The sky was bruised purple with the last light of day when Rae kicked open the door to the old rooftop. “You’re late,” she said, pointing a takeout bag at Callum like a weapon.

He shrugged, setting his drink on the chipped ledge. “You’ll survive.”

They fell into easy rhythm—banter, food, shared silence. Something about the rooftop made them more honest, like the wind swept away their usual performances. Rae had that buzz in her chest again. She bit into a spring roll and tried to wait for the right moment, but her excitement got the better of her.

“I’ve been seeing someone,” she blurted.

Callum arched a brow. “Define ‘seeing.’ Romantically or are you tracking her movements in the shadows?”

Rae rolled her eyes. “Real funny. Romantically. Sort of. I hope in the future. We met in class and hit it off, and I think you’ll love her. She’s got that... I don’t know. She gets it. Gets me.”

Callum leaned back, sipping from his can. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Interesting.”

“What?”

“Just... funny timing. I’ve been spending time with someone too.”

Rae narrowed her eyes. “Oh?”

He nodded slowly. “We talk after psych lectures. Started as notes, turned into coffee. You know how that goes.”

“Is this the first time you’ve said this out loud?”

“Maybe.”

Rae tilted her head. “You’re blushing.”

“I am French. We have complicated blood.”

They both laughed, tension dissipating into the air.

Rae nudged him with her boot. “Okay, then. Let’s make it official. I say we do a little dinner. I’ll bring my girl, you bring yours.”

Callum smirked. “Deal. Let’s see if they can handle both of us in the same room.”

---

Two Days Later – Off-Campus Café

Rae arrived first, all black denim and impatient pacing. She checked her phone for the third time before the bell above the café door jingled.

She turned, grinning wide seeing you walk in. “Hey! Come meet Callum, he’s—”

But she didn’t finish.

Because Callum was already standing at the corner table, holding two cups, eyes widening as he saw who Rae had brought.

The silence hit like a slap.

Rae’s jaw dropped. “Wait—what the actual—?”

Callum stared, then blinked slowly, like rebooting.

“You’re kidding me,” he said flatly.

“You said her name was—wait, you never said her name.”

“Neither did you.”

They turned, in perfect chaotic sync, to you standing between them.

And then back to each other.

Rae pointed at Callum. “You’ve been hanging out with her?”

Callum raised an eyebrow. “So have you, apparently.”

Rae looked stunned, then let out a single sharp laugh. “Of course it’s you. Of course we fall for the same damn girl.”

Callum exhaled, half a groan. “This is going to be a disaster.”

But he was already smiling.

So was Rae.