The Weight of a Choice

Victoria had barely slept the night before. Grayson's message kept replaying in her mind like a song stuck on repeat.

"I can't do this anymore, Tori. I know I said I'd move on, that I'd be okay. But I'm not. I can't keep pretending that seeing you with him doesn't tear me apart. I thought I could handle it, but I was wrong. It hurts too much. I think it's best if I just stop seeing you altogether."

She read it so many times she could recite it in her sleep.

The worst part? She didn't know how to respond.

A part of her was angry—angry that Grayson was making her feel this way, that he was putting this weight on her shoulders. Another part of her was heartbroken for him. He had been her best friend from the moment she stepped into NYU. She didn't want to lose him, but she also didn't want to lose Damon.

She wasn't sure if she could have both.

Aria was the first to talk to her, of course. She had been there when Victoria received the text, had been the first person she confided in. Now, sitting across from Victoria in their dorm, she crossed her arms and frowned.

"Listen, Tori, I don't care what Grayson is feeling. This? This is manipulation. Maybe not intentional, but he's still making you feel like you have to break up with Damon to make him feel better. That's not fair to you."

Victoria sighed, running her fingers through her hair. "It's not that simple. He's hurting."

"And you think you breaking up with Damon will magically fix that?" Aria scoffed. "You're not responsible for his feelings, Tori."

Aspen had joined them a little later, nodding in agreement. "Aria's right. You love spending time with Damon, don't you?"

Victoria hesitated. "I do."

"Then don't let Grayson's feelings take that away from you," Aspen said. "We love Grayson, but if he can't handle seeing you happy, that's his problem to deal with."

Victoria wanted to believe that. She wanted to tell herself that her happiness should come first.

But the guilt wouldn't let her.

Kimber came knocking later that afternoon. Victoria wasn't surprised. She knew Grayson had probably talked to her about the text.

The moment Kimber sat down, Victoria knew this wasn't going to be a supportive conversation.

"You're really going to do this to him?" Kimber asked, her tone sharp. "You're really going to let him suffer like this?"

Victoria clenched her jaw. "Kimber, I didn't choose for this to happen."

"But you did choose Damon," Kimber shot back. "You chose to hurt Grayson."

"That's not fair," Victoria whispered.

"Isn't it?" Kimber folded her arms. "Grayson never asked for anything, Tori. He never tried to stop you. He just loved you—quietly, selflessly. And what did you do? You rubbed Damon in his face every single day."

Victoria's stomach twisted. "That's not what I was trying to do."

Kimber sighed. "I know you didn't do it on purpose, but that doesn't mean it didn't hurt him. And now, after everything, after he finally told you how he feels, you're just going to keep dating Damon?"

Victoria opened her mouth but couldn't find the words.

Kimber shook her head, disappointment written all over her face. "I thought you cared about him more than that."

With that, she stood up and walked out, leaving Victoria feeling even worse than before.

Later that evening, Mylo found Victoria sitting on a bench outside the dorms, lost in thought. Unlike Kimber, he wasn't angry.

"You look like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders," he said, sitting beside her.

Victoria sighed. "I feel like I am."

Mylo nodded, staring ahead. "Kimber came to talk to you, didn't she?"

"She basically blamed me for everything," Victoria admitted.

"That sounds like Kimber," Mylo said with a small chuckle. Then, after a pause, he added, "She's not entirely wrong, though."

Victoria turned to him, surprised. "You think this is my fault?"

"No," Mylo said firmly. "But I do think you need to take a step back and think. This isn't just about Grayson or Damon. It's about you. What do you want, Tori? Forget the guilt, forget what everyone else is saying. If you could have anything, what would it be?"

Victoria didn't answer right away. Because the truth was—she didn't know.

"I care about both of them," she admitted. "But I can't keep pretending like Grayson's feelings don't matter. And I can't pretend like mine don't either."

Mylo nodded. "Then figure out what matters to you most. But whatever you do, don't make a decision just because someone else is pushing you to."

Victoria smiled weakly. "Thanks, Mylo."

"Anytime," he said, standing up. "And for the record? No matter what you choose, you don't deserve to be blamed for it."

That night, Victoria was sitting in the common room when Harry plopped down beside her.

"Let me guess," he said, "Kimber chewed you out, Mylo gave you a wise speech, and Aspen and Aria told you to ignore Grayson's feelings."

Victoria blinked. "How did you know?"

Harry smirked. "I know our friends too well." Then his expression turned serious. "Listen, I know everyone's treating Grayson like he's some tragic hero, but the dude is messed up. He drank himself into a spiral, he ignored you for weeks, and now he's acting like you're supposed to put your life on pause for him? I'm sorry, but that's bullshit."

Victoria exhaled, shaking her head. "It's not that simple, Harry."

"Yeah, it kind of is," Harry said. "Look, I liked Grayson before. But the way he's acting now? It's pathetic. He's making you feel like crap just because he can't deal with his own emotions. And honestly? I think he's doing it on purpose."

Victoria frowned. "You think he wants me to break up with Damon?"

Harry nodded. "He might not say it out loud, but yeah. He wants you to feel guilty enough to pick him."

Victoria felt a wave of nausea hit her.

Could that really be true?

Had Grayson known all along that this would make her question everything?

Had he wanted this outcome?

That night, Victoria lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.

Everyone had given her their opinions.

Aria and Aspen told her not to let Grayson control her choices.

Kimber told her she was selfish for choosing Damon.

Mylo told her to think carefully before making a decision.

Harry told her Grayson was manipulating her.

But in the end, it didn't matter what anyone else thought.

It only mattered what she thought.

And the truth was—she couldn't keep hurting Grayson.

Even if he didn't mean to, he was suffering because of her choice.

And if breaking up with Damon was the only way to stop it… then maybe that's what she had to do.

Victoria let out a shaky breath.

She had made her decision.

But she wasn't ready to tell Damon yet.