Aria's POV

I didn't sleep last night. Every word from the argument with Jack replayed in my head, louder with each loop. I can't stop hearing the moment I slipped up—"You'll leave me behind just like my parents did." I hadn't even realized how close I was to breaking until those words tumbled out.

And now, I've let Jack see too much. Too close to the parts of me I've buried for years, the ones I don't let anyone see. I know him well enough to understand that he won't forget what I said. The look in his eyes—hurt, confusion—it's haunting me. Why did I tell him that? Why did I think that throwing my pain at him would make things better?

It didn't.

The hallways are quieter today. Too quiet. Usually, I can feel the whispers, the way people's eyes linger on me when they think I don't notice. But today, it's like I don't exist. It's different.

As I reach my locker, I catch a glimpse of Jack and Brent further down the hall. And it's not just them—Brooke is there, too, leaning close to Jack, her laugh loud enough to cut through the silence. Of course. Cheerleader, pretty, always in the spotlight. I should've known. Jack never stays in one place too long, and after what I said, of course, he'd find someone else.

I bite my lip, trying to tell myself it's fine. It's better this way. Isn't this what I wanted? To be invisible again? The gossip isn't about me anymore, and I'm not sure whether to feel relieved or more isolated. Now it's about Jack and Brooke. I shouldn't care. I don't care.

But I can't stop my stomach from twisting when I see them together. I turn back to my locker, fumbling with the combination. Did he really change partners? I shouldn't be surprised. I told him to, after all. But seeing him with her makes it feel more real than I expected. And I hate that it hurts more than I thought it would.

I'm lost in my thoughts when Eli suddenly appears beside me. "Hey, you know, if you don't like the scene, maybe you should just... tell him?" He leans against the locker next to mine, his voice teasing, but there's a flicker of something deeper beneath the joke.

I slam my locker shut, glaring at him. "I'm not talking about it, Eli."

He raises his eyebrows, studying my face. "Wow. Touchy subject." His voice softens slightly as he says, "Look, you know I overheard what happened yesterday, right? But I didn't want to bring up the... parent stuff. I get it's personal, and I'm not gonna push."

My stomach clenches, and for a moment, I freeze. He overheard that? He's not pushing it, but just knowing he heard makes me feel exposed all over again. "I don't want to talk about it," I say, my voice quieter this time.

Eli gives me a long look, his teasing demeanor fading. "I get that," he says, keeping his tone gentle. "But you don't have to carry this all by yourself. You know that, right?"

My chest tightens. He means well, but it's not that simple. He doesn't know the half of it. "I'm fine," I lie, crossing my arms. "I'll figure it out."

He lets out a soft sigh, then smirks again, trying to lighten the mood. "If you say so. But come on, just admit it—you've got feelings for Jack. You can't hide that from me."

I feel my face heat up, and I immediately turn away, trying to hide the blush creeping up my neck. "It's not like that."

Eli chuckles, but there's no malice in it. "You're blushing, Aria. It's written all over your face. Classic harmless crush."

"I don't know what you're talking about," I mutter, already walking away from him.

But of course, Eli falls into step beside me, grinning like he's having way too much fun. "Right. Totally not a crush. Just a guy you can't stop thinking about. I still can't believe that my girlfriend picked up on you crushing on the popular football player before she moved and told me. I didn't believe it at first, but she was right."

I roll my eyes and push him lightly, but there's no real force behind it. "You're impossible. You're the last person who should talk. Brent let you into their friendship circle so easily."

Eli's grin widens. "Maybe it's because of my good looks? Or because everyone already knows me?" he says sarcastically, raising an eyebrow.

I snort, trying to hide a smirk. "No, seriously. How did you get him to agree to let you hang around with him and Jack? They don't just let anyone in."

"Because I'm awesome," Eli replies, laughing as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. But then his expression softens, his tone dropping slightly. "Look, Brent's got a lot of shit going on. I was there for some of it. He trusts me, so let's just drop it, okay? Brent's complicated—just like you. I swear, you two are like siblings, always keeping to yourselves and overthinking everything."

His words hit closer to home than I'd like. Brent, complicated like me? I try not to react, but Eli's already seen right through me. He's friendly, yes, but he sees too much.

Eli continues, shrugging slightly. "Anyway, all I'm saying is... it's okay to feel something. You don't always have to lock it up, Aria. It's not a crime to like someone. You don't have to guard your heart every second of the day."

I sigh, knowing deep down he's right but not ready to admit it, especially not when it comes to Jack. "It's complicated," I mutter, hoping that's enough to end the conversation.

But Eli, being Eli, doesn't let it go so easily. "You and Brent both. You two are always acting like the world's going to fall apart if you let anyone in."

His words sting, and I shoot him a glare. "I'm nothing like Brent," I snap, but the tension in my voice betrays me. I know what Eli means. And the truth is, it scares me.

Eli softens again, raising his hands as if surrendering. "Look, I get it. Everyone's got their stuff. But you don't have to go through everything alone. Especially not when it comes to Jack."

I don't respond right away, letting his words sink in. Eli's right—he's always right when it comes to this sort of thing—but that doesn't make it easier. It's not just that I feel something for Jack. It's the fear that comes with it, the uncertainty, the walls I've kept up since I was a kid. I glance at Eli, who's waiting for me to say something, and for a second, I almost do.

But instead, I give him a small shrug, the familiar weight pressing on my chest. "It's complicated," I repeat softly.

Eli watches me for a moment, then sighs, clearly giving up for now. "Fine. But just remember, Aria, you don't always have to make things so complicated."

I glance at him, surprised by how easy it is to be around him. He's not prying, not judging—just here. It's different with him. With Jack, I'm always on edge, afraid of what he might see if he gets too close. But Eli... he makes everything lighter. He lets me breathe.

