Three days later, I found myself sitting in one of the university cafés with a couple of my classmates. The place smelled of fresh coffee and baked bread, and the low hum of chatter mixed with the clinking of mugs created a cozy atmosphere. We were talking about our different classes, laughing every now and then about how difficult some of the professors were.

Maddie sat beside me, leaning a little too close. Her shoulder brushed mine every time she moved, and her perfume was light but sweet, almost distracting. She had always had a crush on me—everyone knew it, even though she tried to play it off as casual....