After repossessing the water gemstone, things on Emiarhia fell back into a more relaxed state, as was typical for the weeks immediately following such risky and complicated quests. Well, 'relaxed' could only mean so much as a saviour, but the relative respite was always welcome. Especially when something important on Earth required special attention.

  My first real date with Luke had approached way faster than I'd expected. After asking him out, I'd spent a few days mentally preparing myself and choosing an outfit to wear, but it kind of got swept aside in the chaos of saving another world. Hence why I hadn't yet told Kadia that I would have to miss training that day. It took me until noon to realize.

  Training sessions on non-school days – Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays – usually started between eleven a.m. and one p.m. Emiarhian time, but there was always room for variations depending on other factors. I was expected to be as adaptable as possible. We were given schedules for each month. However, they were constantly subject to change and were far from being fixed. Regardless, I was meeting Luke at two, but I wasn't sure how long we would spend together, so I preferred to just wipe my calendar clear that day. ...If Kadia would let me.

  In a slight rush, I transported to Emiarhia shortly after noon. The snowy architecture of the arena's entrance materialized before me. I quickly walked inside and made a beeline for Kadia's office. Oddly, there was no answer when I knocked on the door. A group of Rime Guard soldiers passed by behind me. Understandably, they looked surprised to see me there at nine in the morning on a Saturday.

  "Is Kadia not in today?" I asked them.

  "She was earlier. Might be taking a break," one of them replied. "Need something from her, Your Luminary?"

  "Just her permission to take the day off."

  "Well, she might not be happy to hear that," he joked.

  I rolled my eyes. "No kidding."

  I waited outside her office for a while longer, hoping that she'd appear, but she never did. My next idea was to just wander the training grounds to see if I could find her. If Kadia wasn't in her office, that typically meant she was either in the mess hall, conducting drills in the yard, or discussing tactics with her associates in the main briefing room. She was always doing something.

  But it seemed I had bad luck that day. I was jogging around the building like a chicken with its head cut off, peeking inside rooms and corridors, trying to pin down my sister's location. Nobody I asked could say for certain where she'd gone, either. Being on a pretty strict time limit didn't help matters. Spencer was coming over to my house at one to help me prepare for my date, which meant I had less than an hour to find Kadia, get her to sign off on me missing training, and make it back to Earth.

  The next logical place to check was her house. It was a fifteen-minute walk from the training grounds. Sometimes I'd take the tram if the weather was bad, but I didn't think I had time to wait for it. So I rushed down the street, dodging people, carts, and horses, and made my way across town. Kadia's house was a modest stone structure, located in a residential district, and looked almost identical to the others surrounding it. She had no garden to speak of, but there was a large balcony overlooking the road, and a small front yard.

  I jogged up to the front door and rang the bell. There was no answer. I rang it again and waited. Still, nobody came. I was getting frustrated. It was true that Kadia was a busybody in every sense of the word, and had a lot of important things to do. She might've been out running errands, or visiting the Greengroves, or maybe the King had summoned her to the castle for something. I just didn't want her to think I'd started slacking off. I contemplated simply going back to Earth and hoping for the best, but I had a feeling my reason of 'date' would have a more likely chance of Kadia understanding and accepting if she actually got to hear me say it in person.

  It took a few minutes for me to figure out where to try next. There was still some time to spare. In hindsight, the answer was pretty obvious. Shaye was being discharged from the infirmary today. It had taken almost a week of hospitalization to fully recover from her broken arm and other injuries, as well as complete the physical therapy to regain full use of her arm. She'd been allowed to leave after a few days, but had returned regularly for her rehabilitation sessions. Kadia was probably there with her, filling out all the paperwork and other formalities – not to mention probably keeping the press away.

  Unfortunately, it wasn't feasible for me to sprint there. So instead, I took the tram to the east side of Nelorismel, where Northview Infirmary was located. As soon as it came to a stop, I leapt off it and dashed the remaining distance. I reached the building and found there was already quite a large crowd surrounding it; mostly a bunch of journalists, paparazzi, and reporters from Emiarhian media companies like Lodestar. They were all clamouring for interviews and answers, even as the hospital staff tried to shoo them away. I hastily shoved my hair into the hood of my coat and pulled it over my head.

  The crowd parted without much difficulty. Once inside, I didn't bother checking in at the front desk – I just gave the receptionist a quick wave before heading towards the stairwell. The infirmary had five floors in total. Shaye's room was on the third, so I ran up the stairs, two at a time, to the proper floor. There were some officers and security personnel roaming about. I got a few curious looks from them, but they seemed content to let me pass uninterrupted.

  As I turned the corner, I finally spotted Kadia down the corridor. She was talking to a woman I recognized as the chief surgeon who'd overseen Shaye's operation. Lunellia was also there. Kadia turned around at the sound of my approaching footsteps.

  "Brielle? What are you doing here?" she asked in confusion.

  I was too out of breath to say anything, so I simply held up a hand in an effort to keep her from getting too impatient with me. It took a few moments before I finally caught my breath enough to speak. "Sorry for interrupting. I just... I need to skip training today, and I forgot to tell you... And I was hoping you might let me off for the day..." I huffed out the words as fast as I could.

  Lunellia and the surgeon exchanged glances, then stepped away to give us some privacy.

  "Skip training?" Kadia echoed in disbelief. "Are you sick?"

  I shook my head. "No."

  "You're not injured?"

  "No."

  She rested her hands on her hips. "Then what, pray tell, is so important that you must cancel your attendance on such short notice?"

  I paused. There was really no reason for me to be embarrassed to say it. Kadia might be annoyed and exasperated at my choice of priorities, but there was nothing wrong with me going on a date. Yet I was still reluctant to admit that it was the reason, and not something more meaningful.

  "I have...a date."

  "A date," she repeated, as if not quite believing what she was hearing.

  "Yes, a date. I'm... I'm supposed to go out with someone this afternoon," I explained, fiddling with my fingers. "Remember how Mom told you about Lucas? I'm meeting up with him today. We planned it like, a week ago... I just forgot to mention it..."

  Kadia gave me a long look, then sighed. "I see."

  I was confused. She didn't seem annoyed at all, just resigned. "You're okay with this?"

  Her brow arched. "Why wouldn't I be?"

  I wasn't sure. I'd kind of expected her to lecture me about having to focus on my training and not wasting my time with distractions and stuff.

  "Did you want me to give you a reason for disapproving?" she questioned. "Because I'd have plenty, but none that you'd take seriously. Even I am willing to accept the fact that you're not a child anymore. You're growing up, so...it's acceptable."

  "You... You think so?"

  She sighed again, this time more tiredly. "Well, yes, I am a little frustrated, but I am trying to be more supportive... So you may take a break." She glanced over to Shaye's room nearby, whose door was closed. "Oh, I might as well just call it off for today, if nobody will show up... I've been keeping an eye on this one, anyway."

  "How's she doing? She seemed nearly back to normal yesterday," I said.

  Kadia's expression lightened a little. "Better than I expected, honestly. Her physical therapist said she'll make a full recovery. It was a crush fracture, so there might still be some discomfort and weakness for a while, but the muscle and tendon damage are minor, and the stitches healed well. She's only to do some very light exercises, nothing too straining... I'd suggest you go in to see her, but she's asleep. She has had a busy week, with the surgery and the therapy and all the press clamouring for interviews..."

  I nodded. "Yeah, I get it. I'm just glad she's okay. And how's Tyrath? Do you think he'll be able to return to work?"

  "Without a doubt. Lunellia keeps telling him how lucky he was that the punctures didn't hit any vital organs, but he's been doing so much complaining, and asking how long until he is 'free from this wretched prison'. Honestly, it's as though he's never been in the infirmary before... The surgeon has cleared him for discharge, however. I expect him to be back at work in a day or two."

  "He's tough," I chuckled.

  "Indeed." Kadia looked thoughtful for a second. "So, this...Lucas. He attends the same school as you?"

  "Yeah, we're both seniors." I was surprised she seemed interested to know more, but it was odd to talk to her about stuff like that. It didn't feel normal. It felt weird. "He's nice," I added lamely. "He's, uh, smart and all..."

  "Where are you planning to go?" she continued, smiling slightly.

  I blushed a little. "Um, we're having a picnic in this park. Just sort of chilling out..."

  "That sounds enjoyable." Her smile grew, but then faded. "It is important to make the most of these things while you still can."

  I felt a pang at the unexpected sorrow that seeped through her words. "Uh... Yeah... I think so too."

  She didn't respond immediately. After a pause, she said, "Right, well... Do keep your wits about you. How long have you known Lucas for? Have you met his parents? Where does he live? Does he work? Are you meeting in a public place? Did you let Mother and Father know about your plans? Does he–?"

  I did my best to answer each of Kadia's interrogations without becoming exasperated. Her sudden curiosity had caught me off-guard. I supposed it was natural for a sister to worry. At the very least, it was nice that she cared enough to make sure I wasn't hanging around the wrong kinds of people. But the whole situation felt like a dream, because she wasn't exactly treating me like some clueless child who didn't know better than to stay away from creeps. That was more or less how I'd expected her to act. I wondered what had caused the change of heart, but I decided it was better not to ask.

  The two of us got caught up in our conversation until well past ten. I didn't realize how late it was until I checked my necklace a while later. It wasn't very often Kadia and I talked about stuff besides work. Usually it was only a brief exchange of questions and answers, as short as we could get away with, but today was different. She really wanted to talk this time. Maybe she was just looking for something else to think about, I didn't know, but it didn't feel forced. It was odd.

  When I checked my pendant and realized the time, my stomach plummeted. It was fifteen minutes past ten o'clock on Emiarhia – already past one on Earth. Spencer was probably blowing up my phone. I said goodbye to Kadia, thanking her profusely for being understanding about my plans that day, then rushed out of the infirmary and teleported home.

  I wasn't sure if I wanted to kick myself for wasting so much time, or be relieved that Kadia was so cordial. But the more immediate concern was getting ready for my date. My first real date with a boy, no less.

  Once my feet were on solid ground again, I dove for my phone. Spencer was indeed calling me nonstop.

  "Where the hell have you been?" she demanded as soon as I answered. "You said one, didn't you?"

  "Sorry! Sorry, sorry," I blurted, dropping onto the bed and covering my face with my free hand. "I...accidentally nicked myself with my razor in the shower, and I got blood all over my towel and I had to go get a new one... And then I spilled coffee on the living room carpet. I had to clean that up, too. I lost track of the time." I hated lying, but it was necessary.

  She laughed. "Damn. I was gonna ask if you were nervous, but I guess that answers my question. I'm almost at your house. We'll have to be quick, understand? You've left me with only forty minutes to work with!"

  "Okay! Yeah, just let me know when you're here." I hung up, then took a deep breath and slowly let it out. My stomach felt like it was trying to do gymnastics. I was excited and terrified in equal parts.

  After another minute of sitting around in anxiousness, I changed into the outfit I'd picked out: a grey jersey mock neck top with loose sleeves, an asymmetrical, dark teal corduroy skort with shiny buttons; black tights, gold hoop earrings, a delicate gold anklet, and a matching necklace. It was cute but comfortable, and I didn't have to worry about flashing anybody or moving strategically.

  I hadn't even finished brushing the tangles out of my freshly-washed hair when the doorbell rang. I quickly tossed the brush aside and raced down to answer before either of my parents could.

  Spencer was standing on the doorstep with a bag slung over her shoulder. "Let's get cracking! You ready?"

  I moved aside for her to enter. "As I'll ever be..."

  "Oh, you're nervous," she teased. "Relax, dude, it's a picnic! It'll be fun!" She marched up to my room without needing an escort.

  I followed, wringing my hands together. "I know. It's just, this is my first date, you know? It's all really...new." I tried to keep myself from pacing as she got to work setting things out.

  She fished out a flat iron from her bag and plugged it into the wall. "I mean, at least you know he likes you. You're not going out with somebody you're not sure about."

  I sat down in my desk chair. "Yeah... But, that also means the pressure's on. If things don't work out, then..."

  "Oh, shut up. It's a date, not a marriage proposal. Don't overthink things. Just go with the flow and do what feels right, okay?" Spencer held up the flat iron threateningly. "Now sit still and don't move."

  "Okay, okay. But if you burn my face, I swear I'll kick your ass," I threatened as I turned the chair to face away from her.

  She snorted as she clipped up a section of hair. "Please. As if you could catch me."

  She carefully flattened out my waves until all the hair was sleek and glossy, then pinned it to stay tucked behind my ears. I ran my hand over it in fascination. I couldn't remember the last time it'd been straightened; usually, I just washed it and let it air-dry however it wanted to.

