Chapter 5 Other side of her.

Alan's POV

She came out of the dressing room, hopping and for a second, everything else faded.

Her hair was tied back in a tight ponytail, a few loose strands framing her face. No effort to fix them. No attempt to look perfect.

It was just... her, but focused. "Good luck," I muttered, trying to catch her eye.

But she didn't even glance at me. Just threw a quick "thanks" over her shoulder and ran straight past—to Daxton.

Like it was instinct. Like that was her safe place. I watched her hug him, then jog onto the court.

"Right," I mumbled under my breath. "Back to ignoring me. Of course. She got what she needed this morning. Now I'm irrelevant again."

A strange irritation crept in. I exhaled, dragging a hand through my hair. "Why the hell did I even stay? I had a class. One I wouldn't skip for anyone."

I turned away without looking back. I sat through the lecture, but my mind wasn't in it.

The way she ignored me. The way she laughed. The way she—

"Hey, you're new, right?" I blinked, snapping out of my thoughts.

A girl slid into the seat beside me. "Yeah," I said, shifting slightly. "Just transferred."

"I’m Emma," she smiled. "You can sit here if you want."

"I already am," I said dryly.

She laughed like that made perfect sense. "That's actually my usual seat… but I’ll allow it."

I gave a faint smile. She leaned closer, too close, her thigh brushing mine under the desk.

"You work out?" she asked, her eyes scanning me.

I shifted away slightly. "Not really."

I wasn't interested. Not today. The professor walked in, and I thought that would be the end of it.

But It wasn't. A notebook slid toward me. I glanced down. "Wanna grab coffee after this?" 

Below it, she scribbled her number. "Text me," she whispered.

"Yeah… maybe," I murmured with a faint smile. But by the time the lecture ended, I was already on my feet.

"Shall we?" she asked, looping her arm through mine.

People noticed, and I pulled my arms away from her. 

"Rain check," I said.

"What? Why?"

"Something came up."

"Suddenly?"

"Yeah." I didn't wait for a reply and headed toward my locker when a few voices caught my attention.

"…she’s out of the game."

"Seriously? That’s karma."

"Karma? Please. Now her two bodyguards will be even more glued to her."

A few girls laughed. "Dax is literally obsessed with her. I don't even get what he sees in her."

I stilled. "Milie? Are they talking about her? What happened?"

I didn't think; my legs just dragged towards the court, but I didn't make it that far. I found her in the infirmary.

"I lost my dream tournament, Sam…"

I stood by the door, watching her lean against Sammy's chest, quiet tears slipping down her face. Something in my chest shifted.

"I know," Sammy said, kissing her forehead. "You’ll get another shot next year, okay?"

"But I worked for this. I don't understand how I twisted my leg. It never happened." 

More tears rolled down, and it pained my heart. Why? I didn't know. 

"I'm sorry, my girl," Sammy, too, got emotional. She shook her head and wiped her face.  

Don't tell Daxton," she whispered. "He'll freak out and ruin his match."

"I haven’t," he said gently. "And you please cheer up. Okay? Should I call a cab?"

"Hmm… I can walk."

"Not happening," he said. "I will get it inside the campus."

I exhaled slowly. Didn't think. Didn't plan. I just pushed the door open. Both of them looked up.

"What the hell—? What are you doing here?" she snapped, quickly wiping her face.

I didn't answer. I walked straight to her and lifted her into my arms.

"Hey! What are you doing? Put me down!"

"No."

"Alan—"

"Sammy," I said, glancing at him. "My car keys. Front pocket."

"No, Sammy—don't you dare," she warned.

He ignored her, already moving. "Got it."

"I said put me down!" she snapped, hitting my chest.

"Relax," I said calmly. "You’re injured, not kidnapped."

"I can walk!"

"Yeah? On one leg?"

She glared at me, still struggling—but weaker now. She gave up, and I stepped out, almost walking straight into Emma.

She froze. "Seriously?" Her eyes flicked between Milie and me. "You ditched me for her?"

"Not now, Emma."

"That’s all you've got?" she scoffed, stepping aside. "Wow."

I didn't answer. I didn't even look back. But Milie had gone still in my arms.

Sammy hurried ahead to open the car door, but the hallway had already started buzzing.

"Wait… isn’t that Milie?"

"Yeah… what happened?"

"Who’s the guy?"

"Since when does she let anyone carry her like that?"

Milie's fingers tightened slightly against my shirt. And then, she leaned in, hiding her face in my chest.

That did something to me—something I wasn't expecting.

"Where’s the car?" Sammy called.

"End of the lot. Red one."

He rushed ahead and opened the door. I lowered her carefully into the seat.

She didn't look at me. Didn't argue. Didn't snap. Just quiet. Not the girl I met this morning.

I slid into the driver's seat and adjusted the rearview mirror. She was looking out the window, but her reflection gave her away.

"She is different. She is a mystery." I understood one thing. 

This girl wasn't just about attitude and sharp words. There was something else there.

Something she didn't let anyone see. And for some reason, I wanted to know that side too.