Chapter 69 Chapter Sixty-Five
Demi’s Point Of view
Chris and I were sprawled across a table, notebooks open, not actually studying.
He was talking about Kyle again, about the way Kyle had smiled at him in the hallway that morning, about how it probably meant nothing and yet somehow meant everything.
"You're spiraling," I said, amused, I have never seen Chris like this before.
For some reason it was refreshing to look at.
"I always spiral," Chris replied. "You're just the first person I've let see it." He said as he rubbed his face viciously before looking at me.
That landed somewhere warm in my chest.
I was about to respond when I felt it, that familiar prickle at the back of my neck. I looked up.
Alex stood a few shelves away, pretending to look for a book he wasn't actually searching for.
Claire wasn't with him this time. His shoulders were tense, posture too stiff for someone just browsing.
He glanced over.
Our eyes met.
It was brief.
Polite.
Empty in a way that hurt less than it should have.
I looked back down at Chris without thinking.
And just like that, something ended.
"You good?" Chris asked quietly, his hand itching to mine.
"Yeah," I said. And I meant it.
Alex didn't come over.
He didn't interrupt us.
He didn't even linger.
A moment later, he walked away, footsteps fading between the shelves.
I felt... strange about it.
Not sad exactly.
Not relieved either.
Just aware.
Like noticing an old scar and realizing it doesn't ache anymore.
Over the next week, Chris and I became a unit.
Not romantically though, not like that, but close in a way that drew comments. We had routines now.
Coffee after class. Long walks where we talked about everything except the things that hurt too much.
Nights spent on opposite ends of the bed, listening to music and arguing softly about lyrics.
Kyle started joining us more often.
That part was... complicated.
Kyle was honestly easy to like, so I didn’t have an issue with him being around us.
But he was oblivious in the way Chris had warned me about.
He laughed freely, touched people's arms when he talked, never seemed to realize the effect he had on Chris.
I watched Chris around him carefully.
The way his voice softened.
The way he leaned in without noticing.
The way his eyes followed Kyle when he thought no one was looking.
"He's not stupid," I said once, after Kyle left. "He just doesn't know."
Chris sighed. "That's worse."
"Maybe," I said. "But it's not hopeless."
Chris looked at me then, really looked at me. "You're good at this."
"At what?"
"Being here. Even when it costs you something."
I shrugged, uncomfortable with the truth in that. "I've had practice."
He didn't push.
Alex started fading into the background of my life.
Not dramatically.
He still existed in the same spaces, laughed with the same people, walked hand-in-hand with Claire like he was supposed to.
But he no longer occupied that central place in my thoughts. I didn't check for him in rooms anymore-well not all the time, I still checked at least twice-.
Didn't measure my emotions against his presence.
Once, I overheard someone say my name followed by his.
"You notice Demi doesn't hang around Alex anymore?"
"Yeah. Guess people really do move on."
I didn't correct them.
One evening, as Chris and I sat on the floor of his room sorting through old photos for no reason other than boredom, his phone buzzed.
It was Kyle.
Chris froze.
"What does he want?" I asked gently.
Chris swallowed. "He asked if I want to hang out. Just us."
My heart lifted for him, genuine and hopeful. "That's good."
He nodded, hands shaking slightly. "I'm scared."
"I know," I said. "But you won't be alone."
He smiled at that. Not wide. Not confident. But real.
Later, walking home alone, I passed Alex and Claire on the sidewalk.
They were arguing quietly, not angry, just strained.
Alex looked frustrated.
Claire looked tired.
Alex glanced up as I passed.
"Hey," he said.
"Hey," I replied.
That was all.
I didn't slow down.
I really need to get over him, having feelings for someone is so tiring.
It’s draining.