XXXIII

With that, the tension between them eased, and Danielle felt lighter than she had in days. No more pretending, no more expectations. Just a clean break with no bad blood. It was almost too easy.

William clapped her shoulder playfully before they walked out of the classroom together, blending back into the steady flow of students in the hallway.

She knew word would spread fast. It always did. But for once, she didn't care.

By the time lunch rolled around, Danielle had already noticed the whispers. People eyed her as she walked through the cafeteria, some subtle, others not so much. Lilianna and Brooklyn were waiting at their usual table, looking all too amused.

"You finally did it, huh?" Lilianna smirked as Danielle dropped into the seat across from her.

Brooklyn grinned. "Took you long enough."

Danielle rolled her eyes. "Were you guys placing bets on when I'd break up with him?"

Lilianna and Brooklyn shared a look before Lilianna shrugged. "Maybe."

Brooklyn nodded. "I had my money on last week, but Lili thought you'd drag it out for another month."

Danielle scoffed, grabbing her drink. "Glad I could prove you both wrong."

William strolled over a moment later, plopping down next to Brooklyn like nothing had changed. If anything, he seemed more relaxed now.

"Well," he said, resting his arms on the table. "Looks like I'm single again. Any takers?"

Brooklyn rolled her eyes. "Sit down, Romeo."

Lilianna smirked. "Don't let the heartbreak get to you."

William chuckled, unfazed. "Oh, please. You act like Danielle was the best I could do."

Danielle arched a brow. "Excuse me?"

He grinned. "Kidding, kidding. You know you're top-tier."

Lilianna and Brooklyn laughed while Danielle shook her head, amused despite herself.

But as much as she enjoyed the lighthearted banter, she could still feel eyes on her from across the room.

Maya and Riley were at their usual table, the rest of their group back in place around them. Lucas, Zay, Farkle, Smackle—all of them.

Danielle ignored them. Or at least, she tried to. But she swore she caught Maya staring just before she turned back to Riley.

Danielle took a sip of her drink, forcing herself to focus on her friends.

She had done what she needed to do. Now, she just had to move on.

The rest of lunch passed with Brooklyn and Lilianna teasing Danielle about how long it had taken her to end things with William, while William himself acted as if nothing had changed. It was easy, effortless—exactly what Danielle wanted.

But she couldn't shake the feeling of eyes on her.

She didn't look. She didn't need to.

When the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, Danielle grabbed her things and stood up with Lilianna and Brooklyn, making a point to walk past Riley and Maya's table without looking their way. She wasn't avoiding them. She just wasn't acknowledging them, and that was different.

She had just stepped into the hallway when her phone buzzed.

Chirp🐦

So that's it, then?

Danielle stopped in her tracks, fingers tightening around her phone.

Brooklyn and Lilianna had walked ahead, chatting as they made their way to class, leaving her alone in the crowded hallway.

Her heart did something stupid in her chest.

It wasn't like she owed Maya anything. They weren't even friends. Not really.

So why did she hesitate before putting her phone away? Why did she feel the need to respond at all?

She exhaled sharply and shoved her phone in her bag, not bothering to reply.

Whatever this thing was between them, she wasn't going to be the one to make sense of it.

Danielle didn't look at her phone for the rest of the school day. If Maya wanted to be dramatic about it, that was her problem.

She kept herself busy—cheer practice after school, followed by a quick run to the café with Lilianna and Brooklyn, where they talked about everything except the one thing lingering in Danielle's mind.

Maya.

Danielle hated that she was still thinking about her. That one stupid message was still sitting unread on her phone, demanding her attention even though she'd made the choice to ignore it.

It wasn't until she was home, alone in her bedroom, that she finally gave in.

She grabbed her phone, unlocking it with a sigh.

The message was still there.

Chirp🐦

So that's it, then?

Danielle tapped her fingers against the back of her phone.

She should let it go. She should move on.

Instead, she found herself typing.

Chiron🚗

What do you want me to say?

It didn't take long for Maya to respond.

Chirp🐦

I don't know. Maybe something other than nothing.

Danielle scoffed, shaking her head. She could almost hear the attitude in Maya's words.

Chiron🚗

You're overthinking it.

Chirp🐦

Am I?

Danielle hesitated, staring at the screen.

She could end this conversation right now. She could leave Maya on read, move on, and pretend like this didn't matter.

But it did.

And that annoyed her more than anything.

Chiron🚗

Yes. Now stop being weird about it.

A minute passed. Then another.

Maya's response came through, short and to the point.

Chirp🐦

Fine.

Danielle exhaled, tossing her phone onto her bed.

This whole thing was stupid.

So why couldn't she shake the feeling that it wasn't over?

Danielle tried to push it all aside. She changed into more comfortable clothes, grabbed a book from her nightstand, and settled into bed, determined to focus on anything but Maya.

But it didn't work.

Every time she turned a page, she realized she hadn't actually processed a single word. Every time she tried to distract herself with music or scrolling through her phone, her mind kept circling back.

Maya's messages.

Maya's face when she walked away.

The way it felt like something between them had shifted, even if she didn't know what that meant yet.

She groaned, throwing her book onto the bed and rubbing her hands down her face.

This wasn't her.

She didn't do... whatever this was.

A knock on her door made her sit up.

"Izzy, I swear, if this is you coming to tease me—"

The door cracked open, and sure enough, her aunt stepped inside with a knowing smirk.

"So, do you want to talk about it, or do I just sit here and enjoy the show of you pretending you're not thinking about a certain tiny blonde?"

Danielle narrowed her eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Izzy laughed, crossing her arms as she leaned against the doorframe. "Sure you don't."

Danielle sighed. "It's nothing."

"Uh-huh." Izzy tilted her head. "Then why do you look like you're fighting demons every time I walk past your room?"

Danielle flopped back against her pillows. "Because I am fighting demons. Specifically, one very stubborn, very annoying, very—" She stopped herself before she said pretty and groaned again. "Never mind."

Izzy chuckled. "So, what happened?"

Danielle hesitated. She didn't want to talk about it. But at the same time... maybe she did.

She grabbed a pillow, hugging it to her chest. "I don't know. Maya's mad at me. Or something. And I don't know why I care."

Izzy raised a brow. "Because you do care."

Danielle shot her a look. "You're not helping."

"I'm just saying." Izzy walked further into the room, perching on the edge of the bed. "You can pretend all you want, but I know you, Dani. You don't waste energy on people who don't matter to you. So maybe ask yourself why this is still bothering you."

Danielle stared at the ceiling.

She didn't have an answer.

Or maybe she did, and she just wasn't ready to say it out loud yet.