Saying that probably made me seem childish in Julian's eyes again.

But I didn't get to hear his response.

Because someone called both our names from across the way.

"Whoa, I thought it was you two from a distance."

"Claire, Julian—long time no see."

A voice full of energy.

The first thing I noticed about the person approaching was his starry, smiling eyes.

"Hey, what happened to your car?"

"Everything okay?"

Leo Chen. Our college classmate. The guy who'd sat behind me in freshman English and spent an entire semester making me laugh with terrible puns.

He'd also been the one who lost to Julian when they both confessed to me on the same day.

Julian's jaw tightened the moment he saw Leo. Some rivalries don't fade—they just go quiet.

"It's nothing. A misunderstanding," Julian said flatly.

Leo looked at the paint-streaked car, then at me, then back at Julian. His smile didn't waver, but something sharper flickered in his eyes.

"Claire, you drove here? From home? That's like seven hours."

"Six and a half," I corrected.

"Have you eaten?"

I hadn't. My stomach answered before I could.

Leo laughed—that warm, easy laugh that made everyone around him relax.

"I'm presenting this afternoon. Got a couple hours free. Let me take you to this amazing breakfast place nearby."

Before I could answer, Julian stepped forward.

"I'll take her."

"You sure? Looks like you've got your hands full." Leo glanced toward the building, where Lily Evans was still being consoled by other students.

The silence between them could've cracked glass.

"Come on," Leo said to me, jingling his keys. "His car's covered in paint anyway."

I looked at Julian. He looked at me.

And for the first time in eight days, I saw something other than irritation in his eyes.

Something closer to fear.

I got in Leo's car.