Rhaine POV
The universe hates me. I've decided that's the only explanation left.
Because how else do you explain the way Sam keeps showing up in my life at the worst possible times, in the most inconvenient ways, with that same smile that makes my chest clench like I'm about to suffocate?
I keep telling myself it's coincidence. Just bad luck. But deep down, I know. It's more than that. It feels like fate is dangling strings I can't cut, tying me to her whether I like it or not.
And I don't.
At least, that's what I keep telling myself.
---
The day started normally enough. I was determined to act like yesterday hadn't happened to bury the weird fluttering in my chest, the dream that still haunted me, the way Maya and Eli wouldn't stop watching me like hawks.
I walked into class, sat down at my desk, and told myself: You are fine. Today is just another day. You will get through it.
And then, of course, Sam walked in right after me.
Her hair was pulled back today, tied into a loose ponytail that swung as she moved. She looked so casual, so effortlessly herself, and my stupid heart decided that was worth pounding over.
"Morning, Rhaine," she said, sliding into her seat. Just like that. Like it was nothing.
But it wasn't nothing. Not to me.
I swallowed hard, forcing my voice steady. "M-Morning."
Her smile was quick, easy, before she turned back to her things. But I was already ruined.
---
"Wow," Maya whispered, leaning over the second Sam was out of earshot. "The way you panic every time she breathes near you—it's almost impressive."
"I do not panic," I hissed, glaring at her.
"You literally stuttered," she said, grinning.
Eli chuckled from behind me. "At this point, I'm waiting for you to trip over air the moment she says your name."
I groaned, burying my face in my arms. "Why are you two like this?"
"Because we care," Maya said sweetly. "And because it's hilarious."
---
Classes dragged on, but I wasn't really there. My pen moved across the paper, but my brain was stuck replaying every detail of her voice, her smile, her presence.
When the teacher announced a surprise quiz, I nearly cried—not because I wasn't ready, but because my head was too busy screaming about something else.
And then came the cursed words: "You'll check your partner's papers."
I froze.
The papers shuffled around the room, and of course, of course mine landed in Sam's hands.
She smiled as she glanced over my answers. "You did really well."
Her voice was warm, genuine. Like she meant it.
And my stupid heart betrayed me again, beating too fast, too loud. I forced a scoff, trying to act casual. "Yeah, well. It was easy."
But inside, I was crumbling. Why did her opinion matter so much? Why did hearing her say something so small make me want to hide under my desk?
When she handed the paper back, our fingers brushed. Just barely. But it was enough.
Enough to make me yank my hand back like I'd been burned.
"Sorry," she said softly, looking a little surprised.
"N-No, it's fine," I stammered, clutching the paper like it was a lifeline.
It wasn't fine. I wasn't fine.
---
By lunch, I was exhausted. Not physically but emotionally. I slumped into my seat at our table, shoving food around my tray without appetite.
Maya and Eli exchanged a look. I hated when they did that, it meant they were silently agreeing on something, and that never ended well for me.
"You know," Eli said casually, "if you keep spacing out like this, people are gonna think you're daydreaming about someone."
"I'm not," I said quickly. Too quickly.
Maya raised an eyebrow. "Then why are your ears turning red?"
"They are not!" I snapped, covering them with my hands.
She smirked. "Uh-huh."
I groaned, shoving another spoonful of rice into my mouth just to shut myself up.
But then Sam's laugh carried across the cafeteria. Just a small sound, light and carefree. And my head whipped toward it before I could stop myself.
Maya saw. Of course she did.
Her smirk softened into something else—something quieter, almost sympathetic. She didn't say anything this time, but her eyes said enough.
I wanted to scream.
---
The worst part came in the afternoon.
Another group activity. Another round of partners.
And, surprise surprise, I was paired with Sam. Again.
I don't know why I was shocked anymore. At this point, I should've expected it. But each time felt like another crack splitting open in the walls I'd built.
We worked side by side, her hand occasionally brushing mine as we reached for the same papers. Each time, I flinched. Each time, she frowned slightly, like she couldn't understand why.
"Are you okay?" she asked finally, her voice soft.
"Yes," I lied instantly. "I'm fine."
But I wasn't. My head was screaming, my heart was racing, and the universe was laughing at me.
Because every moment with her made it harder to deny.
And I was still denying. Harder than ever.
---
By the time I got home, I was done. Completely drained.
I threw my bag onto the floor and collapsed onto my bed, staring at the ceiling.
The day played back in my mind like a cruel movie—her smile in the morning, her voice during the quiz, her laugh at lunch, her hand brushing mine. Over and over, like my brain was determined to torture me.
I sat up suddenly, pressing my hands to my face.
"This is ridiculous," I muttered. "It doesn't mean anything. It's just coincidence. Just fate messing with me. That's all."
But the words didn't convince me anymore. Not really.
Because no matter how hard I tried to deny it, the truth was there, clawing at the edges of my thoughts.
I wanted her.
And that terrified me more than anything else in the world.
---
I lay back down, burying my face into my pillow.
"Why me?" I whispered. "Why can't I just be normal?"
The silence answered, heavy and suffocating.
And in that silence, I knew the walls I'd built were crumbling.
Slowly, painfully.
And there was nothing I could do to stop it.