Chapter 11:
The following morning, Emily and Sarah packed up from their spontaneous sleepover, feeling refreshed and lighthearted. For once, Emily felt a break from the tangled mess that was her heart—and the warmth of a friend's support left her feeling strong enough to face whatever was coming next.
But the walk back to her apartment felt different. A subtle shift in the air hung around her, an intuition she couldn't shake. Maybe it was the encounter with Oliver, or perhaps it was Max's vulnerable revelation about his family, but she couldn't deny that something had changed.
A Surprise Encounter
As she reached her building, Emily felt her phone buzz. Expecting another lighthearted text from Sarah, she glanced at the screen, but her heart skipped a beat as she read the message:
"Can we talk?" It was from Oliver.
A swirl of unease twisted in her stomach. Emily thought back to their last conversation, when he'd shown her the photo of Max with that stranger. Part of her wanted to ignore him, to pretend she hadn't seen the message, but curiosity got the better of her.
"I'll be at the campus café in fifteen," she replied, her fingers tapping the screen before she could think twice. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, and then headed toward the café.
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At the Café
Emily was already seated with her coffee when Oliver arrived. He gave her a faint smile, his eyes flickering with something she couldn't quite read—regret, maybe, or concern. Whatever it was, it had softened his usually intense demeanor.
"Thanks for meeting me," he said, taking a seat across from her. He stirred his coffee absentmindedly, avoiding her gaze.
"What's going on, Oliver?" she asked, keeping her tone neutral.
He glanced up at her, then looked away again, almost as if he were gathering his thoughts. "Emily, I feel like I messed up. I showed you that photo because I wanted to protect you, but I think I just made things worse."
Emily felt a surge of relief, though it was quickly tempered by the memories of his words. "It was… a lot to take in, Oliver," she said carefully. "But I get why you felt the need to tell me. I just don't understand why you're so involved."
Oliver took a deep breath, finally meeting her gaze. "Because I… I still care about you, Em. A lot. Seeing you with Max, knowing there might be things he's hiding—it's hard for me. I just wanted to be sure you knew what you were getting into."
Emily felt a pang of guilt, but she held her ground. "Oliver, I appreciate your concern, but you have to trust that I can handle my own relationships. It's not fair to interfere like this."
He nodded slowly, looking down at his coffee. "You're right. I let my feelings get the best of me. But… if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here."
She gave him a small smile, relieved to see a hint of the old Oliver—the friend she'd trusted before things grew complicated. "Thanks, Oliver. I'll remember that."
They fell into an easy silence, and Emily couldn't help but feel a sense of closure settling between them. For the first time, she felt like she could let go of the tension that had built up between them, like she was finally free to pursue her feelings for Max without looking over her shoulder.
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Study Session with Sarah and Alex
Later that afternoon, Emily joined Sarah and Alex in the campus library for a study session. As she sat down at the long wooden table, she noticed the way Alex's hand brushed Sarah's arm, lingering just a little too long. Sarah shot him a playful glare, but her cheeks flushed, betraying her amusement.
"Do you two ever actually study during these study sessions?" Emily teased, raising an eyebrow as she pulled out her notebook.
Alex chuckled, leaning back in his chair with a smirk. "I'm very studious, thank you very much. It's Sarah here who can't resist distracting me."
Sarah scoffed, playfully shoving him. "Please! You're the one who's always finding excuses to talk. I don't know how you've managed to pass your classes."
They all laughed, the familiar banter between them easing any lingering tension in the air. Emily felt herself relax, grateful for the normalcy of her friends' company. She buried herself in her notes, the focused atmosphere helping her forget about the turmoil in her heart for a little while.
"Hey, are you free later?" Sarah whispered to Emily while Alex was momentarily engrossed in his textbook.
"Yeah, what's up?" Emily whispered back, glancing at Sarah curiously.
"I was thinking we could have a girls' night—just us. You know, maybe make a plan, get our heads out of this mess." Sarah's voice was soft but full of concern, and Emily couldn't help but feel a wave of gratitude.
"That sounds perfect," she replied, squeezing Sarah's hand with a smile.
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Girls' Night Revisited
That night, Sarah invited Emily back to her dorm, and they settled in with popcorn, face masks, and a marathon of their favorite rom-coms. As they laughed and recited the cheesy lines, Emily felt the weight of her recent worries lifting, replaced by the familiar comfort of friendship.
"Alright, so give me the scoop," Sarah said during a lull in the movie. "Where do things stand with Max and Oliver?"
Emily sighed, unsure where to begin. "With Max, it feels real… but complicated. He's been opening up more, but there are still things he's not telling me."
"And Oliver?" Sarah asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I think he's finally letting go a little," Emily said, running a hand through her hair. "We had a good talk today, and I think he's realizing he needs to step back. I'm hoping we can get back to just being friends."
Sarah nodded thoughtfully. "You deserve someone who's going to be fully honest with you, Em. Whether that's Max or… maybe someone else who hasn't come along yet."
Emily felt a warm surge of gratitude. "Thanks, Sarah. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Sarah grinned, wrapping an arm around Emily's shoulders. "You'd probably end up running in circles. Good thing I'm here to keep you on track."
They shared a laugh, and for the first time in days, Emily felt a sense of peace settle over her. Whatever the future held, she knew she'd have friends by her side—and that, at least, was something she could count on.
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