But halfway across the parking lot, I misstep, and my foot hits a deep puddle. Before I know it, I’m flat on my back, water seeping through every layer of clothing.
I groan, dragging myself upright. “Of course,” I mutter, brushing wet hair out of my face. I take a cautious step, but the mud underfoot betrays me, and I slip again, landing with a wet slap.
My bag, my shoes—everything is soaked.
“Excuse me,” a voice says from behind me.
I turn to see Paris standing there, her oversized raincoat swallowing her frame. She looks hesitant, her eyes darting toward me before quickly looking away.
“Oh, hey,” I say, trying to sound casual but sounding more winded than anything. “Did you, uh, see all that?” I gesture awkwardly to the mess I’ve made of myself.
Her lips twitch, not quite a smile. “Yeah,” she says softly, and I barely hear her over the rain.
“Of course this happens to me now,” I mutter under my breath, trying to stand up again. But as I attempt to walk away, I slip once more, landing back in the wet mess with a frustrated groan.
I rub the back of my neck, heat creeping up despite the cold. “Great,” I mutter, trying to laugh it off.
“You’re A-Adeline, right?” she asks, her voice quieter now.
“Yep, that’s me. Or Addie, if you want. I mean, you don’t have to call me that. I was just saying—” I stop myself before I ramble any further, glancing at her nervously. “Sorry,” I mumble.
“It’s fine. I’m Paris,” she says, shifting on her feet. Her eyes meet mine again, and for a second, I think she’s going to say more, but she doesn’t.
“Yeah, I know who you are.” The words come out before I can stop them, and I instantly regret it. She stiffens, her gaze dropping to the ground. Panic surges through me—did I say something wrong?
“Oh, I’m so sorry. Did I—god, I’m sorry,” I rush to say, my words tripping over themselves. “Did I make that weird?”
Paris shakes her head quickly. “N-no, it’s okay.” But there’s something uneasy in her tone, and I feel a pang of guilt. “It’s… nice to meet you,” she says, the words slightly drawn out, and it almost seems as though saying them is difficult for her. Like she’s fighting with herself just to speak.
“You heading to class? Wanna walk with me, Paris?” I ask, desperate to shift the mood.
She hesitates for a moment, then glances around before nodding shyly. “S-sure. I’d… like that.”
We fall into step, the rain still coming down in sheets. For a while, neither of us says anything.
I’ve seen Paris around before. Usually alone, sometimes with Berlin and her crowd, and of course I’ve seen her with Kai. Apart from that, she’s seemed pretty shy.
Lonely.
Maybe that’s why I’m drawn to her.
***
Finally reaching the school, I turn to speak to Paris, only to realize she’s not there. My words catch in my throat as I spin around, scanning the crowd. She’s gone, like literallyvanishedinto thin air. My pulse quickens and I do a full 360-degree turn, searching for any trace of her. Nothing. She disappeared so quickly it feels almost surreal. How is that even possible?
In my confusion, I barely notice Bea and Lilia approaching until Lilia’s voice cuts through my frantic thoughts. “Hey, girl!” she greets me with her usual big smile, then pauses, taking in my dishevelled state. “Jesus, Addie, did youswimto school?”
Bea raises an eyebrow, her curiosity evident. “Seriously, what happened? And why do you look like you just lost your cat?”
“Not my cat,” I correct, still catching my breath. “Paris.”
They exchange puzzled looks before I explain. “I walked here with her.” My voice is clipped, distracted. “Then I fell into a puddle. Three times.”
Lilia snorts, barely holding back her laughter. “Classic.”
I sigh, glancing around the schoolyard. “I don’t get it. She was right next to me. Then she wasn’t. It’s like she disappeared into thin air.”
Bea tilts her head, thoughtful for a moment. “Maybe she had to run to class or something?”
