3: THE CIRCLE EXPANDS

Alex had spent the past few days in a fog, his mind still swirling with thoughts of Clara. He did not hear from her since their last conversation, and the silence was only making things more confusing. His only escape, if he could call it that, was the weekly Jural activities he'd signed up for. It gave him something to focus on besides his feelings. He was walking out of the law building, stressed from the meeting, That's when he saw her.

Terah was lounging on one of the benches outside the law building, her legs stretched out in front of her. She looked out of place; her clothes were too casual for the academic environment, and her posture screamed that she didn't care much for what anyone thought. Alex hadn't seen her around much since he'd started second year, but he knew who she was: Hannah's ex, and an all fellow college newbie.

 He'd heard the stories. They weren't exactly friends, but there was something about Terah's rebellious nature that made Alex curious. She was the kind of person who didn't belong in a lecture hall and made a statement by existing outside of the system. He hesitated for a moment but then walked over.

"Hey," Alex said, not really sure how to start the conversation. Terah looked up, her face unreadable, before breaking into a grin. "Look who it is. Haven't seen you around much."

 "I've been busy," Alex replied, unsure if it was the right thing to say. Terah leaned back, stretching her arms behind her head. "Don't believe in the whole 'work hard, play hard' thing, huh? You're one of those law types."

 "I guess," Alex muttered, sitting down next to her. They lapsed into silence for a moment, both of them staring out at the campus. It was weird; talking to someone so different from him, yet there was something familiar in her indifference. Like she understood what it felt like to not fit in.

 "So, what's up with you and Hannah?" Alex asked, unable to stop himself from asking the question that had been on his mind. They had broken up before anyone could figure it out.

 Terah smirked. "You mean why I'm not in medical school anymore? It's complicated."

"Yeah, I figured."

Terah's eyes narrowed slightly. "But that's not your business, is it?"

 "No," Alex admitted, "but it's hard to ignore."

 Terah's expression softened for a second before she leaned in a bit closer. "Hannah's a mess. She might act like she's got it all figured out, but trust me; she doesn't."

 Alex didn't know how to respond to that. He barely knew Hannah, but hearing Terah speak about her in such a blunt way made him rethink the situation.

"As much as she likes to act like she's got everything in control, she's still learning… just like the rest of us," Terah continued, her tone a little softer now. "But maybe she's scared of letting anyone know that. Especially me."

Alex wasn't sure how to process that. He'd always seen Hannah as confident, never questioning herself. But Terah's words lingered in his mind.

Just as Terah stood up, ready to leave, Alex noticed a familiar face approaching from the distance. Clara.

 Her eyes scanned the crowd before landing on Alex. She seemed a little surprised, and Alex noticed how her expression shifted as she saw him with Terah.

 "Oh," Clara said, her voice a little softer than usual. "Didn't expect to see you here."

 Alex stood up, feeling a knot tighten in his stomach. He glanced over at Terah, who was already walking away with a nonchalant wave.

Clara hesitated, her eyes flicking between him and the direction Terah had gone. "What was that about?"

Alex didn't know how to explain what it was. He barely understood it himself.

"Just talking," he said, keeping his tone casual.

Clara raised an eyebrow, but her guard was up. "With Terah? Isn't she… Hannah's ex?"

"Yeah," Alex replied, scratching the back of his neck. "She's complicated."

 "Complicated?" Clara laughed, though there was something forced about it. She wasn't sure if she was teasing or genuinely unsure. Either way, the conversation felt a little off.

 Alex suddenly felt the weight of her gaze. Her casual tune was off, almost vulnerable, but she masked it quickly with a smile. "I just… I don't know how you do it. You seem so calm."

 "Calm?" Alex gave a small laugh, though he didn't feel it. "I don't feel calm."

Clara sighed, and there was a quiet moment between them before she spoke again, her voice lower. "It's just hard, you know? Trying to figure things out. And keeping up with... everything."

Alex felt a pang of guilt. *Maybe she feels the same way I do. *

 "Yeah," he agreed softly. "I get it."

 Before the silence could stretch too long, Clara changed the subject. "Wanna grab coffee? I could use a break, I'm so stressed" she gestured vaguely to the campus, as if trying to release some tension.

 Alex nodded. "Sure."

As the day wound down, Alex found himself heading back to his dorm. His mind was still tangled in the mess of emotions; Clara's subtle vulnerability, Terah's cryptic remarks, and the lingering thoughts about his feelings. It was all too much to process, but one thing was clear: something was shifting. The lines between friendship, attraction, and confusion were starting to blur, and he wasn't sure how to handle it.

He barely noticed when he ran into Dave. Dave was leaning against the side of the dorm's building, his arms crossed, looking like he was waiting for something. Or someone.

"Alex," Dave said flatly, his voice cutting through the silence.

 "Hey," Alex said, surprised to see him there. "What's up?"

Dave pushed off the wall and took a step toward him, his eyes locked onto Alex in a way that felt more intense than usual. "You've been acting weird," Dave said, his tone low and serious. "Like you're avoiding me."

Alex felt an intense cold. "I'm not avoiding you."

"You sure about that?" Dave's eyes narrowed. "You've been distracted. You've been… around Clara more lately, huh?"

The sudden mention of Clara sent an uneasy jolt through Alex. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Dave leaned in closer, his gaze unwavering. "It means," he said, his voice taking on an edge, "that I don't like how things are going."

Alex swallowed hard, trying to keep his voice steady. "What are you talking about?"

Dave's jaw clenched. "You think I don't notice? All this shit between you and Clara. I'm not blind, man. And I'm not stupid. You're getting too close to her."

 Alex's heart raced. "What do you care? We're just..."

"We're just friends, right?" Dave interrupted; his voice dangerously low. "Is that what you want to call it? A friend? Or is it something more?"

The tension in the air was intense now, and Alex could feel the temperature drop between them. He tried to laugh it off, but it came out forced. "What's your problem, Dave?"

Dave stepped forward, his face inches from Alex's. "You don't get it, do you? This isn't some stupid school drama. I'm telling you; you're treading on thin ice. And if you screw this up, it's not just going to be Clara who gets hurt."

Alex froze. The words hit him like a punch to the gut, the meaning of them sinking in slowly. He looked at Dave, trying to read his expression, but it was unreadable, as cold and guarded as ever.

"What do you want from me?" Alex asked, his voice barely a whisper, the weight of Dave's words pressing down on him.

Dave stared at him for a long moment, the silence stretching out between them. Then, finally, he spoke, his voice low and sharp.

"I want you to know what you're doing. You're not the only one who's been looking at her."

Alex's stomach churned. There was something in the way Dave said it, something that made Alex's blood run cold. His mind raced, but his throat went dry. He didn't want to hear this; he didn't want to know what Dave meant.

But as Dave turned and walked away, Alex couldn't shake the feeling that he'd just uncovered something dangerous, something that would change everything.

The sound of Dave's footsteps faded into the distance, but Alex stood frozen, a thousand thoughts running through his mind. *What the hell just happened? *