The Theory of Love Ch. 03

Author's Note:

Welcome back to The Theory of Love.

Originally, this was planned as a three-chapter story, but as I wrote, it grew. Some scenes ran deeper, new characters demanded a voice, and honestly, I was having too much fun to stop.

Chapter 3 became something much larger than expected, so much so that I had to split it, refine it, and let the story breathe. This version reflects the direction I believe is right for the series, and I hope you enjoy it.

As I did with Chapter 1, I made some light edits to Chapters 1 and 2 when preparing this release. I start each chapter from scratch, so some small adjustments to names, timestamps, or minor events were necessary for consistency. Don't worry--Chapter 3 isn't dependent on the new updates, and these tweaks shouldn't detract from your experience.

I post updates every Saturday on my profile. Follow me there to stay in the loop about upcoming chapters, projects, or any delays.

Now, without further ado...

Here's Chapter 3.

Happy reading.

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?????

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Everything around me looked big. Not skyscraper big, just big in that "the world has just opened up" kind of way. I took a deep breath, grabbed my overstuffed bag, and stepped out of the car. I was so focused on taking it all in, I nearly missed the soft "ahem" behind me.

I turned to see Mia standing there, arms outstretched, her baby bump clearly visible. In the passenger seat, Matilda--her girlfriend--waved with a soft smile. I nearly forgot myself as I turned and threw my arms around Mia without thinking. I waved toward Matilda mid-hug, both of us shedding a few tears as we pulled apart.

"I'm going to miss you so much, little sis! But just you wait--uni life will be the best thing that's ever happened to you! You might find someone special, or better yet, find out who you are."

She ruffled my hair and gave one of my twin tails a playful tug. I smiled, brushing my fringe back over my eyes and pulling the hood of my hoodie up.

Later, I wandered through what I thought led to the dorm entrance, but it turned out to be the campus library. First-day jitters were hitting hard. I turned towards a bench to sit down and reorient when a confident, friendly voice spoke from behind me.

"Heya! You look a little lost. Guessing you're also new here and looking for dorm reception?"

I turned around to find a group of girls with a variety of hair colours. One stood out in front, her platinum blonde hair shone just like the confident smile on her face, she was clearly the one who had spoken. I gave a nervous laugh and dropped the now-heavy bag to the floor.

"Yeah... you could say that. First day--just commuted here from four states away."

The lead girl approached, slinging an arm casually around my shoulders and pulling me closer.

"I can help you there. The girls and I are heading that way anyway. Don't be shy! We might seem intimidating, but we've been tight since high school. We don't bite."

As we walked toward the dorms, I could feel her eyes on me, studying me like a puzzle she already knew how to solve.

"I'm guessing you're the quiet, mousy type. Let me guess, you looked around and thought everything feels big, huh?"

Before I could answer, she tugged down my hoodie, revealing my fringe and twin tails. I heard soft murmurs from the others: "Oh wow!" and "Poor girl."

"Oh damn! Why is someone as good-looking as you hiding behind all this?" she asked, gesturing to my clothes and hair. "If you want, we can help you out--maybe even give you a makeover?"

My teeth sank into my lower lip. My brain screamed "run!" but loneliness held me still.

"Why..." I hesitated, eyes flicking to the other girls. "Why are you being nice to someone like me?"

The head girl sighed, tilting her head slightly, eyes full of false pity.

"Honestly? I just can't help but see that you need a real friend. I--well, we--can be those friends, if you're okay with that. I can see the fierce woman hiding under the fringe and hoodie. So how about it?"

She smiled warmly. "I'm Hannah Monroe, by the way. That's Rachel Adams, and that's Katherine Evens, but she goes by Kat." she said, pointing first to the brunette, then to the fiery redhead.

Hannah extended her hand towards me. "I don't think we got your name?"

The logical side of me screamed, Don't do it! But the lonely side--the side aching for connection--whispered, What harm could it do? They seem nice enough.

The lonely side won.

I took her hand and smiled.

"I'm Jessica. Jessica Mason. Freshman like you lot! Nice to meet you!" Our hands reached out and grasped as we shook hands. The excitement of making some new friends made me miss how Hannah's face slowly morphed into a grin that didn't belong on a new friend's face, but a hunter.

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Jessica

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My eyes snapped open, memories of my first day on campus yanking me from sleep. I lay there, my head resting on a fluffy pillow, as memories from that first day began to bleed into everything that came after. What a whirlwind of a year that turned out to be.

