•••At Orion High's Basketball Court•••
The basketball court is a sight to behold, reflecting the wealth and prestige associated with the school. The court is immaculately maintained, with polished wooden flooring gleaming under the bright overhead lights. The school's colors, black and gold, are prominently displayed on the court, adding a touch of elegance to the space.
As Zach steps onto the court, his confusion and frustration are palpable. The sounds of basketballs bouncing and sneakers squeaking on the polished floor fill the air, creating a backdrop for his inner turmoil. His teammates are scattered around the court, some practicing their shots while others engage in animated discussions.
Zach noticed Austin sitting in the bleachers and approached him, taking a seat beside him. "You skipped school and disappeared afterwards, and now you're dating Janice?" Zach inquired, seeking an explanation.
Austin looked at Zach with a regretful expression, trying to remember what happened to him and tell Zach about it.
•••Flashback•••
The pounding headache was the first thing Austin became aware of as he gradually regained consciousness. Blinking his eyes open, he found himself lying on a king size bed in a dimly lit hotel suite. Disoriented and confused, he tried to piece together the events of the previous night. Flashes of the party in the club at Lucian Hotel flooded his mind, and then he remembered the drinks—far too many drinks.
Turning his head slowly, Austin's gaze fell upon Janice, who was lying beside him, her form barely covered by the rumpled sheets. Panic shot through him as he realized the compromising position they were in. Janice, his friend, someone he had never thought of in a romantic way. The room smelled of alcohol and regret.
As Austin struggled to make sense of the situation, his eyes landed on Janice's neck, where he noticed a series of kiss marks. Dread washed over him as he jumped to conclusions, assuming the worst had happened between them. His mind raced with guilt and confusion.
Despite his feelings for Veronica, the girl he truly liked, Austin felt a wave of guilt wash over him. Blinded by his own sense of responsibility and kindness, he made the difficult decision to give a romantic relationship with Janice a chance.
•••End of flasback•••
Zach was shocked by what happened to Austin, but he understands why Austin decided to be with Janice. Still, Zach can't shake the feeling that something is not right with Janice.
"Oh, man, I don't know whether to say sorry or congrats," Zach said, trying to lighten the mood.
Austin weakly smiled and said, "Janice isn't that bad. Plus, this will be better for Ron, so she won't have to deal with those nasty rumors anymore." He paused and then added, "I'll just keep my distance like she wants me to." Austin's tone was somber.
"So I'm guessing our idea to confront Celine about the rumors is off the table?" Zach asked, curious to see Austin's reaction.
"I don't see the point in doing that now. And I've made up my mind to give whatever I have with Janice a shot," Austin stated firmly.
Zach nodded in agreement, respecting Austin's decision. Even though he is tempted to continue arguing because he sincerely believes Janice is manipulating everyone, he currently lacks proof. Therefore, Zach must set the topic aside for the time being.
•••At Orion High's Rooftop•••
Earlier that day, when Austin and Janice had publicly revealed their relationship in the hallways, Heti discreetly approached Jake to have a private conversation on the rooftop after their class ended.
Jake agreed, and after his class was over, he headed to the rooftop. He saw Heti sitting on a bench and went over to sit next to her. Heti noticed Jake and smiled. As Jake settled in beside her, she started talking.
"I still can't believe Austin and Janice are together," Heti said, breaking the silence that had settled between them. Her tone was a mix of surprise and concern.
Jake nodded in agreement, his expression thoughtful. "Yeah, it's definitely unexpected."
"I wonder what led to this," Heti mused, a furrow forming on her brow. "It just doesn't make sense."
Jake listened attentively, his mind racing with questions of his own. He had been friends with Austin for a while, and the news of his sudden relationship with Janice left him feeling unsettled, especially knowing that he had liked Veronica for so long.
"I agree," Jake replied, choosing his words carefully. "It's all a bit strange. I hope Austin knows what he's getting into."
Despite everything that's been happening, Jake can't help but find himself more and more drawn to Heti, especially as they talk to each other more each day.
"Hey... how about you, Heti? How are you holding up?" Jake said, seemingly concerned. Jake knew Heti didn't like getting involved in other people's lives; they shared that in common. However, for some reason, both of them found themselves roped in Austin, Janice, and Veronica's ongoing love drama.
Heti looked at Jake and finally said, "I hate it." Jake burst into laughter because that's precisely what he was feeling and wanting to say himself.
"I haven't had the chance to speak with Veronica today since we have different classes, but I know she must be devastated," Heti shared. Continuing on, she added, "She might not admit it because she's stubborn, but I can tell by how she's been acting that she also likes Austin." Heti's tone was sympathetic towards her friend's circumstances.
"Yeah, same here. I haven't talked to Austin," Jake remarked, his tone reflecting curiosity about what really happened between Austin and Janice.
Meanwhile, Veronica found herself at the library, surrounded by towering shelves of books and the faint whisper of turning pages. The soft light from the reading lamps cast a warm glow on her face as she buried herself in her studies, trying to escape the whirlwind of emotions that had taken hold of her.
But no matter how hard she tried to focus on the words in front of her, her mind kept drifting back to that fateful moment earlier that day. The image of Austin holding Janice's hand played over and over in her mind like a broken record, each repetition twisting the knife in her heart a little deeper.
Veronica had convinced herself that it was just a casual date, nothing serious. She had told herself she was fine with whatever happened between them. But now, as she sat among the silent rows of books, she couldn't deny the sharp pang of disappointment and hurt that gnawed at her insides.
"Why does this hurt so much?" she wondered, her eyes scanning the pages in front of her without really seeing the words. She realized that it wasn't just about Austin or the lost opportunity for a relationship. It was about the hope she had allowed herself to feel, the flicker of excitement at the prospect of something more.
As she sat there, lost in her thoughts, a book slipped from her fingers and fell open on the table. A quote caught her eye, its words seeming to leap off the page and settle in her mind like a revelation:
"Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye."
Veronica closed her eyes, taking a deep breath as she let the words sink in. Maybe, just maybe, this pain was a sign of something more. Maybe it was a reminder that she was capable of feeling deeply, of caring for someone beyond just a passing fancy.
Taking a moment to gather her thoughts and emotions, Veronica closed her books and returned them to their respective shelves. The familiar smell of old paper and ink surrounded her, offering a sense of comfort in the midst of her inner turmoil. As she walked through the aisles, her steps echoed softly in the quiet space, the sound a soothing rhythm to her racing thoughts.
Finding a secluded corner near a large window overlooking the campus grounds, Veronica settled into a cozy armchair, the afternoon sunlight filtering through the glass and painting patterns of warmth on the floor. She let out a long sigh, feeling the weight of her emotions slowly lifting from her shoulders.
With a renewed sense of purpose, Veronica opened her notebook and a fresh page, the blank lines inviting her to pour out her thoughts and reflections. As she wrote, the words flowed freely from her pen, shaping her feelings into sentences that danced across the paper with a grace she hadn't felt in a long time.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky and the shadows lengthened in the library, Veronica closed her notebook with a contented smile. The ache in her heart hadn't fully disappeared, but it had lessened, morphing into a quiet resolve to embrace the unknown with courage and optimism.
Standing up from her chair, Veronica gathered her things and made her way towards the library's exit. The evening air greeted her with a gentle breeze, carrying with it a sense of realization to not give up on Austin Marx so easily.