604: SORTING THINGS OUT

ARIEL'S POV I locked eyes with Laura, the tension between us palpable. Tessa's interruption broke the silence, but only momentarily. "Hey, Ariel, I'm going to meet Janice. Catch you later," she said, tapping my shoulder before walking away. The stare-down continued, and neither Laura nor I was willing to back down. Laura's expression remained stern, refusing to yield to my piercing gaze. I, too, held my ground, my eyes searching Laura's face for any sign of weakness. Minutes ticked by, the silence growing thicker. Finally, I took a step forward, my eyes never leaving Laura's face. "Hey, Laura," I said softly, my voice a gentle breeze in the charged atmosphere. Laura's response was curt, her voice firm. "Ariel." I took another step closer, my hands extended in a calming gesture. "Let's talk. We need to sort this out." She raised an eyebrow but nodded, her arms crossed over her chest. "What is there to talk about, Ariel?" I took a deep breath, my eyes filled with a mix of empa