chapter 12

Diana's pov

Ms. Collins was avoiding me.

Like, actually avoiding me.

At first, I thought I was imagining it. That maybe she was just in a bad mood, or maybe she had a headache, or maybe—something. But as the day went on, it became painfully clear that this wasn’t just some coincidence.

She was purposefully ignoring me.

In chemistry class, she didn’t look at me once. Not when she took attendance, not when she explained the lesson, not even when she walked past my desk. She always lingered—always smirked when I got an answer right, always challenged me like she was waiting for me to impress her.

But today?

Nothing.

It was like I didn’t exist.

And when I asked if she was mad at me? She just walked away.

That alone was weird enough, but then it kept happening.

Between classes, I saw her in the hallway. She was walking my way, and for a second, I thought maybe I’d get some kind of reaction—maybe she’d glance at me, maybe she’d smirk like usual, something.

But she just kept walking. Like I wasn’t even there.

At lunch, she wasn’t in her classroom like she usually was. I even passed by just to check, but the room was empty.

And at the end of the day, when I went to stop by like always—she was already gone.

It didn’t make sense.

Two days ago, she was teasing me, throwing inside jokes my way, acting like she actually liked having me around. And now, suddenly, she was treating me like any other student.

Like I was nothing.

I frowned, gripping the strap of my backpack as I stood outside her empty classroom, staring at the closed door.

Something wasn’t right. It's not like I liked Ms.Collins romantically, no, never. I just liked hanging out with her.

✂✂✂✂✂

The next morning, I tried not to think about Ms. Collins.

Tried.

But it was hard when my brain kept circling back to how weird she’d been acting yesterday. The way she avoided me, ignored me, treated me like just another student—it wasn’t normal.

Still, I pushed the thoughts aside as I made my way to my locker, finding my usual spot with Abby, Chloe, and Nora.

Abby was already there, leaning against the lockers, looking effortlessly cool like she always did. The second she saw me, she grinned and pulled me into her side, her arm wrapping around my waist like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Morning, babe," she teased, her voice smooth, playful.

I rolled my eyes but didn’t pull away. "Morning."

Nora smirked. "So, you two are just gonna be like this all the time now?" She gestured at Abby’s arm around me. "Because I feel like I should be mentally prepared."

Chloe laughed. "Honestly, it’s kind of cute. Abby finally got her way."

"Hey," Abby said, mock-offended. "I didn’t force her into anything." She glanced down at me, smirking. "Right, babe?"

I narrowed my eyes at her. "Call me babe again and I’ll reconsider everything."

She chuckled, leaning in a little closer. "Noted."

Nora snickered. "God, this is weird—but also entertaining, so please carry on."

Chloe nudged me, lowering her voice like she was about to get serious. "But, uh, speaking of weird… what’s up with Ms. Collins?"

Just like that, my stomach twisted.

I shifted, suddenly way too aware of how distracted I’d been. "You noticed too?"

Nora scoffed. "Uh, yeah. She was acting like you didn’t even exist yesterday. It was kind of painful to watch."

"What did you do to her?" Chloe asked, half-joking. "Did you accidentally break her heart or something?"

I opened my mouth—then closed it.

Because honestly?

I had no idea.

I leaned against my locker, exhaling slowly as my friends stared at me, waiting.

"Look," I started, choosing my words carefully, "I don’t have any feelings for Ms. Collins. Obviously no."

Nora raised a skeptical brow. "Okay… but you do think about her a lot."

"Because she’s been acting weird!" I shot back, crossing my arms. "I mean, yeah, we hung out after class a few times, but it was never—like—that. It wasn’t weird. She wasn’t being creepy or anything. It was just… fun."

Chloe tilted her head. "So, what? You two were just, like… friends?"

I hesitated, which only made her and Nora exchange a look.

"Not friends exactly," I clarified. "I mean, she’s my teacher. But when we talked, she was different. Not just strict and serious—she was actually funny. Chill. I think she liked hanging out with me, too. But not in a weird way."

"Then why is she avoiding you all of a sudden?" Nora asked. "If nothing was weird, why act like this?"

I sighed. "I don’t know, and that’s what’s bothering me."

Abby, who had been quiet until now, gave my waist a light squeeze, pulling me a little closer. "Well," she said, her voice warm, steady, "if she wants to be weird, that’s her problem. You didn’t do anything wrong."

I looked up at her, and she smiled, nudging my cheek with her nose in a way that sent warmth spreading through my chest.

"And hey," she added with a smirk, "if you need a distraction, I am your incredibly attractive girlfriend now."

