Alyssa's PoV:

The days turned into weeks, and Emily and Aiden became ghosts of what they once were. There was no longer playful banter, no sneaky grins exchanged across the lunch table. Instead, there was only silence between them, a wall so tall and impenetrable that neither seemed willing-or perhaps able-to tear it down.

Aiden, to everyone's surprise, was seen with Regina more often. It wasn't just at parties or football games; she'd show up at our lunch table, sliding into the seat next to him like she belonged there. Worse, she'd sit on his lap, her arms looped possessively around his neck while she giggled at her own jokes. Every time this happened, Emily would quietly excuse herself and leave the table.

It became almost routine. Regina appeared, Emily disappeared. And Aiden? He just sat there, looking like he was physically present but mentally checked out. He barely reacted to anything Regina did or said, like he was on autopilot, drifting through life without purpose.

Mason and I couldn't help but notice. We'd exchange glances across the table every time it happened, our unspoken concerns growing heavier with each passing day. Emily had always been resilient, but this wasn't the same Emily I knew. She wasn't just avoiding Aiden-she was avoiding everything.

"I tried talking to her about it," I confessed to Mason one afternoon as we walked to class together. "But she just brushes me off. She says it's in the past, that it doesn't matter anymore."

Mason frowned, his hands stuffed deep into his pockets. "Doesn't matter? Are we talking about the same Emily? She was ready to fight Aiden tooth and nail not long ago."

I sighed, frustration bubbling to the surface. "I know, but she's shutting down. And Aiden's not helping. He's just... there. Letting Regina walk all over him like he doesn't care."

"Maybe he doesn't," Mason muttered, but there was doubt in his voice.

The truth was, we both knew Aiden wasn't indifferent. We'd seen the way his eyes searched the room for Emily when she wasn't around, how his shoulders slumped whenever she left the table. There were even moments when it seemed like he was trying to talk to her, but she'd shut him down before he could say a word.

Regina, of course, didn't make things easier. She was like a wrecking ball, smashing through the dynamics of our group without a care. At first, we tried to tolerate her for Aiden's sake, but it quickly became clear she wasn't interested in being part of the group-she was interested in dominating it. She made snide comments about Luke's jokes, rolled her eyes at Jaden's stories, and outright ignored Emily whenever they crossed paths.

And then there was the day she announced to everyone that she and Aiden were officially back together.

It was during lunch, and she said it so casually, as if she were commenting on the weather. "So, Aiden and I are back together," she declared, flipping her perfectly styled hair over her shoulder. "Just thought you should all know."

The table went silent, every eye turning to Aiden. He didn't confirm it, but he didn't deny it either. He just sat there, staring at his tray like it held the answers to the universe.

Emily wasn't there to hear it-she had already left the table, as usual. But I couldn't stop myself from wondering how she'd react if she found out.

"He's letting her run the show," Mason said later that day when we were alone. "It's like he doesn't have a spine anymore."

I couldn't argue with that. The Aiden I knew-the confident, occasionally cocky guy who commanded the football field and faced challenges head-on-was nowhere to be found. Instead, there was this numb, lifeless version of him who seemed to have given up on everything, including himself.

Regina had broken more than just Emily and Aiden. She'd fractured the group, creating an awkward tension that hung over us like a dark cloud. Lunches weren't the same, and neither were hangouts. Luke, Jaden, and even Cameron had started to drift away, their once-lively personalities dimmed by the toxic energy Regina brought with her.

Mason and I were the only ones trying to hold things together, but even we were struggling. Watching two of my best friends self-destruct was exhausting, and I didn't know how much longer I could keep pretending everything was fine.

The last day of school arrived with an electric energy buzzing through the air. The seniors were graduating-Aiden, Mason, Luke, Jaden, Cameron, and even James. It felt surreal, like the closing of a chapter none of us were quite ready to say goodbye to. The auditorium was packed, the stage decorated with school colors, and the air smelled faintly of carnations and freshly polished wood.

Mason looked dashing in his cap and gown, a mix of pride and nerves flashing across his face as the principal called his name. I watched him walk across the stage, his posture confident but his smile a little crooked-he always did that when he was trying to hide how much something meant to him.

When it was Aiden's turn, the crowd erupted in cheers. He gave a small smirk, tipping his cap to the audience before shaking hands with the principal. Despite everything, he still had that undeniable charisma that drew people in. I caught sight of Emily sitting further back in the auditorium, clapping along with everyone else but with a subdued expression that didn't quite reach her eyes.

After the ceremony ended, the courtyard was a whirlwind of caps flying through the air, hugs, and endless photo opportunities. I carried my old camera around my neck, snapping candid shots of the boys celebrating-Luke and Jaden with their arms slung over each other, Cameron laughing so hard he had to clutch his stomach, and Aiden giving James a playful shove as they joked about something.

Finally, I found Mason in the crowd, standing by himself for a moment as he adjusted his cap. I approached him with a bouquet of white roses, holding them out with a teasing smile. "For the most handsome graduate in the world," I said.

His face softened as he took the flowers, his fingers brushing mine. "You didn't have to do this," he murmured, but his expression betrayed how much it meant to him.

"Oh, shut up," I teased, pulling him in for a kiss. His cheeks flushed slightly as we parted, and I grinned. "You're blushing!"

"Am not," he said, but the redness in his ears gave him away.

I laughed, wrapping my arms around his waist. "You're impossible."

Before we could get too lost in our moment, Mason straightened and glanced over my shoulder. "There's someone I want you to meet."

I turned to see a woman approaching us, holding the hand of a little girl who couldn't have been older than six. The woman had Mason's dark hair and sharp features, but her eyes were softer, filled with warmth. The little girl, with her bright smile and bouncing pigtails, was the spitting image of Mason at that age.

"This is my mom, and this is Madeline," Mason introduced, his voice tinged with pride.

Madeline immediately broke into a run, throwing her arms around my legs with all the enthusiasm of a puppy. "You're Mason's girlfriend?!" she squealed, looking up at me with wide eyes.

I laughed, crouching down to her level. "I am. And you must be his little sister."

"I am! I'm six," she declared proudly, holding up six fingers for emphasis.

"She's been talking about meeting you nonstop since I told her," Mason's mom said with a smile. "I'm Clara. It's so nice to finally meet the girl my son can't stop raving about."

I felt a blush creeping up my neck as I straightened. "It's great to meet you, too. Mason's mentioned you a lot-he's always saying how much you mean to him."

Clara's eyes softened, and she reached out to squeeze Mason's arm. "That sounds like him. He doesn't always say it, but he's got a big heart."

Madeline tugged at my hand, pulling me closer. "Are you going to marry Mason?" she asked innocently, her voice ringing out loud enough for a few nearby people to hear.

I nearly choked on my laughter, while Mason groaned, running a hand over his face. "Maddie, not now," he muttered.

"What? It's a good question!" she insisted, her little face scrunching up in indignation.

"Well," I said, crouching again to meet her gaze. "That's a big decision, and we're taking it one step at a time."

Madeline considered this for a moment, then nodded solemnly. "Okay. But if you do, I get to be the flower girl!"

"Deal," I said, holding out my pinky for her to shake.

Mason's mom chuckled, wrapping an arm around her daughter's shoulders. "Come on, Maddie. Let's give Mason and Alyssa some space to celebrate."

As they walked away, Mason turned to me with a sheepish grin. "Sorry about her. She's...enthusiastic."

I laughed, leaning up to kiss his cheek. "She's adorable. And your mom's lovely."

"Yeah," he said softly, his gaze following them as they disappeared into the crowd. "They mean everything to me."

"And you mean everything to me," I said, squeezing his hand.