Monday came like a slap to the face.
Jessica walked through the school halls in her usual all-black fit - ripped jeans, layered necklaces, dark lipstick - and if you looked close enough, you'd notice the subtle difference. A softer edge in her eyes. A hint of peace she hadn't carried in weeks.
And Molly?
Molly walked in three minutes later, beside Adam.
His arm was slung over her shoulder.
She smiled. She laughed. She played the part.
But her eyes?
They were somewhere else.
Jessica didn't look her way. Not once.
But Molly looked. She looked every time.
Molly took her usual seat beside Jessica, chewing her bottom lip raw.
Jessica didn't speak. Didn't flinch.
But when she pulled out her notebook, Molly saw it - on the corner of the page, small and faint in pencil:
Still here. Even when I don't look at you.
Molly swallowed hard.
But the moment shattered when Adam leaned in from the next row, eyes locked on Jessica like he was sizing her up.
"Hey, Jessie," he said with a fake little grin. "How's Selene?"
Jessica looked up, slow. "She's great. Flexible."
Molly choked on air.
Adam tilted his head. "You two seem close."
Jessica's smile was pure venom. "Why? Jealous?"
Adam didn't answer, but the clench in his jaw was loud.
Molly kept her head down. Her heart pounded in her ears.
It happened at lunch.
Jessica was outside with Jake and Hannah, feet kicked up on the table, laughing about some dumb TikTok Hannah showed her.
Across the quad, Adam watched Molly.
"Can we talk?" he asked finally, voice tight.
She followed him behind the gym, nerves crawling under her skin.
"What's going on with you lately?" he asked. "You've been distant. Weird. And you never look at me like you used to."
Molly tried to deflect. "I've been stressed. Plus you cheated remember?"
"Don't lie to me," Adam snapped. "Is it Jessica?"
Molly blinked. "What?"
He stepped closer. "You think I haven't seen the way you look at her? The way she looks at you? You flinch when I touch you. You smile at her like - like she's gravity."
Molly's throat tightened.
"I've been your boyfriend for two years, Molly," he said. "But the past few weeks? I feel like a fucking stranger."
"I didn't mean for this to happen," she whispered.
"So it did happen."
Silence.
Then Adam laughed bitterly. "Unbelievable."
"I'm sorry," she choked.
He stepped back, hurt flashing across his face. "Don't be sorry. Be honest."
Molly looked up at him - eyes glassy. "I think I'm in love with her."
And just like that, Adam's world tilted.
By 6th period, the whispers had started.
"She cheated on Adam."
"With a girl?"
"No way. Molly Hastings?"
"Have you seen her and Jessica in Chem? They burn."
Jessica kept her head high. She didn't react. But Hannah and Jake flanked her like bodyguards, ready to throw hands if anyone said anything slick.
Molly didn't run.
She held her chin up too - even when Samantha grabbed her arm between classes.
"You okay?"
Molly gave a shaky nod.
Sam whispered, "For what it's worth, I've never seen you happier. Even if it's messy."
Jessica was cleaning up at the bookstore when the door chimed open.
She didn't look up. "We're closing in ten."
"Then I'll be quick," Molly said.
Jess froze.
Molly walked in slowly, fingers trailing along the edge of a shelf.
"I told him," she said.
Jessica finally looked up.
"I told him it was you," Molly continued, voice quiet. "That I wasn't confused. That I'm not sorry."
Jessica swallowed hard. "So what now?"
"I don't know," Molly admitted. "But I want to figure it out with you."
Jessica stepped around the counter, face unreadable. "This doesn't fix everything, you know."
"I know."
"And I'm still mad."
"I know."
"And if you hurt me again, I will ruin you."
Molly smirked, eyes shining. "You already have."
Jessica stared at her.
Then - slowly - she pulled Molly into a hug. Not a kiss. Not yet. But a hold.
Tight. Real. Like letting go wasn't even an option anymore.