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips. "Oh, now you’re my girlfriend?"

She chuckled. "I mean, you haven’t said no yet."

"Fair point," I muttered, leaning into her warmth just a little.

Chloe grinned. "God, I love this. Diana’s all wrapped up in her teacher drama, and meanwhile, Abby’s over here being disgustingly sweet."

"Disgustingly?" Abby scoffed. "This is peak romance, thank you very much."

Nora smirked. "Yeah, yeah. Just don’t start making out in front of me."

I groaned. "Can we please focus?"

Abby pressed a quick kiss to my temple—just to make a point—before turning back to the conversation. "Fine, fine. So, what’s the plan?"

I sighed. "I don’t know yet. But if Ms. Collins thinks she can just ignore me and I’ll drop it?" I shook my head. "Maybe I should let her. Or maybe I should try to talk to her"

And like that, we continue our day normally.

Maybe Abby had already decided we were a thing, and I had just been too distracted to notice.

Either way, I didn’t fight it.

At lunch, she sat next to me like always, but this time, she hooked her ankle around mine under the table, leaning into me as we talked. When she stole a fry from my tray, she did it with a cocky smirk, popping it into her mouth before I could swat her hand away.

"Wow," I deadpanned. "Is this what I have to deal with now?"

"Oh, absolutely," she said, completely unbothered, stealing another one just to prove her point.

Nora rolled her eyes. "Okay, but can we acknowledge how fast this is happening? Like, two days ago, Diana was just blushing at Abby’s flirting, and now they’re basically dating."

"Basically?" Abby scoffed. "I don’t know what you’re talking about. Diana is my girlfriend."

I opened my mouth—to argue, to tease, I wasn’t even sure—but then she just… kissed me.

It wasn’t dramatic. Just a quick, soft press of her lips against mine, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

And maybe it was.

Chloe gasped. "Oh my God, it finally happened! I mean, I know they had their first kiss already, but now they did it in front of us!"

I blinked, my brain trying to process, but Abby just pulled back like it was nothing, grinning at me. "You good, babe?"

I exhaled sharply, shaking my head. "You’re impossible."

"And yet," she mused, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear, "you’re still here."

Nora groaned. "If you two start making out at the table, I’m leaving."

Abby laughed, slinging an arm around my shoulders. "Relax, I’ll save that for later."

I rolled my eyes, but I didn’t pull away.

Because maybe—just maybe—I liked this.

At this point, it was just too easy to kiss Abby.

It wasn’t even a conscious decision anymore. It just happened.

We were sitting at our usual table, lunch trays mostly forgotten, Abby’s arm casually draped around my shoulders. She was saying something sarcastic to Chloe—something about how clearly, she was the best-looking person in the school—but I wasn’t really listening.

Because she was looking at me like she knew exactly what she was doing. Like she was waiting for me to cave.

So I did.

I leaned in, catching her off guard as I kissed her—quick, soft, but enough to make her shut up mid-sentence.

"Oh," she murmured against my lips, smirking as I pulled back. "So you do like me."

I rolled my eyes. "Shut up."

"Make me."

I kissed her again.

"Jesus Christ," Nora groaned, stuffing fries into her mouth like she was trying to physically block out what was happening. "Do you two have to be this obnoxious?"

"Yes," Abby said simply, kissing me once more just to make a point.

A few tables away, I felt the stares. The hushed whispers, the side-eyes from a couple of guys who definitely had something to say about it.

But I didn’t care.

I didn’t care when one of them scoffed, shaking his head like our existence offended him. Didn’t care when another muttered something under his breath, like it was supposed to bother us.

Abby noticed too. I could tell by the way her grip on my waist tightened slightly, the way her jaw tensed for just a second.

Then, very deliberately, she turned to me, cupped my face with both hands, and kissed me.

Longer this time. Slower.

I smiled against her lips. "Being petty?"

"Obviously," she murmured. "Now kiss me again, babe."

I did.

Because, honestly? Screw anyone who had a problem with it.

At first, I ignored the stares.

I was used to people watching—some with curiosity, some with disgust—but as Abby kissed me again, I could feel a different kind of attention settling over us.

Then it started.

"Yo, this is hot as hell!" some guy shouted from a few tables away, his friends immediately laughing like he had just said the most brilliant thing in the world.

I tensed, already regretting looking in their direction. A group of guys—mostly juniors or seniors, typical wannabe players—were grinning like we were some kind of show for them.

"Damn, Abby, didn’t know you were living the dream," one of them jeered, nudging another with his elbow. "How about sharing?"