  My phone buzzed on my desk. Spencer was busy getting out her makeup collection. I picked it up. It was a text from Lucas.

  Let me know when you're almost done getting ready, and I'll walk over

  I typed back, Running a little late, but I'll be done soon!

  "We have to hurry, Spence," I told her, glancing at the clock. 1:48. "I still have to pack all the food into the basket and stuff..."

  "Chill," she replied calmly, pulling out a large assortment of brushes. "Wouldn't you rather be drop-dead gorgeous than on time?"

  "That doesn't sound like the way you want to make an impression," I answered as she started to pat different things into my skin.

  She rolled her eyes, then angled my chin up. "Just trust me. There's a reason why 'fashionably late' is a thing."

  I tried to keep as still as I could as she carefully applied things to my face. Makeup was funny in the way that it being time-consuming didn't always mean you were going for a particularly bold look. There was a lot of layering, stippling, blending, and waiting for things to dry; even for simple, natural looks. It was a science in its own right. I sat obediently as Spencer worked, listening to her chatter on about how her partnership with Mom's clothing company was going. All the contracts and legal stuff that needed to be looked over were being taken care of, so she was focusing on coming up with graphics for the actual pieces. It sounded like the company was interested in having her help out with their social media accounts, too. It was hard for me to express how happy I was for her while sitting with a frozen expression, but I tried.

  By the time Spencer declared that I was finished, it was 2:16. I was slightly panicked. I rushed down to the kitchen to put all the picnic food in a basket, trying to pack it so that everything would stay cold. Spencer trailed after me and offered her help. Between the basket, the blanket, and my purse, my arms were getting overloaded. Spencer took the blanket as I took a minute to calm my breathing. I was definitely late – by almost half an hour – but Luke wouldn't hold it against me. At least, I hoped he wouldn't. I got my strappy sandals from my room, then texted him to let him know that I was all set.

  Spencer gave me a final touch-up and some words of encouragement before heading to her car. "Good luck! I'm expecting all the details afterwards! If he does anything you don't like, then throw him to the curb."

  "You got it," I laughed. "Thanks for the help. Love you."

  "Love ya!" She waved, smiling, then drove away.

  I walked up to the corner of the street where I'd be meeting Luke, my hands slightly shaky as I clutched my phone, purse, the basket, and the blanket. I could've waited inside, but I really didn't want to risk my parents inviting Luke in for a chat and being overly polite, and embarrassing me to no end. It'd be all, 'Would you like to stay for dinner?' and 'How's school going?' and 'What are your intentions with my daughter?' and I was not ready for that yet. I just had to tell them where I was going, with who, and when I'd be back, and then I could leave before they could grill me with more questions.

  In no time at all, Luke appeared at the end of the block. My heart rate kicked up a notch. He was pretty far away, so I couldn't quite see his expression. I watched his pace increase to a jog. As he neared, I realized he was smiling. He raised his arm in greeting. I smiled back and waved. He was wearing a terracotta V-neck t-shirt underneath a black leather jacket, light wash jeans, beige leather sneakers, and dark sunglasses. In short, he looked very good.

  "Hi!" I called out, trying to sound cheery as he finally arrived in front of me.

  He removed his glasses, hooking them in the collar of his shirt, and laughed. "Hey. Ready to go? Oh, here." He promptly took the picnic basket and blanket from my arms.

  "Yep. Yeah. Totally. Let's go," I replied, feeling myself starting to blush. I quickly grabbed the keys for my mom's car out of my purse and unlocked it.

  Luke opened the trunk so we could load all the picnic things inside. "Thanks again for doing this, Chloe."

  "It's nothing. I mean, it's the least I could do, considering I made you wait almost thirty minutes..." I frowned as I slipped into the driver's seat. "I'm really sorry about that. I was running behind all morning. But it was important, I swear."

  He buckled his seatbelt. "I'm glad you can find time for important stuff..."

  My mouth went a little dry upon realizing the implication of what I'd said. "Wait, no! Not like that! Not like you don't matter to me, 'cause you do, obviously... It was just something that I needed to do... Like– Not like– It's not... You know what, I'm just going to stop talking."

  He chuckled and shook his head. "I'm kidding. Don't worry about it. We've got plenty of time, don't we?"

  "Yeah..." I quickly backed out of the driveway and got going down the street, eager to get away from the awkwardness as quickly as possible. "It won't take long to get there. It's not far."

  "No rush."

  The silence that followed was tense and awkward. I snuck glances at Luke, trying to get a read on him. He was looking out the window, fidgeting with the zipper on his jacket. He didn't look irritated. More...nervous? I wondered if he could tell how much I was internally screaming at myself. The fact that he hadn't run for the hills after I'd just word-vomited at him was a good sign, right? Or was it a mistake to ask him out in the first place? It was all so new to me. How could I possibly know if things were going right?

  Luke was the first to break the silence. "You, uh... You look pretty, by the way. Um, you always do, but, uh..." He ran a hand through his hair as his face turned a shade pinker.

  My face burned, and I almost let my grip slacken on the steering wheel. "Uh, thank you!" I sputtered. "Spencer helped me out a lot. She's great with this sort of stuff. She has all these tips and tricks that she knows, and it's so impressive... Anyway, um. You look great too. Very...cool."

  He just laughed quietly. "Thanks. I'm glad we're finally doing this."

  "Yeah, me too," I agreed with a small smile. I wasn't sure if he was talking about the picnic in particular, or...the rest of it.

  We rode along in silence again. I wasn't sure where we were supposed to go from there. My heart was still beating much faster than normal, but not necessarily because I was anxious. The anticipation I felt was exciting and a bit exhilarating. I could still scarcely believe it was really happening.

  Before too long, I pulled into the parking lot at the park and shut off the engine.

  "Well, here we are," I announced as I took the keys out of the ignition. "And not a moment too soon."

  Hautshade Park was one of my favourite places in the city to go. There was a playground, a pond, a few walking trails, and lots of trees. The best part was that it spanned far enough to have nooks and crannies out of the way of people that made you feel like you had the entire park to yourself.

  We took out everything from the trunk of the car – with Luke carrying a disproportionate amount – and headed to our secluded spot: a shady alcove near a little bridge that crossed the pond. Trees with long, sweeping branches, covered in bright green leaves, towered overhead to provide cover from the bright sun.

  "We've got our own sanctuary area over here. No people." I spread the striped picnic blanket onto the grass and smoothed out the wrinkles.

  "Wow. It's really nice out here," Luke said, sitting down and surveying his surroundings.

  I set down the basket and plopped myself onto the blanket. "Right? I've been out here a few times. I like that it's far enough from the highway that it doesn't feel too busy, even though it's not very secluded." I glanced down to make sure that all my containers were intact. I'd brought along sandwiches, fruit, veggies, crackers, cheese, some homemade pasta salad, and a bottle of iced tea for each of us.

  He watched me pull out the containers from the basket, and his eyes widened a little. "Holy... This is all for us? It looks amazing. Now I feel like a terrible person for not bringing anything."

  "Don't feel bad! I told you, it's fine. I wanted to," I assured.

  The resulting smile was handsome, a charming and easy look that was almost shy. "You really didn't have to, you know. But thank you. You're sweet."

  I waved my hand nonchalantly. "Ah, don't give me too much credit. I only made the pasta salad; the rest is store-bought."

  He grinned. "Oh, okay. You're only mostly sweet, then."

  My cheeks felt like they were burning up again. "Shut up. Just eat," I mumbled with a nervous laugh.

  We spent a few minutes in relative silence as we filled our plates up and started to dig in. My nervousness faded a bit. The birds chirping, the breeze rustling through the trees, the smell of fresh air; it all felt very...calming. Like it was some sort of sign. A good omen of sorts, the way it felt like a scene straight out of a movie. It felt surreal that Luke and I were actually there. That it was all happening for real, and not some sort of weird daydream I'd come up with. I didn't dare pinch myself in case it really was.

  Luke stared at his sandwich with a pensive expression before taking a bite. I popped a raspberry into my mouth, trying to hide my intense interest in his thoughts. I was a little worried that he wasn't enjoying himself. Maybe I hadn't given him enough options for lunch? Maybe I'd forgotten something that he needed? What if he had food allergies I didn't know about?

  "Hey, Luke?" I spoke up.

  His gaze snapped to mine. A strand of espresso hair fell across his forehead. "Mm?"

  "Is everything all right? Is there anything I can get you, or...?"

  He took another bite and swallowed before replying, "No, this is great. Really great. I just have a lot of thoughts running through my head, that's all. Sorry."

  I tilted my head curiously. "Oh? You want to talk about it? I'm not a bad listener."

  He laughed lightly. "Just thinking about stuff... You, me. Us, I guess. ...I don't think you'd want to hear about all that."

  "Why wouldn't I? I'm the one that asked you out." I shifted to sit on my hip. "Go for it."

  "Really?" he asked with a look of uncertainty. "It's just that... You don't exactly seem like the super...flirty, touchy-feely type. Not that that's a bad thing. ...I just don't want to cross a boundary or anything, you know? And if you wanted to just keep things platonic, I'd totally respect that."

  "Oh." I bit my lip for a second. I hadn't even considered that Luke would feel the need to hold back in order to spare my feelings, or to preserve some kind of preestablished comfort. It wasn't the type of consideration that I'd gotten used to in the past. But I knew he meant it when he said it. The look of apprehension he was trying to keep from showing was proof of that.

  He clarified, "It's not that you're hard to read, exactly. More like... Certain things seem to roll right off you. Which causes me to wonder what you're feeling. Like... 'Oh, is she brushing that off because she's not interested, or because she's uncomfortable, or is she actually flattered and just kind of shy?' That sort of thing." He rubbed the back of his neck and shrugged. "I guess it's more that I'm worried about overstepping than anything."

  The honesty took me aback for a second. "...Yeah, I can see that. I've always kind of prioritized my personal space. But if we're talking about being affectionate and flirty, then..." I thought hard for a moment about how best to word what I was thinking. "...It's not like I dislike that stuff. It just...requires some getting used to. For me. I never got much of a chance to figure out how to do all that." I was reluctant to delve further into the reasons why I was so out of touch, so I concluded with, "You don't need to be cautious. I trust you. But if you do anything that I'm not comfortable with, I'll let you know."

  Luke smiled and leaned forward. "Good to know. Thanks for telling me that."

  "No problem. Just don't expect me to be super suave and smooth about it. It's kind of a new concept for me," I warned.

  He chuckled. "You're already doing great, I promise." Then, he brushed the strand of hair that'd fallen in his eye earlier back, but it fell right back to where it'd been. I fought the urge to reach over and fix it. "So... If I wanted to hold your hand... That'd be okay?"

  I felt my face reddening again. "Um... Yep." I offered my hand for emphasis. "Totally fine with that."

  "Cool..." His hands were a bit bigger, the palms more broad. But they were gentle as his fingers laced with mine. "How about that?"

  "Fine. Nothing groundbreaking about holding hands," I answered, my pulse ticking up a little bit. It was stupid how such a simple touch could get to me. I guess it was more about the person than the gesture.

  "You're saying that if I were to check your pulse right now, your heart rate would be completely normal, then?" he challenged.

  I narrowed my eyes. "What, like yours wouldn't be the same?"

  "No, I didn't say that. I'm just honest about my feelings." His smirk was cheeky.

  "Y'know, I didn't ask you out just so you could fluster me the entire time and make fun of the way I process things," I parried in a faux disapproving tone, holding his gaze. "Maybe I should make you eat lunch by yourself and think about what you've done."

  Luke held back a smile as he played along. "Maybe you should. I'll sit on the other side of the pond and reflect on how stupid I can be, and how lucky I am to have met someone so much smarter and nicer than me. It'll be an enriching experience."

  "Okay, now you're just being obnoxious."

  "That's part of my charm." He took a sip of his drink. "Is it working?"

  "Unfortunately." I shook my head. "Fine, I'll admit it. You're cute and it's very distracting. You happy?"

  Now, it was his turn to be rosy in the cheeks. "Not really... It's not fair that you've got that effect on me too."

  I raised a brow and grinned a bit. "Don't encourage me. It'll go straight to my ego."

  He squeezed my hand. "Maybe that's not such a bad thing."

  The two of us spent a good few hours chatting while we ate, talking about our classes, teachers, friends, families, hobbies, and more. Of course, I knew more about Luke than most people knew about their first-time dates, but there was always something new to discover, or to see in a different light. And despite this new territory between us, the foundation of friendship still held strong. It was so easy to slip back into that sense of familiarity that it was like we'd never even left it in the first place.

