Lyra's POV
The classroom buzzed with the low murmur of conversations as students settled into their seats. I sat beside Ava, her curly brown hair falling over her shoulder as she doodled absentmindedly in her notebook. It was one of those rare moments we were alone together, and it reminded me of how much I'd missed her company.
Ava turned to me with a soft sigh.
"We barely hang out these days," she said, her voice tinged with a mix of sadness and frustration. "I feel like we've been... distant."
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, avoiding her gaze.
"I know," I admitted. "Things have just been... a lot lately."
She frowned, her hazel eyes searching mine. "Since the accident, right?"
I stiffened at her words, and she quickly added, "Do you... Do you blame me for it?"
"What?" I turned to her, shocked. "Ava, no! Why would you even think that?"
She shrugged, her voice quieter now. "Because I was there, Lyra. I was supposed to have your back, but instead—"
"You're overthinking," I interrupted gently, reaching out to touch her arm. "The accident wasn't your fault. It had nothing to do with you."
Ava looked at me, her lips pressed into a thin line as if trying to decide whether to believe me.
"You don't have to sugarcoat it, you know," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "I'd understand if you were angry. If you hated me for what happened."
I shook my head firmly, my chest tightening at the pain in her voice. "Ava, I could never hate you. And I don't blame you—at all. You've always been there for me. Always."
Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, and before I could say anything else, she pulled me into a tight hug.
"I was so scared I'd lost you," she murmured into my shoulder.
I hugged her back just as tightly, her warmth anchoring me in a way I hadn't realized I needed.
"You didn't lose me," I whispered. "You never could."
We stayed like that for a moment, the noise of the classroom fading into the background.
When we finally pulled away, Ava gave me a small, hesitant smile. "We should hang out more," she said, brushing a tear from her cheek.
"Definitely," I agreed, smiling back. "Just like old times."
"Deal," she said, her usual spark returning to her eyes.
A comfortable silence stretched between us after the hug, each of us lost in our own thoughts. The hum of the classroom filled the air, and for a moment, I felt a rare sense of calm.
Ava broke the quiet first, turning to face me with a sly smile. "You know," she began, her tone laced with mischief, "my brother likes you."
I stiffened, the words hitting me harder than I expected. But I schooled my expression, forcing a nonchalant shrug as I responded, "Oh, really?"
She didn't notice the tension in my voice—or if she did, she ignored it.
"Yeah," she said, her smile widening as she leaned closer like she was sharing some juicy gossip. "He hasn't shut up about you lately. Always asking where you are, what you're up to."
I raised an eyebrow, keeping my tone casual. "That so?"
"Totally!" she continued, oblivious to the storm brewing inside me. "I mean, it's weird because Kellan doesn't usually show interest in anyone. He's always so... serious, you know? But with you? It's like he's a different person. He actually smiled the other day! I almost fainted."
I forced a laugh, though it felt hollow in my chest. "Sounds like he's just being friendly."
Ava rolled her eyes, letting out an exaggerated groan.
"Friendly? Please. My brother doesn't do 'friendly.' If he's paying attention to someone, it's for a reason. Trust me."
She kept going, her words blending into an endless stream of chatter as she detailed every interaction she'd observed between Kellan and me. How he seemed to watch me during pack events, how he conveniently found reasons to be nearby.
My mind raced, trying to process everything she was saying without giving away the history I shared with her brother. I nodded at the right moments, even throwing in a few murmured agreements, but inside, I felt like a tightly coiled spring ready to snap.
"And you know what's crazy?" Ava said, her voice dropping conspiratorially.
"What?" I asked, though I wasn't sure I wanted to know.
"I think he's genuinely into you. Like, for real. And honestly?" She grinned. "I think you'd be good for him. He needs someone to loosen him up a bit."
I smiled weakly, unsure of how to respond. Ava had no idea about the tangled web of emotions and memories that lay beneath her innocent observations, and I wasn't about to enlighten her.
"Well," I said, hoping to steer the conversation away, "your brother's... interesting, I guess."
Ava laughed, patting my arm. "Interesting is one way to put it. But seriously, Lyra, if you ever decide to give him a chance, let me know. I'd love to see him squirm for once."