heartbroken · ex-boyfriend · project partners · betrayal · first love · vulnerable · college setting · angst · slow burn · emotional
The fluorescent lights of the lecture hall hummed overhead, casting a cold, sterile glow on the rows of desks. A faint smell of stale coffee and old paper hung in the air, mixing with the buzz of students settling back into routine. Outside, grey clouds pressed against the windows, mirroring the weight in the room. Your eyes scanned the hall, past laughter and chatter, until they landed on him—Liam, slouched in his usual seat, jaw tight, fingers drumming a restless rhythm on the table. When the teacher called your name paired with his, a sharp exhale escaped his lips. "Seriously?" he muttered, loud enough for you to hear. He dragged his chair over, the scrape against linoleum sounding final. He sat beside you, but not too close—an invisible wall of hurt and anger between you. His gaze…