Abby’s grip on my waist tightened. "How about shutting the hell up?" she shot back, her tone still light, but with an edge sharp enough to cut.

"Oh, come on," another guy drawled, leaning back in his chair. "You can’t expect to start making out in the middle of the cafeteria and not get a reaction."*

"Yeah," his friend snickered. "What, you gonna be mad that we like it?"

I felt my stomach turn, heat creeping up my neck—not from embarrassment, but from anger.

Abby, however, looked bored.

"You know," she mused, tilting her head, "it’s kinda sad that the most action you’ve had all year is from watching us kiss."*

The guy’s smirk faltered, and his friends burst into laughter.

"Ohhh, damn!" one of them howled. "She got you, bro!"

Abby smirked, clearly pleased with herself.

I sighed, leaning into her. "You love making people mad, don’t you?"

"Only when they deserve it," she murmured, pressing a kiss to my temple.

The guys eventually got bored and turned back to their food, but the feeling lingered.

The gross, objectifying stares. The entitlement. Like we weren’t people—just something for them to watch.

But as I looked at Abby, who was still holding me close, I decided they didn’t get to ruin this.

I kissed her again—longer this time, just to prove a point.

And if it pissed them off?

Good. Awesome.

✂✂✂✂✂✂

Days passed by and abby’s lap had somehow become my designated seat.

Not that she minded.

Her arms were around my waist, her chin resting lazily on my head as I played with her fingers, occasionally turning to press a soft kiss against her cheek. We still weren't together, but definitely acted like it.

"You’re being extra sweet today," she murmured, her voice low, almost teasing.

"And?" I hummed, tilting my head to kiss just below her jaw.

She shivered slightly, tightening her grip around me. "And I like it."*

I smiled against her skin, letting myself sink into her warmth. Everything else—people talking, the cafeteria noise, the occasional stares—just faded into the background.

Until I saw her.

Ms. Collins.

She was across the room, standing near the doors, talking to another teacher.

Correction—pretending to talk.

Her body was angled toward the conversation, but her eyes? They were on me.

Watching.

Studying.

Like she wanted to look away but couldn’t.

And the second I caught her staring, she did exactly what she’d been doing all week.

She turned away.

Acted like she hadn’t been looking in the first place. Like I was some stranger, not the same student she used to joke around with after class.

The same one she had spent weeks talking to, watching, lingering around.

The sudden change still didn’t make sense.

"Diana?" Abby’s voice pulled me back.

I blinked, turning to find her watching me with a slight frown. "What’s wrong?"

I shook my head, trying to let it go. "Nothing," I muttered, brushing my fingers against her cheek before pressing a soft kiss to her lips.

Abby kissed me back immediately, but as I let my eyes drift toward the doors again, Ms. Collins was already gone.

Avoiding me.

But still watching.

Suddenly, I feel somebody lifting me up. I knew who it was.

"Abby, put me down," I huffed, half-laughing, half-serious as she effortlessly carried me down the hallway.

"Nope," she said, completely unbothered, adjusting her grip on me like I weighed nothing. "You’re too slow. I’m being efficient."

"This is not efficient—this is embarrassing," I groaned, hiding my face against her shoulder as students turned to stare.

Chloe and Nora walked beside us, barely containing their laughter.

"Damn, Abby, you’re really just gonna carry her to class now?" Chloe teased. "What’s next, spoon-feeding her at lunch?"

"I would," Abby said, smirking. "But Diana’s too stubborn to let me."

I sighed dramatically. "You’re impossible."

"And yet, you’re still here."

I rolled my eyes, but I didn’t fight her on it. If Abby wanted to parade me through the halls like a trophy, I’d let her—for now.

As we approached the chemistry classroom, a familiar tension crept up my spine.

Because I knew she would be there.

Ms. Collins.

Still avoiding me. Still acting like I was invisible.

Abby finally set me down just outside the classroom door, her hands lingering on my waist as she leaned in. "Better?"

"Much," I muttered, adjusting my clothes with an exaggerated huff.

But as I stepped inside, my eyes immediately found Ms. Collins at her desk.

She was busy sorting through papers, looking perfectly composed—except for the way her hand stilled for just a fraction of a second when I walked in.

I felt Abby’s fingers brush against mine, grounding me. "You good?" she murmured.

I forced a small smile. "Yeah."

I wasn’t.

But I’d figure it out.

The classroom had a weird energy.

Maybe it was just me, but something about the way Ms. Collins carried herself felt off. Stiffer than usual, more deliberate—like she was forcing herself to be just another strict, detached teacher.