With Hannah's guidance, I slowly came out of my shell over my freshman year, and I blossomed. I went from the shy, introverted girl who hid behind a hoodie to become the confident, sassy woman who oozed sex appeal.

I still remember the week I lost my virginity. My birthday had just passed when Hannah orchestrated the whole thing, first setting up my first kiss with a varsity player, then 'borrowing' Nathan, Kat's closest guy friend, as a belated gift. It was the day after sleeping with Nathan that she and the girls officially inducted me into the group they'd formed back in high school: a pact they called "The Rule of Four."

I remember asking what it meant--It sounded like it was meant for four people, like D'Artagnan tagging along with the Three Musketeers. They assured me it was just a set of four rules they'd lived by since they started high school.

The rules, as they told me, were:

1. No attachments. No boyfriends. Friends before flings--no guy is worth the fallout.

2. Always protect the circle. What happens with the four stays with the four. Loyalty is everything.

3. Always be seen. Never be soft. We don't chase. We don't cry. We make them want us.

4. Share and share alike. If he's good enough for one, he's good enough for all.

They laughed when they said it. I laughed along, keeping with the flow.

Still, I went with the flow. Sophomore year became my coming-out party--I made myself known, racked up an impressive headcount. Not Hannah-level stats, but enough to leave a mark.

It wasn't until I met Tom in Junior year that I...

I flung myself upright, clutching my chest as I gasped for breath. After a few seconds, I managed to calm down, but my cheeks were wet with tears. The memories were catching up to me fast.

"Tom..."

My face scrunched up as every. Single. Moment. hit me in waves--shame, rage, sadness. My shaking hands moved up to cover my eyes, and I started to cry.

Not the soft kind. The ugly kind where the tears come with snot and drool, where your body folds in on itself and all you want is to disappear.

I had something amazing. I had found love.

It was just like Mia said on my first day: 'Maybe you'll meet someone special.' I had. I'd found love. And now it was gone.

I wanted to curl into a ball and waste the day away. There was no reason to move. No reason to try. Just sit in my room and--

Wait... my room?

My hands dropped from my face. The pity party screeched to a halt. I blinked and looked around.

I was... back. In my dorm.

I glanced toward my dresser. My disguise from our first date--wig and glasses--still sat there. And perched right on top, like a mocking little gremlin, was the rogue figurine I'd "stolen" from Tom. I reached out and cradled the figurine against my chest, looking down at it as a tear dropped on the deformed head.

"How did I get here...? I'm pretty sure I collapsed from exhaustion. Who--?"

"It was me." I jumped and turned, sharp and ready to confront whoever it was. "I brought you back here, couldn't leave you in the middle of nowhere." I froze as I saw Kat. She stood uncertainly in the doorway, her posture stiff, face torn between sadness and guilt, like she hadn't meant to be seen.

"Jessica..." she said softly.

"What are you doing here, Katherine?" I cut her off, every syllable sharpened by rage. "Haven't you, Rachel, and that bitch Hannah already wrecked my life?"

I stood, the sheets falling from my lap as heat surged through me.

"You came to see the fallout? Well, congrats! Mission accomplished! Tom's gone. You broke us. I told you all--I was done with the Rule of Fucking Four."

Kat flinched but didn't speak. Her silence just made it worse.

"You think I don't remember the rules?" I spat. "No attachments. No boyfriends. 'Friends before flings.' I agreed to that shit when I was younger and stupid and desperate to belong."

I paced as I spoke, the words tumbling out like venom.

"You remember that night I had my first kiss? Varsity guy? The very next night, I was on the couch... watching you snuggle up to Nathan."

Kat looked down, but I wasn't finished.

"Don't you dare deny it, Katherine. He wasn't just some guy. The way you were with him on the couch? That wasn't casual. That wasn't friendly.

So what the hell, Kat? Why did I have to fuck the one person you cared about just to earn my place?"

Her lips parted like she might answer--but nothing came out. She looked like she was warring with herself, emotions flickering behind her eyes. Then she looked up. Her face steeled.

When she spoke, her voice was so quiet I almost missed it.

"Nathan is..." she swallowed. "Nathan's my cousin. I'm in love with him. Or rather... I was in love with him. Nobody else knew. We kept it quiet. He was my first... and we promised we'd only ever be with each other."

She let out a long breath, one laced with realization more than regret.

"Ah, who am I kidding? I'm still in love with Nathan. And yes, you're right... the morning after you two had sex, and we inducted you into the Rule of Four? You were correct in your assumption. There's more to it than we let on."

She paused. Her eyes dropped.

"As far as Nate goes... I was upset. Angry. Pissed off. At both Hannah and you."

