Arista's POV
Festival week officially began with noise.
Music testing in the auditorium. Charts taped to walls. Students running around like they had discovered urgency for the first time in their lives.
I stood in the middle of the hall, clipboard in hand, trying to look like I knew exactly what I was doing.
"Okay," I said, raising my voice just enough, "dance rehearsals after lunch, decoration teams stay till five, and if anyone touches the lights without permission—"
"They'll get electrocuted?" Zoe offered.
"They'll answer to me," I corrected.
She grinned. " Even Scarier."
We both chuckled.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Kaelor near the entry gate, talking to two juniors, redirecting them away from a restricted hallway. Calm. Firm. No unnecessary authority.
I hated how reassuring that felt.
---
Later — Auditorium
Sana dropped beside me on the steps.
"Tell me you're stressed without telling me you're stressed."
"I alphabetized panic today," I replied.
She laughed, then leaned closer. "Derek's been asking about rehearsal schedules."
My pen paused. "Why?"
"No idea. But Mira said he asked specifically when you'd be alone."
That familiar tightness returned.
"I won't be alone," I said, more to convince myself.
---
Kaelor's POV
Derek didn't try to hide it.
The way he hovered near the backstage entrance. The way his eyes followed Arista when she moved across the hall, like he was calculating something.
I stepped in front of him casually.
"Backstage is restricted," I said.
Derek smiled. "Didn't know you were taking this so seriously."
"I do," I replied.
He tilted his head. "About the festival… or about her?"
I didn't answer.
I didn't need to.
---
Arista's POV
Rehearsals stretched longer than planned.
By evening, my head throbbed, my voice was hoarse, and my patience was nonexistent.
Advi handed me a water bottle. "You're doing great."
"I'm doing tired."
She smiled softly. "Same thing, different font."
As people started leaving, thunder rolled outside.
"Great," Sana muttered. "Rain."
---
The Hallway —
The lights flickered once.
Twice.
I froze.
Not panic—just memory.
Dark spaces had a way of pulling me backward.
"Arista."
Kaelor's voice.
I turned. He stood a few steps away, rain audible through the open windows behind him.
"They're shutting down the west wing," he said. "Power issue. I'll walk you out."
"I can manage—"
"I know," he said gently. "Let me anyway."
I didn't argue. I didn't want to. But all I wanted was him to stay near him.
---
The rain was sudden and heavy, soaking the ground within seconds.
We stepped out together.
No umbrella.
Of course.
I laughed quietly. "What a day!."
Kaelor shrugged off his jacket and held it above my head.
"You'll get drenched," I protested.
"I already am."
The rain blurred the school lights, the world shrinking to just the sound of water and our footsteps.
"You don't like closed spaces," he said, not a question.
I swallowed. "I don't like feeling trapped."
He nodded. "Then I'll keep doors open."
Something about that made my chest ache.
---
Near the Gate, i saw Devin stood there, surprised. "Oh—hey."
"I'm heading home," I said quickly.
Kaelor stepped back without comment.
Devin looked between us, then nodded. "I'll walk with Advi."
Advi raised a brow but said nothing.
The gate creaked shut behind us.
---
Kaelor's POV
Watching her walk away felt like letting go of something fragile.
I stayed back, scanning the area.
The car across the street was still there.
Same one.
Engine off.
Watching.
I memorized the plate.
---
Night — Arista's Room
I lay on my bed, rain still echoing in my ears.
My phone buzzed.
📩
Kaelor:
Reached home?
I stared at the screen longer than necessary.
📩
Me:
Yeah. Thanks for earlier.
Three dots appeared.
Disappeared.
Then,
📩
Kaelor:
Festival week gets worse before it gets better. I've got you.
I didn't reply.
But for the first time since this all started, I believed someone did. Someone I could trust on and feel safe near him.
---
At night, I saw Derek stood under a streetlight, phone pressed to his ear.
"She trusts him," he said quietly.
A pause.
"No. Not yet. But she will."
He smiled.
And this time, it wasn't subtle at all.