "Already? We just got started."

Elara tried to summon a casual tone, but her voice felt thin. "I'm just not feeling it, you know?"

Before they could argue, she gave them each a quick hug and slipped through the crowd, weaving her way to the exit with a single-minded determination to get as far from Charlie as possible. The laughter and music faded as she stepped outside, the cool night air hitting her like a wake-up call. She took a deep breath, wrapping her arms around herself as she started the walk back to the dorms.

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When she got back to her room, the silence felt heavier than before. She kicked off her shoes and curled up on her bed, still wrapped in her coat, as if the fabric could somehow protect her from the flood of emotions threatening to spill over. Her phone buzzed, and she reached for it, her heart sinking as she saw it was a message from Luca.

"Miss you!" was all it said, accompanied by a blurry picture of an Italian sunset. Normally, it would have brought a smile to her face, but tonight, it only deepened the hollow feeling in her chest.

She typed back a quick "Miss you too" before setting the phone down, her thoughts drifting back to Charlie. The way he'd looked at her, as if she were a stranger he couldn't bear to see, replayed in her mind. She couldn't shake the feeling that she'd lost something important, something she hadn't fully appreciated until it was gone.

A knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts, and for a brief moment, her heart raced with the hope that it was Luca. But when she opened it, Rachel stood there, a sympathetic smile on her face.

"I figured you might want some company," she said, stepping inside.

Elara managed a small smile. "Thanks."

They sat on the bed in silence for a moment, the quiet almost comforting. Finally, Rachel looked over, her expression soft. "You don't have to talk about it, but... I saw him too. Charlie."

Elara sighed, leaning back against the wall. "It's stupid, isn't it? It shouldn't matter. We haven't even spoken in forever."

Rachel shook her head. "It's not stupid. He was your friend. Losing a friend is a different kind of pain. But you didn't do anything wrong, you know that, right?"

Elara nodded, but her heart wasn't convinced. They sat in silence for a while longer, Rachel's presence a quiet reassurance that even though things had changed, she wasn't entirely alone.

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Over the next few days, Elara tried to shake off the lingering memories of that night. She threw herself into her routines, tackling her studies and meeting up with her friends when she could. And gradually, the weight began to lift. Her texts with Luca became more frequent, his messages filling her days with small pieces of comfort. Each time she saw his name pop up on her screen, the ache from her encounter with Charlie faded just a little bit more.

As the week passed, she found herself feeling more like herself, the sting of rejection easing as new memories filled its place. One afternoon, as she sat in her room scrolling through old photos, her phone chimed with a message from Luca.

"Back this weekend—can't wait to see you. Let's make it a night to remember ;)"

Elara smiled, her heart lifting. For the first time in days, excitement filled her, anticipation sparking through her as she began planning for his return. Whatever shadows lingered, she would push them aside.