Dreams and Distractions

It was getting late, but I knew I had to see Jason. He’d asked about me earlier, and honestly, I missed talking to him. Maybe being around him would help me breathe again after everything that had happened.

The garden was quiet, just the faint rustle of leaves and the sweet scent of flowers in the air. I spotted Jason sitting on a stone bench, completely absorbed in his sketch pad. I walked carefully, hoping to sneak up on him.

“You don’t have to pretend to sneak in, Halle,” he said without looking up. “I recognize your scent already.”

I froze, my heart skipping a beat as he turned and gave me that warm, easy smile—the smile that always melted me. But tonight, guilt crept in too. How was I supposed to face the guy I had a massive crush on when I’d kissed someone else last night?

“So... you ran off yesterday,” he said casually, closing his sketchbook. “Kinda missed you.”