  I was feeling very relaxed by the time six o'clock rolled around. Dinner had crept up on us way faster than I'd expected. Neither of us were particularly hungry, though, and there was still some food left, so we decided to just hang around the park for a while longer. I had no idea how long first dates were supposed to last. All I knew was that I didn't want to go home yet.

  The two of us were lying down on the picnic blanket, with Luke on his side propped up by an elbow, and me on my back, gazing up at the sky. Clouds had started to roll in, obscuring some of the sun's brightness. I listened as Luke talked about a book that he was reading at the time. It wasn't really a genre I had any interest in, but I still appreciated the way he spoke so passionately about the topic.

  "...I feel like we're definitely seeing a rise in that style of storytelling. A lot more than ten or fifteen years ago. And not just because it's easier to market nowadays. But because of how different the culture has become." He gestured vaguely. "It's still a long way off from becoming popular as an industry standard, but I really hope more people will give it a shot."

  I watched him intently as he spoke, with the most subtle of smiles tugging at my lips. "Mm-hmm." I'd started to tune out a little, lulled into a peaceful sort of daze by the gentle breeze, the warmth of the sun, the scent of grass in the air...

  "...And the author really managed to keep up with the standards of the genre, and didn't cut any corners. The pacing and the flow, even the plot twists... It's like it was perfectly crafted. I read it all in one sitting," he continued.

  "In one sitting?" I echoed, unable to help myself.

  "Well, it was a Sunday. I had plenty of time. Plus, the ending was worth it. The characters were so real. I don't think it's really hit the mainstream audience yet, but I feel like it has potential. I'd recommend it to anyone, even if you're not into sci-fi or horror."

  "Wow." I watched him speak, just taking in the sound of his voice, his words, the way his expression lit up. My gaze roved from his mouth to his eyes to his nose, down to his jaw and the shape of his Adam's apple. There was no way I'd get tired of listening to him. Even when it was about topics that I had little knowledge of, the way that he spoke made me want to listen forever.

  "But the thing is, the story isn't actually classic horror at all, really. It's not a cliché sort of setup with an entity or monster of some kind that's the villain. There are no chainsaw-wielding maniacs or aliens that need killing. It's a slow descent into terror that you feel for yourself. It's like this sense of foreboding that's building in your mind the whole way through. So the real horror lies within the potential for things to go wrong. You know? It's a deeply unsettling kind of dread."

  "I see." Luke's eyes were such an interesting shade of blue. Not like the ocean or sky, but a darker, stormier blue that had a sort of smoky, grey-tinted edge to it. Like an overcast sky at midday. His dark eyelashes only made his irises stand out that much more. And his face in general had such clean, angular lines to it. A straight nose, thick eyebrows, a sharp jaw. Yet his expression always had this warm quality to it. It was like he had all the features – the ingredients – of someone intimidating, but somehow didn't end up that way.

  He rolled his head to the side and smiled sheepishly. "I'm talking your ear off here, aren't I?"

  I tensed and blinked rapidly to refocus. "Wha–? No! Not at all. I was just listening. You're fine." I wasn't sure exactly how long I'd been zoning out, but it was definitely long enough to have been impolite. I felt a pang of guilt. I didn't mean to give off the impression that I didn't care about his interests.

  "Well... I'm done, anyway. There's a difference between talking with someone and talking at someone, so I should probably make the most of my time and try to be less of a monologuer." He sat up, stretched his legs out in front of him, and leaned back on his elbows.

  "I didn't mind. I liked listening," I replied truthfully as I rolled over onto my side. I tucked an arm under my head as a makeshift pillow.

  His lips pursed and his brows drew together. "You like listening to me blather on at length about nerd stuff?"

  "Yes? What's there not to like? I get to learn more about you and I get to listen to the sound of your voice. Win-win." I kept my tone matter-of-fact to avoid seeming like a complete sap. I wasn't really used to putting my appreciation of him into words yet. It still felt weird – almost wrong – to express those thoughts to him that way. Hopefully, I'd improve.

  "Uh-huh, and if I'd gone on about... I don't know, the intricacies of knitting? You would've enjoyed it just as much?" he riposted.

  "Sure, I mean, if that's what you're into..." I shrugged a shoulder.

  He eyed me, seemingly suspicious of my lack of hesitation. "You're being serious. That's weird."

  "No, I just like you," I countered without filtering myself. I then immediately bit the inside of my cheek and fought the urge to wince.

  His expression softened. "Oh." He let out a huff of laughter. "...It's kind of nice to hear you say that."

  "Honestly, it's kind of nice to hear myself say that," I said, looking down at my fingernails.

  There was a beat of silence. I wondered if Luke was judging me, if maybe he thought that my lack of experience was too off-putting for him. My mind flashed with images of him asking to stop meeting, telling me he wanted to remain friends and nothing more, maybe even implying that it would be a bad idea for us to ever hang out again. A chill went down my spine.

  "Chloe."

  I tensed as he said my name, the knot in my stomach growing. "Yeah?"

  He had this look on his face that I'd never seen before. Like he was conflicted about something. My mind raced as I tried to pinpoint exactly what he might be feeling, or why he could look like that. The expression was kind of distant, but also searching. Almost...angry? No, not quite. Frustration, then? Did he want to leave? Had his patience ran out?

  Luke suddenly leaned closer, his weight shifted onto one of his arms, and reached over to tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear. My thoughts screeched to a halt. His fingertips were just barely touching the edge of my jaw, so feather-light that I wasn't sure if they were actually there. His eyes scanned my face, and for a second, I felt completely paralyzed, pinned by his gaze.

  He opened his mouth and paused momentarily before speaking. "I...think–"

  Without warning, a large, cold raindrop landed on the centre of my forehead, effectively startling the two of us apart. My first reaction was to recoil, with a hand flying up to brush my face clean of the rainwater. The next second, a couple more splotches landed on the blanket we were on. And then, there was a faint patter all around us. I glanced up to find that the once clear sky was now shrouded with clouds. It didn't necessarily seem like a downpour was on the way, but the weather did now seem intent on putting a stop to our outing.

  "...Uh oh." Luke was squinting at the clouds. "What are the odds of that?"

  I threw my hands up in the air. It felt like a cruel twist of fate for the day to end just as things were getting especially good.

  "I guess Mother Nature wasn't a big fan of our little date." Chuckling, he moved to pack the leftovers back into the basket and put the lid on.

  "She's going to be hearing about this from me," I muttered. I glanced at the sky once more, almost willing it to clear. "The weather said it would be sunny the whole day!"

  He stood up and brushed himself off before extending a hand to me. "Well, what can we do? There are some things even us humans can't control. Not the weather, not death, and not taxes."

  I reluctantly took his hand and let him help me up. "Let's just get out of here. It looks like it's only gonna get worse from here on out."

  The two of us packed everything up and sped back to the parking lot. The rain only started coming down harder as we went along, forcing us to break out into a jog. By the time we made it back to my car, my hair was already damp. Some of it clung to the nape of my neck and my temples. I just hoped my makeup hadn't started running. I turned on the car and flicked the windshield wipers to a fast setting before looking over at Luke.

  His jacket and shirt were sprinkled with raindrops. "Well. That was certainly fun," he joked.

  I sighed. "I suppose that's my cue to drive you home. Sorry about the rain..."

  "Don't apologize; it's not like you control the weather," he replied. "Besides, um... You don't have to drive me back if you don't want to."

  My brows furrowed. "But don't you want to get out of the rain?"

  He smiled sheepishly. "No, I meant... If you want to get home, then, please. Go ahead and do that. But... If you feel like staying out longer, we could hang around in the car for a bit, or find some place else to go."

  My eyes widened slightly. He still wanted to hang out with me? The rain had to have put a damper on things, but apparently that didn't seem to faze him. It wasn't that I wasn't delighted to hear it. It just took me by surprise. "Are you sure...? I mean... We've already done lunch, and I thought..."

  "Well, sure, if you'd rather go home, then you absolutely should. I'm just saying that I wouldn't mind talking with you longer. Especially since I think I've been doing most of said talking." He paused, then smiled. "...But only if you want to."

  "Um..." I glanced between him and the rain rolling down the windows, a plan forming in my head. Luke was the kind of person I could virtually never get tired of. I had no idea if the reverse was true for him as well, but the fact that he was still wanting to hang around me made my chest warm and fuzzy. I took in a deep breath and nodded. "...I could go for some ice cream. What do you think?'

  The grin that appeared on his face made my heart leap.

  The ice cream parlour, Snowflakes, was a little farther into town, but it was worth the trip for the variety of flavours. They offered the classics, such as chocolate, strawberry, and mint chip, but there was also an extensive menu of unique choices, ranging from exotic fruit combinations to ones with more eccentric tastes, like buttered toast or salted caramel corn. It was definitely a fun place to visit and a great choice for when you're in the mood for something sweet.

  By the time I'd parked the car, it was absolutely pouring rain. The sky was a sheet of grey that covered the entire horizon and blocked out all the sunlight we'd basked in only a couple hours ago. Luke took my hand and helped me get out of the car before covering our heads with his jacket to try to protect us from the rain. Laughing loudly, we dashed from the parking lot to the entrance, and he held the door open for me before following me in.

  The place was completely empty. That didn't come as a surprise, considering the weather. A girl was standing behind the counter and beaming at us as we entered. We took our time ordering. The cashier even let us have some samples before we made up our minds. I decided on one scoop of matcha and one of lavender in a cup, while Luke opted for a cup of lemon-lime sherbet and pomegranate sorbet. He paid for the both of us despite my protests.

  We felt weird about staying inside the parlour since it was just us and the cashier, so we chose to sit on the curb outside, far enough from the entrance. There was a sturdy awning over the side of the building to shield us completely from the rain. We could've eaten in the car, but it would've been pretty loud with the downpour drumming down on the metal and glass. And...I could be closer to Luke this way. So, outside it was.

  "Hey, this is pretty nice, actually." Luke peered around before turning to me. "It's warmer than I thought it'd be. The rain didn't even feel that cold."

  "It is kind of nice. Especially with the right company." I shot him a meaningful look before turning my attention back to the cup in my hands.

  He leaned over and bumped his shoulder with mine. "Glad to know I'm the 'right' company."

  I smiled into my ice cream. We lapsed into a comfortable silence after that, each of us savouring our sweet treats while occasionally looking around us to observe our surroundings. There were hardly any cars passing by. It was quite calming to just sit and watch the water pour from the sky. It was definitely heavy, but it was nothing to actually worry about. The clouds had a slight tinge of purple to them that created this almost romantic kind of mood. The lights from the storefronts illuminated the wet sidewalks with glowy, coloured streaks, and everything had a soft focus feel to it. It made the whole scene seem kind of dreamy. I liked the contrast.

  My brain was currently juxtaposed between the pleasantness of my date and the awful weather. It seemed to have gone wrong for all the right reasons. We weren't supposed to hang out for this long, but I still felt kind of bad about it. What kind of date was this? The sun was supposed to be shining. We were supposed to be sitting on a patch of grass in the sunlight, and it would've been all warm and nice, but now it was... Well, still pleasant, but different. Not at all like what I'd imagined. And there was no way this was anyone's ideal first date, was there?

  "So..." I spoke up before the thought could fester. "How are your parents?"

  Luke's eyes squinted briefly, then he smiled. "They're good. Busy, but that's just how it goes. My mom came home last week to rest for a little bit and visit my dad, which was great, since they haven't really had a chance to just relax with each other in a while. We spent those days just talking, watching movies, playing some games... It was pretty chill."

  I hummed and ate a scoop of ice cream. "That sounds nice. You seem to really like spending time with them."

  "It's not easy being apart from them so often. But I'm also grateful that they've raised me to be able to do things for myself." A second later, his expression faltered a bit. "They'd never admit it, and I don't think I care enough to ask, but... Sometimes I wonder if I wasn't planned. Or if they hadn't wanted kids."

  "Oh," I said, not knowing how else to respond to such an admission. "What makes you think that?"

  "For one, I'm an only child. Secondly, both of my parents have always been workaholics. It's just who they are. My dad's been driving trucks all across the country since before I was born. He doesn't know any other life than being out there on the road. And my mom used to work as a nurse locally, but she'd always wanted to go international, to make a difference on a bigger scale. I'd just started high school when she was finally able to achieve that. So they sent me to live with Dean, who – let's be honest – isn't that much of a nurturing, caring adult himself. Now I only see them whenever they come back for a bit. Some holidays, but not all of them... And some weekends."

  I winced. "I can see why you might feel that way... I'm sorry, Luke. It sounds like they were pretty busy people to begin with." I shook my head and placed a hand over his arm. "But that's all it is. I'm sure they're proud of you. Sure, some babies are unplanned. But they wouldn't have raised you so well if they hadn't wanted you as their son. Right?"

