PART 3 - CHAPTER 144

PART 3 - CHAPTER 144 JESS

The rhythmic slap of my shoes against the pavement echoed around the nearly empty campus. My body hummed with energy, every muscle and tendon firing like clockwork, propelling me into the run. I loved this.

The solitude, the way my thoughts could scatter like the leaves along the path. No one to judge me. No questions. No missing pieces.

As I rounded the corner by the library, I almost screamed when someone stepped into the path from fucking nowhere!

I swerved to avoid them, my heart hammering wildly in my chest, and before I knew it, I was on my knees, gasping for breath. My hands pressed into the cold pavement, trying to regain control of my racing heart Shit.

"Jess!" A voice cut through the pounding in my ears, and I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up, still panting, and found Aiden crouching beside me, his face twisted in concern. "Are you okay?"

I blinked up at him, still trying to catch my breath, confused by the panic on his face. My breath came in sharp bursts, but I wasn't injured, just scared shitless for a second. I stood up and

PART 3 CHAPTER 144

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brushed the dirt off my knees. "Am I okay? You scared the shit out of me," I wheezed, shaking my head, laughing at my

ridiculous response.

Aiden stepped back awkwardly, his brow furrowed, and scratched the back of his neck. "Sorry, I didn't mean to sneak up on you. My bad. I forgot about... Anyway."

He trailed off, his words hanging in the air.

"Forgot about what, Aiden?" I asked, frowning at how his eyes darted away like

he muttered, turning to leave, but I wasn't about to let him off that

froze, glancing down at where my fingers were wrapped around his wrist. I quickly

in on the secret. His shoulders sagged slightly, and after a long pause, he finally spoke. "You

"Panic attacks?" I repeated, the phrase feeling foreign in my mouth. I couldn't remember ever having one. But the way Aiden looked at me made it clear

took a step closer, his hand hovering

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but wasn't sure if he should. "It's okay. You don't have to remember everything all at once.

about myself? It all felt like a puzzle that

Aiden. I wasn't even sure what "fine" meant anymore. But whatever this

concerned gaze lingered on me as he stepped back, giving me space. "I

back alongside me, I could feel his eyes on me, like he wanted to say something but wasn't sure how. We made our way across campus in silence until my dorm building

track team again," Aiden said suddenly, breaking the quiet between

laughed, shaking my head. "Yeah. No," I

end of it, but before

and before could react, his arms were around me, enveloping me. It wasn't the friendly

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PART 3 CHAPTER 144

expected-it felt different.

More intense.

to look down at me, his eyes searching my face

of hair from my face, his fingers lingering there for a moment

gesture was intimate,

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