The thought stung, sharp and sudden. I pushed it down. My jaw clenched.

"Me? Why me?"

"Because you picked him," she said softly. "You had the choice. But Hannah... she made it a rule. She made it impossible to say no."

That stopped me cold.

"Wait... I picked him?" I asked slowly. "What are you talking about? Hannah said Nathan was on loan from you for my first time," I added, voice rising. "I never picked anyone! I almost backed out. But then Hannah told me you were fine with it--that you'd given your blessing."

Kat staggered slightly, like something inside her had just shifted--like a puzzle piece had finally clicked into place.

"We were both played," she whispered.

"I thought you picked Nathan. You thought I was okay with it. But it was all Hannah... that fucking bitch...

"Even if I never showed it,. "I tried to act like it didn't bother me. Like if I ignored it long enough, it would stop hurting. I told myself to just grin and bear it. And honestly, we even got along sometimes. But every now and then... I'd look at you and feel this weird tug, like I was staring at the girl who stole my future." she quietly said.

She turned away for a moment, her voice falling to a whisper.

"Sometimes I wonder if the Rule of Four was ever worth it..."

I stepped forward, gentler this time.

"Katherine... Kat... please. Tell me what's really going on. What is the truth? What is the REAL Rule of Four about?"

I waited for Kat's response--but she stayed silent. I wanted answers. I deserved them, after everything that happened. I pressed her for more.

"The way those rules were worded... they rolled off Hannah's tongue with such precise ease, like she'd been saying them for years before I joined. Like they were always meant for four people."

I paused, my voice shaking.

"Please, Kat. I know I fucked up--not telling Tom about the forfeit when I had every chance. But none of you had the right to let him find out like that. What did Simon tell him? And more importantly... why is Hannah doing this?"

Kat stood there for a long moment; eyes fixed on me--but not really looking at me. It was like she was staring through me, at something only she could see.

Then, finally, she moved.

She pulled out her phone and began swiping. I clutched the rogue figurine tight to my chest, fresh tears slipping down my cheeks.

Kat paused mid-swipe, her eyes catching on me, clutching the rogue figurine like a lifeline. Her expression softened, a flicker of understanding crossing her face.

"You actually love him, don't you?"

I blinked, caught off guard. "What?"

"Tom," she repeated. "You weren't faking it, were you? The whole month after you sent us the forfeit pic--the semi-ghosting, the distant looks whenever we met up, the forced giggles when Rachel or I told a lame joke. Us meeting you and Han.. I mean Tom" she let off a small giggle at that.

"He sure looked extra handsome when he dressed up, didn't he Jessica? I didn't even realise "nerds" had muscles under their baggy clothes! Tom must have been the exception, eh?" She offered a soft smile, a weak attempt at levity.

I didn't answer. I didn't need to. I knew she was trying to break the ice--and she wasn't wrong. Tom was hot, especially when we tricked the girls with his Hank persona. A loving smile adorned my lips at the memory, a smile Kat saw.

Kat nodded slowly, her lips pressing into a thin line. "That smile right there, I've only seen that once before."

She crossed the room and perched on the edge of my bed, as if standing was too heavy for what she needed to say..

Then she turned her phone to face me.

On the screen was a photo of a girl, maybe sixteen. Long blonde hair, bright green eyes, a soft smile. She looked like--

"Kat... who is that? And why does she look like me?"

"Her name is Lily," she said. "Rachel and I met her in our first week of high school. Hannah already knew her--even before any of us came into the picture. Thick as thieves. Practically inseparable. Kind of a no-brainer since they were childhood friends. Rachel and I joined them not long after. The four of us clicked instantly."

She glanced at me.

"And that's when we made the Rule of Four."

I sat still, letting the words settle. Urging her to continue.

"It wasn't... like what it is now," Kat went on, her voice distant, like she was unspooling a memory she hadn't touched in years. "The rules were jokey. Stupid. Stuff like 'steal a guy's hoodie' or 'see who can get the most Insta likes on a thirst trap.' Even back each other up if one of us needed help. It was all harmless."

She swallowed hard. "The one rule that remained consistent, even back then, was no attachments, no boyfriends. But it was more of a soft boundary than some twisted 'use guys for their dicks' manifesto. We were just figuring things out. Hannah, however, was different. Even with Lily as her best friend, she always had this... intensity. Like she was determined to be ahead of everyone."

Kat glanced away, then back.

