Aarav walked beside us, quiet as we neared our building, but when we reached the entryway, Sumi gave me a knowing smile. "I just realized I need to check the mail... back in the common area." She winked, subtle as a thunderclap, and dashed off without waiting for a response.

Great. Just me and my heart doing the cha-cha as Aarav and I stand here awkwardly. 

Turning toward him, I felt warmth creeping into my face at the sight of him rubbing the back of his neck and looking oddly shy. "Sorry about tonight," he murmured, his voice softer than usual. "I honestly didn't expect it to end that way for you."

"You have nothing to apologize for," I replied, trying to keep my smile genuine. "It's not your fault that... some people can just be a little mean sometimes. I mean, they're probably just jealous they can't pull off this jacket like I can."

He let out a laugh, the sound brightening the air between us. "Yeah, but I still didn't want your night to be spoiled. I'm glad you came, though. Made the whole scene a bit brighter."

"Plus, you totally rock that jacket," he added with a teasing grin. "If anyone should be jealous, it's me for not having such killer style!"

Is it getting hot out here, or is it just him? Oof... Focus, Avantika!

I felt my heart skip. "Careful there," I teased, trying to hide just how much his words affected me. "Keep laying it on thick like that, and I might start thinking you're doing it on purpose."

He raised an eyebrow, stepping a little closer with that playful smirk of his. "Who says I'm not?"

I felt my breath catch for a second, and that familiar warmth spread through me again, making it hard to focus on anything else. He leaned back, putting space between us but still locking eyes with me. "Anyway," he said, his tone softening, "I was just... worried about you, is all. People like Tanya—well, they're always like that. They are so prone to seeking out reasons to... put others down."

He really gets it. It felt like he could read my thoughts or something. Ugh... why does he have to be so handsome? I mentally chided myself: Get it together, Avantika! Don't lose yourself in this moment, not now.

I hugged his jacket tighter around me, and I caught him glancing my way. The corners of his mouth curled up into a perfect smile, a spark of warmth lighting up his eyes. "That jacket actually looks better on you anyway," he said, his smile sparking something warm in my chest.

"Thanks," I managed, my voice barely above a whisper. His kindness felt like this jacket—a quiet, comforting weight around me.

Aarav smiled one last time, his gaze holding on me for just a moment longer. "Alright then, goodnight, Avantika," he said, his voice softer and raspier, like he wasn't quite ready to go. His gaze lingered, warm and steady, as if he was waiting for a reason to stay. "I'll see you around at school."

With a small nod, he finally turned and walked away, his footsteps quiet but unhurried, like he was hoping I might call him back. I stayed there for a moment, pulling his jacket a little closer. Why do I feel like this? It was a calm, steady warmth spreading through me—a kind of happiness I hadn't felt in forever, and I wasn't sure I wanted to let go.

Once inside, I closed the door quietly and tiptoed to our room, where Sumi was waiting by the window, dressed in her panda pajamas, looking expectantly at me with wide, sparkling eyes. She practically burst, bouncing slightly as I walked in.

"Avi, I thought you were actually going to kiss him!" she squealed, her voice hitting that high pitch that could probably shatter glass—or at least my nerves.

I rolled my eyes, but a smile tugged at my lips despite myself. "Don't tell me you were watching from the window." Her quiet response told me everything I needed to know, and the playful smile that spread across her face made it obvious she had been. Great, now I felt like I was living in a corny love story. What's next? A dramatic montage of me pacing the floor while listening to sad love songs?

I sighed, laughing as I shook my head. "Goodnight, Sum. It's late, and you should sleep!"

"Yeah, yeah... but a kiss would've been better, you know. Just saying," she teased, her grin wide as she headed to her bed.

After Sumi calmed down, I put on my comfortable blueberry-patterned pajamas, feeling relaxed. I fell onto my bed, and the cool sheets hugged me like an old friend. I took a deep breath and looked around the room, catching a glimpse of Aarav's jacket resting on my chair adjacent to my study desk.

The slender beam of midnight moonlight cast through the window, a gentle glow on Aarav's shiny black leather jacket.

I couldn't help but smile as I remembered how he defended me at the party. His being somehow offered a comfort that was neither expected nor needed. He could have kept quiet, but he stepped in without a moment's hesitation. He remained with me and even joked, making the burden of the night feel a little less heavy, even if just for a little while. I wished I could bottle that feeling and keep it close, like a comforting shield.

And then there was Abhimanyu. There was a conflict of looks between us when we first met at the party. I recalled the way he'd held my wrist and asked me, "Why are you wearing his jacket?" I could still hear myself saying, "Why do you care?" It echoed in my ears. But who cares? Why would he even be bothered? Just moments before, he'd been laughing with his friends, joining in on the jokes that had made me feel so small. How can someone make you feel like a million bucks one minute and like an old shoe the next?

I flopped onto my bed, attempting to block the tangle of thoughts that was raging inside my head. My gaze shifted to a plushy white rabbit keyring that dangled from the chest drawers next to my bed. Its button-black eyes looked as though they were winking at me and made me remember some good old days. A bittersweet feeling tugged at my chest as I remembered how Abhimanyu had held it up proudly on my thirteenth birthday. He'd flashed that grin of his, dimples deepening, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Because 'Vani' sounds just like 'bunny!'" he'd said, and in that moment, I felt like the luckiest girl in the world.

