Chapter 3 Shattered Plans and Strange Neighbors

Chapter Three: Shattered Plans and Strange Neighbors

Ava turned and ran as fast as she could, her boots pounding against the hallway floor. She did not care how much noise she made. Her chest was tight, her breathing sharp and ragged, like she could not get enough air. Behind her, she heard James shout her name, but she did not stop-not when she reached the front door, not even as she yanked it open with shaking hands.

Then suddenly, his hand caught her wrist and pulled her back.

"Ava, wait."

She spun around, her eyes blazing. "Let me go, jerk."

"Please, it's not what it looks like-"

She let out a dry, bitter laugh. "Oh really? So I'm blind now? You told me you had hockey practice, James. You said you were busy. Was that practice? Was she part of the drills?"

His mouth opened like he had something to say, but he hesitated. He rubbed the back of his neck and looked everywhere except at her.

Ava stepped back, the anger burning through her chest. "This day was supposed to be special. My birthday. And you-you did this to me. You probably do not even remember it's my birthday."

"I didn't mean for it to happen-" he mumbled.

"You didn't mean to cheat on me with Clara?" she snapped. "What, did you trip and fall on her by accident? You chose this, James."

That was when his face shifted. His expression hardened, his voice turning cold.

"You know what? What's so wrong with it? I mean, I'm the hot one. I'm the one everybody wants. You should be lucky I even chose you in the first place. Every girl at school dreams of being with me. And you think I'm the jerk?"

Ava stared at him, stunned. Her mouth fell open, and for a moment, all she could hear was her own heartbeat thudding in her ears.

"Are you serious right now?" she whispered.

"I'm just saying," he said, folding his arms like this was some argument he had already won. "You're too emotional all the time. I wanted something chill, not... whatever this is."

She did not think. She just reacted.

Her hand flew up and struck his cheek with a sharp slap that echoed in the hallway. The sound startled even her.

James froze, his face red with shock. He opened his mouth again, but Ava beat him to it.

"I regret ever falling for someone like you," she hissed. "You're a selfish, arrogant jerk. Ungrateful and pathetic."

She turned before he could speak again and stormed outside, the cold air stinging her face like reality smacking her awake. Her steps slowed only when she reached her street. By the time she reached her porch, her body felt numb. She dropped down onto the steps, elbows resting on her knees, and stared blankly ahead.

She did not even go inside. She could not.

How could he do this to her? On her birthday? After everything?

Her throat tightened as she reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. She tapped Alex's name and held the phone to her ear.

It picked up after two rings.

"Hey, what's going on? You okay?" Alex's voice was full of concern.

Ava swallowed, forcing herself to stay calm. "Can you come get me? Please. I just... I can't talk about it right now."

"I'm coming," Alex said quickly. "Give me ten minutes."

Ava ended the call and set her phone on the step beside her. Her hands were still shaking, and the ache in her chest refused to ease. She hated feeling this broken, hated that James still had that kind of power over her. But it was not just the cheating-it was the way he lied so easily, the way he talked like she was disposable, like she was lucky to be chosen by him. What had he taken her for?

She wiped her face roughly and tried to focus on something else. Anything else.

Then she heard footsteps behind her.

"Rough night?" a voice said gently.

She turned her head.

Lucas stood a few feet away, holding out a water bottle like it was an offering. His expression was soft, not pitying, just calm.

"What... what are you doing here?" Ava asked, confused.

He gave a small smile. "I live next door. Kind of hard to miss all the curse."

Her eyes shifted toward the house beside hers, then back to him. "You live here? Since when?"

"Since a few weeks ago," he said, shrugging casually. "Guess we just never crossed paths until school."

"That's... weird. I don't remember seeing you around."

"I'm good at staying off the radar," he said with a smirk. "Until I'm not."

Ava took the water from him without thinking. It was cold. Her throat burned less after a few sips, and she finally felt like she could breathe again.

Just then, headlights lit up the street. A small gray car pulled up at the curb.

Alex.

Ava stood quickly, too relieved to hide it. She stepped off the porch, but her foot caught the edge of the step. Her heart lurched-she was going to fall.

But a hand reached out and caught her.

She landed against a solid chest, breath caught in her throat. Lucas's arm was around her, steadying her. She looked up, startled, and met his eyes.

Those eyes...

They were not just dark. They shimmered like shadows with gold flecks, almost unreal. And something about them-about him-felt familiar in a way she could not explain.

She stayed there, frozen, staring up at him.

She did not pull away. For a second, she did not want to.

There was something strange in the way they looked at each other, like she had known him before. Like her body recognized him even if her mind did not.

She wanted to ask him why. Why he felt familiar. Why her heart was pounding like this.

But no words came out.

They just stood there in silence, caught in a moment neither of them fully understood.