"Lily was the romantic. Said she'd wait for Mr. Right, no matter what. Not even Hannah could pressure her. She used to tease Lily all the time--said she was dreaming. Meanwhile, she bragged about losing her V-card not long after her 16th birthday. Rachel and I held out for a while, but eventually lost ours at 17. Well... You know how mine happened. But Rachel? Sometimes I wonder. Hannah was... persuasive. If I had to guess, I'd say she probably orchestrated Rachel's first time as well, but Rachel never talked about it. And I never had the nerve to ask. But Lily? She stuck to it. Never cared about peer pressure. Never caved."

Kat paused for a moment. I saw her close her eyes before she continued.

"Then Lily surprised us all. It was prom night--our final year of high school. We were planning to go together, the four of us, having one last hurrah before heading off to uni. Hannah, Rachel, and I were waiting at the entrance, ready to set the town on fire. That's when Lily showed up... with a date on her arm."

She took a breath.

"That was the first time I saw Hannah lose it. None of us were prepared."

I raised an eyebrow. "I take it Hannah didn't approve of him?"

Kat gave a rueful smile. "That would be an understatement. In fact... you and she have something in common. Lily's man? Total nerd."

My eyes widened at that, this was becoming way too freaky, I looked exactly like Hannah's childhood friend, and we both fell in love with nerds?

"That wasn't all," Kat said. "While Hannah was mid-rant, demanding to know how long this had been going on, Rachel unintentionally escalated Hannah's anger. She pointed at Lily's hand and shouted, 'Lily! What the fuck is that?!' We saw it--her ring finger. Typical Lily smiled with that sparkle in her eye and told us he proposed on Pi Day."

My breath caught. That sounds like something Tom could've done.

"Hannah snapped. Launched herself at Lily, yelling that she was betraying the group. That she was breaking the rules--our rules. But none of us remembered making those rules. Not the way Hannah recited them."

"So what happened?" I asked.

"She left," Kat said. "Lily left the group. She told us she was moving states to go to uni with her fiancé. Hannah never forgave her."

Kat took a shaky breath.

"And that's when everything changed. The Rule of Four stopped being about fun. It became doctrine. Punishment.

No Attachments -- No Falling in Love.

Obey the Circle -- Loyalty Without Question.

Always Be Seen -- Always Be Desired.

Share Everything -- Even Partners.

We didn't agree to the new rules. We just... followed them."

"The version we gave you--the one with the stupid 'be seen, don't cry' stuff? That was a half-truth. We kept it light, on purpose. But after Lily left... Hannah rewrote the rules. She twisted them into commandments. No room for small jokes. Just complete control."

My heart pounded in my chest. Everything was clicking into place. Every unspoken glance. Every uncomfortable moment I had brushed aside, why was Hannah so desperate to... then it clicked.

"I was Lily's replacement," I whispered.

Kat nodded slowly. "You reminded Hannah of her. Same energy. Same spark. Rachel and I knew she missed Lily. So she'd shape you before you had a chance to get away. That's why she was so adamant about you losing your virginity quickly. But the process had to be done without breaking you fully... and without you falling in love."

"But I did fall," I said, voice cracking. "For Tom."

Kat looked at me, eyes wet. "Yeah... the Monday after you sent Hannah that pic, we saw your face. You said you were fine, but we knew. That was the face of someone falling in love. And Hannah? She lost it. Rachel and I just froze--she was that irate. Eventually, she calmed down, but she didn't have to say it out loud. We knew she was thinking about Lily. She tried so hard to keep our group together after Lily went away, even going as far as breaking me and Nathan up... to the point of making Nathan..." Her voice cracked.

I stayed silent as I watched Kat bring her hands to her face, wiping away the tears.

"Kat... are you still...?"

She cut me off before I could finish.

"Yeah. I never stopped loving him," she whispered. "He couldn't even look at me in the eyes after what Hannah made him do. That's why he transferred to a new campus before sophomore year, without even saying goodbye." She took a shaky breath.

"He never liked Hannah. He warned me, over and over. But I was so deep in it... I couldn't get out without burning the whole thing down."--She slowed down, gathering herself before she carried on.

"We promised we'd be together, only having each other. But that night... he went off and had sex with you. I thought you'd chosen him. And he... he went along with it. It was like a dam broke, and..."

She broke down in front of me. I crawled to her, arms open--not as an enemy, but as someone who finally understood. And maybe--just maybe--someone who could help her heal, too.

She wasn't just heartbroken. She was betrayed by Hannah, by me, by the rules that forced her to give away the one person she truly loved... all because of some sick initiation.