  He was quiet for a few moments. Eventually, he gave me a soft smile. "Thanks. It's just been something I've wondered for a few years. Sorry to dump it on you like that."

  "No, don't be. I get it. Maybe... Maybe that's something you can talk to them about," I suggested with a shrug. "If it's really bugging you, maybe it's something you can ask them directly?"

  "Yeah. Maybe someday." He nodded to himself. "Anyway, what about your parents?"

  "Same old, same old. My dad's promotion has really worked out well for him since we moved. And my mom's got a few good friends in the area, so it's been good for her social life too. Lately, she's been working with Spencer on some new designs. I think that's been fun for the both of them. And..." I had to cut myself off to avoid mentioning Finley. That would've been impossible to explain. "...Yeah. Life's pretty good right now. There are some days when I wish we could go back, but I don't regret leaving at all."

  Luke grinned at that. "Good to hear. And hey, the best part about life is that there's always more ahead."

  I took a look around us and smiled. "I can definitely believe that."

  We talked for a while after we finished our desserts, about anything under the sun: music, movies, college applications, classes, the latest in politics... The rhythm of the rainstorm kept time during our conversations. There seemed to be no end to the number of things we could discuss. A part of me kept expecting to hear something that might shock me or change my impression of Luke, but nothing of the sort came up. It seemed as if there were endless layers to the guy and every one I unpeeled revealed yet another fascinating and positive part of him. I wondered how that was possible, for him to be so good that there were no red flags in sight, and yet not boring or too perfect. I just didn't understand it. There had to be something. There just had to be. Was he hiding any deep, dark secrets? I tried not to think too hard about it, but it was impossible not to let my thoughts wander a little.

  I was discussing this new alt rock album that'd just been released when a chill passed over me, and I shivered. Now that we'd been still for some time, the effects of the rain were catching up to me. There was a breeze passing by that kept threatening to steal what little heat my clothes held. I pulled my knees in and crossed my arms.

  Luke, who'd been in the middle of his sentence, suddenly halted. "Wait, are you cold?"

  I shrugged and shook my head, not wanting to let the rain ruin things any further than it had. "Nah, I'm fine. What were you saying?"

  "Want my jacket?" he offered before he began to remove it.

  I did secretly want it. "No, no, I couldn't. Then you'd be cold."

  He smiled that brilliant smile of his. "I mean, I'm not the one wearing a skirt. I'm honestly not chilly. Promise."

  "Okay, well..." I trailed off, my cheeks flushing. "Whatever makes you feel better..."

  Luke carefully draped the leather jacket over my shoulders. Immediately, it felt like I'd stepped into a new world altogether. The scent of his cologne filled my nose. It smelled kind of expensive, like vetiver and spice. I slipped my arms into the armholes. The soft, warm fabric engulfed me like a hug, and I felt a surge of happiness. It was just the thing that'd make even a bad date better, and I figured he knew that.

  I bit my lip in a measly attempt to contain a goofy grin from reaching my face. "Thanks. You really didn't have to."

  "No worries. I just wish I'd noticed sooner." His cheeks seemed to take on a reddish hue that could've just been from the breeze. Then, he laughed, and the sound was so unexpected and so cute that I almost missed what he said next. "I think you wear that jacket better than I do."

  I chuckled. "Not possible."

  "We'll call it a tie, then," he conceded with a wink. "Either way, you look great."

  I glanced away and toyed with my hair. The flutters returned to my stomach. God, Luke. Get a girl all flustered like that? Ugh. Can't we do this over text or something? Email? So I can just reply to this at a later, less weak-feeling moment?

  Lately, he'd been so genuine and sweet that I didn't even know what to do with myself. He'd just throw out an occasional compliment like it was the easiest thing in the world. And it wasn't as if he'd say things like, 'Hey, you're hot; you'd look even better out of those clothes'; it was stuff like, 'You know, you've got a really great laugh' or 'I think if there was ever a zombie apocalypse someday, we'd make a good team'. Things that'd just leave my heart all frazzled, but in the best possible way. It was authentic. It was thoughtful. It was selfless. And that's what made it all even more potent.

  "...Thanks," I finally mumbled in return. I met his eyes once more.

  He just beamed, then let out another small laugh.

  I didn't know why my brain seemed to have switched modes at that moment. Maybe it was the sound of the rain against the sidewalk, or the way the light cast Luke in a hazy glow that made it seem as if he were a Renaissance painting in a museum, but the words left me before I could even think. "...Why are you so perfect?"

  The sentence came out more accusatory than I'd expected, and Luke raised an eyebrow, perplexed. "What?"

  Immediately, I waved a hand in the air as a dismissal of my previous statement. "Sorry. I mean..." What did I mean? How do you tell a guy that he's relatively flawless? It kind of made me wonder what the catch was. Surely, there must've been something wrong with him. There had to be a skeleton in his closet somewhere, or some deep-rooted emotional issue he wasn't working through. Maybe he secretly hated himself? Or...didn't like animals? Sure, he had his flaws like everyone else: his family was a little messed up, he was way too hard on himself at times, he had a penchant for oversleeping... But overall, he was a complete package.

  I guess the words finally clicked in Luke's head because his face changed as if he understood what I was asking. "Trust me, I'm not. Not at all." He shook his head and chuckled, looking away. "If I'm honest, though... You kind of make me want to try to be a better person. So, maybe that's why it seems that way?"

  That took me aback. I'd never had someone say that to me before. "I...do? I mean, me? I mean... Why?"

  "Because..." He paused, considering how best to explain this. "...You just have a good way of seeing people. It's easy for me to fall back on this front and get caught up in who I'm pretending to be or whatever. But when I'm with you, it's... It's a lot more comfortable being myself. Even if that's a little boring compared to what the world wants from me." He laughed nervously and ran a hand through his hair. "Does that make sense?"

  I blinked as those words sunk in. My eyes locked onto his, and it felt like there was a gravitational force between us that I was helpless to resist. I wondered for a second if I'd pass out before formulating a response. "...It's not boring to me."

  The air seemed to shift and hum with something unsaid. Luke was staring right back at me. He wasn't just a crush, now, I realized. I was starting to feel something more than that. And he'd just said I made him want to be a better person, as if I'd brought something good to his life... It was so much, I was almost repelled by it. But there was an undeniable attraction. My eyes flicked from his gaze down to his lips, and back. He seemed to lean in, just the smallest amount. I wanted him to do something. But I had no idea how to express that without giving in to what my body wanted to do. My brain was overworking itself. My heart was a war drum, trying to push my body into doing something, anything. Boldly, I leaned in just a little bit closer. Luke didn't move away. A zing of electricity went through me.

  What the hell are you doing, Chloe? Are you actually about to do this? Are you actually going to kiss someone on a curb in the rain like some cheesy rom-com? This isn't how you operate. You can't do this. Don't you dare do this!

  And yet I continued to move closer, bit by bit, drawn in by this magnetic pull. Luke seemed to be rooted in place. But he wasn't leaning back or turning away, which was...good? Is he going to meet me halfway? Why isn't he saying anything? Shouldn't he stop me? Or is this really okay? A final rush of courage and impulse coursed through my veins. The words 'I can't believe I'm doing this' flashed briefly across my mind before I leaned in farther, took hold of his upper arm, and closed the distance between us.

  My lips crashed into his. Right as they did, though, Luke flinched. It was a completely brash move, and I pulled away mere seconds later, rising to my feet.

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  The weight of my actions sank into me like a lead ball, and my face instantly flamed with heat. "Shit. I'm so sorry. I...shouldn't have done that. That was... That was really stupid. I..." I started walking away before realizing I was Luke's ride home. I couldn't run from this one. My ribs constricted in a mixture of panic and embarrassment. I just wanted some god to strike me down from where I stood halfway between the curb and the car, turned away, being pelted by rain. Why had I just done that?!

  Luke jumped to his feet and called out after a few seconds, "Wait, Chloe!" I froze in my place. A beat of silence passed before I heard footsteps come closer.

  I swallowed, my stomach twisting as if I was going to be sick. "What...?"

  "Don't..." He put a hand on my shoulder, and I reluctantly turned around to face him, averting my eyes from his. "Don't leave like that."

  My hands balled into fists. "I... Look, I'm sorry. I'm... I've been..." I was so rambling; I didn't even know what I wanted to say. "I can just drive you home. And... We'll just forget about it, okay?"

  He looked surprised by the offer and took a pause before responding, "What? No, no... It's okay, you just..."

  I pressed the heel of my palm against my forehead. "No, it's not okay. It was... I shouldn't have... I should've asked." I wanted to crawl out of my skin, to run away, to leave this all behind. But I had to face the consequences. I was better than that. I had to be.

  "Chloe. I wasn't expecting it, that's all. It just caught me off guard. I didn't think it'd be...that... Um, avid? I guess?" He laughed lightly, as if to make the situation less uncomfortable, and ran his fingers through his hair. "Honestly, I didn't know what was going on for a bit there."

  "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have assumed..." The rain was making it harder to think. It was almost a constant rushing noise, distracting me. Or maybe it was the pounding of blood in my ears.

  Luke sighed. He put a hand on either of my shoulders, which brought my attention back up to him. "Look. I like you. If I was uncomfortable, I would've moved away."

  "I... Well..." I could barely string words together. I felt sort of stupid for having gotten so swept up in the moment that I lost all sense of what was right and what was wrong. "I still didn't meant to spring that on you."

  His grip tightened for a second. "And I didn't mean to flinch." He frowned slightly before laughing at himself. "Honestly, I'm a little rusty on that front. I've... It's been a little while."

  I bit the inside of my cheek. "...It has?"

  "Yeah." He looked to the side. "Let's just say I have a knack for keeping myself busy. But... I don't intend on going anywhere." He finally brought his eyes back to mine. "There's nowhere...I'd rather be right now."

  The way he was looking at me almost made me melt. Even though it seemed impossible, I felt my cheeks grow even hotter. "Oh," was all I managed to say. I wanted to say something else, to express that I'd never had feelings like this before for someone, that I didn't really know how to handle myself yet... But that just sounded lame.

  Luke's gaze fell to his feet. He was so gorgeous in that moment, with a serious but playful expression on his face. His hair had flattened slightly in the rain. The moonlight reflected off each droplet. It almost hurt to look at him. Yet I was unable to tear my eyes away, even though the eye contact just about gave me an allergic reaction.

  He finally lifted his eyes to mine, and I felt my heart slam back into my chest at his stare. It was just about piercing my soul. I wished I could see the thoughts running through his mind. His hand went up to tuck a lock of my wet hair behind my ear. A shiver ran through me that had nothing to do with the rain. I could tell he was hesitating, which was uncommon to see from him. Normally, he was so levelheaded, so sure of everything he did. The vulnerability he displayed in that moment was what I liked most. It seemed like the most genuine side to him. I couldn't help but smile a bit, hoping it might reassure him that he hadn't lost his charm in my eyes.

  Goosebumps rippled over my arms. With eyelashes full of raindrops, Luke slowly tilted his head and leaned down, giving me plenty of time to pull away. Time seemed to stretch out in anticipation. My mind went completely blank for a few seconds. Still, this time, I met him in the middle.

  Our lips connected with no force, just natural ease, as the rain showered the world in endless silver. The kiss started out tentative. It was as if we were both testing the waters, checking to make sure it was okay. After a second or two, his hands came up to cradle the sides of my face. I took a step closer, reaching forward to place my hands against his chest. It was electric. And just a tiny bit clumsy. Neither of us seemed to know exactly where to go from here. I lifted my chin to be at a better angle to continue, even though I wasn't entirely sure what I was doing. I didn't think I was a seriously bad kisser or anything; just...not practiced. Luke didn't seem to care either way.

  He pulled back for a second and paused to look at me. "Is this okay?"

  I nodded, my tongue too tied to articulate much of anything. "Uh-huh..."

  His thumbs ran across my cheekbones. Then, he leaned in and captured my lips once more, careful and gentle. My hands rested on the back of his neck. He snaked one arm around my waist, pulling me slightly closer. I wanted to evaporate into a puddle and forget the world. This had to be a dream. No way this was real. The rain was soaking us both to the bone, but I didn't even remotely care. All I could think about was how close I was to Luke, and how it felt like...he kissed me like he meant it. Like there was actually something behind it, something real and genuine. I couldn't get over how different it was to when Nathan and I had kissed. This was something else entirely. And something about it comforted me that I was making the right choice.

