aa
Lise and I left Zaya behind, the echo of that tense argument still hanging in the air. We drifted in silence at first, winding our way toward the campus park, hoping the open air and rustling trees would offer some sort of release.
The argument between Zaya and Cassandra had left us both feeling edgy, as if we'd somehow gotten tangled up in something much bigger than just a spat between two friends.
As we entered the park, I let out a long breath, taking in the sight of the swaying branches and the warm light filtering through the leaves.
The park was quieter than usual, students scattered here and there, most preoccupied with their own thoughts. We settled onto an old stone bench beneath a towering oak tree, its branches providing a canopy of shade.
Lise glanced over at me, her lips pressed in a line of contemplation. "Well," she began, "that was... intense, to say the least."