Idiot Vani, why the hell did I even save this? I thought, as the ridiculous nostalgia washed over me like a wave. It used to feel like such a sweet gesture—a little reminder of the bond we shared, innocent, filled with laughter, and plenty of inside jokes. But now, given the way he had been acting, it felt more like a cruel joke. The boy who thought of me as his once best friend, how did he come to treat me like I was a mere amusement? The weight of the memory of the keychain felt heavy in my heart, and I couldn't help but question everything we had once shared.

It's like I'm stuck in this weird emotional limbo—half wanting to scream at him, half wishing he'd just say something that made sense.

A confusing mix of emotions churned inside me—ranging from frustration to regret, not forgetting the pervasive feeling in my heart. How could he flip so easily between being kind one minute and distant the next? One moment, we were friends, and the next, it felt like I was just some random person to him. What was this confusing distance that had suddenly appeared between us?

I glanced back at Aarav's jacket, its weight contrasting with the hurt I felt from Abhimanyu's indifference. There was a bittersweet warmth in remembering the moments with Aarav, the way he'd lightened the night with his playful teasing. And then there was Sumi, always there to make me laugh and nudge me toward things that reminded me that I could be more than the "Sparkle-Snob" Tanya and her minion tried to make me out to be. Seriously, how did I get so lucky to have a friend like her?

Despite the tangled emotions, I felt a surprising sense of strength build inside me, a reassurance that I didn't need anyone's approval but my own. I closed my eyes, holding on to that feeling, letting it carry me off into a sleep that, for the first time in a long while, felt peaceful.

***

Unknown POV

"Look," the authoritative voice hissed as he approached. His posture was commanding and determined. "If we don't take care of this matter now, it will haunt us. We cannot leave anything behind. This isn't it."

A tense silence fell between them, thick with anxiety. The first voice broke it with questionable fear lingering down his every spelled syllable. "But... what if someone finds it? What if they connect it to us?"

"Enough!" the second voice hissed, impatience cutting through the night. "We've come too far to turn back. We should put it by the abandoned lake where no one will dare to come. It's the perfect location."

Moonlight filtered through the tall eucalyptus trees, casting long shadows on the forest floor. The first voice spoke again, urgency rising in his tone. "We can't leave him here. We have to take care of this matter now."

"Of course," the second voice answered, wide-eyed and urgent. "We can't risk being seen. Just drop him in the lake and let the water do the rest."

"Don't let anyone see you. Or just lay him behind the trees; it will be dark enough," the first voice urged, his eyes wide with fear, his heart pounding.

"Got it. No one will know," the second voice confirmed, though her trembling tone betrayed her fear.

"Listen," the authoritative voice interjected, grabbing their attention with a commanding presence. "We cannot afford mistakes. The longer we wait, the more risks we take. We have to do this right."

The first voice hesitated, uncertainty flickering in the shadows of his expression. "And what if they see it?"

"Then we'll deal with it. But we have to lay it out first. It has to be done tonight," the authoritative voice insisted, a steely determination hardening his words.

With that, the three of them slipped deeper into the forest, the shadows closing in around them like a cloak. They emerged into a small clearing. The deserted valley in front of them shone with an eerie light. The moon passed through the long branches of the eucalyptus trees, creating a dramatic backdrop that seemed unsuited to the task ahead.

"Here," the leader said, his finger pointing to a clear spot near the water's edge. "This is where we do it. We need to make sure it's... done right."

"Okay, but let's hurry," the first voice replied, his throat tightening as he spoke. A knot of fear twisted in his stomach. "I really don't want to linger here longer than we have to."

"Then let's get moving," the loyal figure urged, sensing the weight of the moment. "It's already set up. Just make it look natural. We can't leave any evidence behind."

As they worked, a cool breeze rustled through the trees, carrying distant laughter from the party—a stark reminder of the normal world just beyond their little bubble, completely unaware of the darkness creeping in.

"Make it happen," the leader said again, his tone firm. "We can't mess this up."

The first voice hesitated, glancing around nervously, as if someone might jump out from the shadows. "What if someone sees us?" he asked, the bravado slipping from his voice.

"We won't get caught," the second voice replied, trying to sound confident, but doubt flickered in her eyes. "No one's looking this way. It's just us and the night."

As they pressed on, the moonlight danced on the lake's surface, highlighting the seriousness of what they were doing. A sense of urgency hung in the air, a chilling reminder of what they were about to leave behind.

"Swim to the middle of the lake and drop him there. Don't forget to add weights," the authoritative voice commanded, the words cold enough to make the first voice tremble. "We need to erase any trace of him; it all ends here."

A u t h o r's   N o t e

Hey, my lovely blueberries! 🫐💜

I hope you enjoyed this new chapter! What do you think about Avantika's growing mixed feelings for both boys? It's getting a little tangled, isn't it? I can't wait to hear your thoughts!

And speaking of tangled things, what did you make of those mysterious unknown voices? Are they plotting something? Or just looking for snacks? 😂

Thank you for reading and for all the incredible support you've shown for my book. If you've made it this far, that officially means you're part of the "blueberry family"! Yay! ILY all so much! 💖

Stay fabulous!
Your, fellow Blueberry