Chapter 32 Back to the World

Chapter 32 Back to the World
POV: Valeria Cruz

Sitting in the car outside the school feels… off.

Not bad.\]

Not exactly.

Just—

wrong.

Like I’m about to step back into something that stayed the same…

when I didn’t.

Students move in and out of the building like it’s any other day.

Backpacks slung over shoulders.

Laughter.

Phones in hand.

Normal.

Everything looks normal.

But my chest feels tight.

Because I don’t know how I’m supposed to fit into that again.

Rafe pulls up closer to the curb than he needs to.

The engine stays running.

He doesn’t rush me.

Doesn’t say anything right away.

He just sits there.

With me.

Like he understands this moment matters.

“You don’t have to go in yet,” he says quietly.

“I know.”

But I don’t move.

Because once I step out—

everything starts again.

School.

People.

The version of me they think they know.

He leans over slightly.

His hand coming up to my face.

Gentle.

Grounding.

“Hey.”

I look at him.

Really look.

“You’re not walking into this the same way you did before.”

Something in my chest settles.

Because he’s right.

I’m not.

“Call me if anything feels off,” he adds.

“I will.”

And this time—

I mean it.

His thumb brushes lightly against my cheek.

Then he pulls back.

“Go.”

I take a breath.

Then another.

And finally—

I open the door.

The shift hits me the second I step onto campus.

Not before.

Now.

A glance.

Then another.

Then people stopping mid-conversation.

Not laughing.

Not whispering like before.

Something else.

Awareness.

Curiosity.

I keep walking.

Head up.

Even if my chest feels tight.

A group of girls near the entrance goes quiet when I pass.

One of them looks at me—

then quickly looks away.

Like she doesn’t know what to do with me anymore.

And maybe I don’t either.

Maya and Sofia are waiting by the doors.

The second they see me—

relief.

Immediate.

“There you are,” Maya says, pushing off the wall.

“Took you long enough,” Sofia adds.

But there’s no bite.

No edge.

Just normal.

Just them.

I step closer.

And for a second—

I don’t say anything.

Because this feels like stepping back into something I almost lost.

“You good?” Maya asks.

“Yeah.”

Sofia studies me.

Really studies me.

Then nods once.

“Okay.”

That’s it.

No pressure.

No digging.

Just acceptance.

We walk inside together.

The hallway reacts.

Not loud.

Not obvious.

But noticeable.

People shift.

Make space.

Lower their voices.

Eyes follow.

But no one says anything.

And for once—

I don’t shrink.

“Ignore it,” Maya mutters.

“I am.”

And for once—

it’s true.

“Valeria?”

I turn.

Guidance counselor.

Standing by her office.

“Can I see you for a moment?”

“I’ll be right back,” I tell the girls.

Her office feels too neat.

Too quiet.

Like everything in here makes sense.

Unlike everything in my life right now.

“I’m very glad you’re okay,” she says gently.

“Thank you.”

I sit across from her.

Still unsure why I’m here.

She slides a folder toward me.

“I didn’t want you finding out through an email.”

My stomach tightens.

“What is it?”

She smiles.

Proud.

“You’ve been accepted into every school you applied to.”

Everything stills.

“What?”

“All of them.”

My heart starts racing.

She continues—

“You’re also graduating as valedictorian.”

That lands.

Clear.

Solid.

Mine.

Something no one can take.

“You earned this,” she says softly.

And for the first time—

I believe it.

My phone buzzes in my hand.

I don’t think.

I just text him.

Me: I got in
Me: All of them

Three dots appear almost instantly.

Rafe: Of course you did

My chest tightens.

Because he says it like it was never a question.

Me: Did you get yours?

A pause.

Then—

Rafe: Yeah

That’s it.

Just that.

Me: And?

A few seconds pass.

Rafe: Haven’t opened it

I stare at the screen.

Me: Why not?

Dots appear.

Disappear.

Come back.

Rafe: Waiting

Something warm settles in my chest.

I don’t answer right away.

Because I already know what I want to do.

When I step back into the hallway—

Maya and Sofia are exactly where I left them.

Waiting.

“What happened?” Maya asks.

I hesitate for half a second.

Not because I don’t want to tell them—

but because I don’t want to say it here.

Not like this.

“Everything,” I say quietly.

Sofia’s brows pull together.

“That sounds dramatic.”

“It is.”

That gets their full attention.

Maya straightens.

“Okay… now I’m interested.”

I glance down at my phone.

At the message still sitting there.

Waiting.

Then back at them.

“We’re not doing this here,” I add.

That’s all I say.

But it’s enough.

Sofia studies me for a second—

then nods once.

“Alright.”

Maya exhales.

“Fine. But if this turns out to be boring, I’m blaming you.”

“It won’t be,” I say.

And for the first time today—

I’m sure of something.

They don’t push.

Don’t ask more questions.

Which somehow makes it feel bigger.

More real.

Like whatever is coming—

it matters.

By the time school ends—

I’m already on my way.

Not home.

Not anywhere safe.

Somewhere else.

Somewhere that feels right.

The field comes into view slowly.

The sound hits first.

Whistles.

Shouting.

Pads colliding.

Energy.

Different from everything else today.

Alive.

I step closer.

Stay near the fence.

Not interrupting.

Not calling out.

Just watching.

And then I see him.

Rafe.

Running drills.

Focused.

Locked in.

Completely in his world.

For a moment—

I don’t move.

Because this version of him—

this is who he is when nothing is wrong.

Strong.

Sharp.

Unstoppable.

A whistle blows.

The coach starts yelling.

Something about focus.

Execution.

Rafe turns—

frustration already on his face—

and then he sees me.

And everything stops.