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Tom -- Sunday Afternoon

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I didn't even remember how I got there. One moment I was outside, walking away from Jessica--the weight of her silence still ringing in my ears. The next, I was swiping the keycard into Harry and Charlie's dorm.

They'd given me a spare months ago. "Just in case," Charlie had said with a grin.

I closed the door and sank, back against it, slowly sliding down until I was sitting on the floor. I stared up at the ceiling.

Alone.

Never thought I'd end up back at square one after tasting a moment of happiness.

I forced myself to stand. Forced myself to step further inside, past the pizza boxes, hoodies, and scattered game controllers. The familiar stench of stale energy drinks, body spray, and reheated takeout--normally disgusting--was oddly comforting. It didn't smell like her. No hint of her signature scent of vanilla and roses.

I sat on the edge of the sofa, slowly sinking into the cushions, trying to disappear. Just trying to escape everything. I took a deep breath and unlocked my phone.

The photo stared back at me.

Just looking at it brought the memory flooding back. That night, over a month ago. My first time. Most people don't forget theirs.

But when Simon sent this image, his message turned something private into something ugly. It stopped being mine.

Now, without Simon's poison in my ear, I could finally see it for what it was... or at least what I thought it had been.

I studied the photo, letting my eyes drift over the curves of Jessica's body. Her hair was a blur of motion, her expression wild--not just lust, but something else... something I couldn't name. My eyes drifted towards my head in the background, awkward and vulnerable. My o-face. Every guy hates theirs and I was no exception.

I looked further down. Her breasts caught mid-heave. A thick arc of white frozen in motion. My cock...

"Wow... am I really THAT big?" I muttered tonelessly.

Anyway.

My cock rested against her stomach. Her thighs parted. The detail was that crisp, you could almost see the heat radiating off her. And under it all were the blurry words: "Forfeit complete."

Usually, just looking at Jessica's body would've been enough to make me hard. She'd sent more than enough nude selfies to tide me over when we were apart--those teasing panty shots, those playful breast presses where she somehow made them look even bigger than they were.

But now?... there was nothing.

I cupped my crotch--out of reflex more than desire. Tried to coax even a twitch. But there was nothing. Not a single stir of arousal. It was like something inside me had been shut off.

As if that photo, those words, had killed any trace of libido I'd ever felt for her.

Footsteps echoed down the hallway. Voices.

Startled, my hand jumped and the phone fell from it. I lunged to grab it with my other hand, but in the process, slipped on a pillow and mid-air slapped it, sending it clattering toward the door.

The handle turned, and Charlie's voice came first, loud and laughing:

"... I swear, Hannah had a literal red handprint on her cheek. Looked like someone finally put the queen bitch in her place, I heard it was Jes--"

The phone stopped at his feet.

Goddammit.

He stopped mid-sentence and looked down. Silence. Then up--eyes meeting mine, half on and half off the sofa, then down again.

He bent closer. His eyes widened as he saw the graphic detail of the picture.

"Goddamn, Tom! You've got to be more careful if you don't want us seeing your naked pics of Jessica. But if you're gonna have a solo session, maybe save it for your own room, man."

Harry peered over Charlie's head. Looked down--then let out a rare, full-volume shout.

"DUDE! Where the hell were you hiding THAT?!"

Charlie looked again. finally noticing two parts of me on display.

Now both of my friends had seen how well-endowed I am.

Charlie looked at my embarrassed state, clearly clocking that something was wrong.

He whistled in appreciation.

"Damn, dude. In the future, whenever we're walking side by side, give me ample warning before you're about to turn--I don't want to get slapped by that monster."

I could tell he was trying to cheer me up. He always knew how to spin an embarrassing moment into a "look on the bright side" one. And despite his small, pudgy build and shameless sense of humour, Charlie was a good friend.

"Heh, I'll let you know," I muttered. "Don't worry, Charlie. And I dunno, Harry--I somehow managed to hide it really well, don't you think?"

Charlie handed me back my phone. I turned and walked towards the sofa, my eyes falling back on the image. The wounds were still fresh.

Call it impulse--or pure, bitter rage--but I started going through every social media app where Jessica and I were connected. One by one, I blocked her. I didn't want to see her name. Her smile. Or worse, her with Simon.

"Erm... Tom?" Charlie asked, a hesitant edge to his voice, noticing my rapid swiping and blocking. "Did something happen between you and Jessica? You're blocking her on, like... every platform?"

I didn't answer. My thumbs kept swiping. My jaw tightened. Each tap was like scratching a scab, and with every press, the pain flared worse.