  A powerful burst of thunder rolled through the sky, booming even above the constant sound of the rain. I jumped about a foot back and wrenched myself out of Luke's grasp. When the kiss broke, it was like someone had just flipped a light switch. I was thrown back into my senses.

  He looked taken aback by my sudden movement and more than a little dazed. "That was loud."

  "No kidding," I responded through a nervous laugh. My heart was racing at a thousand beats per second, and the butterflies were getting violent. A wave of awkwardness crested over me as a result of the initial rush fading.

  An amused expression spread across his face, which did nothing to help how silly I was beginning to feel.

  "So," I blurted out to cut off the silence. "That was...something." I tried to sound casual but ended up sounding awestruck.

  "'Something'?" He put his hands on his hips and pretended to be offended. "Aw, man. I must be losing my touch."

  I couldn't hold in my laughter. The tension from moments before dissipated, which made me feel a little better. Still, my brain – despite all my best efforts – continued to bombard me with little whispers. Don't fuck this up. "I didn't mean it like that. You're definitely... That's not something you need to worry about. For sure."

  The way he chuckled at my backtracking was so adorable and somewhat infuriating. "If you say so."

  We stood in the parking lot looking at each other for another small eternity. I was searching for the words to say, wondering if I should just cut my losses and end things now. Suffer for a week or two, then inevitably get over it...or something like that. But I didn't want to. I wanted to give things a try, see where they took me. I just didn't want to lead Luke on, or waste his time. Nor did I want to let the chance to have something amazing pass me by. For the past few weeks, my inner dialogue had screamed 'wrong, wrong, wrong' whenever he got close. Now, for the first time...things were finally starting to fall into place. A sense of normalcy returned, the nervousness of the moment from before settling into a timid admiration.

  Luke smiled, stepped closer, and brushed a stray raindrop off my nose. "Why don't we head out? You must be getting tired."

  "We are...absolutely drenched," I remarked with another laugh.

  He grinned. "I never thought I'd be so glad to be caught in a downpour."

  "You are just...the corniest guy ever."

  "I do what I can."

  A swell of courage rose up in me, and before I could lose it, I slid my hand into his. His eyes flicked down at the motion. He interlaced our fingers and squeezed. My heartbeat kicked up a notch. That's all it takes to put me back into a stupid, lovestruck haze, huh?

  Without a word, Luke and I hopped into my car and drove off back to our neighbourhood, both blissfully happy and mildly cold. Soon enough, though, the downpour simmered down into a sprinkle. The ride was quiet with a few comments here and there. Every time I glanced over at him and our eyes met, we'd both quickly look away and snicker. Something about all this was just too perfect. The whole night had felt so unreal.

  When we finally arrived in front of Luke's house, we both stayed put in our seats.

  "...So, um. Thank you for today," he spoke up. "I had a really nice time. And... To be honest, it's been cool getting to know you."

  "Feeling's mutual," I replied with a smile. "Thank you for the ice cream, and for being so caring in general.

  He shrugged like it was no big deal. Then, out of the blue, he laughed. "All those weeks of dancing around each other, and we had to get caught in the rain to make a move."

  I squinted. "...Better late than never?"

  "Truer words have never been spoken."

  "Oh, and thanks for letting me borrow your jacket," I remembered to add. I shucked it off from where it rested on my shoulders and handed it back to him. "That was..." Super cute. Really nice. Makes me want to hire you as a personal bodyguard. Wanna move into the extra room of my house? "...A sweet gesture. I appreciate it."

  "Anytime." There was a beat of silence before he turned his head to look outside. "Hey, would you, uh... Like to go out again sometime?"

  I joked, "What, you're not sick of me yet? Are you sure?"

  He laughed softly and ran a hand through his hair. It was an endearing habit I'd grown to like and find rather attractive. "Pretty damn positive."

  Frowning, I pretended to think it over. "Well... I guess I don't have anything better going on..."

  That yielded another laugh from him. "I'm sorry, is that sarcasm?"

  "Maybe." We held eye contact for a moment.

  "Okay. I'll just have to prove myself, then," he asserted. "I might not be the most dashing knight, but I'll at least keep you safe from the dragons."

  I raised an eyebrow in an attempt to look curious. "Hm. A bold proclamation."

  "From a bold man," he answered nonchalantly.

  "Modest, too."

  "Always."

  I broke out into another bout of giggles at the banter. It was like being stuck in a pleasant haze. "All right, fine. Yes, Luke, I'd love to go out again."

  His gaze softened, his mouth curving up into a small smile. It was the sort of expression that just filled me with warmth. "Cool. I'll talk to you about it later. We'll work something out."

  "Sounds good."

  "Until then..." He planted a brief peck on my cheek before hopping out of the car. "Have a good night. Text me when you get home?"

  I nodded, playing the gesture off with humour. "It's like, a three-minute drive."

  "Yeah, but that's three minutes longer for anything to happen."

  I chuckled and shook my head. "I'll be fine. Get some rest. Goodnight, Luke."

  "Night."

  And with that, he headed up his driveway to his house, and I watched him until he disappeared inside.

  Then, I finally turned to leave myself, pulling into the street. My mind was abuzz with everything that had just happened. So many different feelings whirled around in my brain, so I did what I normally did when that happened: blasted my favourite music at full volume. I couldn't wipe the grin off my face. At this point, it'd probably stay there for good.

  I wasn't exactly sure what the hell was going to come out of this. But I was so, so happy that I decided not to ignore my feelings. They'd brought me to an amazing day with a wonderful person, and that was all that really mattered to me in this moment. The rest...I could work out later.

  Mom and Dad were understandably a tad confused when I walked inside wearing wet clothes. But once I relayed the progression of events to them (I left out some key details), they didn't question it further. They were just glad that I'd had fun and come back in one piece. I'd barely made it upstairs before I sent a message to Luke that I'd gotten home safely. When I finally entered my room, I flopped face-down onto my bed with a loud sigh. I couldn't even think. Every thought just came and went as a fleeting sensation. It was hard to pin anything down. The only thing I could process for sure was how content and giddy I felt.

  And for the first time in a long while, I really, really felt that I was where I was supposed to be.

  I texted Luke for a bit before eventually falling asleep. Our dynamic had definitely changed because of today, and I was prepared to be sort of awkward and bashful about the whole thing for some time, but it still felt natural enough that it put my mind at ease. In many ways, it was the same as always: just us talking and joking and sharing stuff about our lives. A new layer or two had been added, but it didn't take away from what we'd built up so far. And I didn't want it any other way.

  "...What about hollow wires? Is that a viable idea?" Shaye wondered, one finger to her chin in thought.

  Ashkan grimaced slightly. "Depends on the diameter. That could be too risky. If it snaps..."

  "Fair point."

  I was observing my two friends go back and forth about the most efficient way to create a frame for an elaborate headdress out of metal. Shaye wanted to challenge herself and make a delicate but impactful piece, so she enlisted the help of Ashkan to explain the technical side of things. I sat on Ash's bed and mostly watched the birds that liked to perch on his window sill. I only chimed in every so often if I thought I had a good idea to offer. But otherwise, it was mainly the two of them brainstorming.

  We'd just finished our training session for the day and decided to hang out until dinner. It was always nice to get some downtime with them. It was Shaye's first day back at the arena since breaking her arm, and her physical therapy had helped greatly with the healing process. There was a lot of complex healing magic and some surgery involved. The former had a stiffening side effect on the injured limb, so it took a while for things to iron out on their own. I was just glad to see her mostly back to normal.

  "If you want to drape fabric over the frame, you'll want something lightweight and workable, but not too flexible," Ashkan elaborated. "Sturdy metals tend to be heavy, and sometimes brittle. But really pliable metals can get distorted pretty quickly under the right pressure. It also matters what kind of look you're aiming for, if the wires will be visible."

  "I suppose a happy medium is best," Shaye sighed, giving a frustrated frown. "Hm..."

  "Why don't you ask your grandfather?" I suggested.

  She laughed. "Because Ashkan is right here."

  He glanced away. "I mean... You could at least see if he has any manuals about this. He's an expert in metallurgy. If anyone has resources for you to use, it'd be him."

  "I don't want him to think I can't figure this out on my own, though," she huffed. "And his strategy is often simply 'eyeball it'. That is not exactly conducive to a refined end product."

  Ashkan snickered. "True..."

  The two continued to chatter about the process, and I involuntarily zoned out. It was partially because I didn't have much input. Also because I'd been kind of distracted all day. My mind kept wandering back to my date with Luke. That kiss. His stupidly gorgeous face. How I had to refrain from grinning like an idiot every time I thought of him. I was still wrapping my head around it, still processing all that had happened. And all that had yet to happen. I couldn't decide whether to let my imagination run wild or tether it down. It felt right, so I wanted to give it a proper chance...but I also didn't want to get too excited. Or too ahead of myself. It was a thin line I had to walk. And that was kind of scary.

  "...You could frame it," Shaye mused, breaking through the fog in my head. She gestured to a small stack of papers on the corner of Ashkan's desk. It took me a good few seconds to realize that the topic of conversation had shifted to his mother's letter.

  He gave her a deadpan stare. "No. Not a chance."

  "Why not?" she pressed.

  "It's not the kind of thing you put up for display. I've read through it a dozen times and still find stuff that's new." He blew a strand of hair off his forehead with an exasperated breath. "It's the kind of thing I want to keep close."

  Shaye pouted, then leaned closer and poked him on the nose. "Aww. You big softie, you."

  His eyes went cross-eyed for a second as he focused on her fingertip before swatting her away. "Come off it already..."

  "He does have a point," I piped up. "It's something special. It's probably better to keep it out of sight and safe in a box. We owe her that much, at least. She's given us so much valuable info."

  She folded her hands in her lap. "I was merely offering my thoughts. But, yes, Harwynis did indeed go into detail about many interesting things. Ashkan, have you had time to comb through her journals more thoroughly?"

  "Just finished yesterday, actually," he reported with a nod. "There are some helpful bits here and there. I've been recording a summary of everything as I go, so I don't miss any details."

  "Oh? Anything of particular interest?"

  "Plenty, I think. But I don't want you focusing on any of that. We now understand much more about what happened and how, but we're powerless to fix any of it currently. I don't think we should start investigating or diving into something we don't yet know how to deal with." He frowned. "Not to say I'm not eager to see things resolved too, but... This is bigger than the three of us. We don't have all the facts yet. I don't think we should even entertain the idea of prancing right up to Vhinrud's hideout. Not until we know more, anyway."

  Shaye tilted her head in contemplation. "Do my ears deceive me? Is Ashkan advising caution? Of all things?"

  He shrugged, glancing off to the side. "Just this once. You can thank the letter for that. There's too much risk involved in rushing in with no clue what we're up against. We've talked to Kadia about all of it, and I'm sure she's notified the King about the parts she deemed deserving of his attention... She's done all she can with what we know. So, we'll let the experts do their jobs. If and when they need us to step in, then we'll worry about it."

  A little smile crossed her lips. "It seems she has inspired you greatly."

  "Whatever helps us stay alive and come out of this unscathed, right? Besides, I don't want you stressing out more than you already are about it," he mumbled.

  Her smile faltered. "I am not that stressed."

  He raised an eyebrow at her in response.

  Her cheeks darkened in colour as she turned her face away. "I-It's only... We've found out so many new things that... I worry, yes, but..." She trailed off. "I wish we could do more, is all."

  "Me too." He sighed. "I think...the most important thing right now is to not get ahead of ourselves. I don't want to go chasing shadows and find myself lost. We've made progress. But there are some things we don't even know the extent of yet, and we can't jump in blind and reckless and expect everything to be okay."

  "I agree." Shaye fiddled with one of her hairpins. "It would be wise to be patient. There is plenty more research that can be done."

  "What about seeing if we can talk some sense into Balgaur, or get some kind of intel from him?" I mentioned.

  Ashkan gave me a pointed look. "When I made that suggestion, it was a very big 'if'. There are a million and a half ways it could go wrong. I just meant that as a possible option down the road, if we so happen to find ourselves in a good position and the circumstances line up right. Don't go making plans around it."

  "Fair," I said. "It's probably best we just stick to recovering the last two gemstones for now. Considering how much of a pain the quests have been, we'd probably do ourselves a favour by following the instructions we were given before veering off into some other adventure of our own. Let's exhaust Plan A before resorting to anything else."

  "We won't do anyone any good if we're dead before we can even attempt a Plan B," Shaye concurred.

  "Maybe our next quest will help us get a jumpstart on whatever else we have to do," Ashkan proposed.

  She nodded. "That would be nice... Perhaps the worst is already behind us? I'm not sure how much more near-death experiences I can endure between the three of us. You two are giving me grey hairs with how many injuries you seem to walk away from."

