Aria’s POV.
The rest of the day passed in a blur, but not the kind where time moves quickly and you barely notice it. No, this was the kind of blur where every second dragged on, weighed down by anger, frustration, and too many unanswered questions swirling in my head.
I couldn’t focus on anything-not my classes, not the sketches I was supposed to be working on, not even the conversations happening around me.
Why had Zander come here? Why had he taken Max?
Those two questions gnawed at me, clawing at my brain every time I tried to think about something else. Was this some twisted attempt to hurt me? Was he doing it out of spite, a way to remind me that he still had control over parts of my life? Or was it something else entirely? Did he have a reason I couldn’t see?
The not knowing was the worst part. Each question felt heavier than the last, and no matter how many times I turned them over in my mind, I couldn’t find an answer that made sense. By the time I got back to my room that evening, I was completely drained-emotionally and physically. Naomi had tried her best to cheer me up throughout the day, cracking jokes and distracting me with stories about her classes, but even her efforts couldn’t pull me out of the storm that had been brewing inside me since Zander barged back into my life.
When I stepped into my room, I didn’t even bother turning on the main light. The soft glow from my desk lamp was enough. I kicked off my shoes, threw my bag carelessly into the corner, and collapsed onto my bed. I stared up at the ceiling, my thoughts still racing, my emotions still spiraling.
Did Zander want me back?
The thought sent a strange pang through my chest, one I didn’t want to think about too much. Because if he *did* want me back… what would that mean? What would I even do? And if he *didn’t* want me back-if this was all just some cruel attempt to mess with my head-then what did *that* mean?
The questions were exhausting, and I felt like I was chasing my own tail, going in circles without getting anywhere. I sat up abruptly, shaking my head as if I could physically force the thoughts out of my mind. Grabbing my sketchpad from the desk, I decided to try drawing-anything to distract myself, to channel the mess inside me into something productive.
But as I started to draw, my mind betrayed me. It kept drifting back to Zander.
I couldn’t stop picturing his face when he walked into my room last night. That cold, unreadable expression in his eyes. The way he hadn’t said a single word to me, not even to explain himself. He hadn’t even glanced back as he walked out with Max in his arms. The memory made my chest tighten, frustration bubbling up all over again.
None of it made sense.
Slamming the pencil down onto the desk, I let out a frustrated sigh. My chest was heaving, my emotions boiling over again, too strong to contain. I clenched my fists, glaring at the blank page in front of me.
“Fine,” I said aloud, my voice sharp and defiant, as if Zander could somehow hear me. “If you want to play games, we’ll play games. But I’m not letting you control my life anymore.”
Before I could stew in my anger any longer, Naomi poked her head into the room. She raised an amused eyebrow at me, her lips quirking into a small smile. “Are you talking to yourself now?” she asked, her tone light and teasing. “Should I be worried?”
I huffed out a laugh, though it was more from exhaustion than humor. “Maybe,” I admitted, shaking my head.
Naomi stepped fully into the room, setting her coffee and books down on the desk before sitting on the edge of my bed. She studied me for a moment, her expression shifting from amused to serious. “Okay, spill. What’s going on? You’ve been on edge all day, and I’m guessing it has something to do with the whole Zander-stealing-your-dog thing.”
I crossed my arms, leaning back against the headboard. “Exactly,” I said bitterly. “And it’s working.”
Naomi tilted her head, frowning slightly as she thought it over. “Do you think he wants you back?” she asked finally, her voice careful, like she wasn’t sure how I’d respond.
Her question hung in the air, heavy and uncomfortable. I didn’t want to answer it, but I knew I couldn’t avoid it forever. “I don’t know,” I said truthfully, my voice soft. “And honestly? I don’t even know if I’d want him back. Not after everything he’s done.”
Naomi sighed, leaning back on her hands as she watched me. “Well, whatever his deal is, we’re not letting him get away with this,” she said firmly. “You deserve better than this, Aria. You know that, right?”
I nodded, grateful for her unwavering support, but deep down, the confusion still lingered. A part of me-a small, stubborn part-couldn’t stop wondering what Zander’s actions really meant. What was he thinking? What did he want?
That night, as I lay in bed staring at the shadows on the ceiling, I made a promise to myself.
I wouldn’t let Zander control me-not with his silence, not with his jealousy, and definitely not with his mind games. If he wanted to come back into my life, he would have to do more than just steal my dog and leave me questioning everything.
And if he didn’t?
Then I would figure out how to move on without him. I had to.
Either way, I wasn’t going to let him ruin me. Not again.