It wasn't until I felt a hand grip my left shoulder that I snapped out of it. My phone was slapped from my hands, clattering to the floor.

I barely had time to register the crash before I felt arms wrap around mine from behind--Harry. He yanked me back into the sofa like he was afraid I might bolt. His lanky legs wrapped around my waist, hooking his ankles together, locking me in place like some kind of submission hold.

Charlie stepped in front of me, his face devoid of his usual jokey self. He placed his hands on my shoulders, firm and steady, like he was trying to ground me.

"Tom," Harry said from behind me, his voice showing concern and worry. "What's going on? Did something happen in the last hour that made you nuke Jessica from your life?"

My face collapsed. I looked down at the fallen phone, screen side up. "We've broken up... She... she used me as a dress-up project, just so she could get a month-long get-together with Simon. She never cared about me at all."

Charlie looked stunned, locking eyes with Harry, whose grip loosened slightly. Neither could believe what they'd just heard. Charlie moved back into view, studying my face.

"Bro... are you sure about that? Jessica doesn't seem the type to be that cruel. Did she say this herself, or did you hear it from someone else?"

I blinked, where is Charlie going with this? "Does it matter where I got it from? That Image and what Simon told me were more than enough. Plus, Jessica's silence when I confronted her said it all. She and Simon planned it."

"So that's a no then... Simon said it all. I take it you got the image from him as well?"

"Simon sent it," I said flatly. "Said it was a forfeit. A joke. A game. I thought she was different," I whispered, my voice breaking "I really thought I caught a break this time."

That old ache crept back in--the one I thought I'd buried in high school. Being the quiet one. The one who got used while the girl I thought loved me was already searching for her upgrade. I became the safe option until someone louder or flashier came along. I'd seen the cycle enough to recognize the pattern.

But with Jess... Jessica, it felt different. And I let myself believe it was different.

She looked at me like I mattered, touched me like I wasn't invisible.

And now... this.

"She played me. Just like the others."

Harry rested a steady hand on my shoulder, his legs still crossed holding me in place "You don't know that for sure."

"But Simon..."

"Simon's a dick, you know he's always had it out for us." Said Charlie as he crossed his arms. "We never trusted him. Hell, Jessica always seemed like she was pulling away from that whole group. Maybe there's more to it."

I wanted to believe them. God, I did. But the photo burned behind my eyes. Her smile. My vulnerability. Turned into proof of betrayal.

"Just... give me time," I muttered. "I need to think... I'm sorry, I know we had plans today, but I won't be able to focus."

Harry nodded. "Understandable." He finally let go of my arms. For a quiet guy, Harry had a hell of a grip.

Charlie picked up my phone. He hesitated before handing it back. "Tom... I want your permission. Can I have a copy of this? I'll blur out your parts out of respect, but there's something not right about it."

I just wanted to get out of there, clear my head. So I nodded. "Do whatever you want. I'll delete it all anyway. I need to go back to my dorm and sort my head out. You understand, right?"

Charlie and Harry nodded, both watching me as I made my way to their front door.

"We'll be here, man. No questions, no pressure. But please don't do anything stupid until I've had a look at this. Something about the whole thing doesn't sound right. No one goes two months deep just to hook up with Simon."

"You clearly haven't experienced my bad luck with girls," I deadpanned, closing the door behind me as I walked toward my dorm. My mind was running a mile a minute--spinning through possible scenarios and strategies. But every outcome agreed on one thing: I couldn't stay here. Not with them still on campus.

But before that, I had some packing to do. I wasn't about to keep anything in my room that reminded me of Jessica.

Starting with those damn clothes...

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Jessica

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Kat's crying had slowed to quiet sobs after a good 10 minutes, but she was still curled tightly against me on the bed, her arms locked around my waist like a lifeline. I kept stroking her hair, eyes half-lidded, mind spinning in slow, exhausted circles.

Both Kat and I jumped as my phone buzzed sharply on the nightstand, dragging me out of my haze. It was my alarm--for Monday lectures.

I blinked and silenced it, frowning. Monday? As I reached for the phone, an old calendar notification lit up the screen:

Yesterday: "Ask Tom about Thanksgiving plans -- 'Meet the family ????#ThisIsReallyHappening.'"

I stared at it like it had slapped me.

"Wait... what? It's Monday? I thought it was still Sunday..."

My chest tightened. My mind started to spiral. No. No no no. This can't be happening. Everything's going wrong... Why did she have to interfere? Why couldn't Hannah just leave me the fuck alone?

A gentle touch landed on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Jessica. But yeah--it's early Monday morning. Just after six. I brought you back here after you collapsed yesterday."

