Tensions Rising
Logan had always been good at reading people, and lately, Vanessa’s charm had started to wear thin. Her constant need for attention, her sharp digs at anyone who crossed her—it all felt hollow. And then there was her fixation on Caleb, something he couldn’t quite figure out but couldn’t ignore either. It wasn’t subtle. Vanessa wasn’t capable of subtle.
He started pulling back—shortening their conversations, ignoring her texts, and dodging her invitations. She noticed, of course. Vanessa always noticed.
“What’s going on with you?” she asked one day, cornering him near the lockers. “You’ve been acting weird.”
“Nothing’s going on,” Logan said flatly, shouldering his bag. “Maybe I’m just not in the mood for games anymore.”
Vanessa’s smile faltered, and for a moment, her carefully crafted confidence cracked. “Games?” she repeated, her voice a little too high. “You think this is a game?”
“I think everything with you is a game,” Logan said, his tone sharper than he intended. He didn’t wait for her response, walking away before she could press him further.
Vanessa wasn’t the type to let things go, and her next move made that clear.
***
I first noticed it in the courtyard. Vanessa and Caleb were standing close, her hand brushing against his arm as she tilted her head in that flirtatious way she always used when she wanted something. Caleb, to his credit, didn’t look completely sold on whatever she was saying, but he wasn’t exactly pulling away either.
A knot of jealousy twisted in my stomach. I waited until Vanessa walked away before confronting him, my frustration boiling over.
“What’s going on between you two?” I demanded, crossing my arms as I blocked his path.
Caleb raised an eyebrow, his expression caught somewhere between amused and annoyed. “What are you talking about?”
“I saw you with her,” I snapped. “She’s all over you, Caleb. Don’t act like you don’t notice.”
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Emma, you’re overreacting. She’s just trying to mess with you.”
“And you’re letting her,” I shot back. “Why? Do you enjoy the attention?”
His jaw tightened, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of irritation in his eyes. “Why are you so paranoid?” he asked, his voice low but sharp. “I’m here with you, aren’t I?”
“That doesn’t answer my question,” I said, my voice trembling. “I need to know I can trust you.”
Caleb exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “Trust goes both ways, Emma,” he said before walking away.
His words left a bitter taste in my mouth, the weight of his accusation settling heavily on my chest. For the first time, I began to wonder if I was losing control—not just of the situation, but of myself.
