Chapter 14: Face it head on

The library was quiet during lunch. Almost sacred.

Sunlight reflected through the tall windows and stretched across the long wooden tables. Pages turned softly and pen scratched. The low hum of the air conditioner filled the silence.

Ethan sat across me muttering formulas I didn't understand.

Ethan and I now had our lessons during lunch at the library.

Ethan adjusted his glasses and slid the notebook closer.

“Youre overcomplicating it” his voice was calm “understand the question first, the rest will come easy”

I nodded but I wasn't really seeing the page.

It had been a week since Maya and I spoke. A week since our fight. A week since I realised I was not only crushing on klaus– there was something more.

I felt Maya's absence more than ever. No texts . No random memes. No climbing through my window. Nothing.

“Tessa” my name pulled me back.

I jolted and sat upright “yeah”

“Thats the third time i called” two worried eyebrows etched between his forehead “are you

Okay?”

“I'm fine , just a slight headache” I replied, rubbing my head slightly.

“You’ve been like thai all week … distracted”

“Ive been here” i stiffened

“Physically” he corrected gently. A hand ran through his hair, he removed his glasses and placed them on the table “miss issa is expecting results tessa” he leaned back slightly “and i dont think this are results”

He was right. This whole week has been quite a lot for me.

“Is it the training” he asked concerned – like he'd been waiting for the opportunity to ask all week “ you look tired tessa”

I let out an exhausted sigh.. My head fell forward resting against my folded arms on the table.

“I am” i muttered

The chair across from me shifted slowly – quietly. I felt the hesitation in his movement. Then, gently, his fingers brushed lightly through my hair.

It was slow and careful– as though he wasn't allowed to.

I closed my eyes briefly and let the mom

His touch was nothing like Klaus’. He felt gentler and softer. There was no heat racing under my skin, I didn't forget to breathe nor did I freeze.

“Youre pushing yourself too hard” ethan added quietly. His hands stiffed for a while before removing it completely and adjusting his glasses as though he'd done something wrong.

I lifted my Head slowly “I can handle it”

He nodded in agreement and the bell chimed.

I hurriedly took my books and stepped out without another word.

I thought about going for rehearsals but that was just absurd.

It'd been three days since I went for rehearsals or even training.

If I avoided it all, avoided Klaus then Maya would be wrong.

I stepped into the hallways and froze.

Across stood Maya laughing, not a polite or forced laughter.

Beside her stood a guy, tall with broad shoulders and really long curly black hair he tied in a ponytail.

I didn't recognise him at first then I remembered it was The transfer Student interested In robotics.

They were awfully close to each other as though they were whispering secrets or sharing jokes only they could understand.

He lifted his hand and brushed a loose strap d of hair from her face and didn't stop there – his eyes strolled down to her cheeks then her chin , her face turned red, he smiled and lifted her chin a of they weren't already too close.

Just as I thought that was the end of it, they kissed.

They fucking kissed.

Something in my chest burned. The burning sensation had me bouncing towards their direction.

We had a minor disagreement like yesterday and today she has a boyfriend??

Someone fucking shoot me.

Just as I was about to pinch the guy in the wall and pull her by the hair, my legs did a sharp u-turn to the female bathroom.

Hopefully, it was empty.

I locked myself in one of the stalls, closed the toilet seat and sat down.

Tears rolled down before I could stop it.

I was messed up and confused and tired and so damn frustrated and the one person I needed had already moved on?

I thought about ending this all together and moving to Ohio to start a new life, after all I'd already lost some weight.

“if I work a bit harder and eat a little more healthier then my weight loss journey is over then I can change my name and move to Ohio"

I whispered before electing out a sarcastic laugh. I stood up and washed my face by the sink, looked in the mirror and smiled.

“face it head on tessa” i muttered to the mirror “face it head on”

I wiped my face dry and fix my hair. By the time I stepped out, I felt steadier than before.

I walked to my locker, slid it open, and started shoving my books inside with more force than necessary.

Done arranging my books, I shut the locker and turned

I stumbled, and my back hit the wall with a soft thud.

“Klaus—”

My voice came out smaller than I wanted.

He didn’t answer. One hand planted beside my head, the other stayed around my wrist, as if I might evaporate if he let go. He wasn’t even doing anything dramatic — just standing there — and somehow that was worse.

Because he was looking at me.

Not past me. Not through me. At me.

My brain immediately forgot how breathing works.

“Why do you keep avoiding rehearsals?” he asked quietly.

“I’m not avo—”

I stopped talking.

He leaned closer – Like… actually closer.

Every logical thought packed its bags and left my body. My shoulders pressed harder into the wall, even though there was nowhere to go. His hoodie brushed my arm, and suddenly that was the only thing I could feel in the entire universe.

“Klaus,” I whispered, which was embarrassing because it sounded nothing like a warning and everything like a question.

His eyes flicked to my mouth.

That was it. That was the end of my functioning as a human being.

He tilted his head slightly and moved in.

My eyes shut automatically.

I didn’t even decide to close them. They just did. My survival instincts led me to believe this was the best possible way to handle the situation.

One second.

Two.

I waited for it — the contact, the panic, the probable heart attack.

Instead, a chuckle brushed against my lips.

My eyes snapped open.

He was still close. Way too close. Close enough that I could feel his breath, but not touching.

“See?” he murmured near my ear, voice low and unfairly calm. “You stop thinking when I get close.”

My face burned so fast I could’ve powered the school.

Before I could respond — or die — he stepped back.

Just like that.

No explanation. No apology. Nothing.

So much for facing it head On tessa