Elena sat by the window in the university library, her books open in front of her, but her mind miles away. The soft rustling of pages and muted whispers around her did little to calm the storm brewing inside. Aiden’s departure had left a hollow ache in her chest, and now, the persistent calls from her father only deepened her sense of helplessness. She felt like the walls were closing in, and the pressure was becoming unbearable.
Her phone buzzed on the table, and her father’s name flashed on the screen again. With trembling hands, she declined the call. She couldn’t bear to hear his harsh tone, his relentless reminders of her responsibilities, or his cutting words about her decisions. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, but the knot in her chest only tightened.
For the past few days, she had been keeping her distance from everyone especially Gabriel and Andrew. It wasn’t that she didn’t care about them; in fact, it was the opposite. They had become her friends, her unexpected support system, and she didn’t want to drag them into the chaos of her life. Aiden was her anchor, the one who knew every corner of her mess, and with him gone, she felt adrift.
She thought back to the way Gabriel and Andrew had smirked after Aiden’s departure, their expressions filled with a sense of control. They probably thought she was relying on them now, but that wasn’t the case. She couldn’t rely on anyone. Not anymore.
Gabriel leaned against the lockers in the hallway, his arms crossed as he watched Elena walk past him without so much as a glance in his direction. His jaw tightened.
“She’s avoiding us,” he muttered, his voice low but sharp.
Andrew, standing beside him, shrugged with an easy grin, though his eyes betrayed his concern. “Maybe she’s just busy. Exams are coming up, and you know how she is about her grades.”
Gabriel shot him a glare. “Don’t make excuses for her. Something’s wrong. She’s been distant ever since that guy left.”
Andrew sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Yeah, I’ve noticed. But pushing her isn’t going to help. She’ll talk when she’s ready.”
Gabriel scoffed, his frustration evident. “And what if she doesn’t? She’s shutting us out, and I’m not going to stand around and let her.”
Elena sat on a bench in the campus garden, pretending to read, but her mind was elsewhere. Her phone buzzed again, and this time, she didn’t even bother to look at the screen. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she tried to keep the tears at bay.
“Why are you avoiding us?”
The sharp voice startled her, and she looked up to see Gabriel standing a few feet away, his arms crossed and his piercing gaze fixed on her.
“I’m not,” she said weakly, turning her eyes back to her book.
“Don’t lie to me, Elena,” he snapped, stepping closer. “You’ve been ignoring us, avoiding our study sessions, and acting like we don’t exist. What’s going on?”
Elena hesitated, biting her lip as she struggled to find the right words. “I just need some space, Gabriel. That’s all.”
“Space?” he repeated, his voice dripping with disbelief. “That’s the best you’ve got? You think we’re going to buy that?”
“Gabriel, calm down,” Andrew said as he approached, his tone lighter but no less serious. He looked at Elena, his usual playful expression replaced with one of genuine concern. “We’re your friends, Elena. Whatever’s going on, you don’t have to deal with it alone.”
Elena shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. “It’s not that simple.”
“Then make it simple,” Gabriel said, his tone softening slightly but still firm. “Talk to us.”
She looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of frustration and pain. “I don’t want to drag you into my problems, okay? You wouldn’t understand.”
Andrew crouched in front of her, his eyes searching hers. “Maybe we wouldn’t, but we’re still here for you. Isn’t that what friends are for?”
Elena felt her resolve crumbling under their combined scrutiny. She wanted to tell them everything the pressure from her father, the void left by Aiden, the overwhelming weight of trying to hold herself together but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, she forced a small, shaky smile.
“I’ll be fine,” she said, her voice barely steady. “I just need some time.”
Gabriel sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Fine. Take your time. But don’t think you can push us away forever.”
Andrew stood, offering her a soft smile. “We’re not going anywhere, Elena. Just remember that.”
As they walked away, Elena watched them, her heart heavy with guilt. She didn’t want to hurt them, but she didn’t know how to let them in without risking their friendship. She hugged her knees to her chest, staring at the ground as the tears she had been holding back finally fell.
From a distance, Gabriel glanced over his shoulder, his brows furrowed as he watched Elena sitting alone. “She’s hiding something,” he muttered.
Andrew nodded, his expression thoughtful. “Yeah, but whatever it is, she’s not ready to share it. We just have to be patient.”
Gabriel clenched his fists, his frustration evident. “I’m not good at waiting.”
Andrew smirked, patting him on the shoulder. “No kidding. But if you push too hard, you’ll only make things worse. Give her some space, but don’t give up on her.”
Gabriel didn’t respond, his eyes still fixed on Elena. As much as her distance angered him, it also worried him. He didn’t like feeling powerless, but for now, he had no choice but to wait.
Elena wiped her tears, taking a deep breath as she tried to steady herself. She couldn’t let her emotions get the better of her. She had to find a way to handle her problems without dragging Gabriel and Andrew into the chaos. They deserved better than that.
As she stood and headed back to her dorm, she resolved to keep her distance, no matter how much it hurt. It was the only way to protect them and herself from the storm brewing in her life.