Chapter Seven.

The warm glow of the living room lamp cast soft shadows around the cozy space, where Rory, Blaire, Kayla, and Louisa were lounging on the oversized couch, chatting away as Rory's mother, Anita, flitted in and out of the room with trays of snacks. Every now and then, Anita would pause at the doorway, a small smile on her face as she watched the girls laughing, then disappear into the kitchen.

Kayla adored Rory's room. It featured a plush, fluffy pink rug that covered the wooden floor, adding a sense of warmth and comfort that Kay loved to death especially the way it felt beneath her foot. So soft. She would ask where she got it and put it in her dream cabin she wanted to live in. The bed, which was the central piece of the room, had a blue upholstered frame with soft, pastel-colored bedding adorned with small floral patterns.

Above the bed, a pink canopy with delicate drapery hung down, decorated with a garland of flowers and string lights. The flowers were anemones, Rory's favorite.

They all sat room on the cushioned sofa along the wall, accentuated with fluffy pillows in shades of white, pink, and blue. On the walls, were framed artwork of Rory's family, she and Daniel, her friends, and herself. The furniture included bedside tables and wardrobes, which were painted in matching shades of blue and pink, with playful drawer knobs adding a pop of color.

The soft lighting in the room included a table lamp and ambient ceiling lights.

It had been a while since Rory had a night like this. After everything with Jordan, her kidnapping, and the nightmares that followed, she needed this—a break from the chaos that had consumed her life. She smiled at the sight of her friends, but a heaviness still lingered in her chest.

"So, how are things with Daniel?" Louisa asked, pulling Rory out of her thoughts. "I heard he's been super protective since… you know."

Rory sighed, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "He has been. He wants to be there all the time, but he's got work, and so do I. It's hard sometimes." She paused, smoothing out the invisible wrinkles on her matching pink pajamas with the girls. "The nightmares still come, especially when he's not around. But I'm dealing with it. I'll get through it." Her eyes filtered to the door to check that it was closed. It had to be.

There was heavy silence with no one knowing what to say to comfort her. In those moments, they weren't there for her. When she needed the most. She said she did it for their safety but it still made them feel guilty and like terrible friends.

Blaire sat up straight, waving her hand dramatically. "Okay, enough with the sad stuff! It's girls' night, not therapy hour. We need to do fun things!" She reached for her bag and pulled out a collection of glittery nail polish bottles and a few face masks. "Let's paint our nails, slap on some face masks, and watch some old Rom-Coms. We're bringing the 'girl things' back!"

The mood immediately lifted as the girls got on the floor in a circle and crowded around Blaire, giggling as they sorted through the colors. Louisa was painting Rory's nails and Blaire was painting Kayla's [nails}.

"Speaking of fun things, Kayla has a new crush!"

"Louisa!" Kayla groaned, reaching to throw a pillow at her, but Blaire grabbed her hand just in time.

"Hold still or I'll mess up your nails," Blaire warned.

Rory grinned, joining in the teasing. "Doesn't Kayla have a new crush every week?"

Kayla narrowed her eyes at her best friends. Unbelievable!

"No, this is different. His name's Wyatt Parker Hudson, captain of the soccer team… and he's hot."

"And he likes Kayla too," Louisa added with a wink.

"You should switch your major from English to journalism with all that snitching," Kayla muttered, her face turning bright red.

Louisa shrugged, laughing. "It's only snitching if I tell people outside of this room, Kay."

"So… when's the first date?" Rory asked, her smile turning playful.

Kayla buried her face in her hands. "Leave me alone! Louisa, see what you've done!" Her protest was drowned out by the girls' laughter.

"She's blushing!" Blaire teased. "Look at her—like a blushing bride!"

Kayla shook her head, trying to hide her embarrassment, but she couldn't stop smiling.

"Oh my gosh, and he's an athlete," Louisa grinned, leaning closer. "It's giving 'sports romance!'"

"It's giving 'mind your effing business,'" Kayla shot back, but her grin betrayed her.

"Who the fuck still says, effing?" Blaire asked making Kay roll her eyes.

"Wait," Rory interrupted. "I thought you were into Oliver?"

Something settled in her mind. Those whiskey eyes intoxicating her with his arrogance and moral superiority. He intoxicated her. Made her weak and dumb when he was too close to her liking. She didn't like it one bit.

"Over my dead body." Kayla shuddered. "He

is a total asshole."

Rory raised an eyebrow. "Really? I thought there was this… sexual tension between you two at dinner."

"The only sexual tension is in your head, Rory. And in case you've forgotten, he's my professor."

"Only for a little while longer. I heard from Daniel that Oliver only took the job because Dylan forced him to."

Louisa blinked. "Wait, Daniel told you that?"

"Yeah," Rory said nonchalantly. "Dylan's like a father to him, so he couldn't say no. You know how Oliver is—he would've never agreed otherwise." Rory said while removing her face mask.

"I still can't believe Daniel gossiped with you about all that," Louisa said, shaking her head in disbelief. It was hard to believe 'The Daniel Froster', gossiping. She couldn't fathom it.

"I still can't believe it."

"Why not? He's super sweet and charming and he tells me everything!" However, Louisa still couldn't picture it.

Blaire grinned wickedly. "Does Daniel tell you how urine comes out of his penis too?"

"Blaire!" Louisa scolded, though she couldn't help but laugh.