As we reach the classroom, I catch sight of Jack again. He's still talking to Brent, but he's looking at us—at me and Eli. There's something in his expression—frustration, maybe? Or is it something else? I hold his gaze for a moment, and for the first time, I see something flicker in his eyes that makes my heart stop.

Is he... jealous?

But before I can even process it, he looks away, his jaw tight, his shoulders tense. He didn't like what he saw. That much is clear.

Eli leans in a little, noticing the tension. "Jack's watching you like he's trying to solve a puzzle," he whispers, his voice laced with amusement.

I don't respond. My chest tightens, and I quicken my pace, trying to put some distance between myself and the confusing mix of emotions swirling inside me. It's too much to deal with right now.

As we reach the classroom door, Eli gives me a small nudge. "I'll catch you later," he says, his teasing grin returning. "And remember, if you need to vent, I'm all ears."

I force a small smile, nodding. "Thanks, Eli."

He waves and heads off down the hall, leaving me to stare at the door, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on me again. I shouldn't care this much about Jack. I shouldn't feel this guilty. But as I walk into class, I can't shake the feeling that I've made a mistake.

Maybe this is better. Maybe it's safer this way.

But why does it feel so wrong?

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The classroom is empty when I walk in. It feels too quiet, the kind of quiet that makes every thought I'm trying to avoid crash back into my mind. Jack, Eli, the project—it's all spinning around in my head. But mostly, Jack. The way I pushed him away, the way he looked at me when I said too much. I told him to change partners, but I didn't really mean it... did I?

I sit down, resting my head in my hands, trying to hold myself together. Before I can sink any deeper into my thoughts, Ms. Daniels walks over to my desk. She stops just in front of me, her expression calm but serious.

"Aria," she says, her voice quiet. "Can I talk to you for a second?"

I nod, feeling the weight of the question already settling in my stomach. I follow her to the front of the room, a sense of dread building with each step. I know what this is about. It's always about the same thing lately—the project.

She stops near her desk, turning to face me with a sigh. "I've noticed that you and Jack haven't made much progress," she says, her tone firm but not unkind.

The pit in my stomach deepens, but I stay quiet. I can't deny it—she's right. We've barely touched the project since everything started falling apart between us.

"And Jack," she continues, her gaze steady on me, "he came to me earlier this week. He asked to switch partners."

The words hit harder than I expected. My chest tightens. He really wanted out. I told him to do it, but now hearing it out loud... it feels different. Like a punch I didn't see coming. I swallow, trying to steady myself. What did I expect? I practically pushed him away. But knowing he actually went to her—it makes it all feel so final.

Ms. Daniels pauses, watching me closely, then softens her tone. "I told him no. It's too late in the semester to switch now, and this project is a significant part of your grade."

I nod, my throat tight. She's not just talking about the project. There's something in her voice that makes me feel like she knows there's more to this than just deadlines and assignments. Like she's disappointed.

Her voice lowers, more serious now. "If you two don't work this out, Aria, you're both going to fail."

The words sink in, and I feel like I've been hit again, but this time it's harder. Failing. I can't afford to fail—not after everything. I keep my grades up for a reason. I need to get out of this place, to get into a good college, to have a shot at something better than what's waiting for me here. But I don't say any of that out loud. How could I? No one knows that about me. Not Jack, not Eli, not even my parents. Especially not them.

Ms. Daniels gives me a long look. "I know things can get complicated when you're working with someone else, especially when emotions are involved," she says, her tone more understanding now. "But this is important, Aria. You and Jack need to figure out how to get this done. I don't want to see either of you fail."

I nod again, barely able to meet her gaze. "I... I understand. We'll figure it out."

But I don't know if that's true. Jack doesn't want to work with me anymore, and it's my fault. I'm the one who pushed him away. I'm the one who messed this up.

Ms. Daniels' voice softens. "You're a bright student, Aria. I've seen the work you've done before. I know you can pull this off, but you need to be honest—with yourself and with your partner. Whatever's going on between you and Jack, you need to address it. The deadline is coming up fast."

Her words hang in the air long after she walks away, leaving me alone at the front of the room. I sit back down at my desk, the weight of everything crushing down on me. Failing. The thought sticks in my mind, a constant buzz of anxiety I can't shake.

But the truth is, I don't want to fix this. I don't know how. I don't want to face Jack or confront him. It's easier to let the walls stay up, to hide behind that invisible barrier I've kept for so long. If I reach out to him now, I'll get hurt, and I'm not ready for that.

I've had this barrier up since I was 10. It's what's kept me safe. Growing up in a house where love was absent, where my parents were too busy with work or their own lives to notice me—it taught me not to rely on anyone. It taught me that love doesn't last. That people always leave.

And that's why I don't believe in love. Not the way people talk about it. I've seen what it really is—something that fades when it's inconvenient. Something that leaves you alone. My parents barely even notice me when they're home. I'm invisible to them, and that's what feels safest.

So, if I let Jack in... if I tear down this barrier... I'm just going to get hurt. He'll push me aside, just like everyone else. The gossip will get worse, the whispers louder, and I'll be left standing alone again. Even if a small part of me aches to let him in, I can't risk it.

Even if Eli says I need to tell Jack the truth, even if he knows my secret... it doesn't change anything. I can't let myself believe that Jack won't leave. It's safer this way.

My heart tugs in a different direction, though. Somewhere deep down, it's whispering that maybe I'm wrong. That maybe Jack wouldn't leave. That maybe, just maybe, he's different. But I refuse to listen to that part of me. It's safer to keep pretending I don't care.

So I'll keep hiding. I'll let the barrier stay up, even if it keeps me trapped inside it.

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A/N: Poor Aria, she really does not want Jack in. Hopefully, she will soon.