Ere'ana hadn't expected to find herself alone with Jack again so soon, but somehow, here they were, sitting on a secluded bench under the twilight sky. The soft hum of crickets filled the air, blending with the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze.
Jack was leaning back, one arm draped over the backrest, while Ere'ana sat beside him, nervously fiddling with the hem of her sweater. They had been talking about nothing in particular—school, their least favorite teachers, even Ira and Avarina's antics. But then the conversation had slowed, and Jack's gaze had softened as he looked at her.
"You know," he said quietly, "I really like spending time with you."
Ere'ana blinked, her heart fluttering at his words. She wasn't sure how to respond, so she just nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips.
Jack shifted closer, his dark eyes searching hers. "Can I…" He hesitated, his voice trailing off.
"What?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Can I kiss you?"
Her breath hitched, and for a moment, all she could do was stare at him. Then, slowly, she nodded.
Jack leaned in, his hand gently cupping her cheek as his lips met hers. It was soft and tentative at first, like he was afraid of pushing too far, but when Ere'ana didn't pull away, he deepened the kiss, his other hand resting lightly on her waist.
For a moment, everything else faded away. The stress of school, the drama with classmates, even her insecurities—it all melted into the background. All that mattered was Jack and the way he made her feel.
But then, like a sudden jolt, a thought struck her.
Avarina.
Ere'ana's eyes snapped open, and she abruptly pulled away, leaving Jack looking confused and slightly hurt.
"Ere, what's wrong?" he asked, his brow furrowing.
"I—I'm sorry," she stammered, standing up and taking a step back. "I just… I need to go."
"Did I do something wrong?" Jack asked, standing as well.
"No, it's not you," she said quickly. "It's me. I just… I need to think."
Before he could say anything else, she turned and walked away, her heart pounding as guilt gnawed at her.
By the time she reached her dorm, Ere'ana felt like the worst friend in the world. She had been so caught up in Jack—spending time with him, thinking about him, kissing him—that she had barely spent any time with Avarina.
Pushing open the door, she found Avarina sitting on her bed, scrolling through her phone. She didn't look up as Ere'ana entered.
"Hey," Ere'ana said softly, closing the door behind her.
Avarina hummed in response, not taking her eyes off her screen.
Ere'ana hesitated, unsure how to start. She sat down on her own bed, facing Avarina. "I, um… I wanted to say I'm sorry."
"For what?" Avarina asked, her tone neutral.
"For… not spending time with you," Ere'ana said, fidgeting with her hands. "I've been so wrapped up with Jack lately, and I didn't realize how much I've been neglecting you."
Avarina didn't respond, her fingers still scrolling across her phone screen.
Ere'ana's stomach twisted. "I mean it, Avarina. I'm really sorry. You're my best friend, and I never want you to feel like I'm replacing you or anything."
At that, Avarina finally looked up, her expression guarded. "You're not replacing me?"
"Of course not!" Ere'ana said, her voice earnest. "I could never replace you. You're the person who's been there for me through everything—every meltdown, every bad day, every stupid mistake. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Avarina's expression softened, but there was still a hint of doubt in her eyes. "It doesn't feel like that. Lately, it's like… you're always with Jack. And I get it, okay? He's your boyfriend now, or whatever. But… it feels like I'm not as important to you anymore."
Ere'ana felt her heart sink. "That's not true. You are important to me. I've just been… I don't know, caught up in everything. But I'm going to make it up to you, I promise."
Avarina raised an eyebrow. "How?"
"Well…" Ere'ana paused, thinking. "How about tomorrow? Just the two of us. We can do whatever you want—go out for coffee, watch movies, complain about people we don't like. Anything."
Avarina studied her for a moment, then sighed. "Fine. But if you bail on me for Jack, I'm going to throw your phone out the window."
Ere'ana laughed, relieved. "Deal."
Avarina smiled faintly, and for the first time in days, things felt… okay between them.
Later that night, as Ere'ana lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, she couldn't help but replay the day's events in her head. The kiss with Jack, the conversation with Avarina—it all felt like a whirlwind of emotions.
She liked Jack, that much was clear. But she also couldn't ignore the fact that her relationship with him was affecting her other relationships, especially with Avarina.
I need to find a balance, she thought. I can't let one person take over my entire life.
With that thought in mind, she closed her eyes, hoping tomorrow would be a fresh start—a chance to set things right.