I sat next to Nora, dropping my bag onto the table, and barely had time to settle before Chloe, sitting behind me, poked my shoulder.

"So," she whispered, leaning forward, "how does it feel to be carried to class like a princess?"

I sighed. "Like I should start charging Abby for personal gym equipment."

"I'd pay," Abby snickered behind me, her voice low and smug. "Best workout of my life."

Nora groaned. "Can you two not flirt over my notes?"

Before I could answer, Ms. Collins started class.

"Alright, everyone," she said, her voice sharp, controlled. "Open your books to chapter twelve. We’re reviewing molecular bonding today."

I expected her to at least glance my way. To acknowledge me somehow.

She didn’t.

Not even once.

She walked around the classroom like I wasn’t even there, her gaze skipping over me every time she scanned the room. It was almost too obvious.

And apparently, I wasn’t the only one noticing.

"She’s really committed to ignoring you, huh?" Abby murmured behind me, her voice just quiet enough that only I could hear.

I tapped my pen against my notebook, pretending to focus. "Apparently."*

Ms. Collins moved from table to table, explaining concepts and correcting mistakes—but when she reached ours, she barely paused.

She spoke to Nora.

She spoke to Abby.

But not me.

It was weird.

Annoying.

And maybe a little bit frustrating in a way I didn’t want to admit.

By the time class was wrapping up, Chloe leaned forward again, whispering, "What the hell did you do to her?"

I had no answer.

But I wanted one.

The moment the bell rang, I grabbed my bag and practically bolted out of my seat.

Ms. Collins had avoided me the entire class—again. I wasn’t sure why it bothered me so much, but it did.

I walked out of the classroom with Nora, shaking my head. "Did you see that?" I muttered. "She wouldn’t even look at me."

"Oh, I noticed," Nora said, raising an eyebrow. "It was like you didn’t exist to her."

"Yeah," I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don’t get it. She was literally my favorite teacher like a week ago, and now it’s like—"

Before I could finish, I felt a hand suddenly slip into mine.

I didn’t even have to look to know it was

Abby.

"Hey, babe," she said casually, like she hadn’t just rushed to catch up, like she wasn’t determined to hold my hand. "You looked stressed. Let me fix that."

I rolled my eyes but didn’t pull away. "Oh? And how are you gonna do that?"

She grinned. "By being the best girlfriend ever, obviously."

Nora snorted. "You two are disgusting."

"And yet," Abby said, giving my hand a playful squeeze, "you love being around us."

"I really don’t," Nora deadpanned, but I caught the small smile she tried to hide.

Chloe jogged up beside us, her eyes immediately dropping to our joined hands. "Damn, you guys are really going full couple mode, huh?"

"Always," Abby said, smirking.

I just rolled my eyes again, but my fingers curled tighter around hers.

"Not a real couple." I murmur, but quietly.

Because, honestly?

It was nice.

I was too caught up in my conversation with Abby, chole and Nora to notice where I was going.

One second, I was laughing at something stupid Abby whispered in my ear—then bam.

I collided hard into someone, nearly knocking myself backward.

A firm grip caught my arm before I could stumble.

"Woah—" I started, looking up.

And my stomach dropped.

It was Ms. Collins.

Her hands were still on my arms, steadying me, and for a split second, her usual cold mask slipped. She looked surprised. Unprepared.

But then, just as quickly, she let go, stepping back like I had burned her.

"Diana," she said, her voice clipped, formal. "Watch where you're going."

I blinked. "Uh—sorry?"

Her expression was unreadable, her posture stiff. It was the closest we had been in days, and I could tell it threw her off just as much as it did me.

Before I could say anything else, she stepped around me and kept walking.

Just like that.

Like I was nobody.

"Okaaay," Nora said slowly. "That was... weird."

Abby frowned. "She really doesn’t want to be near you, huh?"

I exhaled sharply, still staring after her. "Yeah. Definitely no"

We decide to go over my place.

The second we stepped into my place, Chloe and Nora reacted exactly how I expected.

"I still can’t believe you live here," Nora muttered, spinning in a slow circle to take it all in. "Like, Diana—this isn’t a house. This is a whole-ass mansion."

Chloe, who had seen it before, just smirked. "You have seen this before, Nora."

"I know!" Nora said, throwing her hands up. "But this is insane."

Abby, on the other hand, just plopped onto the expensive leather couch like she owned the place. "You’ll get used to it," she said casually, stretching her arms over the backrest. "Diana’s a rich girl. But don’t worry, she’s not an asshole rich girl."

I rolled my eyes. "Glad I have your approval."

