The Girl Next Door

34. Timing and Tension

Alex's POV

I walked back into the drama room, trying to keep my expression neutral even though my mind was still spinning. The boys immediately looked up, their faces a mix of guilt and curiosity.

Geoff was the first to speak, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "Hey, man, uh... we're sorry about earlier. We didn't mean to—"

"It's fine," I interrupted, holding up a hand. "Really. It's not a big deal."

Matt frowned, leaning forward. "It looked like a big deal when she walked out."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "She's just tired, okay? She's had a rough week, and the jokes... they didn't help."

Blaine raised an eyebrow. "So, what? She's mad at you now?"

"No," I said firmly, shaking my head. "She's not mad at me. She just needed some air. She'll be back in a bit."

Geoff looked skeptical. "Are you sure about that? I mean, she seemed pretty upset, dude. Like, runaway bride levels of upset."

"She's not running away," I said, giving him a pointed look. "She just needed to clear her head. That's all."

Blaine leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "You really think she's coming back? Because if it were me, and I had to deal with this circus, I'd probably bolt too."

Matt shot Blaine a glare. "Dude, not helpful."

I sighed, dropping into my seat. "She'll come back. She just... she needs space sometimes. You don't know what she's dealing with."

Geoff leaned closer, lowering his voice. "And do you know what she's dealing with? Like, really?"

I hesitated, the weight of Astrid's secrets pressing down on me. "I know enough," I said carefully. "And it's not my place to tell you guys."

The room fell quiet for a moment, the air heavy with unspoken questions.

Finally, Matt broke the silence. "Okay, so... what do we do? Apologize when she gets back? Lay low? Stop being funny altogether?"

"Just—don't make her the center of attention," I said, leaning forward. "She doesn't like it. And honestly, she's got enough going on without us making her feel uncomfortable."

Geoff nodded slowly, his usual smirk replaced with a rare seriousness. "Got it. No jokes. Just vibes."

"Vibes?" Blaine asked, snorting.

"Yeah, like, supportive vibes," Geoff said, throwing up a peace sign for emphasis.

Matt rolled his eyes. "You're impossible."

"Look, I'm serious," Geoff said, turning back to me. "We'll dial it back. For her. And for you."

I nodded, appreciating the effort. "Thanks."

The boys didn't say much after that, and for once, the drama room felt quiet. I glanced at the door every now and then, waiting for Astrid to walk back in, hoping she'd give me the chance to prove I could be the person she needed.

Ten minutes felt like an hour. Every sound in the drama room—the shuffle of papers, the scrape of a chair, the low hum of conversation—seemed amplified as I kept glancing at the door.

Then, finally, she walked in.

Astrid held herself like nothing was wrong, her steps light and deliberate, her face calm. But her eyes—those deep, thoughtful eyes—told a different story. They looked hollow, like she was holding together the pieces of herself with sheer willpower.