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Chapter 10:
Emily stretched out on the lawn in front of the campus library, her notebook open but largely untouched as she soaked in the gentle warmth of the autumn sun. With all the emotional turbulence surrounding Max and Oliver, it felt good to simply sit, breathe, and let the normalcy of college life settle over her.
"Hey, daydreamer!" Sarah's voice rang out, full of the familiar energy that always brightened Emily's mood. Emily grinned as her best friend dropped down beside her, tossing her bag carelessly onto the grass.
"Earth to Emily," Sarah teased, nudging her with an elbow. "You've been staring into space for at least five minutes."
"Just… thinking," Emily said, not ready to unpack everything that had been weighing on her mind.
Sarah rolled her eyes. "I know that look. Spill. Or do I need to pry it out of you over coffee?"
Emily hesitated, but a moment later, a sense of relief washed over her as she realized she wanted to talk to Sarah about everything. If anyone could help her make sense of things, it was Sarah.
"I don't even know where to start," she admitted, leaning back on her elbows and watching the sky.
"Well, start with Max," Sarah said, raising an eyebrow with a knowing smile. "I heard rumors you two had been spending a lot of time together."
Emily laughed, feeling her cheeks warm. "I mean, yeah, we've been hanging out a lot. But it's complicated. There's… a lot about his life he doesn't talk about."
Sarah tilted her head thoughtfully. "He's mysterious. That's kind of hot, but it can be scary too. Have you talked to him about it?"
Emily nodded, though her heart twisted a little as she thought of the photo Oliver had shown her. "We had this serious conversation last night. He's been… open about some things, but there's a lot he's holding back."
Sarah gave her a sympathetic look. "That's tough. But, Em, you're one of the most patient people I know. If anyone can handle complicated, it's you."
Emily smiled, grateful for Sarah's unwavering support. "Thanks, Sar. I just don't know if I'm ready for… all of this. The mystery, the trust issues… it's intense. And then there's Oliver, too."
At the mention of Oliver, Sarah's eyes narrowed slightly. "Oliver… he's a different story. Has he been weird around you?"
Emily sighed. "Yeah, sort of. He's still… I don't know. I get that he cares about me, but sometimes it's too much. He showed me this picture of Max with some guy, almost like he was trying to make me doubt him."
Sarah frowned. "That's a little overboard, don't you think? Like, I get he's your friend, but…"
"I know," Emily interrupted, nodding in agreement. "It felt a bit too much. But that's just Oliver. He has this protective side, and I think he's just… jealous. It's frustrating, though."
Sarah sighed, shaking her head. "Look, Em, at the end of the day, you know what feels right. Just trust your gut. And if that means staying close with Max or stepping back, I'll support you."
Emily felt a wave of gratitude as she looked at her best friend, knowing how lucky she was to have someone who always had her back.
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Meanwhile, Across the Lawn
As the two chatted, Emily spotted Alex, Sarah's on-again, off-again flame, heading their way. He looked as laid-back as always, his eyes crinkling in amusement as he gave them a wave.
"Oh no, here comes trouble," Sarah muttered with a grin, though her eyes sparkled as Alex approached.
"Ladies," Alex greeted, dropping down beside them with an exaggerated sigh as if he'd just completed a marathon. "Good to see you're both still alive after the stress-fest of midterms."
Emily laughed, rolling her eyes. "I think you're confusing us with yourself, Alex."
"Hey, hey, hey," he protested, holding up his hands defensively. "I am a serious student… who just happens to have a talent for cramming."
Sarah shot him a playful glare. "Yeah, right. You probably pulled an all-nighter and drank a gallon of coffee just to make it through."
"True." Alex winked, his eyes dancing with mischief. "But somehow, I managed to ace the exams."
They all laughed, the familiar banter lightening the air and easing the tension Emily hadn't realized she was holding. It was good to feel the simplicity of campus life again, away from all the complications with Max and Oliver.
"Speaking of midterms," Sarah said, turning to Alex, "weren't you supposed to help me with our biology project?"
Alex grinned sheepishly. "Ah, about that… How about I make it up to you with coffee and study notes? I'll even throw in a free cookie."
Sarah pretended to think about it, her eyes narrowed. "Fine. But you owe me—big time."
Emily watched the two of them with a smile. She'd always admired the way Sarah and Alex seemed to have a magnetic pull toward each other. There was a playfulness in their dynamic that felt so effortless, and though they were constantly bickering, Emily could tell there was something real underneath it all.
"You two make such a good team," Emily said, watching as Alex handed Sarah one of his homemade flashcards. "Maybe you should stop denying it and just admit you're a power duo."
Sarah scoffed, though a faint blush colored her cheeks. "Please. Alex and I would kill each other if we tried dating seriously."
Alex shrugged, a sly smile tugging at his lips. "Hey, I'm just here to support your academic success. With a few occasional side benefits, of course."
Sarah smacked him lightly on the arm, laughing as they continued to bicker. Emily's smile grew as she watched them, feeling a sense of warmth that made her momentarily forget her worries about Max and Oliver. It felt good to just sit with her friends, to let herself be a normal college student without the weight of secrets and love triangles.
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Late-Night Conversations
That evening, Sarah convinced Emily to stay over in her dorm for an impromptu girls' night. They ordered pizza, surrounded by stacks of textbooks that were largely ignored, and talked late into the night about everything from their favorite classes to random campus gossip.
As the night wore on, Emily felt her guard slowly dropping, her laughter coming easier and her worries about Max and Oliver fading into the background. She knew that moments like these—with Sarah by her side, laughing and sharing secrets—were a rare treasure.
"So, Em," Sarah said, stretching out on her bed with a smirk, "are you and Max officially a thing? Or are you still in 'mysterious crush' territory?"
Emily laughed, tossing a pillow at her friend. "I don't know! I mean, we're… something. But it's complicated."
Sarah raised an eyebrow, giving her a skeptical look. "Complicated? You deserve more than complicated, Em."
"I know," Emily sighed, running a hand through her hair. "But he's… worth it. Or at least, I think he is."
Sarah's expression softened, and she reached out to squeeze Emily's hand. "If you really feel that way, then I support you. Just make sure you're putting yourself first, okay?"
Emily nodded, feeling a swell of gratitude for her friend's support. "Thanks, Sarah. I really needed this."
They lay in silence for a moment, the soft glow of the fairy lights casting a warm, comforting light over the room. Emily felt a sense of peace settle over her, the worries and doubts that had been gnawing at her fading into the background.
"Hey, can I ask you something?" Sarah's voice was barely a whisper, breaking the silence.
"Of course," Emily replied, curious.
Sarah hesitated, her eyes flicking away before she met Emily's gaze. "Do you think… Alex and I could actually work? Like, for real?"
Emily felt a smile tugging at her lips. She'd seen the way Alex looked at Sarah, the way his eyes softened whenever she was around. "I think you two are perfect for each other, honestly."
Sarah's cheeks flushed, and she let out a quiet laugh. "I don't know… sometimes it feels like it could be something real. But other times, I'm scared it's all just… nothing."
Emily squeezed her hand, feeling a surge of empathy for her friend. "I get that. But sometimes you just have to take the risk, you know? You'll never know if it's real if you don't try."
Sarah nodded, her gaze thoughtful as she processed Emily's words. "You're right. Maybe… maybe I'll give it a shot."
They shared a quiet smile, a sense of unspoken understanding passing between them. Emily felt a renewed sense of hope, a reminder that even though things were complicated with Max and Oliver, she had the strength to navigate her feelings, and she had friends who would stand by her no matter what.
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