Aria sat in Ava's seat, her fingers flying across the screen beneath the desk.
Aria: What did you and Zack agree on for the science project?
Is it important? Please answer. It's urgent.
She stared at the message for half a second longer than she should have.
A dull thud landed on the desk beside her.
She flinched.
Zack slid into the chair next to hers, a couple of books stacked in his arms. He didn't look relaxed, if anything, he looked restless, like he'd been working up the courage to sit there.
"Hey," Aria said, too quickly, shoving her phone into her pocket.
Zack didn't smile. He tilted his head instead, eyes lingering on her face like he was trying to read something that wasn't there.
"Ava," he said slowly, "if I did something… if that's why you've been acting weird, I'm sorry."
Her chest tightened.
Before she could think of an answer, he reached out and took her hand.
The contact jolted her.
Ava's hand—her hand—was warm in his, familiar in a way that made Aria's skin prickle. She stiffened instantly, instinct screaming at her to pull away. This wasn't right. This wasn't hers.
She eased her hand back, pretending it was nothing.
"Yeah," she said, forcing a light laugh. "It's fine. Really. All good."
The words felt wrong in her mouth, rehearsed and hollow.
She gave him a smile she hoped looked like Ava's, easy, careless, convincing. Her heart, however, was pounding far too loud for comfort.
Zack studied her for another second.
Not convinced.
"Look," he said quietly, eyes dropping to the desk between them, "if you're acting weird because of… that thing I said—"
Aria's stomach clenched.
"The confession," he added, almost muttering it.
Her chest tightened. Ava's words echoed faintly in her head, blurred and incomplete. Don't make it awkward. Don't change too much.
Zack exhaled, then forced a small smile. "We can just forget it ever happened. Seriously. I don't want things to be uncomfortable between us."
Aria nodded a little too quickly. "Yeah. Yeah, that's fine."
He looked up at her then, searching her face like he was trying to line it up with a version of her he remembered. "You're sure?"
She swallowed. "Of course."
For a moment, he seemed satisfied. The tension eased, just a fraction. He leaned back in his chair, tapping his pen against the desk.
"Good," he said. "I didn't want it to mess things up."
Relief flickered through her, thin and shaky.
Then he added, casually, "Especially since we already talked about what we're doing next with the science project."
Aria's pulse skipped.
He smiled, faint but familiar. "You remember, right?"
Her mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
The classroom noise faded into a dull hum as she stared at him, her mind scrambling, reaching for a memory that wasn't hers.
Zack's smile faltered.
"…Ava?"
The bell rang.
And this time, there was no pretending her silence meant nothing.
*****
Ava walked beside Matthias until they got into the car.
The car doors closed, sealing them inside.
Ava sat stiffly in the back seat, hands folded in her lap the way Aria had described. The leather beneath her felt too smooth, too expensive—like she might leave fingerprints just by breathing wrong.
The driver pulled away.
Silence followed.
No Mrs. Harrison. No buffer. Just her… and Matthias.
Ava didn't look at him at first. She focused on the window, the city sliding past in muted colors. She told herself to breathe. To remember this wasn't a conversation—just a ride.
Then she felt it.
A presence.
She glanced sideways.
Matthias was looking at her.
Not intensely. Not suspiciously.
Just… directly.
Like someone who'd spent years sitting in the same classroom, never caring enough to look twice—until now.
Ava shifted, suddenly hyper-aware of how straight she was sitting. She cleared her throat.
"So," she said, softly but easily, the word slipping out before she could stop it. "Guess we're… carpooling now."
The driver didn't react.
Matthias did.
His gaze flicked to her fully this time. Neutral. Assessing. Calm in a way that felt deliberate.
"It seems so," he said.
His voice was low. Even. No warmth. No irritation either.
Ava nodded, lips pressing together. Okay. Chill. He's not scary. Just… emotionally refrigerated.
She stared back out the window, counting buildings. One. Two. Three.
Why did this feel worse than arguing?
She shifted again, unable to help herself. "This is kinda weird, though," she added lightly. "I mean—we barely talk at school."
That earned her another look.
"You're right," Matthias said. "We don't."
His tone wasn't offended. Just factual. Like he was stating the weather.
Ava laughed under her breath. "Yeah. Guess engagement does that. Skips a few steps."
The silence stretched again—but this time it felt heavier.
She risked another glance.
Matthias was watching her now with mild curiosity, like she'd said something unexpected but not incorrect.
"You're very relaxed about this," he said.
