Melissa leaned against the wall outside the music club, breathing slowly.
It was getting harder to control the memories that attacked her whenever she saw Alec.
His face, his smirk, the way he had crushed her without mercy... it all felt so fresh, like no time had passed.
"Lisa," Ginny called, waving her hand in front of Melissa's face. "Are you spacing out again?"
Melissa blinked. "Sorry, just... tired, I guess."
Dayne was standing nearby, balancing a guitar case on his shoulder, watching her quietly.
He didn't push her, didn't ask questions.
It was strange... the way he just waited, like he had all the time in the world for her to open up.
"You guys heading to the dorm?" Dayne asked, casually kicking a small pebble with his foot.
"Yeah, we should," Ginny chirped, clearly trying to lighten the mood.
Melissa started walking without thinking. Dayne and Ginny fell into step beside her.
For a while, no one spoke.
But somehow, the silence felt... safe.
"Hey," Dayne said after a few minutes, "wanna hear something funny?"
Ginny nodded eagerly, and Melissa managed a small smile.
Dayne cleared his throat dramatically. "So apparently, I broke the school record today."
"For what?" Ginny asked, wide-eyed.
"For getting the coldest 'hi' ever from a pretty girl," he said, pretending to look hurt.
Ginny burst out laughing. Even Melissa's lips twitched at that.
"I'm sorry," Melissa murmured, surprising herself.
Dayne grinned. "Apology accepted. But... I'll collect something in return someday."
Melissa tilted her head. "Like what?"
He shrugged playfully. "Don't know yet. But I'll know when the time comes."
Ginny laughed again, linking her arm with Melissa's.
Melissa let her.
Maybe... maybe it was okay to have a little fun.
Maybe not everyone was out to hurt her.
As they reached the dormitory building, Melissa felt the tension in her shoulders loosen just a little.
"Alright, ladies, I gotta head to my dorm," Dayne said, giving them a small wave. "See you tomorrow?"
"Definitely," Ginny beamed.
Melissa hesitated for a second... then nodded.
"See you."
Dayne smiled at her — not the smug, mocking smile Alec used to have — but a real, warm one.
Melissa found herself smiling back before she could stop it.
Inside the dorm room, Ginny threw herself dramatically on her bed.
"Lisaa~ he likes you, you know that, right?" she teased, wiggling her eyebrows.
"Shut up," Melissa muttered, but her cheeks burned.
Ginny giggled but didn't push further.
She grabbed her phone and started scrolling, leaving Melissa alone with her thoughts.
Melissa sat by the window, watching the sun set behind the trees.
For the first time in a long time, she allowed herself to wonder...
Maybe her story wasn't over yet.
Maybe it was just beginning.