YOU'RE BACK! Here's a sweet treat 🍪

:)

Samara

...

...

I glanced at the time on my laptop. Viv and I had been on the phone for over an hour. My AirPods were starting to make my ears sore, but there was no way I was ending this call. Not when she was in full-on big-sister-best-friend mode, dissecting every second of the Great Showdown™.

"So, let me get this straight," Viv's voice crackled faintly, thanks to her questionable London Wi-Fi. She's home right now, staying with her parents for her dad's birthday "You had two-count 'em, two-fine, tall men practically fighting for your attention, and you're sitting here questioning what you did wrong?"

I rolled my eyes, stretching out on my bed. "Okay, first of all, no one was fighting. Akeem just... showed up, and Damson..." I trailed off, biting my lip.

Viv gasped dramatically. "Oh my God. Don't tell me you're about to defend Grandpa. What did he even do?"

"Well," I started, pulling my blanket tighter around me, "I thought he was about to ask me out or, I don't know, say something before you know who came along. He looked like he was working up to it."

Viv snorted. "And did he?"

"No..."

"Exactly." She said it like it was the final word on the matter.

"But!" I protested, sitting up. "We had such a good time at the court. He's funny, you know? And we kind of clicked. It was nice. He made me laugh, and it wasn't just flirting-flirting, it felt... different."

"Oh, so now Damson is deep," Viv teased.

"I'm being serious!" I laughed, tossing a pillow in the air like she could feel my frustration from halfway across the world. "And then there's Akeem. He's so easy to talk to. Like, I didn't feel awkward at all with him. And you know me-I'm the queen of awkwardness. I crack jokes when I'm nervous."

"You do," she agreed, "and half the time, they're so bad it's painful."

"Hey!"

"But seriously, Akeem sounds like he knows how to handle you. And the hoodie thing? Cute. Ten points to Gryffindor."

"He's not Gryffindor material," I said automatically, thinking about his cocky smirk and how easily he got under my skin. "He's totally Slytherin."

Viv hummed, clearly considering. "Yeah, you're right. He's got 'bad boy charm' written all over him. Dangerous combo. Proceed with caution, sugar."
Her nickname for me made me grin. She'd started using it ever since Damson had called me that during the showdown. Now she used it for everything.

"I'm just..." I sighed, flopping back down on my bed. "I've never done this before, you know? Like, liked two people at once. Is it even liking? Or am I just excited someone-anyone-finds me interesting?"

Viv's voice softened. "Oh, babe. You're worth all the interest in the world, and you know it. Don't downplay yourself like that. You're not just some girl; you're Samara freaking King. Top five on the team, killer smile, hilarious-usually unintentionally, but still."

I laughed, feeling a little better. "Anyway," she continued, her tone shifting back to teasing, "you're gonna figure it out. And while you're out here juggling men like the badass you are, guess who's officially single again?"

I cackled. "What happened to Ireland Boy? I thought he was 'so sweet, so dreamy.'"

Viv's voice crackled through the phone, carrying her trademark mix of exasperation and humour all the way from Ireland. "So, I finally ended things with Jason."

I leaned back against my dorm bed, already bracing for the ridiculous explanation. "Oh? What was it this time? Did he chew too loudly or, I don't know, text in Comic Sans?"

"Worse," she deadpanned. "He called me 'sweetie' one too many times."

I blinked. "Sweetie?"

"Sweetie," she repeated, her voice dripping with disdain. "Like I'm a six-year-old at a family barbecue. I can't explain it. Every time he said it, I wanted to shove him into oncoming traffic." I burst out laughing, nearly dropping my phone. "You cut him off over a nickname. The girl who fawned over the man who called me Sugar?"

"It's not just a nickname," she insisted. "It's a personality trait. 'Sweetie' is what men say when they think they're being charming but really just sound like a 1950s car salesman. And anyway, he didn't pass the vibe check."

I shook my head, still laughing. "You're impossible."

"And you love me for it," she shot back. "Besides, I named my new Monstera after him, so technically, Jason's still in my life. He just, you know, photosynthesizes now."

"You're unhinged."

"And thriving," she said smugly.

We both laughed and soon after, she had to go. I set my phone down and stared at the ceiling, her words playing over in my head.

...

...

The campus was quiet as I walked toward the gym. A cool breeze tugged at my hoodie, and I stuffed my hands into the pockets.