  Ashkan's nose crinkled. "...I wouldn't exactly say I merely 'walked away' from fainting and then almost drowning. If it wasn't for you propelling me to shore and warming me up, I'm pretty sure I'd be at the bottom of that ocean by now, frozen and rotting. And Brielle, obviously, you...dove after me, and..." Something in his eyes changed, as if the light within them dimmed. It was an instantaneous shift that was hard for me to miss.

  A wave of awkwardness fell over the room. The incident outside of the Vesper Mines still hadn't become something the three of us could openly discuss. That is, not the part where Ash almost died on a frigid shore. And especially not the part where I'd locked lips with him in the throes of a panic to try to breathe life back into his unresponsive body. That wasn't something he wanted to bring up again. At all. So neither did I, for obvious reasons. I knew it wasn't because he wasn't thankful – he had no issue telling me how appreciative he was and that I was a lifesaver, etc. It was simply...the circumstances around it were pretty heavy and strange. I'd done the right thing. It'd saved his life, but still. I was grateful that he seemed to understand the underlying weirdness, and he seemed relieved that I wasn't pushing for us to talk about it. Because what was there to really say?

  My persistent, covert attraction to Ash only made the whole ordeal even weirder. And now, having gone out with Luke and not really regretting any of it? It was only driving that nail further into my metaphorical coffin of unrequited feelings. Luke was wonderful, and I was happy, but Ash was... I still cared a lot for him, in every sense. There was just something so easy about being around him. But it was like there was this huge, invisible barrier keeping us from truly becoming more. There were many barriers, really. So many. And none of them seemed to be budging, despite all that had happened and the progress we'd made in other ways. Maybe, I realized, this was my cue to put the thought to bed.

  If there was something more between us, he would've made a move by now. Would've made it clear what he felt. There would've been a hint, at the very least, that we'd drifted towards one another in a romantic sense. I hadn't detected anything evident of the sort. Luke's boldness with our date and our kiss was what snapped me back into a reality I was apparently ignoring: there were signs all over of his interest. Ash was still being...Ash. My head wasn't playing tricks on me. Luke was interested, and Ash wasn't. Or if he was, he was so far out of reach that it didn't matter anyway. I felt that this was a clear indicator of my course of action. I had to move forward. This wouldn't happen, nor could it.

  Not knowing what to say, I eventually murmured, "Well... At least now we know how to bring you back." I shrugged, trying to be as lighthearted as possible.

  "Uh. Yeah. I guess so." He was clearly trying to follow suit and play along.

  Shaye, always a bright and optimistic ray of sunshine, did her best to liven the mood. "Certainly not the way one would prefer to be kissed, I'm sure...but, desperate times."

  My face turned warm as I remembered the event again.

  Ash's expression mirrored my own, and he tried to look anywhere but at me. "Shaye..."

  "I'm merely offering an observation!" she defended. "I know, I know, it wasn't a kiss. The important part was that you got air back into your lungs so you could survive. All I'm saying is, at least you've kissed someone before. Can you imagine your first one happening in a moment like that?"

  Ashkan's gaze narrowed, and he just stared at her, unimpressed. "Ignoring the fact that your argument is invalid, because I was unconscious, I'd argue that first kisses are worse than...rescue kisses. For the record."

  "Worse?! How could they possibly be worse than dying? How?" She waved her good arm emphatically, as if the gesture could convey what words could not.

  I, meanwhile, was wondering what I'd gotten myself into.

  "It's the nerves," Ash explained matter-of-factly. "That moment before it happens can be more awkward and painful than anything else."

  "A kiss is never awkward and painful," Shaye refuted.

  His brow raised again. "Tell that to your first kiss, and then ask him if he agrees."

  She turned her chin up, a silent sign that he'd made a convincing argument. "...Well. Your first was with Ofelia. At least you knew you could trust that she fancied you. That it was genuine."

  "That was three years ago," he argued with a pained sigh. "And it was awful. You don't just run up to someone and plant one on their lips out of nowhere and hope for the best. That's mad. That's what killed whatever interest I had left in her. The girl had no idea what she was doing, and neither did I, and I'm sure she thought she'd made a fantastic impression."

  "I will give you that she didn't handle it the most eloquently," Shaye conceded. "She did give off a strong 'I fancy you, now do the thing', kind of energy. She still does, to a degree... Hm. Perhaps your gut instinct was on your side that day."

  I perked up at the mental image of a fifteen-year-old Ashkan, standing shell-shocked after receiving an unsolicited kiss from Ofelia herself. The thought made me laugh. And also cringe.

  Ash gave me a glare that could've melted glass. "Laugh it up all you want, Brielle."

  I tried my hardest to suppress it, but it still escaped. "Sorry, but I can't help but picture the scene. She just went right up to you and said, 'Ashkan, I'm very fond of you and would like to kiss you'... And you had no choice but to go along with it, even though you weren't into it?"

  Shaye grinned. "Something like that."

  I burst into a full-blown cackle. "Oh, no! That's not right..."

  "Well, she did at least ask permission first," he muttered. "I just...kind of said yes, because she seemed so happy about the whole thing."

  My grin broadened. "You're too nice. Too charitable to say no."

  He folded his arms. "I'm better at those things nowadays..."

  "Kissing included," I chuckled without thinking. I then froze as soon as the words left me, as my brain registered them, and as I saw the way Ash was staring back at me.

  Shaye's gaze moved quickly between us. "I... What? Did I miss something?"

  I snapped to my senses. The gears in my brain went into overdrive. "I-I...mean... Well... Uh. He's just better at, um, speaking his mind and standing up for himself and such. And...doesn't everyone get better at all that other stuff as we age...?" I tried to cover.

  Visions of me making out with Ashkan's dark clone flashed in my mind. My stomach somersaulted at the reminder, and my face burned all over again. That was still something I knew I'd take to my grave. I couldn't ever bring myself to mention that little mishap to the real Ash. I'd just never recover from it. Not to mention how incredibly mortifying the whole thing was to recall. That had not been me at my best.

  Shaye watched me squirm with wide eyes like she knew there was definitely something I wasn't sharing. Her focus eventually shifted to Ashkan. "Do I dare to ask? I have the distinct feeling that I shouldn't."

  "Actually, this is news to me too. What are you talking about, Brie?" he pressed, and his attention was suddenly like a spotlight shining down on me. Now I was stuck in this hole I'd dug for myself.

  I wrung my hands and stared down at my feet. "I... I-It's nothing, really. I don't know what I meant by that. It doesn't matter. Forget about it."

  "Is there...something going on between you two that I am unaware of?" Shaye was trying to piece something together that she visibly didn't want to be true. I could see in her face that it was an idea she really hoped wouldn't be a possibility. It was an expression of deep worry and a touch of something else. Disappointment? Betrayal? I felt a wave of guilt.

  "Not that I know of." Ashkan was so blunt. So to-the-point. And I almost thought I was going to keel over right then and there. The words still stung a bit, despite what I already knew about his lack of feelings towards me.

  My body froze as I looked at him like a deer in headlights. "...No. Absolutely not. That'd be crazy."

  His stare zeroed in on me like a magnifying glass under the sun. "Brielle. What do you know that I don't? Your lying face isn't convincing in the slightest."

  "It's nothing important, Ash. Honest."

  "I beg to differ. It sounds very important." His gaze sharpened, like it could slice straight through me. I almost couldn't look away from it. He knew me too well. He always knew how to read me. "Care to elaborate?"

  Shaye was just watching it all go down without saying anything. The absolute essence of confusion was painted across her features. She was trying her hardest to be quiet and observe, and I almost pitied her for having to see us like this.

  "Nothing! There's nothing! Just me running my mouth because I wasn't thinking before I spoke," I tried to defend, knowing full well he was going to see right through any lie. The last thing I wanted was for him to pry too far and learn of something he definitely shouldn't have ever known.

  He blinked slowly, unamused. "Whatever it is, I won't get upset. You know that."

  "There's nothing!" My voice was higher in pitch than it needed to be.

  "You're making this worse than it actually is."

  A wry laugh slipped past my lips. "Am I, though...?"

  "Okay, seriously! That kind of statement is awfully alarming. Did you...kiss me when I was asleep, or something?"

  "NO! That's not it at all!" I slapped my hands over my face. I wanted to liquify into the floor. This couldn't be happening. I was doomed. Doomed.

  Then, a thought suddenly dawned on me, and it was like a bucket of ice water being dumped on my head. Maybe talking about what happened was better than hiding it. Maybe I could get some peace from this. It wouldn't fix anything. It wouldn't magically change his feelings. But maybe it would make the topic seem more closed off for good. If I got irrefutable reassurance that Ashkan didn't want anything like that between us, that this would actually be the final nail in the coffin, perhaps I'd have an easier time moving on. I liked Luke a lot; certainly more than I liked Ash, which was already enough of a sign to hit the brakes on whatever idealized fantasies I was clinging to involving the latter. Luke deserved all my attention. But there was just...a sliver of hope in me. And it needed to go away. Pronto. This could help. This might work. I had to give it a shot. And the rest would fade with time, just like every other crush I'd had on guys who never saw me the same.

  So, after taking a deep, centering breath, I made up my mind.

  "It's not something I intended to ever tell you."

  "Well, I'm asking."

  "...Promise not to get upset or...or judge me, or whatever..."

  He shrugged. "I won't, Brie."

  I eyed Shaye. "And promise me this stays between us three."

  She nodded. "You have my word."

  "...It's not much. Not really." I had no idea where to start. I didn't want to sound crazy or like I was trying to make a move on him. "Um... I really hate to bring this up, and I hate the situation, but... It was back when you were being held in Vindella. And your shadow was, um, posing as you and pretending to be...normal and everything..."

  I paused to take note of their expressions. Shaye looked confused and interested, while Ash's was mostly just puzzlement with a touch of intrigue. I almost lost my nerve then. It felt like I was crossing some boundary I never wanted to cross with him. Like I was putting my foot into territory we didn't need to tread into. I still forged ahead.

  "Uh. Well, so, it stole my necklace from me, right? You remember I told you that?" I waited for Ash to give me a nod of affirmation before I kept going. "And... And, uh, I don't know, I like to think that's not normally something someone can steal easily from me. That I'm usually good at keeping an eye on things. I think so, anyway. Maybe that's just wishful thinking. Um."

  "It doesn't matter," Shaye encouraged. "It was no weak opponent. We understand that."

  "Okay. I know this sounds bizarre, and it was. But. Uh. It was the way it stole the necklace that was...really weird." I started laughing, out of nerves and because it still sounded absurd in hindsight. "So. The thing clearly wasn't thinking straight, or pulling from your normal behaviours, or imitating you the way it should've been doing! Because it, um. ...Kissed me. As a distraction. To steal my necklace. Then it ran off." I laughed again, like this was all a big joke, despite the fact that it'd actually happened and wasn't actually all that funny at all. I was just trying to act casual.

  The room fell silent after I'd finished. My words seemed to hit Ashkan like a ton of bricks, and I wished they hadn't. He sat there for a few seconds, staring straight ahead. I wanted so desperately to pull the words out of the air and back into my mouth, for it to all be nothing. But it wasn't nothing.

  His ears reddened as the weight of what I'd just shared really sunk in. I could practically feel his mortification radiating out from his being. "It... What? That can't be true."

  "I know, right?! Isn't that insane?" I forced a smile onto my face and shrugged it all off. "I was super uncomfortable. You would've been too."

  "...I'm so sorry." His expression was strained. "I really... That's just. Unbelievable. I don't..." He was clearly trying to figure out what to say, and he looked like he was about to have an aneurysm over it all.

  "For how long?" Shaye interrupted.

  I glanced at her. "Hmm?"

  "How long did it last for? It couldn't have been all that long, right? A quick peck, surely." She was trying to make it less awkward, but her attempt was just making things worse.

  My gaze flitted between the two of them. I felt my own face warming all over again. "Uh, yeah. Well, its arms were really strong, so... I kind of got stuck. Not my proudest moment. But I didn't want to, y'know, drop-kick who I thought was my friend. So. I just let it happen. That was a mistake."

  Ash was so stiff he seemed made of marble. He was currently unable to formulate words or a single thought, and was just kind of frozen, staring down at nothing with a mix of bewilderment, embarrassment, and pure confusion.

  "It's fine. It's nothing. It wasn't you, so I don't hold it against you or anything. You would never do that. Right? Am I wrong about that?"

  "You're right," he mumbled after a few moments of silence. I ignored how the confirmation felt like a tiny stab in the heart. He then pinched the bridge of his nose, as if soothing a migraine. "Bloody... It's still horrible. That it would try that at all."

