Fractured Ties and New Beginnings

Victoria couldn't pinpoint exactly when things had changed, but she felt it. The subtle distance between her and her friends, the hushed conversations that stopped when she approached, the unspoken words hanging between them.

Aspen and Aria were caught up in their new relationships, always texting Aryan and Kaiden, sneaking off to spend time with them between classes and during weekends. Arlowe and Samir had always been in their own world, and that hadn't changed.

But what bothered Victoria the most was how Grayson, Kimber, Harry, and Mylo had formed their own close-knit group.

At first, she thought it was just a phase.

They still invited her to sit with them at lunch, still studied together in the library, still made casual plans on the weekends. But something was off. The way they whispered among themselves, the way they laughed at inside jokes she wasn't a part of, the way they hesitated when she asked them what was so funny.

They had secrets—secrets they didn't share with her.

It hurt more than she wanted to admit.

She had always been a part of this group, one of them. But now, she felt like an outsider. And the only person who seemed to notice was Damon.

"You're quieter than usual," Damon remarked as they sat together in the library one evening.

Victoria sighed, tapping her pen against her notebook. "It's nothing."

Damon tilted his head. "Liar."

She rolled her eyes but didn't deny it.

Damon leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. "Let me guess. Grayson and his little squad?"

Victoria stiffened. "They're not a squad."

Damon smirked. "Sure seems like one."

She exhaled. "I don't know, Damon. It's like… they have this whole world I'm not a part of anymore."

Damon was quiet for a moment before saying, "That's what happens when people can't figure out how to handle their feelings."

She frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Damon gave her a knowing look.

Victoria sighed, dropping her pen. "It's not my fault things are like this."

"I never said it was," Damon said casually. "But you're not exactly blind, Sunshine."

She looked away. "I just… I miss the way things used to be."

Damon reached across the table, lightly tapping her knuckles. "Maybe it's time to stop holding onto something that's already gone."

She looked up at him, something warm and comforting settling in her chest.

Maybe he was right.

Victoria had no idea that Grayson had started drinking until Kimber told her.

"He's been getting wasted almost every night," Kimber said, crossing her arms as they sat outside the café.

Victoria's eyes widened. "What?"

Kimber nodded. "He doesn't listen to anyone. Mylo and Harry try to get him to stop, but he just keeps doing it."

Victoria felt a pit in her stomach. "Why?"

Kimber gave her a look. "You really don't know?"

Victoria hesitated. "I mean… I know he's upset, but I didn't think—"

Kimber sighed. "He sees you and Damon together all the time, Tori. It's killing him."

Victoria looked down, guilt washing over her.

Aria and Aspen were also worried. "He's not the same anymore," Aria admitted. "He's always avoiding us. Even when we try to include him, he just brushes us off."

Victoria knew she had to do something.

It took Victoria longer than she expected to find Grayson. He wasn't answering texts, wasn't showing up to their usual hangouts, and whenever she asked Kimber or Mylo, they just sighed and said he was "handling things."

She knew what that meant. He was avoiding her.

When she finally tracked him down, it was worse than she had imagined.

The bar was dimly lit, filled with the low hum of conversation and the occasional burst of laughter from a group in the corner. But at the far end, sitting alone in a booth with a half-empty bottle in front of him, was Grayson.

Victoria hesitated for a second, taking in his slouched posture, the way his glasses were slipping down his nose, the tired slump of his shoulders.

Then she walked straight over.

"Grayson."

He barely lifted his head. "Tori."

His voice was slow, dragged out, as if the effort to speak was too much.

She frowned. "What are you doing?"

He let out a short laugh, picking up his bottle. "What does it look like?"

Victoria slid into the seat across from him, reaching for the bottle. "It looks like you're drinking yourself into oblivion."

Grayson pulled it out of her reach, narrowing his eyes. "Why do you care?"

She inhaled sharply. "Because you're my friend. Because this isn't you, Grayson."

He scoffed. "Yeah? Then who am I, Tori?"

She hesitated. "You're—"

He cut her off. "Someone who was stupid enough to fall for the girl who was never going to look at him the same way."

Her stomach twisted. "Grayson…"

He leaned back, shaking his head. "You know, I thought I could handle it. Thought I could just be your friend, pretend like it didn't kill me to see you with him. But I can't."

She swallowed. "I never wanted to hurt you."

His eyes flickered with something raw. "You didn't. Not on purpose."

Victoria pressed her hands against the table. "Then why are you doing this? Why are you pushing everyone away?"

Grayson exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. "Because it hurts, okay? It hurts seeing you with him. It hurts pretending like I don't care when I do. It hurts knowing that no matter what I do, I'll never be the one you choose."

Victoria's heart ached. "Grayson, I—"

"I know," he interrupted, voice hoarse. "I know you didn't lead me on. I know you never promised me anything. But that doesn't change the fact that I wanted you to."

She stared at him, feeling utterly helpless.

Grayson laughed bitterly. "And now, I don't even know where I fit anymore."

Victoria reached across the table, grabbing his hand. "With us. With me. You're still my friend, Grayson. That won't change."

He let out a shaky breath. "It doesn't feel that way."

She squeezed his hand tighter. "Then let's fix it."

Grayson looked at her for a long time, as if searching for something in her face. Then, slowly, he nodded.

"Okay."

And for the first time in weeks, Victoria felt like she could breathe again.

Grayson kept his word.

He stopped drinking, started hanging out with the group again—though things weren't exactly the same. He still kept some distance, still had moments where he looked at her like he wanted to say something but didn't.

But he was trying.

And that was enough.

Victoria felt relieved.

Because now, she could finally focus on what she truly wanted.

Damon.

One evening, as they were walking through campus, Damon suddenly stopped.

Victoria glanced at him. "What?"

Damon turned to face her, hands in his pockets. "Be my girlfriend."

She blinked. "What?"

He smirked. "You heard me."

She raised an eyebrow. "That wasn't even a question."

Damon stepped closer, his voice lower. "Do you want it to be?"

Her heart pounded. "I…"

He brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "I want you, Sunshine."

She looked up at him, feeling something she hadn't felt in a long time—certainty.

She smiled. "Okay."

Damon grinned. "Yeah?"

"Yeah."

And just like that, everything changed.