I thought about my conversation with Viv. She was right-I needed to stop overthinking. If Akeem or Damson wanted me, they'd show it. And if they didn't? Well, that was their loss. I was going to enjoy this-whatever this was-and take my time figuring out how I felt.

No rush. No pressure. Just vibes.

I pulled my headphones on and let the music drown out my thoughts until I reached the gym.

Damson was already there, leaning against the wall with his friends, laughing at something. He looked good-like, annoyingly good. His smile lit up his whole face, but it wasn't directed at me.

He didn't even glance my way.

It was fine. Totally fine.

Practice started, and we dove into drills. I ended up behind Damson in the layup line, my heart doing a little skip when I saw him.

"Hey," I said casually.

He glanced at me. "Hey."

Short. Clipped. Not even a smile.

I tried again. "How's it going?"

"Good."

That was it. One word, clipped and indifferent. No follow-up. No polite reciprocation. Nothing. He just went back to staring straight ahead like I didn't exist.

Ouch.

I chewed on the inside of my cheek, feeling a wave of something bitter and unfamiliar creep into my chest. Disappointment? Embarrassment? Both? Was I overthinking it? Probably. But also, what the hell was that?

The rest of the practice felt heavier than usual. Every time I stole a glance at Damson, he was either locked in on drills or joking around with someone else, his laughter bouncing around the gym like it had nothing to do with me. And why should it? The thought didn't help, but I couldn't stop it from looping in my head.

When practice ended, I forced myself to catch up to him as we filed out of the gym. My legs felt shaky, and not just because of the suicides.

"Hey, Damson," I called out, my voice a little smaller than I intended.

He stopped, turning around with a look that screamed, what now? "What's up?"

I hesitated, trying to gauge his mood, but his eyes flicked toward the exit like he had somewhere urgent to be. "Nothing, I just..." I trailed off. Why was this so hard?

"Look, I gotta go," he cut in, already turning away. "See you later."

That was it. He didn't even wait for me to finish.

I stood there, rooted in place, watching him walk away. He didn't even glance back. My chest tightened, and I felt the sting of what could only be described as pre-rejection. You know, the kind that creeps up before anything's even been put on the table? Is he avoiding me? It sure felt like it.

I replayed the conversation-or lack thereof-in my head, picking apart his tone, his body language, and the way his excuse felt a little too flimsy. I gotta go? To where? It wasn't like we'd just wrapped up some top-secret CIA training mission. What could be so urgent right after practice?

...
...

Later, after dropping my gym bag in my room, I grabbed my phone and stepped out to get dinner before the cafeteria closed. It slipped my mind to grab it before coming to my room. I hadn't even made it to the elevator when my phone buzzed.

Akeem.

Stalker: Princess must be coming from practice at this hour.

I smiled despite myself, a little warmth seeping into the cracks Damson had left behind.

Me: 👀 Looking around for you lurking in a corner...

Stalker: 😂😂 Nah, but I'm sure you'd like that, so... in your dark dreams.

I rolled my eyes, biting back a grin as I headed outside into the crisp night air. My pace quickened; the dining hall was minutes from closing, and my stomach was on its last nerve.

Me: Bold of you to assume I'd even let you in my dreams.

Stalker: You're saying you wouldn't?

Me: Not if I can help it.

Stalker: Harsh. I was gonna make an appearance at the festival this weekend.

I paused mid-step, surprised.

Me: You're going?

Stalker: Yeah, thought I'd check it out. Don't tell me you're skipping.

Me: Hadn't planned on going.

Stalker: That's disappointing. I would've liked to see the princess.

Stalker: But I get it-probably doesn't live up to your royal standards.

Me: Exactly. Unless you plan on stalking me from the shadows, I don't see the appeal.

Stalker: 😂😂 Maybe in your dark wild dreams.

His texts were so easy, so effortless. By the time I reached the dining hall and glanced at my reflection in the tall glass doors, I realized I was smiling-a big, goofy, what-are-you-doing kind of smile.

I stopped short, blinking at the girl staring back at me. Who was this? Akeem's playful words still lingered in my mind, but my chest tightened again, the earlier ache from Damson returning in an almost guilty way.

Was it just the flirting I liked? Or...was it Akeem?

I thought about Damson-how cold he'd been. Then about Akeem-how warm he made me feel.

Hot and cold.

Was I going to get burned? Or freeze to death?

Which one wouldn't I regret?

...

...

...

Thank you for readinggg!!!!

Until next time.....

Keep scrolling....?

(~‾ ▿ ‾)~