Chloe had already wandered toward the open kitchen, peeking into the fridge. "You got food?"

"Duh."

"Then I love this place," she declared, already grabbing a drink.

Abby pulled me onto the couch beside her, her arm immediately resting around my shoulders. "So, what’s the plan? Movie? Food? Tease Diana about her stalker teacher?"

I groaned. "Can we not bring up Ms. Collins right now?"

"Oh, we absolutely are," Nora said, dropping onto the other couch. "But after food."

I sighed, leaning into Abby’s side as Chloe and Nora ransacked my kitchen like they lived here.

It was chaotic. Loud. Kind of ridiculous.

But honestly?

It was nice.

The day at my place was nothing short of chaotic, but in the best way possible. The moment we all settled in, Chloe and Nora took over my kitchen like they lived there. Chloe was rummaging through the fridge, pulling out whatever looked good, while Nora leaned against the counter, making unnecessary commentary about how ridiculous it was that I had a fridge that looked like it belonged in a cooking show.

Abby, of course, made herself right at home on the couch, dragging me down with her. She had her arm around my shoulders, her fingers lazily tracing patterns on my arm like it was second nature. Every now and then, she’d throw a comment toward the kitchen, mostly to tease Chloe about how long it was taking to decide on a snack.

Eventually, Chloe and Nora came back with a mix of things—some chips, a couple of sandwiches, and drinks. They plopped down on the couch across from us, and that’s when the teasing really started.

"So, Diana," Nora said, smirking as she popped open a soda. "Are we really just gonna ignore the fact that your favorite teacher is clearly avoiding you like the plague now?"

Chloe snorted. "Yeah, it’s like she can’t even stand being in the same air as you."

I groaned, already regretting letting them in my house. "Can we not talk about Ms. Collins? I just wanna have a normal day for once."

Abby tightened her arm around me, grinning. "Nah, babe. We love talking about your stalker teacher."

I sighed, leaning my head back against Abby’s shoulder. "I hate all of you."

"Aw, you love us," Chloe said with a dramatic gasp.

Despite my protests, the conversation didn’t die down. They kept throwing jabs about Ms. Collins, making ridiculous theories about why she had suddenly decided to pretend I didn’t exist. Nora was convinced she had a breakdown and was trying to reset herself. Chloe thought she got scared because I was getting too close. Abby? Abby just found the whole thing amusing.

At some point, the conversation shifted to other things. We ended up watching a movie, though it was mostly just background noise because we couldn’t stop talking over it. Nora kept making fun of the cheesy dialogue, Chloe kept throwing popcorn at her whenever she got too loud, and Abby? Abby was just focused on me.

She kept sneaking little kisses, soft ones against my temple, my cheek, the corner of my mouth. It wasn’t like she was trying to hide it either. Chloe and Nora definitely noticed, but they didn’t say anything—just exchanged knowing looks every time Abby pulled me closer.

By the time the sun started setting, I realized how comfortable it all felt. Like this had been normal for us forever. Hanging out, laughing, eating whatever random snacks Chloe stole from my kitchen. Abby holding me like it was the most natural thing in the world.

And honestly?

I didn’t mind it at all.

As the night crept in, the energy in my mansion shifted. It wasn’t that we were getting tired—if anything, we were just getting started.

Chloe was the first to say it. She stretched out on the couch, staring at the ceiling, and sighed dramatically. “Diana, I don’t think I wanna go home.”

Nora immediately perked up. “Wait, yeah. Why do we have to go home? You have, like, a hundred rooms in this place.”

I raised an eyebrow. “I don’t have a hundred rooms.”

"You practically do have. Your dad's richh!" Chole smirks.

"My dad's on a work trip, that's the only reason I'll let you guys stay over!" I sigh, though it makes me smile

Abby, who had been practically glued to my side the entire time, smirked. “So what I’m hearing is… sleepover?”

Chloe and Nora exchanged a look, then turned back to me with identical grins.

“Sleepover.”

I pretended to think about it, but honestly? I already knew I wasn’t gonna say no. “Fine,” I said, rolling my eyes. “But if you break anything, you'll pay for it!"

Chloe sat up, gasping. “Do you hear yourself? ‘Paying for it?’ Like we can afford your rich girl furniture. And as if you need the money."

Nora snickered. “Yeah, we’ll just sell a kidney real quick.”

Abby kissed the side of my head. “It’s okay, babe. If anything breaks, I’ll take responsibility.”

“Oh, you will?” I asked, giving her a look.

“Yup.” She grinned. “With my body.”

Chloe fake gagged. “Okay, I’m already regretting this.”