  I snorted. "Trust me. I've felt embarrassment a lot worse than what you're feeling."

  "I'm sorry," he repeated, like saying it enough would change things. "That... That's not okay, Brie. I wish you hadn't gone through that..."

  His concern touched me. I knew I was reading way too much into it. "Don't sweat it. Seriously. It's not important, or even that big of a deal. I mean, you've already kissed one girl that you didn't really want to! This is only a little bit worse. It wasn't a real person, at least. Just your...shady clone. That I also took care of! Payback, right?"

  "...Yeah. Payback," he agreed in a monotone voice. He still looked like his soul was going to leave his body at any moment.

  "There you have it. It wasn't fun. But now, it's over with," I finished. "It's fine."

  Shaye looked lost. "...Well. I'll say that...I wasn't expecting to hear that."

  I laughed awkwardly. "Yeah, uh. Sorry. Now you know why I didn't want to tell you."

  "So," Ash mumbled, his words sounding a bit far away, "what was your reaction when you realized what was happening?"

  "I don't...remember that clearly, if I'm honest," I lied, thinking of how I'd melted like butter against the doppelg?nger, how my limbs had turned to jelly, how the world had been spinning... "I know I tried to pull back. That it didn't really work out well. Um. I wasn't trying to reciprocate, I promise you that. And then I think I pushed it away a bit, and it didn't like that." I shrugged it off again. "But that was forever ago. The moment's over and done with."

  Shaye leaned forward with a question on her face, resembling a parent asking their teenager what a new slang word meant. "Then...the kiss must've been at least decent for you to comment on an apparent change. On how he must be better these days, I mean."

  My brain stalled for a moment before I caught on. She was clearly fishing for a bit of detail that I didn't want to give up. "Uh... Well. I'm not really the best person to judge. Besides, it wasn't even actually him! It was just his body. And that's not the kind of information you should be concerned with! You shouldn't even be concerned at all! We're past this." I folded my arms across my chest. "That's like saying...someone must be a good driver because they have an expensive car. There's little to no relation! Skill doesn't always equate to quality! Not everything's connected!"

  "...You're saying I have an expensive car?" Ashkan pointed out, as if to warn I should be careful how I phrased things.

  My cheeks flushed red, and I laughed in a frustrated manner. "I swear, if you two don't drop this right now, I'm going to jump out this window."

  "But it's cold outside," he replied with a twinkle of humour in his voice. "And there are a lot of rocks down there."

  I groaned and faceplanted against the bedsheets. "This is what I get for being honest."

  "I'm surprised you withheld that from us," Shaye noted. "An uncomfortable and embarrassing experience, without a doubt, but you didn't need to keep it all to yourself. Especially one that we can find ways to laugh at. That was quite funny, in a morbid, irregular way."

  "It's whatever!" I exclaimed against the fabric. "It's done now! The real Ashkan is not the kind of guy to do stuff like that. To anyone; least of all me!"

  There was a lull of quiet as I just lied there, wallowing in my humiliation. I had a feeling it was a very awkward quiet for all three of us. But at least it was quiet. At least we weren't discussing this anymore. I'd done what I needed to do: make it clear that I didn't hold Ash's doppelg?nger's behaviour against the real him, I didn't have feelings for him, I'd gotten the closure I needed, and there wasn't going to be some romantic, kissy-face fairy tale between the two of us.

  His reaction was proof that I didn't need to worry anymore. It was a giant, glowing red light, a beacon of clarity, shining in the night to tell me to move on with my life, and never go backwards. It was bittersweet, really. A mixture of relief, sadness, and closure. I was proud of myself for having the nerve to confess it. Now, all I had to do was actually let the information seep into my heart and brain so I'd finally be done with all this stupid longing. And never tell him about how he'd drunkenly kissed my cheek that one time outside of The Roaring Witch. I still didn't want that to get brought up. Ever. Not that it meant anything at all.

  ...It's fine. It's fine. You've gotten over this before, and you'll get over it again.

  "I suppose it was a blessing in disguise." I could hear Shaye speak after I'd been there for a while, her muffled voice making me realize how stupid I looked and how long I'd been holding the position. I rolled onto my side and sat up. "Those actions must've really clued you in to the fact that the creature you were interacting with was not Ashkan. If it wasn't already obvious."

  "Definitely," I replied in a tired but resolute tone. "I was like, oh yeah. No, this is not how my friend behaves at all. Something's wrong here. He wouldn't be this confident." I couldn't help laughing at my own joke. "...Sorry. That was mean. You're right, though. It was creepy and unsettling, and I had no idea what was going on or who I was talking to. I'd suspected something was wrong for a while, but it was the wakeup call I needed, actually."

  "I'm so sorry," Ashkan said for the umpteenth time.

  I looked over at him with a grin. "You don't need to apologize for something you had nothing to do with. Just learn from it and never be weird with women, Ash. Okay? If I ever see you act like your shadow did, I will punch you so hard your face will change shape." I raised my fists as if preparing to strike.

  He scoffed, the corner of his lips curling into a smile. "I know better than to challenge that. Your right hook's wicked."

  "I do my best." I dropped my arms and beamed back at him, hoping that was a sign he'd move past this. I wasn't trying to be flippant; I just didn't want things to become any more awkward between us. There was already too much unsaid, too many unknown things, and I didn't need anything more added to that. We were still friends. And that was fine by me.

  However, just when I thought Ashkan had relaxed a little and was on the verge of joking about the subject, his expression hardened abruptly. His mouth thinned into a straight line, and his brows knitted together. There was an uneasiness in his eyes.

  "What is it?" Shaye asked, having clearly noticed his sudden shift.

  "Shh, shh." Ash motioned for her to be silent before glancing around. His voice fell to a hushed whisper. "I think...my father is home..."

  The three of us fell quiet. My ears strained to pick up what he heard, and after a few seconds of silence, I could also make it out: the sound of the front door slamming shut downstairs, and then the heavy footfalls of someone coming into the house. They weren't just regular footfalls, though. They sounded almost...menacing. Like the owner of the feet was an ogre stomping into the kitchen. My skin broke out in goosebumps.

  Shaye also kept her voice to a whisper. "Should we... Should we leave? Will he be angry that we're here?"

  "Not necessarily," he muttered in return. "I don't know... He might just come to talk to me. We'll see..."

  There were several minutes of nothing before the sound of loud, thumping steps echoed up the stairs. As they drew nearer, my anxiety skyrocketed. I knew that Lev wasn't exactly a dangerous person to be around. But the fact that Ash was so tense wasn't exactly comforting. I could see him clench his hands into fists and sit up straighter as we waited with baited breath.

  "ASHKAN!" a voice finally yelled from the bottom of the staircase, a voice I immediately recognized as Lev's. He sounded impatient and tired and irritated.

  My heart leapt up into my throat. Booming footsteps reverberated through the house. They were heading our way.

  Ashkan shot up, cursed under his breath, then grabbed Shaye's and my arms. "Quick. Hide in the wardrobe. I'll handle him. It's probably just a small argument..." He pushed both of us towards the large armoire in the corner.

  "Why can't we–?" I questioned.

  "There's no time." He pulled the doors open and ushered us inside. "It's better if I talk to him alone. Don't say anything, don't try to interfere, and don't make noise. Okay?" He kept a hand on each of our shoulders, and the intensity of his stare let us know that he meant business.

  Shaye nodded, but I was still hesitant. If Lev was in a bad mood, wouldn't it be better for him to know company was over, so he might behave himself?

  Ash gave me a look like he was begging me to just listen and trust him.

  I sighed in response. "...All right."

  "It shouldn't take long. Thank you," he quickly concluded as he nudged us in, then shut the doors.

  My vision darkened as Shaye and I were enveloped in the closet's confines. It was small enough that there was barely room to turn around. We both stood straight, my back pressing against the side wall, and our feet crammed into the corners of the space. Amongst the wool blazers, cable knit sweaters, and button-up shirts that surrounded us, there was also a distinct but subtle scent of sandalwood and amber in the air, almost as if it was embedded in the clothes themselves. They smelled exactly like he did. I didn't know what cologne or soap or whatever he used, but that was his signature scent. The recognition made my heart flutter a bit, and I felt kind of stupid for that. It's just a smell. Don't be weird.

  I glanced around in the darkness and caught Shaye's eye, which reflected the light coming through the slit in the doors. We stared at one another through the shadows. I could make out her silhouette and some of her face, but not much else.

  "You've got to be kidding me..." I whispered.

  "We're in here for a reason. This must be serious." She tried to keep her tone optimistic, but she was still anxious and unsure.

  "How did he know his dad was feeling testy just by hearing him walk in?"

  "He just does. With his family, he can recognize identities and moods by their footsteps alone. Quite impressive, really."

  "That seems kind of...distressing..."

  She nodded sadly.

  I fiddled with the sleeve of one of Ash's coats as I listened in. There was the sound of the door opening and his footsteps moving across the hardwood floor. His father stomped in without any greeting or small talk, which I knew meant things were already sour.

  "Ashkan." Lev spoke in a curt tone, his deep voice reverberating throughout the bedroom. "Have you been snooping around in your mother's study again?"

  "No. Why do you ask?" he answered carefully.

  "Do not lie to me." Lev's voice had grown colder, icier. "You've been through her belongings. The forest painting was askew, the jar of quills was misaligned, her drawers had been pulled open and pushed shut. I'm not a fool, son. Do you think I wouldn't notice that my own wife's office has been disturbed?"

  My heart began to race at the tone in his voice. It wasn't even just the volume – which was considerable, as it carried a sort of rumble with it. But it was the tone, the intonation, the inflections in the words... They sounded as if he was spitting them, and they cut through the air with a sharp, jagged edge.

  It sounded like Ashkan had been caught in some sort of heinous crime, but his only response to his father was: "I did some light cleaning recently. It's not snooping. I must've just bumped into a few things."

  Lev's tone did not change. "Is that so?"

  Ashkan's tone stayed neutral and perfectly collected. "Yes."

  The tension in the room was unbearable, even as a silent third party. My throat was so dry that it was as if it'd been stuffed full of sandpaper. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up on end.

  Lev made a scoffing noise. "You've always had a way with words, Ashkan. And with falsehoods, as well."

  There was a slight pause before the reply, like the calm before a storm.

  "If you think so low of me, why even bother speaking with me about this?" he shot back.

  There was another moment of silence. It wasn't comfortable silence. It wasn't peaceful silence. It was silence like a fuse about to go off. I had to remind myself not to take action.

  "...Don't take that tone with me," Lev warned. "I don't appreciate your disrespect, nor do I appreciate that you are not being forthright. I asked you for something very simple: do not snoop around. When you wish to clean her study, you must first get my permission, and I'd prefer if you do a thorough job. The state I saw it in was unacceptable."

  Ashkan took in a deep, steadying breath before continuing. "I didn't want to upset you. I apologize for trying to take initiative and keeping her work space tidy. I should've known that was not allowed, as per usual. Next time, I'll get your permission." There was no trace of apology in his tone.

  The sarcasm was not lost on his father. "Your backtalk is unneeded. And unwelcome."

  "And I'm sick of feeling unwelcome in my own house!" he suddenly spat out. "She was my mother. You act as if I'm a stranger to this place!"

  My hand flew to my mouth. That wasn't good. That wasn't good at all. He wasn't helping his situation, but he was standing up for himself. He was being honest about how he was feeling, and there was a certain bravery and strength in that. The response implied he was finally at the end of his tether. Something was bubbling over.

  "Don't be ridiculous, son," Lev chided. "She was my wife, and I loved her with all of my being. I won't stand by and allow you to sully her memory with your insolent behaviour and attitude."

  "She wouldn't want you to keep everything exactly as it was, exactly how it was the day she passed away. That is what's ridiculous! She was a person outside of you, too. She would've wanted you to move on. But you can't do that, can you? Because then she'd become a real memory, one that fades like the rest, instead of this imaginary figment that you can cling onto, the memory you've perfected, where you're a good husband, where nothing's ever wrong!" Ashkan shouted, the volume of his voice growing.

  I was taken aback by how honest and brutal that response was. There wasn't anything subdued about it. He must've been holding in how he felt about all of this for years.

  Lev bellowed, "You will not speak to me this way in my own house, especially not about your own mother. How dare you imply that my grief isn't legitimate or that it doesn't exist. My wife passed away! You think you can comprehend what I've felt?!"

