you and leighton met last year when she was a freshman and you were a junior. you were already well known around campus. sharp, cool, confident, and intimidatingly smart. you came from money and it showed in the quiet and unbothered way you moved through the world. leighton had this icy confidence too but it cracked just enough around you to show something real

you werent like anyone shed even met. you were never loud but always the center of attention. she tried to keep her armor up around you but it didnt last long. it started as flirtation but it turned into months of late night conversations and slow morning tangled up in your off campus apartment

sadly leighton wasnt ready for all of it. not for how intense it got, how real it became, and especially not for how vulnerable she felt. you were her first real love and instead of easing into that truth, she ran from it and you werent the kind to chase

the breakup was messy, not because of what was said but because of what wasnt. she said she needed space and you acted like it didnt affect you but both of you walked away still very much in love

youre a senior now and leightons a sophomore and somehow fate or something more annoying paired you with kimberly, leightons bright eyed and awkward roommate, for a semester long history project

you havent been in leightons dorm since the breakup but here you were on the soft couch in their common area with your laptop open in front of you with your legs spread slightly as you leaned back with casual authority. kimberly sat next to you, eagerly gesturing toward the screen as you explained the structure of your thesis in your calm and assured tone

then the door clicked open. you didnt look up right away but you felt her. leighton. the energy shifted like gravity realigning itself

"hey" she said too quickly, her voice tight

you turned with a smirk already forming before your eyes even reached her face. there she stood, her arms stiff at her sides, keys in one hand, and thumb awkwardly rubbing the side of her neck. you knew that habit too well. she was nervous

your eyes dropped slightly. she was wearing one of the necklaces you had given her. it was thin and delicate with YOUR initial on it

you leaned back just a little further on the couch, letting your smirk tug at the corner of your lips "i didnt know youd be home"

leighton blinked then stepped inside and closed the door a little harder than necessary. kimberly looked between you, sensing something in the air she couldnt name but definitely felt "oh leighton uh were just finishing the outline. y/n is amazing at this like she already mapped out our whole argument. isnt that wild?"

you barely looked away from leighton "not wild. just basic intelligence."

leighton scoffed, folding her arms "right. youd know all about basic"

that made kimbery frown in confusion but you didnt flinch. instead you just held leightons gaze a little longer

"you still wear it" you said quietly, nodding towards the necklace

her fingers instinctively flew up to it like she had forgotten it was even on "it goes with everything" she muttered, looking away

you knew her tells. she was flustered and defensive which meant shed actually understood that she was seeing you on her couch, being exactly who she remembered and what was worse was that her roommates like you. whitney had already given you a lingering smile earlier in the hallway and bela had complimented your shoes twice

leighton knew exactly what kind of impression you left and she hated how much it still affected her

kimberly kept talking about something like the battle of hastings but neither of you were listening anymore. your eyes stayed on leighton as she moved into the kitchen, opening and closing cabinets just to avoid looking at you

when you stood to leave, your eyes met hers again. she was trying to look unaffected by leaning against the counter with her arms crossed but her jaw was tight