Chapter one

VERONICA’S P.O.V

After four months of absence, I made my way down the hallway of my university, the university of the elites with my heart in my mouth. My breathing was uneven and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous or generally afraid of what was to come.

As I walked past the greyish lockers in the sharply lit corridor, people stared. Gasps and hushed whispers sounded in the usually noisy room, understandably so. But I wasn’t bothered by that, I paid no mind to that. My eyes searched only for his frosty blue ones. How would he react to my re-appearance, would he be angry or relieved? How had he reacted when I disappeared without a word, was he still on the lookout, or had he given up by now?

I didn’t have to search for too long. My eyes took in his disheveled appearance; black hair messily splayed over his forehead, tired-looking eyes. All my questions were answered right that instant. I had hurt him beyond repair, the least I could have done was to let him know. He understands me, he would’ve understood my situation, he’s my boyfriend after all. But at the moment, I cannot face him, he would have questions and I don’t think I’d be able to give him the answers… at least not yet.

But before I could formulate a plan to sneak past him, his eyes met mine causing a shiver to run down my spine. He gasped as if he felt the spark too.

And before I knew it, he was running towards me, taking long strides as though he was trying to get to me before I disappeared again.

There he stood in front of me but I couldn’t meet his gaze. He seemed so close yet so far.

“Are you… are you real?”, he whispered, stroking my cheek with his thumb. That one simple question broke me, I felt my heart crack in the hollow of my chest at his very inquiry.

My eyes began welling up with tears and that reminded me of how I hadn’t even looked up at him, while his eyes were burning holes through me. He slowly lifted my chin with his fingers, wiping away the multiple tears rolling down my cheeks with his thumb.

I finally looked up at him, his brightly lit eyes were dim, he seemed tired. The bags under eyes spoke of his countless sleepless nights.

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“W-Why did you leave me? Where… where did you go? I-I was so scared and so many terrifying scenarios would cross my mind. Your friends didn’t know your whereabouts, nobody knew where you’d gone.

But! But that’s okay because you’re now, in front of me for real this time.

And I missed you so much…”

Nick rambled on as he pulled me into a tight embrace, his arms wrapped tightly around my waist. In response, my arms snake around his neck as I bury my face into the nape of his neck.

Everything in me wanted to say it back, say that “I love him too” but the only sound that managed to escape my throat was a sob.

His hold on me tightened and he rubbed my back in an attempt to calm me down.

“Shh… It’s okay sweetheart. You’re here now and that’s all that matters.”, He whispered into my hair.

My chest felt lighter, much lighter than when I had entered the building.

He knew how to make me feel better, he put his questions aside to let me know that he had cared, he comforted me rather than pressing on the matter of my disappearance. I felt safe right here in his arms because he is my safe place, my entire world and I would never need anything else to complete me.

NICK’S P.O.V

She’s back! My kitten is back and here I had almost lost hope. I thought she left me. How could I have even thought of that?

I bury my nose into her hair and smile when her scent hits my nose. Her face is cutely tucked away in my neck and my arms are tightly coiled around her.

But my smile falters when I see that jerk, Evan Silverman, make his way towards where we are standing.

Evan Silverman is an annoying piece of crap in my opinion but he is also Veronica’s… friend. He was always trying to be over-friendly with my kitten and that makes me furious.

He strides over with a smug look on his face and shoots me a wink. I frown.

I don’t like him very much but I can’t go around telling Veronica who to spend time with and who to keep a distance from.

I trust her and I know she’s smart enough to know who’s good for her and who isn’t. But I don’t trust him, he doesn’t seem to be interested in staying only friends with veronica

VERONICA’S P.O.V

I felt Nick’s hold tighten and I was pressed flush against him. I managed to pull my tear-stained face away from his neck and look into his eyes but he seemed to be looking at something behind me. My lips turned up in a pout. I wanted his attention so I snaked my arms around his neck and stretched on my tippy toes to block his line of sight from anything else but me.

He smiled and his gaze softened, contrary to how he was frowning at something earlier.

I giggled and was about to lean in for a kiss when I was stopped in my tracks by an all too familiar voice.

Evan Silverman.

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