RED NOTES AND KISSES-Chapter 84: FRIDA -

Frida stepped out of the exam hall, feeling anything but confident.

Opposite her were glass walls, her reflection faintly visible amidst the fog of an approaching winter season.

For a while, she stared at herself, her mind seemingly adrift.

Then, she blanked out.

She couldn’t remember how long she’d stood there, frozen in place. Minutes? Seconds?

What just happened?

Her breath caught in her throat as her reflection suddenly smirked back at her.

Her eyes widened in horror, unable to look away as the reflection raised a hand and began drawing something on the fogged glass.

There was nothing there, yet her eyes traced the faint outlines of words.

Set. Me. Free.

Her confusion deepened, her body unmoving, as though in a trance. She didn’t even hear her name being called until moments later.

Trying to act normal, she forced a smile. She had to, if she didn’t, they’d think she was crazy.

She turned as Leah, Lexi, and Reg ran up to her. "So, how was it?" they asked in unison.

Frida pursed her lips. "It was so fucking hard."

They nodded in unison, then burst into laughter. As they laughed, Frida’s eyes fell on Lexi’s boyfriend—or maybe ex...

Conner.

He was popular at their school, still surrounded by friends and girls, even while awaiting trial for assault by Lexi’s parents.

It unnerved her to see him walking so freely.

"That cunt deserves to die."

Frida whipped her head around, startled. She searched for the speaker but realized everyone had that same faraway look, their gazes locked on Conner too. Had she imagined the voice?

Shrugging it off, she turned to Lexi. "Hey, how are you doing?"

Lexi folded her arms. The purple bruise on her arm still stood out vividly. Reg’s protective arm circled her waist possessively, her expression fierce.

"I’m fine," Lexi muttered, though her red, tear-brimmed eyes said otherwise. Her gaze lingered on Conner, anger and pain evident.

Frida hoped Reg could help her forget the misery that bastard had put her through.

Conner started walking toward them, his smug confidence filling the space between them. Frida felt the tension in the group rise.

Before he could reach them, someone blocked his path.

"Sorry, pal. I gotta talk to my girl."

Frida rolled her eyes. Alex.

Conner fumed but eventually stalked off. Alex turned around with a bouquet of roses in hand. Frida raised her hand sharply.

"No."

She stalked off, the girls following her.

"Frida, I’m sorry!" Alex called after her.

"No," she said firmly, ignoring the murmurs of "aww" and "so cute" from the random onlookers.

This was his game—publicly pressuring her to forgive him. Such a blaring red flag.

"I swear, I’ll be good this time," he pleaded as they crossed campus. Leah, Reg, and Lexi watched silently as he grovelled.

"Please, Frida," he said, falling to his knees, flowers in hand. "I deserve it, okay? I fucked up, but let me make it up to you. Please."

People were taking pictures and videos now. Frida was mortified.

"Stop it," she hissed, helping him up quickly. "Fine, we’ll talk tomorrow at a café. But if you ever cause a scene like this again, I’ll file a restraining order. And no, I don’t want your fucking flowers."

She shoved the bouquet into Lexi’s arms and walked off. "Thank you."

Then she ran right into Laz.

"No fucking way," he said sternly.

Frida froze. Her eyes fell on the electric guitar in his arms.

Oh no.

"You wanna cause a romantic scene to try to wow my girl?" Laz scoffed, striking the guitar strings dramatically.

A crowd began to gather.

Frida hadn’t heard him play since high school, when his off-key vocals made her ears bleed. But now? The electrifying rock version of John Legend’s All of Me filled the air.

Her jaw dropped.

Oh. My. God.

Was that his voice?

It was. And it was incredible.

Laz sang every lyric like he meant it, his gaze locked on hers. Frida’s cheeks burned as the crowd cheered and whistled.

Alex, seething, stormed off in another direction. Laz smirked triumphantly, as if he’d just won the World Cup.

Well, fine.

The drive home was quiet. Frida had nothing to say that could top Laz’s display.

"Are you mad at me?" he asked in a deep, velvet voice. His tone betrayed his worry.

She didn’t answer him, so he went ahead and turned on the music.

Hannah Montana blared from the speakers, and she shot him a glare.

He smirked, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You are pure evil."

"You love Hannah Montana and all things Disney, which is why I made this playlist. To soothe your angry nerves whenever you’re mad," he said with a triumphant grin. "I know you don’t like public displays of affection because you’re shy."

"...But he was trying to act like hot stuff around my woman," Laz added, pouting dramatically.

She couldn’t help but grin. "...Your woman?" she repeated, arching an eyebrow at him.

His face flushed red, and he looked away.

Frida smiled, leaning closer to him. "Laz, I didn’t know you liked me this much."

"Well, I might just have to show you more," he said, making her heart swell so much she thought it would burst.

"You’re very handsome," she blurted out suddenly, and Laz blinked, blushing.

"Did you just compliment me?" he asked, incredulous.

Frida leaned back in her seat, grinning. "Yeah. Those are rare."

He laughed, and so did she. "You know," she said, "I’m going to talk to Alex tomorrow. Set some boundaries."

He nodded, pulling into her dorm’s parking lot. "I have no problem with you talking to him, as long as he knows you’re off-limits."

Frida smiled.

Frida wrestled with herself. Should she tell him about the reflection?

Would she sound crazy?

What if Laz stopped liking her because he thought she’d lost her mind?

A complete psycho, seeing things that weren’t there. She groaned inwardly, lost in her spiral of doubt.

"You’ve got that cute, cross-eyed look when you’re deep in thought," Laz said, his voice snapping her out of it.

She fought back a smile, refusing to let him see how his words eased her turmoil.

Laz got out and opened her door for her. She stepped out, taking a few steps forward to wait for him—

When something fell in front of her.

Blood splattered her face, and she froze her blood pounding in her ear, as a scream tore from her throat...

Her eyes widened in horror as Conner’s lifeless body hit the ground, his blood pooling around him from the impact.