Adrian’s words lingered in the air like smoke.

"He looked at you like you’re already his."

It shouldn’t have made my pulse rush. It shouldn’t have made me smile.
But it did.

Before I could answer, the cafeteria doors slammed open. A wave of gasps surged through the room. Everyone turned.

Shawn.

And he looked furious.

He marched toward our table like a storm ready to rumble — jaw tight, eyes locked on Adrian. I could feel the tension spreading like fire. Conversations paused mid-sentence.

"Mind explaining why you’re sitting with MY friends, new guy?" Shawn’s tone was sharp, but underneath it —was jealousy.

Adrian didn’t even blink. He leaned back in his chair, his lips twisting into a calm, almost mocking grin. "Didn’t realize you owned the lunch tables. Or the people sitting at them."

"Watch it."

"I am,” Adrian said, voice low, sharp and deliberate, “ But be careful, or you might not like what could happen.”

Maria’s eyes darted between them like she was watching a ticking bomb ready to burst,  "Guys, can we not—"

But it was too late. Shawn shoved Adrian’s shoulder — just enough to test him.

In one fluid motion, Adrian rose. He didn’t shove back, but the way he glared at Shawn was enough to make the entire cafeteria hold its breath. His icy-blue eyes flickered with something unreadable — control, danger, restraint.

"Walk away," Adrian murmured. "Before you regret it."

I stood up too, my chair scraping against the floor. "Both of you, please stop!"

But neither of them moved.

It felt like the world had shrunk to this — two boys, one heartbeat, and me standing between them like the spark that could start the flames.

Then Principal Jenis spawned out of nowhere, her heels clacking on the tiles like claves.
"Is there an issue here?"

Shawn exhaled hard and turned away, jaw still tight. "No, ma’am. Just… clearing the air."

Adrian smirked. "Yeah. Just getting acquainted."

The principal narrowed her eyes but moved on, muttering something about “testosterone poisoning.” The second she was gone, the tension shattered — the cafeteria erupted in whispers.

Adrian turned to me, eyes softening. "Sorry about that, Cassie."

I crossed my arms. "You didn’t have to provoke him."

He tilted his head. "I didn’t. Sometimes people show you who they are when they feel threatened."

And just like that — he walked away. Calm. Unshaken. Like the entire school hadn’t just witnessed him almost start a fight on his first day.

After school, the sky was bruised purple and gold. I found Maria by the parking lot, eyes locked on her screen, scrolling on her phone.

"You’re trending," she mummered, eyes wide. "Someone recorded the whole cafeteria thing. You, Adrian, Shawn — it’s already on CampusFeed."

My stomach dropped. "You’re kidding."

She showed me the video. There I was, frozen between them like a deer in headlights. The caption read:
“Wilson High’s new love triangle?? #CassieCrisis”

"Great," I muttered. "Exactly what I needed."

Maria bit her lip. "Honestly… it’s kind of iconic."

"Yeah, tell that to Shawn."

As if summoned, his car screeched to a stop beside us. The passenger window rolled down.

"Cass," he said, eyes dark. "Get in. We need to talk."

I hesitated — torn between curiosity and the memory of Adrian’s voice: Walk away before you regret it.

Maria’s eyes flicked to mine. "You sure about this?"

I nodded slowly. "Yeah. I’ll text you later."

I slid in. Shawn drove off, the radio silent, tension thick enough to kill.

Finally, he said, once we drove into an empty highway, "What’s going on between you and that guy?"

"Nothing," I said, rolling my eyes, "Why do you care?"

"Because," he snapped, "I know his type. And I’m not letting him use you like—" He stopped himself.

"Like what, Shawn?"

He didn’t answer. Just gripped the steering wheel tighter.

We drove for a few minutes before he pulled over near Stone’s Point — the cliff overlooking the lake. The sky was fading fast, streaked with orange.

"You remember this spot?" he asked quietly.

"Of course." It was where he’d told me he liked me last summer. Where I’d told him we were better off as friends.

He turned toward me, eyes softer now. "I never stopped liking you, Cass."

Before I could speak — headlights flared behind us. Another car.

Adrian’s.

He stepped out, hands in his pockets, silhouette outlined against the dying light.

"Wow," he said coolly, walking closer. "Didn’t realize I was interrupting date night."

Shawn got out of the car, slamming the door. "You following us now?"

Adrian’s smirk didn’t fade. "Just making sure she got home safe."

The two of them faced off under the twilight sky — two storms colliding, and me caught dead center.

And for the first time…
I wasn’t sure what would happen next