The second Elena stepped through the stairwell door, she let herself breathe.
Not just because she was back in the comfort of her dorm—but because that one, almost-accidental kiss had been real.
Too real.
And it was still echoing in her bones.
She walked down the hallway slowly, head buzzing, every step sounding louder than usual. The dorm was mostly quiet, lights dim behind closed doors, the kind of hush that only came after 11 PM on a Friday.
Her phone was still tucked in her coat pocket, silent. She hadn't checked it. Didn't want to. Didn't need to.
Not yet.
Because she could still feel him.
The soft texture of his cheek, warm under her lips. The barely-there stubble, the scent of leather and something faintly pine.
But more than that—his stillness.
Like he wasn't expecting it.
Like he didn't know what to do with it.
Like maybe... it meant something to him, too.
She locked her door behind her, slipped off her boots, and sat on the edge of the bed in silence. For a long moment, she didn't even move. Just sat there, hands in her lap, trying to slow her thoughts enough to hear them.
She kissed Alexander.
On purpose.
Not impulsively.
Not flirtatiously.
But gently. Deliberately.
And not even to make a statement—but because it felt right.
She wasn't sure what that meant yet.
But she knew it wasn't just a "friend thing."
It wasn't even a "I had fun" gesture.
It was a small, quiet choice.
An invitation.
And she had no idea what came next.
Elena stood, shrugging off her jacket and tossing it over the chair. Her pendant bounced lightly against her collarbone—the one piece of her past she always kept close. She touched it absently.
Then caught her reflection in the mirror across the room.
She looked... different.
Softer. Brighter, maybe.
Not because of how she looked—but because of how she felt.
Something about tonight had lit a match inside her that refused to burn out.
She wandered to the window, pulling aside the curtain just enough to glance out. The parking lot below was quiet. The BMW was gone.
He'd left.
Of course he had.
But somehow, part of her had expected him to still be there.
Still parked.
Still waiting.
She shook her head at herself, smiling faintly.
"God, what are you even thinking?" she whispered, amused.
But she knew.
She knew.
Because this wasn't just any guy.
It was Alexander.
The one who listened without interrupting.
The one who noticed when she was off and didn't press.
The one who always gave her the space to feel what she needed to feel, but never let her feel invisible in it.
And tonight, for once, she'd stepped into his space.
Closed the distance.
Touched something she wasn't sure either of them had a name for yet.
She glanced at her phone, the temptation pulling stronger now.
Still no message.
But she wasn't disappointed.
She didn't need words right now.
They'd said enough in the silence.
She changed into pajamas, brushed her hair, tied it up, and finally slid beneath the covers.
Her body felt heavy.
In a good way.
Weighted by warmth.
And hope.
And just before she closed her eyes, she thought about the look on his face when she kissed him.
The way his breath hitched.
The slight widening of his eyes.
The quiet.
Not shocked.
Not panicked.
Just... present.
And for the first time in a long time—
Elena didn't feel like she was chasing something uncertain.
She felt seen.
And she let that carry her into sleep.