As they approached the school gates, the night seemed to stretch endlessly before them.
The usual noise of the city had faded into the distance, leaving only the quiet rhythm of their footsteps and the occasional rustle of leaves in the evening breeze.
Alena glanced at Lexy.
Something about him had changed.
He was still walking beside her, still wearing that familiar smile, but it wasn't quite reaching his eyes.
"Hey," she said softly. "Are you okay?"
Lexy looked at her, almost surprised that she'd noticed.
"Yeah. Just thinking."
"About home?"
His steps slowed.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Alena immediately realized she'd touched something sensitive.
"You don't have to tell me," she added gently. "I just want you to know that you don't always have to pretend everything is fine around me."
Lexy looked at her.
The playful boy she had come to know seemed to disappear for a moment, replaced by someone much more vulnerable.
"You know," he said quietly, "sometimes it's easier to keep things to yourself."
"Maybe," Alena replied. "But that doesn't mean you have to carry everything alone."
He gave a faint smile.
"You always know what to say."
"That's because I'm wise."
He laughed softly.
"There she is."
Alena grinned. "I was wondering where your smile went."
Lexy shook his head, but this time his smile was genuine.
"Thank you, Alena."
"For what?"
"For being here."
Her expression softened.
"Anytime."
They continued walking.
Neither of them said anything for a while, but the silence no longer felt awkward.
Something had shifted between them.
It wasn't simply friendship anymore—not entirely.
Neither of them was ready to name it.
Later That Evening
By the time they reached Alena's dormitory, the school grounds had grown almost completely quiet.
Alena stopped at the entrance and turned toward him.
"I'm really glad we went out tonight."
Lexy smiled.
"Me too."
She hesitated.
"Today was... nice."
"It was."
He looked at her for a moment longer than usual.
"I'm glad you're in my life, Alena."
Her heart skipped.
She wasn't expecting that.
"I'm glad you're in mine too," she whispered.
For a few seconds, neither of them moved.
Then—
VROOOOM.
The sudden growl of an approaching engine shattered the quiet.
Both of them turned.
A sleek black car pulled up near the dormitory entrance, its headlights briefly illuminating the road.
Alena's smile disappeared.
Something about the car felt familiar.
The driver's door opened.
A tall figure stepped out.
Dark hair.
Broad shoulders.
A sharp jaw.
And those unmistakable green eyes.
Alena's heart stopped for a beat.
Alexo.
He closed the car door and slowly looked toward them.
His eyes moved briefly to Lexy.
Then settled on Alena.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Lexy's body stiffened.
Alena's fingers curled nervously around the strap of her bag.
Alexo walked toward them, his expression impossible to read.
When he finally stopped a few feet away, his eyes remained fixed on Alena.
"Alena."
She swallowed.
"Yes?"
His jaw tightened slightly.
"We need to talk."
Lexy's expression hardened.
"About what?"
Alexo finally looked at him.
The two boys stared at each other.
Neither spoke.
But there was something in their eyes—something Alena couldn't understand.
It was almost as though they already knew each other.
Alexo's gaze returned to her.
"It's about what happened at the party."
Alena's heart began pounding.
Her mind immediately flashed back to that night.
The drink.
The dizziness.
The confusion.
And the horrifying fragments she still couldn't completely remember.
"I..."
Alexo took another step forward.
"We need to talk. Alone."
Lexy immediately moved closer to Alena.
"She doesn't have to go anywhere alone with you."
Alexo's eyes narrowed.
"I wasn't asking you."
"And I'm telling you."
The tension between them thickened.
Alena looked from Lexy to Alexo, her heart racing.
She had no idea what was about to happen.
But one thing was certain.
Her peaceful night had just come to an end.