Leslie walked into her dorm after the day's lecture and stopped dead. Her side of the room was a total mess. Clothes thrown all over the floor, her bed filled with trash—like someone emptied a class trash bin on it—and her cupboard… God. Chewed gums stuck everywhere.
Her chest burned. She didn't need to guess who did it.
Tracy.
Her roommate, Gwen, walked in behind her and gasped.
"Are you packing out?" she asked, shocked.
"I didn't do this," Leslie said, her voice tight with anger.
"Then who did?" Gwen asked, confused.
"It was Tracy. I warned her earlier and she thinks I was joking." Leslie clenched her fist. "If she wants to make my life miserable, then I'll make her life a living hell."
Gwen's eyes widened. "Leslie… Tracy is dangerous."
"If she's trying to break me," Leslie said calmly, "then she picked the wrong soul."
Gwen sighed. "Please, don't do anything. I'll help you clean this up. Just ignore her."
"Thank you, Gwen," Leslie replied, bending down to pick her clothes. "But she thinks she's won. I'm going to show her she doesn't even understand the game."
Gwen said nothing as she joined her, worry written all over her face.
* * * * * *
That night, the dorm was quiet. Gwen was fast asleep, but Leslie wasn't. Her eyes were wide open. The plan had already formed in her head and she wasn't backing out.
She slipped out of bed quietly and tiptoed into the corridor, stopping in front of Tracy's door. Slowly, carefully, she opened it.
Tracy was asleep.
Leslie smiled softly.
"She stepped on a snake's tail and didn't expect the venom," she whispered. "That's absurd."
She walked to Tracy's wardrobe and opened it. Bright clothes. Expensive. Neatly arranged. Leslie reached into her pocket and brought out the scissors she'd hidden earlier.
Snip. Tear. Rip.
She destroyed dress after dress, smiling the whole time. When she was done, she closed the wardrobe gently. She turned to leave, then paused.
Tracy's blonde hair.
Leslie stepped closer, lifted the scissors again, and chopped. She didn't rush it. When she was done, she stepped back, satisfied.
She tiptoed out and returned to her room, slid back into bed, and slept like a baby.
* * * * * *
Adam woke up the next morning on the floor of his room. His head throbbed. Thankfully, his screams hadn't woken Ava or his mother.
Then it all came rushing back.
His chest tightened painfully.
He knew her.
God… he knew her.
"Dawn," he whispered, and even saying her name made his head ache. He remembered forgetting her. Remembered pushing her away.
Guilt and anger crashed into him at once.
A knock came at the door.
"What is it this time?" Ava asked as she opened it, worry on her face.
"I have to go," Adam said, already grabbing his things. "I'll explain later."
And he rushed past her, leaving her standing there confused.
* * * * * *
Dawn and Amy were talking, sitting close together. Dawn was sad, but she tried not to show it too much. She hated how Amy's mood always dropped whenever she saw her like that.
Amy was telling her about her conversation with Jason.
"What about Leslie?" Dawn asked. "Did you speak to her?"
"No," Amy replied. "She wasn't with him."
"I hope they're not fighting like Tom and Jerry again," Dawn joked softly.
They laughed, but the knock on the door cut it short.
Dawn asked Amy to open it.
Amy walked to the door and froze. Her mouth dropped open. She stepped aside and let Adam in.
Adam hugged Amy tightly. "I missed you," he said.
Amy hugged him back, happy but confused. To her knowledge, Adam didn't remember them.
Adam walked further inside and saw Dawn sitting there, alone. He stopped. Just stared at her.
"Adam," Dawn said slowly. "What are you doing here? Are you okay?"
He didn't answer. His eyes were red, his voice shaking.
"Dawn… I remember."
She sucked in a breath.
"I remember you. I remember us. I tried to forget your face all day and I couldn't. It's you. It's always been you."
Tears rolled down Dawn's face, but she didn't move closer. She stayed where she was.
"I'm glad you remember," she said softly. Too softly. "I really am. But I don't know if we can go back to how things were."
Adam stepped forward. "I'm sorry. I should've—"
She raised her hand. "Don't. Please. I carried this alone. I had to survive while you were… gone."
The silence between them was heavy.
"I still care," she whispered. "But you have to earn your place again. I won't step back this time."
Adam nodded. It hurt, but he understood. He wanted to take her home, but she wasn't ready.
"I won't stop," he said quietly. "I'll win you back."
He left gently.
The moment the door closed, Dawn collapsed to the floor, sobbing. She wanted him. She wanted to run back home with him. But the pain was still there.
She suddenly stood up and ran outside.
Adam was walking ahead when she caught up and hugged him from behind, holding on tightly.
"Promise me you won't let go," she cried. "Promise you'll never leave me again."
Adam turned around and hugged her back.
"I promise," he said. "Never."
Dawn smiled through her tears.
* * * * * *
Tracy woke up, stretched, and walked to the mirror like she always did. She looked once… then again.
And screamed.
The sound was so loud birds flew from the trees outside.
Behind her own door, Leslie smiled.
Satisfied.