Louisa leaned back and inquired, "Speaking of boys, what do you think they do at their 'boys' sleepovers?'"

"Boys have sleepovers?" Kayla asked, her tone skeptical.

"Like a boys' night out." She clarified.

"They probably just sit around, shoot guns, and stare at pictures of girls," Blaire said, waving her hand dismissively.

"Really, Blaire? That's what you think Daniel and his friends are doing right now?" Louisa asked, incredulous.

"I'm just stating a fact."

"A fact from where? Blaire'sProjections.com?" Louisa shot back, earning a glare from Blaire.

Rory chuckled, flipping her hair. "Relax, guys. Dani wouldn't do that—he has me." Only a fool would cheat on Rory. She was too beautiful and very smart. She found a cure for a life-threatening disease two years prior, even though things took a nasty turn.

"Sigh. To be young and in love!" Louisa exclaimed dramatically, hugging a pillow to her chest.

"Rory has it great. Married at 18 to a man who worships the ground she walks on. He planted an entire field of anemones for her when he made a mistake to ask for her forgiveness! You have him wrapped around your finger!" Kayla shook her head, clicking her tongue.

The rest of the girls playfully sang, "Oh he looks so cute, wrapped round my finger!" "You guys are so annoying and noisy!" Their teasing made her feel normal again. Normal. It felt foreign at times to her. Daniel made her normal.

They all giggled before things became quiet.

"What should we watch?"

Kay said excitedly, "Harry Potter," and the girls unanimously groaned.

"How does that scream Rom-Com to you? We are not watching that! I like the movies but come on!"Blaire dramatically waved her hands in the air.

"You are obsessed with that series," Louisa muttered checking her nails. They were white and pink. Her favorite colors.

"Me and five hundred million people," Kayla snorted.

"Why do you love it so much, anyway?"

"Because it tells of a story of a boy who was abused by his only family left after his parents died and then he finds a true family that loves and cares for him despite everything that goes wrong in his life!" Kay explains dreamingly. Her cherry voice tinged with an emotion they couldn't describe.

"You're basically telling Rory's story, right Rory?" Louisa pointed out. They didn't know the truth. She smiled bitterly. They would never understand why she loved it so much. Love from family? She never got it.

Rory didn't respond so Blaire nudged her. "Rory, you still here?"

"Sorry, what did you say?" There were times she would just zone out. Thinking of him. His face. His smile. It was hard but she was trying.

Rory fell asleep first, her head resting on Kayla's shoulder. It didn't take long for the others to quiet down, the room bathed in the soft glow of the TV screen. Kayla gently shifted, glancing down at Rory's peaceful face. Anyone in her position would have given up but she prevailed despite everything, Rory was still the strongest person she knew.

Louisa was curled up beside Blaire with her head on her thighs.

A soft 'ding' from Kayla's phone caught her attention. She ignored it but it kept lighting up making Rory stir, so she decided to check it especially when Blaire spoke up irritated, "Answer the damn messages or mute your phone!"

The messages were from the Special Cybersecurity class group chat.

[Class Representative]: Update: Due to some unforeseen circumstances class has been rescheduled to tomorrow."

Kayla's eyes widened. "No freaking way," she muttered.

Blaire raised an eyebrow, but Kayla shook her head, mouthing, 'Nothing,' before typing furiously into her phone. Today was Wednesday and they all either had classes in the afternoon or none at all that's why they decided to have this sleepover. 

[Kaylaluv]: And ur just telling us by freaking two in the morning!?

[Class Representative]: It was the professor who sent it to me just now and I relayed it. Don't get mad at the messenger!

[Xavierisagod]: this is so unfair! What if we have a class at the exact time as this class? What then huh?

[ifpercyhadatwin]: i know but do we not show up? This class is very important to us so what do we do? The showcase allows us to find jobs, especially for us who don't have connections

[Bloodreign]: You guys should stop complaining and do as told. Period.

Kayla's eyes narrowed. Do what was told her ass.

[Kaylaluv]: of course you of all people would support him reigna. seems like all the blood you reigned has gotten to your head

[Bloodreign]: it just had to be you. Miss attention seeker. Get a fucking life! If you don't wanna be in this class fuck off and stop wasting our time. Let someone who actually cares be here. The professor is doing this for a reason!

Kayla ignored her first comments and addressed the one that mattered right now.

[Kaylaluv]: A reason? is d professor out of his mind or is he unable to process basic information or is he just a freaking schadenfreude!

This was unacceptable and he lectured her about ethics!? What was ethical about this fucking situation!? He was doing this just to torture them.

[JackieNinja]: I don't think u should say that Kayla. The professor is in the group chat.

What!? It was like one of those moments when your parents went out of town for the weekend and told you not to throw a party and you threw a party on Sunday and they decided to come back earlier than planned and they see you stripping on the counter with people cheering you on and the house a mess with alcohol wreaking and they call your name and you go, "Oh fuck."

That was exactly how Kayla felt. Normally professors weren't in the group with their students. What kind of professor was he?

Everytime something had to do with him, it always soured her mood. She didn't like it one bit.

She quickly deleted the message and let out a sigh of relief until she saw the message.

[Ollie]: Yes I am right in the head. My cerebrum is working just fine as it is evident in how well I type, unlike you and I have not been clinically diagnosed as a sadist… yet. Therefore, for insulting your professor, see me after class tomorrow for your punishment.

[Ollie]: And don't be late.

"Fuck me."