CHAPTER 10.5 — After the Noise
The hallway felt too quiet after everything.
Luke was gone.
Zack was gone.
The crowd had scattered.
The noise had faded.
But my hands were still shaking.
I stood there alone, my fingers wrapped tightly around my keychain, pressing it into my palm like an anchor.
My breathing hadn't returned to normal yet. My chest still felt tight, like the air around me was heavier than it should be.
Everything had happened too fast.
The shouting.
The tension.
The stares.
The chaos.
And then the hug.
I swallowed.
My mind betrayed me, replaying it again.
Not the embarrassment.
Not the crowd.
Not the whispers.
Just the feeling.
The way his arms had wrapped around me—firm, steady, protective.
Not rushed.
Not awkward.
Not forced.
Strong.
Safe.
Like the world had gone quiet for just a second.
I could still remember his warmth.
The way my face had pressed against his chest.
The way my hands had curled into his shirt without thinking.
And the scent.
God.
His perfume wasn't sharp or heavy—it was warm, clean, deep. Something calm.
Something grounding. The kind of smell that doesn't shout, but stays with you. The kind that sinks into your memory without permission.
I hated that I noticed it.
I hated that I liked it.
I exhaled slowly, forcing myself back into the present.
Why is Luke afraid of Victor?
The thought came out of nowhere.
It didn't feel random.
Luke wasn't afraid of anyone. Not teachers. Not students. Not authority.
But Victor?
There was something there.
Something unspoken.
Something real.
That's when I remembered,Victor gave me my book.He had come to my house.
He had returned it quietly.
No drama.
No attention.
Just… presence.
I turned instinctively, scanning the hallway.
He wasn't there.
I should've thanked him.
My eyes drifted across the corridor—and then I saw her.
Curly red hair.
Elegant posture.
A confident walk.
A dress that looked too expensive for a school hallway.
The kind of presence that didn't need noise.
She moved like a model on a catwalk.
But before I could fully process it—
she was gone.
Vanished into the crowd.
I rolled my eyes softly. Figures.
I turned back, ready to finally go find Victor—
Gone.
Just empty space.
Of course.
My phone vibrated.
Heather:
Flight got cancelled. I'm stuck. I'll call you later 💔
I sighed.
Then another message.
Zack:
Do you want me to drop you home?
My fingers hovered over the screen.
Images rushed back again.
The hug,The warmth,The smell,The crowd,The staresThe embarrassment.
The vulnerability.
I typed back:
No thanks. I'll walk.
A pause.
Then:
Zack:
Okay. Text me when you're home.
I slipped my phone back into my pocket and started walking.
The pavement felt cold beneath my shoes.
And my mind wouldn't shut up.
Why did I hug him?
Why didn't I stop myself?
Why did it feel so natural?
Why did it feel like my body reacted before my brain?
And then the memory hit again—
The pressure of his arms.
The way he didn't hesitate.
The way he didn't ask.
The way he just… held me.
Not like someone trying to impress me.
Not like someone trying to perform.
But like someone trying to protect me.
I shook my head hard.
Stop it, Jane.
This is how you fall.
This is how you get stupid.
This is how you get attached.
This is how you get hurt.
My thoughts were cut off when I almost crashed into someone.
"Jane?"
Stephen,My brother.
I blinked, startled. "What— what are you doing here?"
He frowned. "My car's in the garage. Needs some work. I'm walking."
I raised an eyebrow. "So… you finally became like me. No friends. No ride."
He laughed. "You wish. I've got friends. I just don't need them every second of my life."
I smirked. "Sure."
He looked at me more closely. "You look like your brain just ran a marathon."
I hesitated.
Then shrugged. "Just a long day."
He studied me for a second.
Then casually said, "So… Zack."
My heart jumped. "What about him?"
Stephen smiled slowly. "You smiled when you said his name."
I scoffed. "Don't be stupid."
"Oh, I'm not," he said calmly. "Are you falling for him?"
I laughed too fast. "No."
Too sharp. Too quick.
"No," I repeated. "Who would fall for a nerd?"
Stephen chuckled. "Right. Just like how I'm not interested in Robby."
I froze. "You are interested in Robby."
He blinked. "Wait—how do you know that?"
I smirked. "Because you smile when you say her name."
He stared at me.
Then laughed. "Touché."
We walked in silence for a few seconds.
Then he said quietly, "Jane?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't talk yourself out of something just because you're scared of it."
I looked at him.
He didn't look teasing.
He looked serious.
"I'm not," I said.
But my chest felt tight.
Because maybe I was.
And maybe the real problem wasn't Zack.
Maybe the real problem was that I didn't believe I deserved something that felt safe.