The Girl Next Door

29. A Game of Chance

Astrid's POV

Morning came too quickly, and I woke up feeling like I hadn't slept at all. My eyes were puffy from crying, and my body felt heavy. Still, the idea of staying in this house all day was far worse than the exhaustion weighing me down.

The argument from last night still echoed in my mind. The tension lingered in the air, thick and suffocating. I could hear the faint movements of my mom and stepdad downstairs, and I knew they were probably avoiding each other. It was their routine after a fight.

I sighed, dragging myself out of bed. My pajamas felt too comfortable, like they were trying to tether me to my room, but I needed to get out. I needed school—the noise, the people, even the classes. Anything to distract me.

I shuffled to my closet, pulling out my school uniform and tossing it on the bed. My reflection in the mirror stopped me for a second. Red, swollen eyes and a tired face stared back at me. I splashed some cold water on my face, hoping it would erase the evidence of last night.

Changing quickly, I ran a brush through my hair and grabbed my bag. Before heading out, I hesitated at my bedroom door. The thought of bumping into my mom or stepdad made my stomach twist. I didn't want to face the tension or their forced apologies.

So, I took a deep breath and slipped out as quietly as I could. The morning sun greeted me as I stepped outside, and for the first time since waking up, I felt like I could breathe again.

I walked down the road, the crisp morning air brushing against my face. The sky was bright, but I wasn't in the mood to notice its beauty. I knew I was late for school, but honestly, I didn't care much.

The boys were probably already at school, likely joking around and making their usual scene in the hallway. Alex would be there too. A small smile tugged at the corner of my lips at the thought of him, but it faded as quickly as it came.

I didn't quicken my steps. It wasn't my style to rush, no matter how behind I was. Being late didn't bother me; it gave me time to think, time to decompress from the chaos of my house.

Each step felt heavier than usual, but the familiar routine of walking to school grounded me. The distant sound of students laughing and cars honking in the background reminded me that life moved on, even when mine felt stuck.

As I approached the school gates, I saw the usual crowd lingering outside, chatting and laughing before the bell rang. My pace didn't change; I just slipped past them, unnoticed, like always.

As I walked, I suddenly remembered—I hadn't checked my phone. I reached into my bag, pulling it out, and there they were: Alex's messages.

The first one was from last night:
"Hey, I just wanted to check if you're okay. Let me know if you need anything."

My chest tightened reading it. He must have sensed something was wrong when I didn't reply. I could picture him sitting in his car, debating whether to text again or not.

The second message was from this morning:
"Good morning. I hope today's better for you. See you at school."

Short and sweet, yet it hit me harder than I expected. Even in his simplicity, Alex had a way of making me feel seen, like he cared in ways I didn't know I needed.

I sighed and typed a quick reply:
"Sorry for not replying last night. Things were... hectic. But thank you for checking in. See you at school."

I hesitated before hitting send, but it felt right. Alex had become someone I could trust, someone I didn't have to hide from, and that thought made me feel a little lighter.