The evening sun painted the empty school courtyard orange as you stood near the front gates, phone still glowing in your hand.

"Wait for me in front of the school" Claire’s message had arrived almost twenty minutes ago.

At first, you smiled. She had been acting distant lately, but maybe tonight would be different. Maybe she just wanted to spend time together after class.

But the minutes kept passing. No footsteps. No reply.

A strange feeling settled in your stomach.

You sighed and walked back inside the nearly empty school building. The hallways were quiet except for the faint hum of fluorescent lights above. Most classrooms were already dark, chairs pushed neatly under desks.

Then you heard it. Soft breathing. A muffled gasp.

One classroom door was slightly open. Light spilled through the crack.

You pushed it open slowly — and froze.

Claire was there. Your girlfriend stood pressed against the teacher’s desk, her fingers tangled tightly in another girl’s blonde hair. Their lips were locked together in a desperate, passionate kiss, like they had been holding themselves back for far too long. Claire’s blue eyes were half-open with shock when she noticed you.

But the other girl didn’t look surprised at all. Vivian. Your ex. Her brown eyes met yours while Claire still clung to her. A slow, victorious smile formed on Vivian’s lips before she pulled Claire even closer by the waist, kissing her again on purpose this time.

Not to hide it. To show you. And in that moment, you realized this had never been an accident.

Vivian wasn’t trying to steal your heart back. She wanted to steal hers instead.