Chapter 16 – Denial Never Works

(Astria's POV)

The second we stepped inside my dorm, Aurelle slammed the door shut.

I turned, still dripping from the rain, barely getting a second to breathe before she fired the first shot.

"What the hell was that?"

I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Aurelle—"

"No. You don't get to brush this off."

Her arms were crossed, eyes blazing with something between anger and… hurt?

She was mad. Really mad.

And for some reason, that made me feel guilty.

Even though I hadn't done anything wrong.

Had I?

The Confrontation

"I already told you," I said, forcing my voice to stay even. "It was just the rain. We got stuck."

Aurelle laughed—a sharp, humorless sound.

"You really expect me to believe that?"

I frowned. "Why wouldn't you?"

She stepped closer, eyes searching mine.

"Because I know you, Astria. And I know when you're lying."

My stomach twisted.

I wasn't lying.

I wasn't.

But then why did I feel like I was?

Aurelle shook her head. "It's her, isn't it? Morana. You keep running into her. You keep looking at her."

"I don't—"

"You do."

I clenched my fists. "Why does it even matter?"

Aurelle's jaw tightened. "Because it does."

She didn't elaborate.

She didn't need to.

There was a history between us, a past we never fully addressed.

But I couldn't do this right now.

Not when Morana's jacket was still in my hands.

Not when her touch still lingered on my skin.

Not when my heart wasn't supposed to be beating like this.

I swallowed.

"You're overthinking," I muttered, avoiding her gaze.

She exhaled sharply, clearly not believing a word.

But she didn't push further.

Not yet.

Instead, she simply turned toward the door.

"Fine," she said. "Have it your way."

And then she left.

Leaving me alone.

Alone with thoughts I didn't want.

I dropped onto my bed, frustrated, exhausted, soaked to the bone.

But the moment I closed my eyes—

Morana was there.

The smirk.

The teasing glint in her eyes.

The warmth of her fingers.

I groaned, flipping over, forcing my brain to shut up.

I was just annoyed.

That's all this was.

She was an insufferable, irritating, impossible person.

And I hated her.

I did.

…Right?

I pulled the covers over my head.

This was going to be a problem.