CHAPTER 237: UNEXPECTED NEWS

Chapter 237- Unexpected News

Tyler’s POV

The sun was the first thing that woke me up.

It hit my face through the window. I groaned and turned my face away, rubbing my eyes as they tried to adjust to the light.

"Damn it," I muttered under my breath. "So bright."

I wanted to go back to sleep. Just roll over and ignore the world. But the second I closed my eyes again, everything came rushing back.

The sleep that had barely settled in my eyes disappeared like it was never even there. My heart started beating fast again.

I didn’t even remember when I fell asleep last night. All I remembered was crying and telling Logan to give up on us and we were never going to be together.

That alone made me feel pathetic.

I didn’t want to fall for him. I swear, I didn’t plan it. I tried hating him. I tried staying away. I even told myself that he ruined my life. That he was the reason Alexa cheated.

But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t hate Logan anymore. And that scared me more than anything.

I opened my heart for him. Slowly. I started letting myself feel something real for him.

But what’s the point of loving someone... if there’s no space in the world for that love?

We were never going to be accepted. Not by the world. Especially not by Declan.

So I told Logan the only thing I thought would protect us both.

That we should be strangers.

That it was for the best.

But if it was really "for the best," then why did I feel like I’d ripped my own heart out?

I felt so ashamed, I don’t think I would even be to look at him after that. I stayed still on the bed.

I slowly turned my head, feeling the weight of everything I had done pressing down on me.

But when I looked to the other side of the bed... it was empty.

Completely empty.

No Logan.

The sheets were gone. Even the duvet was missing.

"What the hell—?" I shot up instantly.

My eyes scanned the room. I jumped out of bed and rushed to the bathroom.

Nothing.

I opened the closet.

Nothing.

He was gone.

.

My hands flew to my head as I rubbed my scalp in panic. My breathing got faster.

No. No, no, no.

He couldn’t have just disappeared like that.

What if... what if he did something bad to himself?

What if I was the reason?

My mind immediately started showing me every terrible scene it could come up with. Logan on the roof. Logan with a bottle of pills. Logan stepping into traffic. Logan writing a goodbye note.

I sat down on the bed hard, my head spinning.

"God... what did I do...?" I whispered.

I shouldn’t have said those words. I shouldn’t have pushed him away. I didn’t mean it—God, I didn’t mean it.

I reached for my phone quickly, my hands trembling as I unlocked it. I went straight to my contacts, searching for his number.

But it wasn’t there.

"Sh*t!" I cursed.

That was right. My phone got damaged days ago, and when I got a new one, I lost all my contacts.

I never saved Logan’s number again.

I sat there frozen, staring at my screen like it was supposed to magically give me answers.

I was about to stand up—ready to run around the whole school and search for him—when a new thought hit me like a punch to the chest.

What if... nothing happened?

What if he didn’t hurt himself?

What if he just... left?

Walked out. Packed his stuff and left me here.

I mean... I did say we should be strangers, right?

So maybe that’s exactly what he did. Maybe he took my words seriously. Maybe he believed me.

And honestly... if I was in his shoes, I would’ve done the same thing.

But part of me still didn’t want to believe he’d just leave like that. Not without saying something.

Then again, I told him not to say anything. I told him we were better off pretending like none of it mattered. So maybe this was him pretending.

But even if he really left... where would he stay? Did he forget that the principal told us we couldn’t switch roommates? We weren’t allowed to move out or change dorms.

Did he just... disappear?

Was he hiding somewhere?

I didn’t know what to think anymore. My brain hurt. I didn’t even know if I wanted to cry or scream.

I was still lost in my thoughts when I heard the doorknob move.

The sound of the key rattling in the lock.

Someone was coming in.

My heart jumped.

It might be him.

The moment I heard the key turn in the lock, I panicked.

I didn’t want Logan to see me awake. I didn’t want him to know that I’d been worried sick about him. So, I quickly turned to the wall, pulled the blanket over my head, and shut my eyes tight like I was still sleeping.

My heart was beating so fast, I thought it might give me away.

The door creaked open, and I heard soft footsteps. Then that scent hit me—the smell of his cologne, that familiar warm scent that I had somehow grown addicted to.

It was him.

Logan.

I could feel it. It had to be him.

But still, I didn’t move.

I squeezed my eyes shut tighter and hugged the blanket to my chest. My breathing became shallow. I didn’t even know if I was faking sleep correctly, but I couldn’t bring myself to turn and face him.

Why was my heart beating this fast?

Could he hear it?

God, I hoped not.

Maybe... maybe he didn’t leave after all. Maybe he just took the duvet and sheets to get them washed. Maybe I panicked for nothing.

Maybe he’d just lay down on his bed again, and everything would feel normal—well, as normal as it could be between us.

But then... the footsteps started coming closer.

Closer and closer to my bed.

My whole body tensed.

Why is he walking toward me?

Why isn’t he going to his own side?

I gripped the blanket tighter and kept my eyes shut, pretending to breathe slow and steady. But I was sweating—literally sweating through my shirt.

The steps stopped right next to me.

I stopped breathing.

What was he doing?

Was he staring at me?

Was he about to say something?

But then, without warning... the footsteps turned around and walked away.

What?

Why?

Where was he going now?

I listened closely.

The door opened again... and this time, it shut behind him.

I immediately opened my eyes and sat up. My eyes scanned the room—his bed was still empty. The duvet and sheets were still gone.

He didn’t drop anything. No towel. No laundry. No book. No bag.

Nothing.

He came back into the room... and left again.

Why?

I sat there in silence, completely confused.

Why did he come here?

Why did he leave?

Why didn’t he say anything?

This is his room too. He’s supposed to be here. It’s not even time for meetings. There’s no announcement yet. It is not time for breakfast. Nothing.

I didn’t want to overthink it, but I already was.

What if he left again?

What if... he wasn’t coming back?

No. No, I had to believe he’d return. The principal had made it very clear that no one was allowed to switch roommates. Logan couldn’t have gotten a new room. It wasn’t possible.

Unless... unless the principal punished him for the fight last night.

That could be it.

Maybe he was called into the principal lodge. Maybe they’re disciplining him or making him stay somewhere else temporarily.

But if that’s the case... then I need to do something.

I need to talk to the principal. I need to explain that the fight wasn’t Logan’s fault alone. I provoked him too. I pushed him too far.

He doesn’t deserve to be punished.

I stood up, grabbed a hoodie, and made my way to the door.

Just as I reached out to open it... the door suddenly pushed open from the other side.

It caught me off guard and made me stagger back.

I looked up quickly, expecting to see Logan.

But it wasn’t him.

It was a stranger.

I wouldn’t really call him a stranger because he was my class mate. We all came to the school trips

He stood in the doorway with a small travel bag in one hand.

I looked at him in confusion wondering why he was here.

I blinked at him, trying to make sense of what I was seeing.

He stepped into the room, glanced around once, then looked directly at me.

"Uh... who are you?" I asked, my voice low and shaky.

"I am going to be your new roommate for the remaining time we would be staying."