Chapter 1

The moment Layla Taylor's phone screen went dark, her heart sank right to her stomach.

'I'm screwed!' Layla thought.

She stared at the message she couldn't unsend: [Elijah, let's break up.] That period at the end made it feel so final and so stupid.

It was sent three minutes ago.

Layla was overwhelmed with regret. She curled up on her dorm bed, hugging her knees tight, face buried in her pillow as she let out a miserable groan. 'Oh my god, what was I even thinking?'

Just because she woke up with a sore back and jelly legs, she convinced herself they were "physically incompatible," and their future was doomed. Then, she went and sent that breakup text in a moment of total stupidity?

*****

A muffled scream came from under the pillow.

The door banged open, and Serena Kensington, Layla's best friend, walked in carrying a package. She immediately spotted the squirming lump on the bed. "Layla? What are you doing? Did you fry your brain from overtraining or something?"

Layla popped her head up, hair a mess, eyes watery, looking like a startled rabbit. "Serena, I think I did something really stupid."

Serena dropped the package and plopped down on the edge of the bed. "Spill it. Did you steal the spicy sticks I hid in my drawer?"

"It's a million times worse than that," Layla said, her fingers trembling as she lit up her phone and handed it over.

Serena leaned in, read the message, then looked at Layla and back at the screen. She gave a thumbs-up. "You're screwed, Layla."

"I know, I know!" Layla groaned, trying to burrow back into her pillow. "I'm already regretting it. Can I pretend my phone got stolen?"

Serena said, "Seriously? Elijah is the drama department's top star, campus heartthrob. Everyone is watching him! And you, after dating for half a year, kick him to the curb with one text? What's your reason? Don't tell me you don't have one!"

She grabbed Layla by the collar of her pajamas and yanked her out from under the pillow.

Layla's eyes darted around, her cheeks burning bright red. She fidgeted for ages before finally squeaking out, "It doesn't feel right between us."

"Come on, give me details!" Serena pressed.

"It's— Well—" Layla's voice got smaller and smaller. "My back hurts."

Serena didn't catch that. "What?"

"My back hurts! And my legs are all wobbly!" Layla shouted, totally giving up on dignity. "Isn't that a huge red flag? How are we supposed to make it work long-term? It's better to rip off the band-aid now than drag it out!"

The room went dead silent for a couple of seconds.

Then Serena exploded with laughter, slapping her thigh and wiping away tears. "Oh my god! Layla, you're a genius! 'Physically incompatible'? That's your excuse?

"You two hooked up last night, and this is what you wake up thinking? Girl, you crack me up!"

Layla was both embarrassed and annoyed by Serena's laughter. "Stop laughing! I'm being serious! Isn't this a real issue with our physical compatibility?"

Serena finally managed to stop laughing, dabbing at her eyes. "Girl, listen, this isn't a compatibility problem. It's you slacking off, and your core strength sucks! What does that have to do with Elijah? He's the drama department's fitness poster boy!"

"Seriously?" Layla said, still sounding doubtful.

"Of course! You think acting is about having a pretty face? Elijah has to haul the lead actress around the stage. Without real stamina, he'd be toast!" Serena poked Layla's forehead.

She added, "Girl, this is all you. Don't blame your partner for being too strong when you're the one slacking. Quick, before he replies. Try to unsend it. Oh, too late. Now call him and explain!"

Layla stared at that lonely period on the screen, and the "Delivered" notification above it. She chickened out. "I can't. He's definitely mad."

Serena shot back, "So where'd all that courage go when you sent it?"

"It was just a dumb impulse," Layla mumbled, her head drooping like a wilted eggplant.

Meanwhile, over in the drama guys' dorm.

Elijah had stepped out of the shower, his hair still dripping as he rubbed it dry with a towel. He walked over to his desk, picked up his phone, and a notification popped up on the screen.

He spotted that familiar cat avatar and couldn't help but smile as he swiped to open the message.

But that smile froze right on his face.

[Elijah, let's break up.]

That little dot at the end was like a nail hammered right into his eye.

He stared at the message for a solid ten seconds. The room suddenly felt colder.