I turned toward Kat, trying to focus. My thoughts were scrambled--how had I slept through everything? How much damage had Hannah's bombshell done in just twelve hours?

"I hadn't told Tom yet. After Hannah wanted to meet with me... I was supposed to ask him yesterday if he wanted to come to mine for Thanksgiving. To meet my sister. Her wife. Their daughter. To show him the family who supported me, even after everything I became."

My nails dug into my palms.

Goddamn that bitch Hannah. She ruined everything.

I saw a lot of notifications on my phone, mainly missed calls and messages from Charlie and... ugh... a lone slimy text from Simon. But it was Charlie's chain texts that really shook me.

Yesterday: 12:05 PM -- Charlie: 'I heard you were the one who gave Hannah that red mark on her cheek! Pretty sure I saw the side of her face swelling up! XD'

Yesterday: 12:32 PM -- Simon: 'Hey babe! Now that the geek has been removed from your life, let's say you and I hook up so you can have a real man between your legs? ; D'

Yesterday: 3:18 PM -- Charlie: 'Hey. Have you heard from Tom? He's not answering me or Harry. Can you just let us know if he's okay? He was supposed to be at his flat. He's not there.'

Yesterday: 6:47 PM -- Charlie: 'Jessica I'm worried, did he come to you? I need to know what happened between you two. He's totally MIA...'

Yesterday: 9:14 PM -- Charlie: '... Is this what you wanted? Was this just about Simon? Because it sure as hell looks that way right now.'

Today: 00:06 AM -- Charlie: 'Look... Regardless of your reasons, we need to talk. Please. Today.'

What the hell happened? Tom's gone? I was out of it for less than a day--how did everything unravel so fast?

I fumbled out a reply to Charlie with trembling fingers:

Today: 6:37 AM -- Jessica: 'Charlie, I don't know what Tom told you, but it's not true. I'm not into Simon--God, I'd rather swear off sex entirely than let him near me. What time should we meet?'

Not a few minutes after hitting send, Charlie replied:

Today: 6:39 AM -- Charlie: 'That's good to hear. I knew it was all bullshit. As for time? Midday if possible. I've got a morning exam before Thanksgiving break. Can Harry and I meet you outside your dorm complex? I'm worried about Tom, Jessica. I had to stop him from blocking you completely on all social media. Try to reach out to him if you can. See you later!'

I scrambled through my apps--Instagram, Snap, WhatsApp, even Discord--trying to reach Tom. Every attempt was hitting a similar wall:

'Your message could not be sent' or 'This user has blocked you'

I stared at the screen, frozen. The longer I looked, the more it felt like something was tearing open inside me.

This wasn't just a breakup--he'd erased me from his life.

A soft thud, followed by a familiar three-knock pattern on my door, jolted me upright.

Tom?! He's here?!

Fresh tears welled up as I lunged for the door. I didn't care how I looked, still in yesterday's jeans and crop top, barefoot, hair tangled and face blotchy from crying.

I just wanted to see him. My hands trembled as I unlatched the lock and threw it open.

"Tom?!"

The hallway was empty.

The only sound was hastily fading footsteps echoing down the stairwell.

I stepped forward, ready to chase after them, only to stumble as my foot hit something solid. I looked down.

A box?

That could wait. Tom was more important.

I bolted barefoot toward the stairs, taking them two at a time. I heard the main entrance doors shut just below. I turned the corner sharply and leapt down the last few steps--nearly barreling into a group of girls rounding the hallway corner.

I shouldered my way through them and shoved open the dual glass doors, hearing the faint cry of "hey!" as I stepped into the cold November air.

The campus was still cloaked in darkness, lit only by the soft orange glow of the walkway lights.

I looked left, then right, desperately searching for any sign of him. But there was nothing.

A trembling breath escaped as I turned back, rubbing away fresh tears. I retraced my steps in defeat, offering a half-hearted "sorry" to the girls I'd brushed past.

I was turning the first part of the stairwell when I heard one of them whisper, forcing it just loud enough to be heard: "Was THAT Jessica Mason?"

One of the other girls replied, not bothering to hide her voice, "Looks like it, since when does one of the bad bitches of campus offer apologies to normies?"

I paused mid stride, their talking and laughter fading as they went outside the dorm complex, Was I really considered a bad bitch? Well, after what happened with Tom, it might as well be true.

I made my way back to my room and found Kat standing in the doorway, staring down at the box.

I knelt, looking at it, breath caught in my chest. I made a passing glance at Kat as I picked up the box and brought it inside.

