Stole My Heart 💕

25 - Reunion

Days passed in a blur, each one seeming indistinguishable from the last. Candice's routine was marked by the quiet monotony of college life—lectures, study sessions, and fleeting moments of reflection on Nick. She thought it would be just another uneventful day, as she rushed to submit some papers for an upcoming event. But fate, as it often does, had other plans.

As she moved through the campus, her mind focused, her steps quick and purposeful, she saw him—Nick. He stood at a distance, a sight that caused her heart to skip. Panic gripped her, and she instinctively turned away, hoping to escape his gaze before he could spot her. But in her haste, she collided with someone. Papers flew from her arms, scattering across the ground. Flustered, she bent to gather them, murmuring an apology.

"Don't be," came the familiar voice, laced with amusement. Candice's head snapped up, and there he was—Nick. He crouched beside her, already gathering the papers with ease. Her heart raced, but she froze, every instinct telling her to flee. His grip on her hand, firm yet unexpected, rooted her to the spot.

"Why are you avoiding me, baby doll?" His voice was sharp, yet there was something vulnerable beneath it.

Candice tried to pull her hand free, but he held on, his eyes searching hers with an intensity that left her breathless. She was caught—between her anger, confusion, and something else, something she couldn't name.

"Let go of my hand," she said firmly, trying to sound calm, but the tremor in her voice betrayed her.

"Why? So you can keep running away?" Nick's smirk only added fuel to the fire of her frustration.

Candice stood still, her voice rising despite her best efforts to control it. "How can you act so normal after everything?" she demanded. The weight of their past was a burden she couldn't shake off, and she didn't know how to face him anymore.

Nick's expression shifted then, guilt replacing his earlier bravado. His voice softened. "I'm sorry, Candice. I got carried away last night... I overreacted."

Her anger flared. "Sorry doesn't erase what happened, Nick. I don't want to see you anymore. I don't want us to cross paths again."

The storm in Nick's eyes intensified, and reluctantly, he let go of her hand. Candice, her heart pounding like a war drum, turned and walked away, not daring to look back.

Later that evening, as she tried to bury her emotions under the weight of her schoolwork, Hanna arrived at her door unannounced. Her friend's presence was both a comfort and a challenge, for Hanna saw right through Candice's attempts to appear fine.

"What happened with Nick?" Hanna's question was gentle but insistent, and Candice couldn't hold back anymore. The dam broke, and she found herself sobbing into Hanna's arms, recounting the confrontation with Nick.

"Do you like him?" Hanna's voice was soft, her hand brushing the hair from Candice's tear-streaked face.

"I did," Candice admitted, the words tasting bitter on her tongue. "But not anymore."

Hanna raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"

Candice nodded, though it felt like a lie she was telling herself more than her friend. "I'm sure."

"Don't make decisions in anger, Candice," Hanna warned, her voice filled with wisdom and concern.

The week dragged on, a blur of lectures, exam preparations, and distractions. Blake, ever the dependable friend, helped Candice study, offering an escape from the swirling thoughts of Nick that threatened to consume her. Still, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake him from her mind.