I shoved Abby lightly, but of course, she just laughed and pulled me closer.

It didn’t take long for us to actually settle into sleepover mode. I grabbed extra blankets and pillows, which of course led to Nora making some dumb comment about how the guest rooms were nicer than her actual house. Chloe was already picking out movies, setting up what looked like the ultimate movie marathon.

And Abby?

Abby just followed me everywhere, making sure that no matter where I went, I was in arm’s reach. When we finally set up our sleepover space—sprawled out in the massive living room, surrounded by snacks, drinks, and an ungodly number of pillows—she pulled me down right next to her, refusing to let me go.

“So,” she murmured, her lips brushing against my ear, “you excited for our first sleepover as a couple?”

I glanced at her. “Are we officially calling ourselves a couple?”

She grinned. “You literally sat on my lap and made out with me in the cafeteria today.”

Chloe, who had clearly been eavesdropping, groaned. “Oh my God, can you two not start whispering sweet nothings right next to me?”

Nora snorted. “They can’t help it. Abby’s obsessed.”

Abby just smirked, resting her head against mine. “Duh.”

I sighed, but I couldn’t hide the smile creeping onto my face.

This was gonna be a long night.

The sleepover was chaos.

At first, we tried to act normal—watching a movie, eating snacks, making dumb comments about whatever was on the screen. But, of course, with my friends, there was no such thing as a quiet night.

Chloe kept throwing popcorn at Nora, who eventually snapped and launched a full-on attack. Abby, being the traitor she was, decided to join Nora instead of me, and suddenly, the entire living room turned into a popcorn warzone.

"You guys are so immature," I muttered, dodging a handful of popcorn flying my way.

"And you love us for it," Chloe shot back, grinning as she ducked behind the couch for cover.

Abby, who had been sitting beside me, pulled me down onto her lap mid-chaos, wrapping her arms around me from behind. "Don’t worry, babe, I’ll protect you."

"Oh, now you’re on my side?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

She smirked. "I was always on your side. Just had to make things fun."

Before I could respond, Chloe dove over the couch and landed right on top of us, sending Abby and me tumbling into the pillows with an undignified yelp.

"Chloe!" I groaned. "You’re not light!"

"And yet," she said, completely ignoring me, "I have claimed victory."

"Victory?" Abby scoffed. "Get off my girl, dude."

"Ugh, fine." Chloe rolled off dramatically, landing next to Nora, who was too busy laughing at the absolute mess we had created.

By the time we finally settled down, the floor was covered in popcorn, the movie was long forgotten, and I was exhausted. Not that I minded—this was the kind of night that made everything feel lighter.

Abby pulled me close again, resting her chin on my shoulder. "You good?" she murmured so only I could hear.

I nodded, leaning into her. "Yeah. You?"

She smiled against my skin. "Perfect."

Nora, who was definitely eavesdropping, sighed dramatically. "Wow, love is in the air, huh?"

Chloe rolled her eyes. "I give it ten minutes before they start making out again."

Abby didn’t even try to deny it. She just shrugged, tightening her arms around me. "They’re just jealous, babe."

I groaned. "You guys are insufferable."

Chloe stretched out on the couch, grabbing a pillow and tossing it over her face. "And yet, you invited us here."

She had a point.

Eventually, the exhaustion caught up with all of us. The lights were dimmed, the TV played softly in the background, and one by one, my friends started drifting off.

Abby and I ended up tangled together under the same blanket, her hand resting on my waist, her heartbeat steady against my back.

"Night, babe," she whispered.

I smiled sleepily. "Night, Abby."

It was messy. Loud. Chaotic.

And honestly?

One of the best nights I’d had in a long time.

The next morning, I woke up feeling way too warm. The kind of warmth that wasn’t just from the blankets but from something—or someone—wrapped around me.

It took me a second to fully wake up, my face buried against soft fabric, my body pressed against something firm and solid. I shifted slightly, and that’s when I realized—I was under Abby’s shirt. Again.

But this time? Fully.

I blinked, still half-asleep, my brain struggling to process how I ended up like this. I could feel Abby’s heartbeat against my cheek, her steady breathing, and the way her arms were loosely draped around me, completely relaxed.

And then, just as I was about to figure out what the hell was happening, I heard it.

"Oh. My. God."

Chloe’s voice. Way too loud for this early in the morning.

I didn’t even have time to react before—

"DIANA, WHY ARE YOU LITERALLY INSIDE ABBY’S SHIRT?! DID YOU GUYS HAVE- actually, don't tell me!"

Nora screamed.

