Allison was half asleep when her phone buzzed.
Not the loud kind of buzz.The soft one.The kind that feels like it's calling your name even when your eyes are closed.
She ignored it at first.
Then it buzzed again.
She groaned, rolled onto her back, and reached for her phone without opening her eyes. It was still dark outside. Too early. Or too late. She couldn't tell.
One notification.
Unknown Contact.
Her chest tightened before her brain caught up.
She opened it.
Hey… I don't know if this is still your number. It's Emma.
Her breath left her in one sharp exhale.
Emma.
She stared at the name like it might disappear if she blinked.
It had been years. Literal years. No goodbye. No explanation. Just silence so loud it taught Allison how to live without her.
And now this.
Her fingers hovered over the screen, suddenly unsure of themselves. She didn't know what to feel first—anger, relief, confusion, or that stupid ache in her chest that never really went away.
She typed. Deleted. Typed again.
Emma?
Three dots appeared almost instantly.
Then disappeared.
Then appeared again.
Allison sat up in bed.
I didn't think you'd reply, Emma sent.
I've been staring at your number for days.
That hurt more than Allison expected.
You disappeared, Allison typed back before she could stop herself.
I thought something happened to you.
There was a pause. A long one.
Then:
Something did.
Allison swallowed.
Emma sent another message, longer this time.
My parents divorced. Everything fell apart. My mom moved. I moved. I didn't know how to tell you without breaking all over again.
Allison closed her eyes.
She could picture Emma saying it. The way she used to avoid eye contact when things got too heavy. The way she always tried to protect people by carrying everything alone.
You could've told me, Allison replied.
I would've stayed.
Another pause.
I know.
Two words. Loaded. Heavy.
Emma continued.
My mom remarried.
Allison blinked.
Remarried?
Yeah. A few years ago. He's British.
That made Allison sit up straighter.
British?Yeah. They live in London.
Well, mostly. We travel back and forth sometimes.
London.
The word settled somewhere strange in Allison's chest.
Emma added.
He has a son. My stepbrother. His name is Zayn.
Allison read the name once.
Then twice.
Zayn.
Her heartbeat stuttered.
No.No, that was stupid.Zayn wasn't a rare name.
Still… her fingers felt cold.
I've never met him properly, Emma continued.
He stays in London because his dad doesn't want to move back to the States.
Allison stared at the screen.
She hadn't told Emma yet.
About the app.About the boy.About the late-night conversations that made her forget she was lonely.
Her phone buzzed again.
What about you?
Tell me everything I missed.
Allison hesitated.
Then she typed.
I've been talking to someone.
Emma replied immediately.
Of course you have.
Allison smiled despite herself.
Online, she added.
Matchmaking app.
Ooo, Emma replied. What's his name?
Allison bit her lip.
He doesn't use his real name.
Red flag, Emma sent.
But continue.He lives in London.
There it was again.
That word.
London.
Emma sent a laughing emoji.
Why is that kinda cute?
Allison stared at the ceiling as she typed.
I've never seen his face. I don't know his real name. But he listens. Like really listens.
She didn't add how he stayed up late just to talk to her.How he remembered small things.How he made her feel seen in ways she hadn't felt since Emma left.
What's his username? Emma asked.
Allison paused.
Z.
Just the letter.
Emma replied a few seconds later.
Mysterious.
Allison smiled softly.
Yeah.
Neither of them noticed how fate was quietly laughing somewhere between London and a U.S. high school hallway.
Neither of them knew that the boy Allison was falling for already had a place in Emma's life.
And none of them knew how badly everything was about to break.