The crisp air feels different now. Maybe it's the change in seasons or the weight of all the decisions ahead, but I can't shake the feeling that things are shifting. Not in a bad way, just… new.
Alex and I are walking through the park, the paths lined with autumn trees shedding leaves in swirls of gold and crimson. We're both in hoodies, hands shoved deep in our pockets, walking side by side, the comfortable silence between us broken only by the occasional comment on the weather or the random dog that runs past, tongue flapping wildly.
It's a normal afternoon — a rare kind of normal — and I'm holding onto it as tight as I can, trying to stretch this fleeting moment of peace.
"I never realized how nice the park is in the fall," Alex says, kicking at a pile of leaves with his boots, sending them scattering in every direction. "Kind of wish we could stay here forever."
"Yeah," I say with a soft laugh. "I mean, I don't think we'd survive the freezing winter, but... I get what you mean."
He glances over at me, his eyes soft. "I'm serious though. We've spent so much time in other places, but here... it feels real. Like, this is ours."
I nod, glancing around the park. There's a group of kids playing soccer in the distance, a couple of older people walking their dogs, and the sun casting long shadows as it begins to dip low in the sky.
"I get it," I agree quietly. "Everything feels like it's on the edge of something new. Something... big."
Alex's smile falters just a little, and I can see the weight settling in his eyes. I know he's thinking about his family, about the visit from his dad, about what happens next. We both are.
"You know," I add, trying to lighten the mood, "if we ever need a good excuse to avoid an event or whatever else, we could just come here. Hide under the trees, make up stories about the people we see... pretend we're in a different world."
He laughs, shaking his head. "That sounds like the kind of thing you'd actually want to do, huh?"
"Why do you think I suggested it?"
We share a smile, a brief flicker of something easy, before my phone buzzes in my pocket, interrupting the moment.
I pull it out, expecting it to be a text from Camila. She's still waiting for her university results, and we've been trying to stay distracted while we wait.
But the name on the screen makes my stomach drop.
Jordan.
I glance at Alex quickly, his face unreadable. He doesn't say anything, but I can feel the tension settle between us like an electric current.
"Who's that?" he asks, trying to sound casual but not quite pulling it off.
"It's Jordan," I say, my voice steady despite the tightness in my chest. "He's... been texting me lately."
Alex's eyes narrow, and for a moment, I can feel the heat of his gaze, like he's weighing something.
"Should you answer it?" Alex asks, his voice carefully neutral.
I hesitate. The screen lights up with Jordan's message.
Jordan:You know where Alex is, right?
I don't respond immediately. I'm not sure what to say. The last time I saw Jordan, things were… complicated. He's always been a little unpredictable, and with everything that happened between him and Alex, I can't shake the feeling that he's only back because of some unfinished business.
Alex notices me staring at the phone and steps closer, his shoulder brushing mine as he reads the message over my shoulder. His jaw tightens, but he doesn't say anything.
I tap the screen and reply quickly.
Me:Yeah. He's with me. Why?
Jordan's response comes in almost immediately.
Jordan:Just wanted to check in. You tell him I stopped by?
My stomach churns. The message is so casual, so easy, but I can hear the underlying tension. I know what he's asking without saying it.
"Is he... threatening you?" Alex asks quietly, his hand resting on my arm like he's trying to ground me.
"No," I say, though the word doesn't feel convincing. "He's just... checking in. It's fine."
Alex doesn't look convinced. His gaze flicks between me and the phone, a thousand thoughts passing through his mind. The silence that stretches between us feels heavy, like we're walking on a tightrope and one wrong move could make everything fall apart.
"I'm sorry," Alex mutters suddenly, breaking the silence. "I didn't mean to put you in this position."
"You didn't," I reply quickly, meeting his eyes. "This isn't on you, Alex."
We stand there for a moment, the weight of Jordan's presence hanging over us like a storm cloud, before I finally pocket my phone. I can feel Alex's eyes on me, but I don't say anything more. This isn't something that can be solved with a few words.
Instead, I nudge his shoulder with mine, trying to lighten the mood again. "We don't have to deal with this right now. Let's just keep walking, yeah?"
Alex nods slowly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah. Let's just... keep going."
And so, we do. We keep walking through the park, trying to push Jordan's shadow out of our minds, if only for a little while. But even as we laugh and joke, I can't help but feel like something's shifted. Like things aren't as simple as they seemed.
And Jordan, for better or worse, is back.