Abby groaned, shifting slightly. "Mm... too early for this..." She sounded like she wasn’t even fully awake yet, completely unbothered by the fact that I was literally under her shirt.

Meanwhile, I? I was losing my mind.

"I— I have no idea how this happened!" I said, my voice still groggy from sleep, but also full of panic. I tried to move, but Abby just tightened her hold on me like I was a damn teddy bear. "Abby, let me go!"

"Mmm, no... comfy..."

"ABBY."

Nora was dying. "This is even worse than last time!"

Chloe, who had already pulled out her phone, cackled. "Oh, I am never letting you live this down."

At that, I finally managed to free myself, shoving the blanket off and rolling away from Abby, my face burning. "WHY do you guys always wake up before me?!"

"Because," Nora said between laughs, "we knew something like this would happen."

Abby, now fully awake, just stretched with a yawn. "Morning, babe." She grinned sleepily at me like she hadn’t just been smothering me all night.

I glared at her. "You’re the worst."

"Mmm... you love it."

Chloe practically wheezed. "You guys are actual menaces."

And just like that, the sleepover chaos continued—because apparently, nothing was ever normal when it came to me, my incredibly nosy friends, and my way too comfortable 'girlfriend'.

The walk to school was anything but normal.

Chloe and Nora would not shut up about the whole waking-up-inside-Abby’s-shirt thing. They were relentless, teasing me every five seconds, while Abby? She was thriving on it. Smug as hell, her arm wrapped around my waist like she knew she had me right where she wanted me.

"So," Nora started, already grinning. "How was it, Diana? Warm? Cozy? A little too snug?"

"Oh my God, shut up," I groaned, yanking my hoodie over my head like that would somehow save me from the embarrassment.

Chloe snickered. "I mean, it’s a fair question. You were fully under her shirt. At this point, why not just live there?"

"Don’t encourage her," I muttered.

Abby, still walking beside me, just smirked. "Not a bad idea, honestly."

I shoved her playfully. "You are so lucky I like you."

"I know," she said, her smirk widening as she leaned down to kiss my cheek.

Nora made a fake gagging sound. "You two are disgusting"

"And?" Abby said, unfazed, pulling me even closer.

"And I’m gonna walk into traffic if I have to keep witnessing this," Chloe muttered, stuffing her hands in her pockets dramatically.

I rolled my eyes. "Oh, please. You love the entertainment."

Chloe sighed. "Yeah, yeah. Doesn’t mean I won’t suffer in the process."

As we got closer to school, the teasing finally died down—only because we started talking about something way more concerning.

Ms. Collins.

"Okay, but like," Nora said, glancing at me, "she’s definitely been avoiding you, right?"

I nodded, my stomach twisting slightly. "Yeah. Like, she won’t even look at me unless she absolutely has to."

"Probably for the best," Chloe muttered. "The whole thing was weird to begin with."

"Yeah, but—" I hesitated. "I don’t know, it just feels... different now. Like, I know she’s weird, but I kinda liked hanging out with her. Not in a weird way, just—she was fun."

Abby squeezed my waist gently. "You’re not weird for feeling that way, babe."

I let out a breath, leaning into her slightly. "Thanks."

Chloe raised an eyebrow. "Okay, but just to be clear—you definitely don’t have feelings for her, right?"

"Oh, absolutely not," I said immediately. "Like I said, she was just fun to hang out with. That’s it."

Chloe and Nora exchanged a glance.

"What?" I asked, suspicious.

"Nothing," Nora said, grinning. "Just... making sure you’re self-aware."

"I am," I said, rolling my eyes. "I’m literally dating Abby...I mean, not officially, but kind of"

Abby smiled smugly. "You sure are."

"Ew," Chloe muttered. "You guys make me sick."

Abby laughed, kissed the side of my head, and kept her arm firmly around me as we finally reached the school.

Another day. Another round of chaos. And apparently, another day of Ms. Collins pretending I didn’t exist.

The thought lingered in the back of my mind all day.

Ms. Collins had been avoiding me for weeks now, and I was over it. She barely looked at me in class, treated me like every other student, and didn’t even acknowledge the inside jokes we used to have. And yeah, maybe I shouldn’t have cared so much, but I did.

Because I knew something changed.

So today? I was going to ask her.

The day dragged on, my friends keeping me distracted for the most part—especially Abby, who made it her mission to hold my hand every chance she got. But even through all the teasing, all the affection, the back of my mind was stuck on Ms. Collins.

By the time chemistry rolled around, I had decided.

After class, I was staying behind.

