CHAPTER 44

--Alyssa--

Waking up in bed, I noticed Xavier was not there again. Yesterday, he had made it clear that I shouldn't avoid him, stating firmly that he wasn't interested in playing any games with me. His straightforwardness left no room for misinterpretation, and I was deeply embarrassed by the bluntness of his words.

The girls had bailed out on me the previous night. They all said they were heading home, and Meredith and Loveth mentioned they were using the SUV to get there. This left me with no choice but to ride back with Xavier. The car ride was silent and awkward, and that was when he had confronted me about avoiding him.

I still couldn’t look him straight in the eyes. Every time I tried, the memory of our conversation would replay in my mind, making me feel self-conscious and flustered. I couldn’t shake the feeling of embarrassment, and it seemed to linger like a dark cloud over me.

The day ahead seemed destined to be another boring one. I planned to visit the library later to see