As they walked away from the old oak, Maggy turned to Alex. "Hey, Alex, can I ask you something?"
"Sure, what's up?" Alex replied.
"Where are you from?" Maggy inquired.
"Born and raised here," Alex said. "My family's been here for generations."
Maggy nodded. "I'm from the city. Moved here with my mom after my parents divorced."
Alex's curiosity piqued. "That must've been tough."
Maggy shrugged. "It was. But I've adjusted."
Their conversation flowed effortlessly, sharing stories and laughter.
_Alex's Thoughts_
Is this really what Maggy wanted to discuss? The Thomas mystery seems forgotten.
_Maggy's Thoughts_
I already want to confess my feelings, but I think I should wait. Alex seems oblivious.
As they continued their casual talk, their unspoken thoughts lingered.
"What do you like to do in your free time?" Maggy asked.
"Play guitar, read," Alex replied. "You?"
"Paint, write poetry," Maggy said, smiling.
Their walk ended at maggy's residence. "Thanks for the company, Alex."
"No problem, Maggy. See you tomorrow."
Maggy smiled, her heart skipping a beat.
_Maggy's Thoughts_
Maybe tomorrow I'll find the courage to tell him.
Alex walked home, lost in thought.
"What was that about?" he muttered to himself. "I'm pretty sure this wasn't what Maggy wanted to talk about."
He kicked a pebble on the sidewalk, his mind racing.
"Maybe she's hiding something. But what?"
Alex's imagination ran wild.
"Is it related to Thomas? Or something personal?"
He quickened his pace, his curiosity growing.
"Why did she change the subject so fast?"
Alex stopped in front of his house, staring at the door.
"Wait a minute... Did she want to get close to me? No, that can't be it."
He shook his head, chuckling.
"You're overthinking this, Alex."
But the doubts lingered.
"Maggy's not the type to beat around the bush. There's something more."
Alex entered his house, still pondering.
"Tomorrow, I'll ask her directly."
He made a mental note.
"Get to the bottom of this."
Alex walked through the university corridors, lost in thought.
"Clear your head, Alex. You're overthinking this," he told himself.
Suddenly, a hand clamped around his neck, slamming him against the wall.
Thomas's grip tightened, his eyes blazing.
"Stay away from Maggy," Thomas growled.
Alex struggled, but Thomas's hold was unyielding.
"What are you talking about?" Alex choked out.
Thomas's sneer twisted his face.
"Don't play dumb. I know about your secret meetings."
The corridor fell silent, students watching in horror.
Alex's mind racing.
"How did Thomas know?"
Thomas leaned in, his breath cold against Alex's ear.
"You think I don't see everything? You're just a pawn."
Alex's eyes locked onto Thomas's.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he repeated.
Thomas's grip tightened.
"Don't lie to me!"
Alex's vision began to blur.
Suddenly, a professor intervened.
"Thomas, release him! Now!"
Thomas's gaze lingered on Alex before he dropped him.
Alex gasped, massaging his neck.
Thomas vanished into the crowd.
The professor turned to Alex.
"Are you alright?"
Alex nodded, still shaken.
But his mind burned with questions:
What secret meetings?
How did Thomas know?
And what did Maggy have to do with it?
Alex's mind reeled.
"How did Thomas know?" he wondered.
Then, a memory flashed.
"The sound in the bushes last night."
Alex's eyes widened.
"That's how Thomas knows."
He felt a chill.
"I'm getting myself killed this way."
A resolution formed.
"Need to keep distance from Maggy."
For her safety, and his.
Alex began to withdraw.
No more secret meetings.
No more probing questions.
Later that day...
Maggy approached Alex in the library.
"Alex, hey! What's going on?" Maggy asked.
Alex ignored her, focusing on his book.
Maggy's confusion deepened.
"Did I do something wrong?"
She waved her hand before his face.
"Hello? Earth to Alex."
Alex flinched, still avoiding eye contact.
"Busy, Maggy. Later."
Maggy's face fell.
"Okay... whatever."
She walked away, hurt.
Unaware of Thomas's threat.
Unaware of Alex's fear.
The rift between them widened.
Maggy thought:
"Maybe Alex lost interest?"
Self-doubt crept in.
"Am I reading too much into it?"
Days passed.
Alex's distance grew.
Maggy's frustration mounted.
"Why won't he talk to me?"
Maggy sat in the cafeteria, staring into her coffee.
"Why is Alex ignoring me?" she wondered.
Her thoughts swirled with confusion and hurt.
Just then, a gentle voice interrupted.
"Hey, Maggy, you okay?"
Maggy looked up to see Lyra, a mysterious and reserved student.
Lyra's piercing green eyes sparkled with concern.
Maggy hesitated.
"No, I'm not."
Lyra slid into the seat across from Maggy.
"What's wrong? Family issues?"
Maggy shook her head.
"No, it's... complicated."
Lyra's gaze didn't waver.
"Then it's surely about Alex," she stated.
Maggy's eyes widened.
"How did you know?"
Lyra's smile hinted at secrets.
"I notice things."
Maggy's curiosity piqued.
"What do you know about Alex?"
Lyra leaned in.
"Only that he's been acting strange lately."
Maggy's thoughts raced.
"Strange? How?"
Lyra's voice dropped.
"Like he's hiding something."
Maggy's heart skipped a beat.
"From me?" she whispered.
Lyra nodded.
"Maybe from everyone."
Maggy's mind reeled.
What was Alex hiding?
And how did Lyra know?
"What is Alex hiding, Lyra?" Maggy asked.
Lyra's smile grew enigmatic.
"Just someone who observes."
Maggy's eyes locked onto Lyra's.
"What is Alex hiding?" Maggy asked, urgency in her voice.
Lyra's gaze darted around the cafeteria before focusing on Maggy.
"I'm not entirely sure," Lyra admitted. "But I've noticed Alex's been receiving suspicious messages."
Maggy's curiosity piqued.
"Suspicious messages? From who?"
Lyra leaned in closer.
"I couldn't identify the sender, but the messages seemed threatening."
Maggy's heart sank.
"Threatening? What did they say?"
Lyra's voice barely above a whisper.
"I only caught glimpses, but one message mentioned 'stay away from her'."
Maggy's eyes widened.
"From me?"
Lyra nodded.
"It seems likely."
Maggy's mind reeled.
Thomas's threat flashed in her mind.
Could Alex be hiding this from her?
"Why wouldn't Alex tell me?" Maggy wondered aloud.
Lyra's expression turned sympathetic.
"Maybe he's trying to protect you."
Maggy's resolve strengthened.
"I need to talk to Alex."
Lyra's eyes sparkled with a hint of warning.
"Be careful, Maggy."