✂✂✂✂✂✂

When the bell rang, everyone started packing up their things, filing out of the classroom. My friends waited for me near the door, but I shook my head. "Go ahead. I’ll catch up."

Abby gave me a look, like she knew exactly what I was about to do. "Diana—"

"I just wanna talk to her," I said quickly. "It’s fine."

She didn’t look thrilled about it, but after a second, she sighed. "Alright. But if you’re not out in ten minutes, I’m coming back in there."

I smiled a little. "Deal."

Once they were gone, I turned back toward Ms. Collins. She was at her desk, sorting through papers like she hadn’t even noticed I was still there.

I took a deep breath. "Ms. Collins?"

She froze. Just for a second. Then, without looking up, she said, "Class is over, Diana."

"Yeah, I know," I said, stepping closer. "That’s why I’m asking."

She sighed, finally looking at me—but her expression was unreadable. "What do you want?"

Okay. Harsh.

I crossed my arms. "Why have you been avoiding me?"

Ms. Collins’ jaw tightened. "I haven’t—"

"Yes, you have." I didn’t even let her finish. "You went from talking to me every day to pretending I don’t exist. What happened?"

She let out a slow breath, leaning back in her chair. "Diana, I have a job to do. You are my student. That’s the only relationship we should have."

My stomach twisted. "So that’s it? Just—just like that?"

Her fingers tapped against her desk, like she was frustrated, but not with me. "It’s for the best."

I searched her face, trying to figure out what she was thinking, but she just looked… conflicted.

"I don’t get it," I said, my voice quieter this time. "Did I do something wrong?"

Ms. Collins closed her eyes for a second, like she was trying to hold back something. "No," she said. "You didn’t do anything wrong."

"Then why—"

"Because," she cut in, her voice firm. "I am your teacher. That’s all I’m supposed to be."

I swallowed hard. It wasn’t like I wanted more than that. I had Abby. I had my friends. But I still liked talking to her. And now, it was like none of that even mattered.

"Okay," I said, my voice flat. "I get it."

Ms. Collins’ expression shifted, like she wanted to say something else. But she didn’t. She just nodded. "Good."

I stared at her for a second longer, waiting. Hoping she’d say something that would make this whole thing make sense.

But she didn’t.

So I turned around and walked out.

The second I stepped into my house, I let out a deep breath and pulled out my phone.

I didn’t even think—I just called Abby.

She picked up on the second ring. "Hey, babe. You good?"

I sighed, kicking off my shoes and dropping onto the couch. "I talked to her."

Abby didn’t even have to ask who. "And?"

"She basically told me she’s my teacher and that’s all she’s supposed to be." I ran a hand through my hair, frustration bubbling up again. "Like—I get it. I do. But she went from talking to me every day to pretending I don’t exist. It’s just… weird."

Abby was quiet for a second, then: "You sound upset."

"I’m not—" I stopped, exhaling. "I don’t know what I am. It’s just confusing."

"Do you miss her?"

I blinked. "What?"

"Like, actually miss her," Abby said, her voice careful. "Or is it just the fact that she’s acting different that’s bothering you?"

I thought about it for a second. "I don’t miss her," I said finally. "I just… I don’t get why it had to change so suddenly. If she thought it was inappropriate or whatever, why didn’t she say something before?"

Abby hummed. "Maybe she didn’t realize how weird it was until it was too late."

That made me pause.

Because yeah—Ms. Collins was weird, and she’d always been a little too interested in me, but she never actually did anything. I mean, she followed me around and all that, but she never did anything that made me uncomfortable. And if she was really trying to distance herself now, then… maybe she was just trying to set boundaries.

Even if it felt like a dramatic way to do it.

"Maybe," I admitted. "It still feels weird, though."

"Yeah," Abby said, softer this time. "But, hey—you don’t need her, babe. You’ve got me. And Chloe. And Nora. And your dad. We’re all here for you."

I smiled a little. "I know."

"And," she added, her voice turning smug, "I did just hear you say you don’t miss her."

I rolled my eyes. "Abby."

"What?" she said, laughing. "It’s a good thing. Means I don’t have to fight our hot teacher for you."

I groaned. "Oh my God."

Abby giggled. "You like me."

I sighed, but I was smiling. "Yeah, yeah. I do."

"Good," she said. "Now, get your cute ass to bed. You’ve had a long day."

I chuckled. "Yes, ma’am."

"Damn right."

I hung up, still shaking my head, and dragged myself upstairs. At least I had one thing figured out—Ms. Collins could be as weird as she wanted, but I had Abby.

And that was more than enough.

Right?