The following Monday was unusually brisk for autumn. Zina tightened her scarf as she walked across campus, the early morning air biting at her exposed skin. She couldn't shake the lingering irritation from her encounter with Jade over the weekend, though Aria's playful teasing had helped ease some of the tension. Despite Aria's reassurances, Zina couldn't help but wonder if Jade would try something more than just mean words.
Zina trudged toward her morning class, her thoughts clouded by Jade's hostility. If there was one thing she hated, it was unnecessary drama. Still, she couldn't quite figure out why Jade was so intent on making her feel unwelcome, especially over a guy she barely knew. Kane was a mystery to her, and Jade's aggressive claim on him only made Zina more curious.
Her curiosity would have to wait, though. Classes loomed, and she wasn't exactly thrilled about sitting through a two-hour lecture. She reached the entrance of the lecture hall and slipped inside, finding a seat near the back where she could zone out if needed.
As the professor began speaking, Zina's mind wandered. She absentmindedly tapped her pen against her notebook, letting the lecture's drone fade into the background. That's when she felt it a presence.
She glanced over her shoulder, and there, sitting a few rows behind her, was Kane. His dark eyes were focused on the professor, but something about his posture felt tense, as if he were carrying a weight only he knew about. Zina quickly turned back around, hoping he hadn't noticed her watching him. Her heart did a weird little flip in her chest, and she mentally scolded herself. It wasn't like she was interested in him not the way Jade seemed to think, anyway.
Halfway through the lecture, Zina excused herself and slipped out to the hallway, the need for fresh air overwhelming her. She found herself standing outside the building, leaning against the cool brick wall, when she heard footsteps approaching. Her pulse quickened as Kane emerged from the entrance, his expression unreadable.
"Hey," he said, his voice low but not unfriendly.
Zina blinked in surprise. "Hey… what are you doing out here? Skipping class?"
Kane shrugged. "Could ask you the same thing."
Zina smiled faintly, feeling the tension in her shoulders ease. "Yeah, I just needed a break. Too much thinking, I guess."
Kane looked at her for a long moment, his gaze steady. "You seem like the type who thinks too much."
Zina tilted her head, intrigued by his observation. "What makes you say that?"
He leaned against the wall beside her, hands tucked into the pockets of his coat. "You've got that look like your mind's always racing, even when you're standing still."
Zina raised an eyebrow, unsure whether to take that as a compliment or not. "Is that so?"
Kane's lips quirked into a small smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Yeah. People like you… you think before you act. That's not always a bad thing, but it can weigh you down if you're not careful."
She found herself wanting to ask him more—about his guarded nature, about the walls she suspected he had up. But before she could speak, Kane's expression shifted slightly, his gaze flicking toward something behind her.
Zina turned her head just in time to see Jade storming toward them, her face twisted with anger. "Unbelievable," Jade hissed as she stopped a few feet away, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. "Are you seriously talking to her, Kane?"
Zina's stomach sank. She had been hoping to avoid any further confrontation, especially in front of Kane. But here they were, with Jade glaring daggers at her as if Zina had committed some great sin by simply existing.
Kane's expression hardened, his jaw tightening. "Jade, don't start."
Jade scoffed, her eyes narrowing at Zina. "Oh, I'm not starting anything. I'm just making sure this little girl knows her place."
Zina clenched her fists, her patience wearing thin. She had tried to be civil, but Jade was pushing every button she had. "My place?" she echoed, her voice cold. "And where exactly do you think that is?"
Jade took a step forward, her eyes flashing with malice. "Far away from Kane. He's mine, and I don't need some scholarship charity case sniffing around him."
Zina felt her face flush with anger, but before she could respond, Kane stepped between them, his voice sharp. "Jade, that's enough. Stop embarrassing yourself."
Jade blinked, taken aback by Kane's words. "Embarrassing myself? You're the one talking to this—"
"Stop," Kane cut her off, his tone final. "This isn't about you, and it never was. I don't belong to anyone, and you need to get that through your head."
Zina watched as Jade's face fell, her bravado crumbling under the weight of Kane's words. For a brief moment, Zina almost felt sorry for her. Almost.
But Jade's hurt quickly morphed into fury, and she turned her glare back to Zina. "You'll regret this," she spat before storming off, her heels clicking loudly against the pavement.
An awkward silence settled between Zina and Kane as they watched Jade disappear into the distance. Zina wasn't sure what to say, her heart still racing from the confrontation. She had never been good with conflict, and this was the last thing she had wanted.
"I'm sorry about that," Kane muttered, breaking the silence. "She can be… intense."
Zina shook her head, forcing a smile. "It's not your fault. Jade's just… I don't know what her deal is."
Kane let out a dry laugh. "She's territorial, that's her deal."
Zina studied his face for a moment, sensing there was more he wasn't saying. "And you're okay with that? Letting her think she owns you?"
Kane's expression darkened, his eyes distant. "No, I'm not. But it's… complicated."
Zina wanted to ask more, but something in his tone told her to let it go. Kane was clearly dealing with his own demons, and she wasn't sure she was ready to dive into whatever mess was lurking beneath the surface.
Instead, she sighed and glanced at her watch. "We should probably get back to class before the professor notices we're both gone."
Kane nodded, though he didn't seem in any hurry to move. "Yeah, you're probably right."
They stood there for a few more moments, the tension from earlier slowly dissipating. Zina was about to turn back toward the lecture hall when Kane's voice stopped her.
"Zina."
She turned to look at him, surprised by the sudden intensity in his gaze.
"Don't let Jade get to you," he said quietly. "She's all talk. Just… don't let her make you feel like you don't belong here."
Zina blinked, taken aback by his words. There was something raw in his voice, something that made her heart ache a little. She nodded, unable to find the right words to respond.
"I'll try," she finally managed, offering him a small smile.
Kane gave her a nod in return, his expression softening. "Good."
With that, they both headed back inside, the cold autumn air left behind as they returned to the warmth of the building. Zina found herself walking a little lighter, the weight of the confrontation with Jade no longer pressing as heavily on her shoulders.
As she sat down in her seat, her mind raced with questions about Kane. He was more than just the brooding, quiet guy everyone thought he was there was a depth to him that intrigued her, and for the first time, she wondered if maybe, just maybe, there was more to their connection than she had initially thought.
But whatever it was, she wasn't ready to dive into it just yet. For now, she was content to take things one day at a time and hopefully avoid any more drama with Jade in the process.