Part Twenty-One - Part Two

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The vending machines sit at the edge of campus, surrounded by a patch of scraggly trees and cracked pavement. It's the kind of spot people only visit when desperate for caffeine or sugar. Today, it's surprisingly quiet, save for the hum of the machines and the distant chatter of students in the quad.

Vinnie swings our joined hands between us as we approach, a smug grin plastered across his face. "Alright, Jellybean, decision time. What's it gonna be? Water? Soda? Or... whatever this nuclear green nightmare is." He gestures dramatically to a bottle labeled Extreme Lime, which looks like it could double as glow stick fluid.

I squint at it, feigning deep contemplation. "Tempting, but I think I'll stick to water. You know, less chance of internal organ failure."

"Coward," he teases, already reaching into his pocket for his wallet.

"Says the guy who refused to try my spicy ramen last night," I fire back, crossing my arms.

"That wasn't food," he argues, punching in the code for a water bottle. "That was a biohazard."

As the bottle clatters into the tray, I lean in, pretending to inspect it. "Well, at least my biohazards don't come in neon green."

He snorts, passing the bottle to me with an exaggerated bow. "For you, your highness. May it quench your very snarky thirst."

I accept it with mock grace, popping the cap open and taking a sip. "You're lucky I keep you around, you know."

He flashes a wicked grin. "Lucky? Babe, you're holding hands with the full package."

I roll my eyes but can't help the laugh that slips out. "Yeah, yeah. Keep telling yourself that."

We're halfway back toward the quad, still bantering, when the air shifts. It's subtle at first—a prickling at the back of my neck. Then a voice slices through the lazy afternoon like a blade.

"Well, if it isn't campus' golden couple."

The sarcasm is unmistakable. My steps falter, and Vinnie's grip on my hand tightens as we turn to face her. Sophie stands a few feet away, her arms crossed and a thin smile stretched across her face.

"Sophie," Vinnie says, his tone flat but edged with warning. "What a surprise."

She tilts her head, her eyes flicking down to our joined hands before locking onto Vinnie's. "Isn't it just? Imagine running into you two here of all places."

Vinnie stiffens beside me, but I can feel the irritation radiating off him. I squeeze his hand lightly, a silent reminder to stay calm, even though my own pulse is pounding in my ears.

Sophie's attention shifts to me, her smile sharpening. "Noah. You look... cozy."

I take a slow sip from my water bottle, letting the silence hang just long enough to be uncomfortable before answering. "I am, actually. Thanks for noticing."

Her smile twitches, but she recovers quickly. "Well, I just hope you're... sure about all this." She gestures vaguely between me and Vinnie. "You know how he gets when he's bored."

The implication lands like a punch to the gut, but I don't flinch. Instead, I glance up at Vinnie, whose jaw is visibly clenched. "Good thing he doesn't get bored easily," I reply, keeping my tone light. "We're actually picking out matching pajamas next. Any color suggestions?"

Vinnie chokes on a laugh, quickly disguising it with a cough, but I see the corners of his mouth twitching upward. Sophie's eyes narrow, her composure slipping for just a moment before she turns her full attention to Vinnie.

"You really think this is going to last?" she asks, her voice quieter now but no less cutting. "You and him? Don't you think he deserves someone who... fits him better?"

I blink, surprised by the directness of her jab, but before I can respond, Vinnie steps forward, his expression hard and unyielding.

"You're right," he says, his tone calm but deliberate.

My stomach drops. What is he doing?

"He does deserve better," Vinnie continues, sliding an arm around my shoulders and pulling me closer. "But until Noah realizes he's way out of my league, he's stuck with me."

The tension in the air breaks like a snapped rubber band. I bite down a laugh, my lips twitching as I glance at Sophie, who looks like she's just been slapped.

Vinnie isn't done. He tilts his head, his gaze sharp and unrelenting. "You know, Soph, I think you'd be a lot happier if you spent less time worrying about my life and more time figuring out yours."

Her cheeks flush, and for a moment, she looks like she might say something else. But then she huffs, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "Well, don't say I didn't warn you."

With that, she spins on her heel and stalks off, her heels clicking loudly against the pavement.

As soon as she's out of earshot, Vinnie lets out a dramatic sigh, leaning his forehead against mine. "Matching pajamas, huh? Bold move, Jellybean."

I grin, my earlier tension melting away. "What can I say? I'm full of surprises."

"Clearly," he murmurs, pressing a quick kiss to my temple. "You okay?"

"Yeah," I say, wrapping an arm around his waist as we start walking again. "Thanks for having my back."

"Always," he replies, his voice soft but firm.

And as we leave the vending machines behind, I can't help but feel that, for the first time in a long time, we're on solid ground.

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