POV: Valeria Cruz

Somewhere between the fourth time we hung out and now, it stopped being an excuse. It wasn't about math anymore. We didn't even bring notebooks. At first, it was small things. Walking instead of sitting. Talking instead of pretending to study. Staying longer than we planned. 

And then it just became this. Us. No reason. No plan. Just... choosing to be there. I should've questioned it more. I should’ve slowed it down. But I didn't. Because for the first time in a long time something felt easy without feeling fake. Something felt easy without feeling fake. And that's a dangerous combination.

“You're thinking again," Rafe says. I glance at him, leaning against the railing outside one of the stores. 

"What gave it away?"

"The way you go quiet and look like you're about to overanalyze everything."

"That's a skill."

"That's a problem."

I roll my eyes, but there's no real bite behind it. We’re at the mall. Not planned. It just happened. We left school. Started walking. Ended up here. Like it made sense. Like we didn't need to explain it. He's in a black t-shirt, sleeves slightly rolled, tattoos visible down his arm, relaxed like he belongs anywhere he stands.

And people notice. Of course they do. Girls look. Guys look. Everyone looks. And somehow he doesn't care. Or maybe he's just used to it. 

"You're staring," he says.

"I'm observing."

He smirks slightly. "That's my line."'

"Then stop doing things worth observing."

"That's not happening."

That almost makes me smile. Almost. 

"You know this isn't normal, right?" I say. 

"What part?"

"This." I gesture between us. 'Us just... hanging out." 

"It's pretty normal."

"Not for me." That shifts something. Just slightly. He straightens a little. 

"Then get used to it."

I look at him. Because again the confidence. The certainty. It should scare me. It doesn't. And that's the problem. Because I'm starting to like this. 

I didn't notice her right away. Why would I? I'm not looking for problems. I'm not expecting my past to show up here, in a place that feels separate from everything else. But then, there's that feeling again. The one I felt at school. Like something just shifted. I glance up. And there she is. Standing a few feet away. Phone already in her hand. Watching. One of Camila's friends. I don't know her name. But I know exactly who she is. And more importantly, what she's about to do. I don't react. I don't give her anything. But it's already too late. Because she's smiling. And typing. 

**MEAN GIRL, GROUP CHAT** 

Casi: Looks like miss fatty has a new boo

Casi: And he is FINEEEE

Casi: Isn't he from Riverdale?? Jason's competition???

Casi: I bet he's with her out of pity…

Casi: Should I go save him?? 

The messages start coming in fast.

Steph: WAIT THAT'S HER???

Brit: NO WAYYYYY 

Isa: Im on my way 6

Steph: Same. Poor guy doesn't know what he got himself into

And then, Camila sees it.

Camila: ...what is this?

-Across town-

Camila is sitting next to Jason. His arm draped around her shoulders like it belongs there. Like it always should have been. She turns her phone toward him.

"Look."

He barely glances at it at first. Then he sees it. And everything shifts.

"Where is that?" he asks. Too fast. Too sharp. Camila studies him. Because she notices. Of course she does.

"It's her," she says. He doesn't answer. Because he's still looking. At me. With him. Rafe.

His jaw tightens. And there it is. Not indifference. Not dismissal. Something else. Something darker.

"She moved on quick,” Camila says lightly. Watching him. Testing him. Jason doesn't react the way she expects. He doesn't laugh. Doesn't brush it off. Doesn't say it doesn't matter. He just keeps staring. And that's when it hits her. This isn't over. Not for him. Not even close. 

"Do you want me to say something?" She asks. Jason finally looks away from the screen. 

"No." Too quick. Too controlled. His jaw tightens again. "I'll handle it" And that? That's worse. Because now it's not just attention, it's intention.


-Back at the mall-

I can feel it. That shift. Even without seeing the messages. Even without knowing exactly what's happening. I know. 

Because this is how it always starts. Quiet. Then suddenly not quiet at all.

Rafe looks at me. "You good?" 

That question again. Always simple. Always direct. And for the first time, I don't try to hide it.

"No." He nods once.

"Alright." Like that’s enough. Like he's not going anywhere. That makes everything worse, now it's not just my world that's about to get messy. It's his too. And I don't know if I should be more afraid of that or of how much I don't want him to walk away.