(Allison's POV)

"Have some water, Allison?" Stefan offered me a glass of water, his voice gentle. I smiled faintly, accepting it from him. He sat beside me, his eyes filled with concern as I sipped the water slowly.

"Why were you crying earlier?" he asked softly after I emptied the glass, his tone a mix of curiosity and worry.

I sighed, staring down at the empty glass. "It's nothing, Stefan."

"No one cries for no reason, Allison. We're friends—you don't have to hide anything from me," Stefan said, his voice steady, filled with reassurance. His eyes held a sincerity that melted some of the walls I had built. He was...