The rest of the evening continued with them studying, but the vibe had shifted slightly. They both made an effort to keep things platonic, sticking to discussing their books and plans for the future.

Lily nodded, feeling a mix of relief and guilt. "Absolutely, you're right. I'm sorry again for getting weird."

Alex smiled understandingly. "You can stay here and study with me, no problem. I just... I think we should be careful, okay? Rachel trusts me, and I trust you. Let's keep things straightforward."