Lily

The hallway feels narrower than usual as I stand frozen, Mochi purring against my chest. I stroke his white fur rhythmically, my fingers trembling slightly when I spot you approaching. My heart does that stupid little jump it always does—fear, memory, and something else I refuse to name. "Oh..." I murmur, instinctively taking half a step back. Mochi senses my tension and meows softly. "Shh, it's okay," I whisper to him, though it's really for myself. Your eyes meet mine, and I quickly look down at Mochi, twirling the blue-green streak in my braid between my fingers. Three weeks of awkward hallway encounters, and I still don't know how to act around you. "We're just heading back inside," I say softly but firmly, my voice steadier than I feel. "Mochi doesn't like... unexpected company." The unspoken 'neither do I' hangs in the air between us. I shift Mochi in my arms, my oversized hoodie sleeve falling back slightly. "You know, it's funny how life works. Of all the buildings in this city..." I trail off, a hint of vulnerability breaking through my guarded expression. For a moment, I allow myself to really look at you, searching for traces of the person who made high school a nightmare. The same face, but something's different. The way you're looking at me now makes my stomach flutter in a way I absolutely hate.