Ava blinked. "About…?"
"Us."
Oh.
She shrugged before she could think better of it. "I mean—what's the point of freaking out? It's happening whether I panic or not."
That was definitely not Aria.
She caught herself too late.
Matthias tilted his head slightly. Not suspicious. Just thoughtful.
"That's one way to look at it," he said.
Ava smiled faintly, then forced herself to stop talking. She folded back into silence, posture tightening, mind racing.
Too casual. Too loose. Dial it back.
The rest of the ride passed without another word, but Ava could feel it—his awareness. Not sharp. Not accusing.
Just noticing.
As the car slowed near the airport entrance, Ava's phone vibrated in her lap.
She didn't look at it.
She didn't need to.
Whatever Aria was dealing with back home, Ava knew one thing now for certain—
Matthias wasn't dangerous because he knew her.
He was dangerous because he didn't.
And from now on… he'd be paying attention.
After what seemed like an eternity, the car finally slowed.
Ava had been glued to the window the entire ride.
City A unfolded outside like something out of a movie—clean streets, towering buildings, quiet confidence in every passing car. Everything looked intentional. Expensive without trying. Even the air felt different, like it belonged to people who knew exactly where they were going.
She kept forgetting to blink.
This was her first time here.
First time out of the country.
First time in Aria's world.
The car came to a stop.
Matthias stepped out first.
Ava followed a moment later, the gravel crunching beneath her shoes. She felt suddenly very aware of herself—of the way her hands moved, of how she stood, of the fact that this man had seen Aria her whole life and could tell if something was off.
Matthias turned to her.
Up close, it was worse.
Unfairly handsome. Sharp features. Calm eyes that looked like they missed nothing. Ava had to stop herself from staring.
"You'll be busy tonight," he said evenly. "Preparations."
"Yeah," she replied, then corrected quickly. "I mean—yes."
His gaze lingered on her face, slow and assessing.
"You've changed," he said.
Ava shrugged lightly, forcing a casual tone. "People do that."
For the briefest second, something like interest flickered across his expression. Not warmth. Curiosity.
"I'll see you later," he said. "Seven."
And just like that, he turned back to the car and drove off, leaving Ava standing alone in front of the estate.
She exhaled the second he was gone.
"Okay," she muttered. "That man is dangerous."
Her phone buzzed.
Aria.
Aria:
PLEASE tell me you're alive.
Also—what did we agree on for the science project??
Ava leaned against the pillar by the door, typing quickly.
Ava:
Alive. Barely.
Science project = renewable energy model. We said we'd finish the outline together after school. Don't let him bring supplies alone.
Three dots appeared almost immediately.
Aria:
THANK YOU.
What about Matthias?
Ava glanced once at the driveway, then typed.
Ava:
Cold. Observant. Unfortunately attractive.
He dropped me off. I survived. For now.
Before she could send anything else, the front doors opened.
"Aria."
A woman stood there—elegant, composed, eyes warm but sharp. Aria's mother.
Ava straightened instantly.
"Mother," she said, hoping her voice sounded right.
Mrs. Harrison smiled and stepped aside. "Come in. I was waiting for you."
Inside felt even more overwhelming than outside. High ceilings. Soft lighting. Quiet power everywhere.
As they walked, Mrs. Harrison glanced at her sideways. "So," she said casually, "how was your alone time with Matthias?"
Ava nearly tripped.
"It was… fine," she replied carefully. "Short."
"Mm." Her mother hummed. "He's not much for conversation, but he's attentive. You'll get used to him."
Used to him.
Ava smiled faintly, nodding like a girl who'd heard this all her life.
Her phone buzzed again in her pocket, but she didn't check it.
The rest of the afternoon blurred into fittings, instructions, and quiet pressure. By the time evening arrived, Ava felt like she was holding herself together with willpower alone.
Seven p.m. came dressed in silk and expectation.
The living room filled with voices—two families blending, polite laughter floating through the air. Ava stood beside Aria's mother, hands folded, expression calm.
Then she felt it.
That familiar presence.
"You look composed," Matthias said beside her.
She turned.
Too close again.
"Thanks," she replied. "I'm trying."
His eyes stayed on hers longer than necessary. Not scanning. Studying.
"You're doing very well," he said quietly.
"At what?" Ava asked.
His gaze sharpened.
"At pretending."
Her smile faltered—just barely.
He leaned in, voice low enough that no one else could hear.
"You're not Aria," Matthias said.
The room continued buzzing around them.
But Ava heard nothing else....