come on, come on, don't leave me like this
i thought i had you figured out
❥━━━━━━━━━━━━━
𝐈𝐍 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐂𝐇 adriana didn't expect to ever cross paths with chris again after he had shattered her heart but unfortunately on her first day of senior year...
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CHAPTER025 - ╰┈➤ ' i wouldn't hang your hopes on a miracle ' ♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧ 「 real life 」
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─ real life ᥫ᭡
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CHRIS LEANED AGAINST THE VENDING MACHINE TUCKED AWAY IN ONE OF THE QUIETER HALLWAYS NEAR THE LIBRARY. the fluorescent lights buzzed faintly above him, casting a cold, sterile glow over the worn-out tiles and scratched lockers. the sharp smell of industrial floor cleaner lingered in the air, mixing with the faint scent of stale chips and sugar from the vending machine.
he'd been standing there for nearly ten minutes, the crinkled bag of chips clutched in his hand, unopened. the cafeteria felt unbearable today, the noise, the chatter, the faint sound of laughter he couldn't bring himself to join. he'd spent the morning replaying everything in his head, zayn's half-hearted assurances, cecelia's sharp glances, the ever-present question clawing at the back of his mind, did adriana agree to the hangout?
his fingers drummed absently against the vending machine's metal side, his jaw tight as he stared at a faded motivational poster peeling off the wall across from him. 'reach for the stars!' it read in overly enthusiastic font.
"real inspiring, huh?"
chris flinched slightly at the sudden voice and looked up to see cecelia walking toward him. her arms were full of thick textbooks, her hair pulled back into a high ponytail, and her expression... well, it was classic cecelia, sharp, observant, and just a little too knowing for his liking.
"what are you doing here?" she asked, tilting her head slightly as she stopped a few feet away from him.
chris shoved the unopened bag of chips into his hoodie pocket and crossed his arms over his chest. "is it illegal to stand by a vending machine now?"
she rolled her eyes but didn't move away. "you know what i mean, chris. you're lurking."
"i'm not lurking."
"you are lurking."
he let out a slow breath, looking away as he muttered, "just... didn't feel like sitting in the cafeteria today."
for a moment, cecelia didn't say anything. she just stared at him, her sharp gaze practically peeling back the layers he was trying so hard to keep in place. finally, she shifted her textbooks in her arms, the weight of them making her lean slightly to one side.
"you're not very good at hiding it, you know."
"hiding what?" he asked, though he already knew the answer.
"the fact that you're practically vibrating with nerves every time adriana's name comes up," she said plainly, her voice low but firm.
chris swallowed, his throat feeling tight. "that obvious, huh?"
cecelia smirked faintly. "as obvious as your terrible attempts at subtlety. look, chris, whatever zayn told you... whatever you're hoping for... i wouldn't hang your hopes on a miracle."
her words hit harder than he wanted to admit, and for a second, chris felt something bitter settle in his chest. he didn't want a miracle, he just wanted a chance.
"you think i don't know that?" he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.
cecelia's expression softened, just barely. "i'm not saying it to be mean. i'm saying it because you're walking around here like the world's already ended, and it hasn't. not yet."
chris let out a humorless laugh, staring down at his scuffed sneakers. "feels like it sometimes."
there was a pause, long enough that chris glanced up to see cecelia studying him again, her brows slightly furrowed like she was trying to decide whether or not to say something else.
"look," she said finally, her voice quieter now, "you can't just stand around waiting for someone else to fix this for you. not zayn, not me, not some random twist of fate. if you want something to change, you have to change it."
chris blinked at her, caught off guard by the seriousness in her tone. it wasn't often cecelia let her guard down, even a little.
"you make it sound so easy," he said softly.
"it's not easy," she replied with a faint shrug. "but it's worth trying. you don't want to be the guy who gave up before he even started, do you?"
chris didn't answer. he couldn't. the weight of her words sat heavy in his chest, and for a moment, all he could hear was the distant sound of chatter from the cafeteria and the faint hum of the vending machine beside him.
cecelia let out a sigh, her expression hardening again as she adjusted the textbooks in her arms. "whatever, chris. just... figure it out. and stop hiding out in empty hallways like some moody movie protagonist."
before he could respond, she turned on her heel and walked away, her ponytail swaying slightly with each step.
chris stayed where he was, his hands shoved deep into his pockets as he stared at the floor. the faint sound of her footsteps eventually faded, leaving him in silence again.
did adriana agree to the hangout?
the question kept gnawing at him, clawing its way into every corner of his mind. he'd spent so many nights running over every interaction, every missed opportunity, every word he wished he could take back. it felt endless, like he was stuck in some cycle he couldn't break free from.
he pushed off the vending machine, his sneakers squeaking faintly against the floor as he walked down the hallway. the crowd in the cafeteria would be impossible to face right now, so instead, he made his way toward the courtyard.
outside, the air was cooler, the sun hidden behind a thick layer of clouds. a few groups of students lingered at the picnic tables, their voices carrying across the open space. chris found an empty bench off to the side and sat down, stretching his legs out in front of him.
the faint buzz of his phone in his pocket made him flinch, but when he pulled it out, his screen was empty, no texts, no calls. nothing from zayn.
he stared at the device for a moment before shoving it back into his pocket.
was she even considering it?
the thought circled his mind like vultures, relentless and unkind. but as much as he hated it, as much as it made his chest ache, he couldn't bring himself to give up. not yet.
because maybe cecelia was right. maybe the universe wasn't going to hand him a perfect second chance. maybe he'd have to fight for it, one awkward conversation and painful moment at a time.
