Chapter 11: Suspicions

Eliana's determination grew as she walked across campus. She was going to get to the bottom of things, even if it meant confronting Zayne and Vanessa directly.

As she approached the library, she spotted Zayne sitting at a table, studying. Her heart skipped a beat as she approached him.

"Zayne, can we talk?" she asked, trying to sound calm.

Zayne looked up, his expression neutral. "What's up, Eliana?"

Eliana took a deep breath. "I want to know what's going on between us. You've been distant lately, and I don't understand why."

Zayne sighed, rubbing his temples. "Eliana, I'm just stressed with school and stuff. Don't take it personally."

Eliana's eyes narrowed. She didn't believe him. There was more to it than that.

"Zayne, I know you're not telling me the truth," she said, her voice firm. "What's going on? Is it something I've done?"

Zayne's expression turned guarded. "Eliana, just drop it, okay?"

Eliana's heart sank. She didn't know what to do. Was she losing Zayne? And was Vanessa behind it all?

As she turned to leave, Zayne called out to her. "Eliana, wait."

She turned back, hope rising in her chest. "Yeah?"

Zayne's expression was hesitant. "I need some space, okay? Just give me some time."

Eliana nodded, feeling a pang of sadness. "Okay, I'll give you space."

As she walked away, she couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. And she was determined to find out what it was.

Eliana spent the rest of the day in a daze, her mind consumed by thoughts of Zayne and Vanessa. She couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off, and she was determined to get to the bottom of it.

As she walked back to her dorm, she noticed a text from an unknown number. "Meet me at the coffee shop at 5 pm. Come alone."

Eliana's heart skipped a beat as she stared at the message. Who could be sending her mysterious texts? And what did they want?

Despite her reservations, curiosity got the better of her. She decided to go to the coffee shop and see who was behind the message.

At 5 pm sharp, Eliana walked into the coffee shop. She scanned the room, but there was no one she recognized. She ordered a coffee and sat down, waiting.

A few minutes later, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was Vanessa.

"Thanks for coming," Vanessa said, her voice low and mysterious.

Eliana's instincts told her to leave, but she was frozen in curiosity. "What do you want, Vanessa?"

Vanessa smiled, her eyes glinting with amusement. "I think it's time we had a little chat about Zayne."

Eliana's heart sank. She knew she shouldn't trust Vanessa, but a part of her wanted to know what she knew.

"What about Zayne?" Eliana asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

Vanessa leaned in, her voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "Let's just say that Zayne isn't who you think he is."

Eliana's mind reeled as she tried to process Vanessa's words. What did she mean? And what did Vanessa want from her?

As the conversation continued, Eliana found herself getting more and more entangled in Vanessa's web of secrets and lies. She didn't know what to believe or who to trust.

But one thing was certain: she was determined to uncover the truth, no matter what it took.

Vanessa's words hung in the air, leaving Eliana feeling both intrigued and unsettled. She leaned in slightly, her voice barely above a whisper. "What do you mean, Zayne isn't who I think he is?"

Vanessa's smile grew wider, and she leaned back in her chair, her eyes glinting with a mixture of amusement and calculation. "Let's just say that Zayne has secrets. Secrets that could change everything between you two."

Eliana's mind was racing. What kind of secrets could Zayne be hiding? And why was Vanessa so interested in revealing them to her?

"Why are you telling me this?" Eliana asked, her voice firm. "What's in it for you?"

Vanessa's expression turned serious, and for a moment, Eliana saw a glimmer of something almost like vulnerability in her eyes. "I'm telling you this because I care about you, Eliana. I don't want to see you get hurt."

Eliana raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "You care about me? Since when?"

Vanessa's smile faltered for a moment, and Eliana saw a flash of pain in her eyes. "Let's just say that I have my reasons for wanting to protect you," Vanessa said, her voice low and intense. "Trust me, Eliana. You're better off without Zayne."

Eliana wasn't sure what to make of Vanessa's words. Part of her wanted to believe that Vanessa was genuinely trying to help her, but another part of her was convinced that Vanessa was just playing games.

As they sat there in silence, Eliana realized that she had a choice to make. She could either trust Vanessa and investigate Zayne's secrets, or she could try to figure things out on her own.

Either way, she was determined to get to the bottom of things.

"I'll think about what you said," Eliana said finally, standing up to leave. "But I need time to process everything."

Vanessa nodded, her expression unreadable. "Take all the time you need, Eliana. But don't say I didn't warn you."

As Eliana walked out of the coffee shop, she felt a sense of unease. She didn't know what to believe or who to trust. But one thing was certain: she was going to uncover the truth about Zayne, no matter what it took.

Eliana's world came crashing down around her. She felt like she'd been punched in the gut. Zayne, the guy she thought she knew, was seeing someone else? The revelation left her reeling.

"Who is she?" Eliana asked Clara, her voice barely above a whisper.

Clara shook her head. "I don't know her name. But I've seen them together a few times. They seem pretty serious."

Eliana's mind was racing. Why hadn't Zayne mentioned anything about someone else? Was he playing her? The more she thought about it, the more she felt like she was living in a lie.

Vanessa's words came flooding back. "Zayne isn't who you think he is." Eliana wondered if Vanessa had known all along. Was she trying to warn her, or was she just stirring up trouble?

Eliana stood up, determination coursing through her veins. She needed to confront Zayne and get to the bottom of things. She couldn't just sit back and wait for answers.

"Thanks for telling me, Clara," Eliana said, her voice firm. "I need to talk to Zayne."

Clara nodded, concern etched on her face. "Be careful, Eliana. You don't know what's going on."

Eliana nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. She was ready to face whatever truth lay ahead. She grabbed her bag and headed out the door, determined to get answers.

As she walked to Zayne's dorm, her anger and hurt simmered just below the surface. She wasn't sure what she'd find, but she was ready to confront him. The question was, would he tell her the truth?

Eliana took a deep breath and pushed open the door to Zayne's dorm. Her heart sank as she saw him standing by the window, talking to someone. A girl with long, dark hair. Eliana's instincts were right. Zayne was hiding something, and now she was about to find out what.