We returned to my bedroom in silence. She gently closed the door behind us while I sank onto the bed, the box on my lap.

Taking a deep breath, I opened it.

The contents made my throat tighten. Folded neatly--heartbreakingly-- were all the clothes I'd ever bought him.

My hands trembled as I picked up the shirt he'd chosen himself. I brought it to my face, breathing in--hoping to catch his scent. Hoping it would calm me. But it didn't. It wasn't really him. Just fabric now.

Then I noticed something else: an envelope, resting on top of the other folded clothes. There was a bulge inside.

I opened it slowly. Inside was a small, familiar figure--the mutant-blob with googly eyes. My fingers clenched around it, heart twisting.

Inside the envelope, there was also a short note.

Only one line:

"I no longer need these. Maybe Simon would put these to better use."

Rage exploded in my chest, primal and hot. Tom mentioning Simon yet again! Simon fed Tom a bunch of bullshit, bullshit that was given from Hannah.... Hannah... that bitch.... That fucking bitch... I lost my composure and let loose a howl of anger.

"GODDAMN IT, HANNAH! FUCK YOU! I SHOULD'VE SLAPPED YOU EVEN HARDER, YOU MANIPULATIVE FUCKING BITCH!"

I scrunched the note into a tight ball and hurled it against the wall, barely missing Kat's head. Kat flinched, her body tense with shock. I probably woke half the damn dorm but I didn't care. All I could think of was Tom and how stupid I was handling the whole thing.

I should've told him sooner. I should've told him everything the moment it started to feel real. But I let it fester. Let it rot. Let Simon and Hannah twist it into a joke, a punishment, a game I never meant to play.

And now Tom was gone. And there was no hint at all to where he disappeared.

Kat rested a hand on my back. I tensed up, my emotions running ragged. I was pulled into a hug that wasn't forced or performative--just human.

"Jess... I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry," she whispered. Her voice was soft, brittle. "I see how much you loved him. We shouldn't have done any of it."

I stiffened, listening.

"I-I'll admit it. The reason I helped you outside campus, stayed by your side... it was to bring you back to Hannah. She said she'd forgive the slap and let you back in, under heavy supervision and a punishment fitting what you did to humiliate her in front of everyone. That was the deal. But now? I see you're not going back. And maybe... maybe you shouldn't."

The ache in my chest twisted sharper. Tears welled up again, threatening to overflow. I couldn't hold them in this time as I sobbed into her shoulder, full-body shaking, until I felt her trembling too. Kat was crying with me.

Both of us were burned by Hannah's toxic web, her Rule of Four. I didn't know where Rachel stood anymore. Probably tending to Hannah's cheek still. Kat was remorseful at least, as for me? If i wasn't done before, I was now, fuck her!

"Tell Hannah something for me," I muttered between sobs. "Tell her that I reject her generous goddamn offer. Tell her she can shove her rules, her punishments, and her 'forgiveness' straight up her fake blonde ass. And if I see her again? I'll slap the other side of her face so the first one has company."

Kat gave a wet laugh--half a sob, half a gasp. I felt her nod against my hair.

Then I pulled back and stared her dead in the eyes.

"Also? Tell her thank you."

She blinked. "What?"

"Yeah. Thank her." I laughed bitterly. "Because of the forfeit, I found someone worth more than her whole little empire. Someone who made me believe in real love. Someone who didn't try to remake me into a doll."

Kat's eyes widened as I stepped back.

"And you can tell her this too," I added, voice soft but razor-edged. "Now I see why Lily hid falling in love from her."

Kat gasped--a sharp inhale like I'd just landed a hit she wasn't ready for.

"And you?" I said, pointing gently at her chest. "You love Nathan. I can see it. I saw it back then. Don't waste it. When all this shit is over? Move to another state and marry him. You two would make the cutest redheaded babies."

She flushed crimson, and for once, didn't have a sarcastic comeback. Guess I was right.

"Jess," she murmured, wiping her eyes, "what will you do now? Thanksgiving break isn't for another four days. You can't hide out in here forever."

I didn't answer at first. I had no idea what I was going to do--or where to go. Then I noticed an old notification buried under the flood of texts from Charlie.

Yesterday: 11:20am -- Mia: Heya Jessie! Oh my god!! Has my cute little sister finally fallen in love??? Of course they're welcome to spend Thanksgiving with us! We can't wait to meet him--unless it's really a her and you're being shy about it? ;) Either way, they better be ready for a full Mason-style grilling! : P When shall we expect you? xxx