The Version Of You

Wellington, Dakota, Christian, Thomas — and one almost forgettable moment with Austin at the front doors. Chloe is certain seven months means she knows Thomas. The chapter quietly asks whether certainty and knowledge are actually the same thing.

Friday night belongs to Wellington football. Thomas is the reason Chloe came, but Austin becomes visible in a new way on the field — focused, serious, and unexpectedly hard not to watch.

Thomas tells Austin that Chloe is good at chemistry. What should be ordinary tutoring creates an easy new rhythm between them.

The week feels normal on the surface. Small details begin to sit strangely beside the certainty Chloe wants to keep.

Chloe is welcomed into Thomas's family and feels as though she has been given proof that their relationship belongs somewhere permanent.

Messages get shorter. Chloe notices, explains, excuses and waits. Nothing is clearly wrong — which gives her room to keep explaining it.

A Saturday of waiting, a Christmas frame, and small reasons to think about Austin. Thomas is just having a bad week. Bad weeks end. Don't they?

After school, Austin asks Chloe if they can talk about Thomas. One message is enough to make seven months suddenly look different.

Chloe starts sorting through all the small things she had explained away. Dakota stays. Later, Austin does too.