Strings of Fate: The First Loop

CHAPTER 15

It was just me and Inez now, walking slowly through the quad, settling under the usual shaded bench near the cafeteria. The air smelled like warm pavement, grilled hotdogs, and cheap cologne from a group of underclassmen passing by.

“So,” Inez said, nudging my shoulder with hers, “you better start explaining why James thanked Matt like they were war buddies. What did I miss?”

I laughed under my breath, already grinning. “Okay. Picture this. Our living room. James in a red tee, blue pajamas with cartoon sharks, white cardigan that I swear used to belong to his mom, and reading glasses he kept pushing up like he was an anime character. Matt in a neat blue shirt, red pajama pants with lightning bolts, yellow bandana tied around his head like some off-brand ninja, and his glasses not even slightly crooked, of course.”

Inez snorted. “This already sounds unhinged.”

“Oh, it was. They looked like alternate universe versions of each other. Like if a K-drama and a PBS special had a crossover episode.”

She burst out laughing.

I leaned back, staring up at the moving clouds, remembering the moment too clearly.

“Matt brought highlighters, flashcards, and a literal printed study schedule. James brought nothing. At one point, James tried to convince us that ‘poetic irony’ was when the poet died after finishing the poem. Matt nearly short-circuited.”

Inez wiped a tear from her eye. “I need a TV show of this.”

“Tell me he didn’t seriously try to study like that.”

“He tried. Kind of. He asked what a metaphor was, and when Matt explained, James said, ‘So, if I say Betty’s eyes are like… Royal orange soda, that counts?’ Matt just stared. For five seconds. Then wrote ‘NO’ on a sticky note and slapped it on James’ forehead.”

We both cackled.

Inez leaned her head on my shoulder, wiping her cheeks. “God, I love this. James being an idiot, Matt going full professor mode, and you stuck in between.”

I smiled, but something about that memory, that chaos, that sweetness, made my heart swell a little. Like I'd just watched something strangely precious.

“Honestly,” I said quietly, “it was nice. Ridiculous, but… warm. Like watching two parts of the world you thought wouldn’t fit somehow share the same space.”

Inez looked up at me. “You’re getting sentimental again.”

I shrugged. “Can’t help it. It’s been… nice lately. Feeling like a normal teenager, you know? Joking around. Planning beach trips. Eating horrible cookies.”

She grew quiet, the playful tone shifting just slightly.

“Yeah. I get that.”

We sat for a beat, just the breeze rustling the leaves above us.

Then I looked at her. “Okay, but seriously, what’s going on with you and Tim?”

Her laugh was softer this time. “You noticed, huh?”

“Hard not to. You two weren’t clinging to each other like duct tape at lunch.”

She sighed, picking at her nails. “He’s distant. I don’t know if he’s stressed or overthinking or just… tired. He talks less. Feels like I’m dating a version of him I don’t recognize sometimes.”

I nodded slowly. “That sucks.”

“Yeah.”

“You gonna talk to him?”