Chapter 2: The Perfect Stranger

The metro ride was longer than Jennie anticipated, the rhythmic clatter of the train tracks doing little to ease the tension knotting her stomach. She was surrounded by the hum of excited chatter, but inside, all she could focus on was the space between her and Sam. The secret between them felt heavier than ever. With Vanessa’s bubbly presence filling the air, Jennie tried her best to stay focused on the night ahead, but her thoughts kept circling back to what would happen if the truth slipped out.

Vanessa had been her best friend for years, and Jennie couldn’t remember a time when they hadn’t been inseparable. But tonight, something felt off. It was like Vanessa was a stranger in her own skin—almost too eager, too wrapped up in the idea of the event. Jennie couldn’t ignore how close Sam and Vanessa were standing, their easy smiles and shared glances making her feel like an outsider.

As the train lurched toward its next stop, Jennie couldn't shake the unease that gnawed at her. She kept glancing at Sam, hoping for some kind of reassurance. But he was quiet—too quiet—and his body language felt distant. Jennie’s hand tightened around her phone, the screen glowing in her palm.

Vanessa, ever the social butterfly, was laughing and chatting about the festival's lineup, completely unaware of Jennie's inner turmoil. Jennie’s heart sank as she realized something—Sam and Vanessa were acting too comfortable around each other. Too familiar.

It was like they shared a connection she didn’t know about.

Suddenly, an idea sparked in Jennie’s mind. She needed to know. She needed to understand if there was something more between Sam and Vanessa, something that had been hidden from her. She glanced at Sam again, then typed a quick message to him on her phone.

Are you and Vanessa really just friends?

She hit send, her heart hammering in her chest as she waited for his reply. She stared at the screen, waiting for the dots to appear, to let her know that Sam was typing. But after a few moments, the dots never came. Jennie’s stomach churned with anxiety, and she glanced up to see Sam and Vanessa talking animatedly—laughing together, sharing an inside joke.

And then the worst happened.

Sam’s phone buzzed, and he casually picked it up. Jennie watched in horror as he read the message, his face stiffening for a second before he shoved the phone back in his pocket.

Vanessa, still oblivious to Jennie’s growing discomfort, nudged Sam with a playful grin. "Come on, let's go grab a bite before the concert starts. You can’t be starving already!"

Jennie’s heart skipped a beat. He hadn’t responded. He hadn’t even acknowledged her question.

The train jolted to a stop, and the three of them stood up to exit, but Jennie hesitated. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was slipping out of her hands. Sam and Vanessa seemed to share this strange, almost too intimate vibe tonight, and she didn’t know how to handle it.

As they stepped onto the platform, Jennie tried to push the thoughts from her mind. She was determined not to let the night be ruined by her doubts. But as they walked toward the event grounds, a small voice inside her urged her to test them. To see how far things had gone without her knowing.

Without saying anything to either of them, Jennie quickly pulled out her phone and sent another text to Sam.

You can go with her if you want. I won’t mind. I know you two are close.

It was a simple message, almost casual, but it carried the weight of her suspicion. If Sam cared about her, he wouldn’t want to leave her alone. If there was nothing between him and Vanessa, he would reassure her, tell her she was being silly.

Jennie tucked her phone away and forced herself to smile as they approached the entrance to the event. The lights were brighter now, the sounds of the crowd louder, and for a moment, Jennie allowed herself to get caught up in the excitement. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to happen. Something that would change everything.

They walked together toward the concert, the music in the distance creating a buzz of energy. But when they reached the gates, Jennie slowed down, glancing at her phone once more.

Sam was standing a little ahead of her now, talking with Vanessa, his back turned. Jennie waited, holding her breath as she watched them.

And then it happened.

She saw Sam glance at his phone, read her message, and immediately, his expression shifted. He turned to Vanessa and nodded, before taking a step toward the exit.

“I’ll be right back, Jen,” he called over his shoulder. “I need to grab something from the car.”

Jennie blinked, her heart sinking. He wasn’t coming back. He had just used her as an excuse to get away from her.

Vanessa didn’t even notice. She was already pulling Jennie into the crowd, excited about the festivities ahead, oblivious to the tension hanging between Jennie and Sam.

Jennie tried to keep her composure as she walked beside her best friend. She swallowed hard, trying to push away the sinking feeling in her chest. But deep down, she knew that something had changed. Something was broken.

And when Sam didn’t return after several minutes, Jennie’s heart shattered. She could feel it—he had chosen the moment to slip away, and he had done it under the guise of a casual excuse. But she wasn’t stupid. She knew the truth. He’d left her for Vanessa.

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