  Ashkan didn't reply to that. He remained quiet for several long, agonizing seconds before the sound of his foot tapping against the floor reached my ears. He was thinking over his next words very carefully, trying to maintain some level of restraint. "...No, I don't know how that feels. But I do know that I wouldn't let myself drown in alcohol, work, and memories, and be unable to move past the tragedy. And I'm damn sure that I wouldn't let my wife investigate an incredibly dangerous criminal organization that would end up abducting her, erasing her memories, and mortally weakening her. The head of which would then go on to kidnap and torture her son one day."

  A stunned hush fell over the room. Shaye and I both had to keep from gasping, and we locked eyes with wide-open pupils in the dim closet. I wanted to clamp my hands over my ears. I held my breath, as did Shaye, and the world stopped. I couldn't stand to hear his father's response. But it came anyway.

  "...What did you just say to me? Repeat yourself. Now." Lev's words were spoken slowly, clearly, and with venomous intent.

  Nothing.

  "Repeat yourself." The words were practically seething. "Now."

  Ashkan's reply was terse. "You heard me. I know about Mother's investigation into the prophecy. I know that Balgaur helped her. I know that Vhinrud, that raven-haired man, almost murdered her. I know that he drained her life force, which led to her weakened immune system. I know all about what the Inkbloods did to her. And I know that you didn't try hard enough to protect her."

  Lev interjected, "Don't you dare utter his name in my presence–!"

  "How could you not?!" Ashkan cut him off, raising his voice to the level his father was using. "You knew! You knew she'd been investigating the Inkbloods for years, and you let her do it, you let her be reckless! You knew where Balgaur's life was headed! You didn't think to... To make her stop, to make her understand? You didn't think to insist on some level of caution? To not let her curiosity stray too far? Or even to go with her? How could you not realize she needed you?! How could you not help her more?!"

  "I will not stand for–!" Lev tried again.

  But his son interrupted once more, shouting over him, "She'd been an adventurer, a scholar, her whole life! Why would you just...sit and do nothing while she ran off to places unknown, into the mouths of dangerous beasts?"

  "What more could I have–?!"

  "Balgaur is a violent imbecile that has maimed and killed countless people for pleasure, and has assisted in tormenting me personally, yet he still ensured Mother's safety with more adherence before his corruption than you ever did. She had someone else watching her back, ensuring she wouldn't venture directly into peril. The person you should've been. How did you not see how wrong that is?!" He spoke in rushed, hurried sentences, letting it all tumble out without thinking. Letting the anger, the sadness, the bitterness, everything he'd felt, finally be known. "She gave up her life to do this, to uncover truth, to help me in my quest. All you've ever done is berate me and tell me how to behave, when your own actions don't reflect that!"

  Lev made no immediate response. But I could tell by his heavy breaths that he was furious. His response took a few moments to form. "You have no right to speak to me this way! You do not understand the extent of your own ignorance. Do not ever bring that... That demon's name up in this house ever again. Do not utter such lies about your mother's life."

  "Lies?" Ashkan repeated. "You think I don't know the truth? I read all of that in her own handwriting."

  "...What? Where?!"

  "She didn't want you to know. In her letter to me, she asked me not to tell you. She knew you'd be angry."

  I could tell that was the straw that broke the camel's back for Lev. He didn't appreciate being lied to. He didn't appreciate being out of the loop, either.

  "...So you chose to keep this information from me; you chose to hide this from me, even though I'm the only one who's been looking after you, taking care of you, making sure you've eaten and gotten some semblance of a stable education?!" Lev bellowed back his son.

  "You think I had a choice? You think I could just ask you about this?!" Ashkan was still shouting, but his voice had an undercurrent of sadness, of desperation. He wanted to get through to his father. "I've been stuck in the dark here, but you don't seem to care! Her journals gave me more insight and more clarity in two hours than you ever did in four years!"

  I winced.

  The room was silent once more. The words had been said. He couldn't take them back. It didn't seem like he wanted to, though. He wanted to have this confrontation. This argument was something that'd been stewing in his heart for ages.

  "...Journals? What journals? What did she say?" Lev's tone had changed slightly, from icy cold to somewhat hesitant. I couldn't tell if he was still angry, or if he was confused, or if he was just trying to hold onto some level of composure.

  "In her study, behind the painting. She wanted me to read them. I know what the Inkbloods did to her. What they made her forget."

  "She asked you...not to tell me...?" Lev seemed to be digesting the idea as he spoke it out loud. I could sense some pain in his voice.

  "That's right," Ashkan answered in a cool voice, but the bitterness behind it could be detected. There was a beat before he added, "Go ahead and read them if you want. I've already seen them. She just thought it was best you didn't."

  "And why, might I ask, did she feel that way?" His words still dripped with ire, but it sounded more like a fa?ade, like he was trying to be tough, as if he wasn't wounded by the revelation.

  Ashkan didn't say anything at first, and then: "...She knew it'd cause strife in this house. Between us."

  The following quiet was agonizing. It was eerily, eerily quiet, like nobody was even in the room at all. The atmosphere was almost worse than the yelling. My skin felt like it was prickling with an invisible cold. Shaye seemed to have a similar sensation, and I noticed she had wrapped her arms around herself, like she was trying to ward off the feeling of a phantom chill.

  "You cannot shatter a clock and expect time to halt with it," Ashkan finally spoke, breaking the stillness. "She wrote of you, too. She said that you were the love of her life. She wanted to know who was behind the prophecy; she wanted to keep me safe. She knew her limits and her capabilities, and she didn't care about them. She did it all for me. That was the person you were married to. Not this imaginary version that you cling to, that doesn't exist. Her death wasn't tranquil or beautiful like you think it was. It was slow and gruesome and agonizing and she suffered. Still, she made peace with it because that was the price to pay to give me a better chance. So don't you dare imply that you know more about her death or about her experiences than I do, because you didn't even try to know in the first place."

  His words lingered in the air as they hit their intended target. He'd thrown one more punch, just one more, for the final knockout. I glanced over at Shaye. She had brought her hands up to her face and had covered it. Her body language said everything: she couldn't believe the argument was happening, and she was frightened, and she couldn't do anything to make it stop. I put a hand on her shoulder, but it was hard for me to look her in the eyes when I was equally as horrified by what we were listening to.

  The room went still once again. There was no more arguing. There was no more back and forth. The fight was over. The air was stagnant with the tension of it. The aftermath hung over us like a thick, choking cloud of smoke.

  "You..." Lev began. The words were strained. It was like they were being pulled out of him, like a cork from a bottle of wine that didn't want to come out. "...I have no need for your input. I will read the journals myself and decide for myself what her intent was. We will discuss this later. Until then, I want you to keep your nose out of other people's affairs, and I want you to know your place in this house. I will not be lectured on what is or is not appropriate when I am trying to help you achieve the highest potential in this family's name. Is that understood?"

  "I understand." The words were crisp and concise.

  "Then do not forget it. And if you know what is best for you, you'll learn to mind your manners as well, as you seem to have forgotten them entirely. Your insolence will get you nowhere in life. If you want to be a man, start acting like one, instead of a child that needs constant reminders."

  "I understand." The same clipped reply, spoken in the exact same way: quick, robotic, and rehearsed.

  "Very well." The sound of the door being opened again rang throughout the room. "...I won't be joining you for supper this evening. I have more pressing matters to attend to. But do try to learn your place while I am gone."

  With that, he exited the room. Ashkan didn't say another word. The door swung shut, and then his father's footsteps receded down the hall and stairs until the front door slammed with a heavy thud. The house seemed to let out a sigh of relief that the confrontation was over. I finally took in a full breath, as I felt like I hadn't taken one the whole time I'd been eavesdropping. Shaye and I stood in stunned silence as we digested everything that had been said. It was a lot. It was a lot for us to listen to, but I couldn't imagine what Ashkan was thinking after all that. He'd laid himself bare. He'd said exactly what he felt, and it wasn't a particularly positive experience. But I knew it was what he'd needed to say for a long, long time.

  "You can come out now..." His voice reached my ears after what felt like hours. The exhaustion was apparent in his tone. "I'm sorry you had to hear all that. It's been a long time coming, I think..."

  I slowly pushed the wardrobe doors open. Ashkan was standing there with a weary look on his face. His eyes were dim, his brow was furrowed, and his mouth was a straight line. I wasn't sure how to react. I couldn't even process all of that myself.

  Shaye was the first one to break the silence, speaking up as we stepped into the centre of the room, "...Are you okay?" She sounded so small and concerned.

  "...No, not really. That was... Well, it felt like it needed to be said," he responded with a sigh. He was trying to keep up some level of strength and stability. He was trying not to sound too fragile or damaged, but we all knew how much that must've hurt to say. It took a lot to break the ice on the dam he'd put up between them, but once it broke, the flow couldn't be contained.

  "Do you... Do you want a hug?" I asked hesitantly. "You seem like you might need one..."

  A sad smile formed on his lips. "Yeah, I guess I do. Thanks."

  Shaye and I immediately surrounded him and wrapped him in a safe embrace. We stayed in that little group hug for what felt like ages. No one said anything. Although, I could sense a weight coming off of Ashkan's shoulders. The words he'd said had been chipping away at his soul for years, and finally being able to set them free seemed to be relieving. Cathartic, even. I just wished that his father would've accepted his feelings instead of rejecting them.

  After several minutes, we let him go.

  Shaye spoke again, "Do you want to talk about it at all?"

  "Hold on, um... What time is it...?" he mumbled as he glanced over at the clock sitting on his nightstand. "Okay, good. Niista's not home yet, and Wendyll's still out getting groceries..."

  I tilted my head in confusion, unsure why we needed to know that, as I watched him stride over to his window and open it. The panes pushed open, and he leaned out. The dense forest seemed to stretch on forever. Birds sang their tunes in the distance.

  "You might want a silencing charm this time," Shaye suggested, seemingly already aware of what he was doing.

  Ashkan nodded in response and lifted a hand. The air seemed to shimmer with a light green glow before fading out. He must've placed some kind of soundproof barrier around the house. It seemed like the smart choice to make considering Lev might've been lingering nearby outside. Once that was done, he leaned a bit farther out and gripped the window sill tightly as he took in a deep breath.

  And then, he just...screamed. It was a raw, wordless sound, full of frustration. Slightly startled, I took a step back. Shaye just closed her eyes and nodded like this was expected. The scream turned into a yell as he continued to pour his heart out to the wind. There wasn't any rhyme or reason to it, and it didn't really have any direction, but it was an outlet for all of his anger. And I understood that. It was one of the most effective ways to get your emotions out of your body and into the world where it could dissipate. I couldn't keep track of how many times I'd wanted to do the same thing, but had held myself back out of fear of being seen or heard, even though I knew screaming would make me feel better.

  It only lasted for about thirty seconds. But it seemed like Ash really needed that, like he had to get it all out of his system in the only way he could think to.

  "Better?" Shaye asked when he closed the window again and let the silencing charm fall.

  "...Better." He exhaled like he was trying to physically get rid of the last few shards of negativity clinging to him, then looked at me. "Sorry. That's just...a thing I do when I get frustrated, I guess. Shaye knows."

  I offered a comforting smile. "No worries. I understand."

  He seemed relieved that I wasn't upset at the noise. "Thanks. I'm sorry you had to witness that conversation in the first place. I wouldn't have forced you two to stay if I'd known it would be like that."

  "No, don't be," I replied. "You said everything that you'd been thinking for a long time. That takes a lot of guts."

  "Certainly a brave choice," Shaye agreed.

  He scratched the back of his neck, seeming somewhat bashful. "I'm, uh... I'm just glad that's over. That's the most I've ever argued with him. It's too hard for me to try and understand my father. The more I try to, the less I feel like myself. That's just how things are. I don't know if they'll ever change." He seemed to deflate slightly as he sat down on the edge of his bed. "He's a stubborn person and he thinks he's always right, which makes it hard to reason with him about anything."

  "Maybe he'll come around," Shaye said. "...Eventually."

  "I appreciate the thought, Shaye, but you've been saying that for the last five years. It hasn't happened yet. It doesn't look like it's going to in the future, either. And it's not just this, but a whole host of other issues... We never see eye-to-eye."

  She sat next to him. "Well, just know we're always here to help if you ever need anything."

  "That goes without saying, right?" I asked as I took my spot on his other side.

  "It's still nice to hear," Ashkan murmured. He closed his eyes, seeming lost in his thoughts, before speaking again, "...Could you...stay for a little longer...? Just until dinner?"

  I felt my heart flutter with fondness, and Shaye seemed similarly endeared by the question. She reached over and squeezed his hand. "Of course."

  Following her lead, I answered, "As long as you need."

  "...I think I need it." His tone was somewhat dejected, somewhat defeated, and I understood.

  The thing that bothered me the most was how well Ashkan seemed to handle all of this. It was like that kind of fight was simply a biweekly occurrence. He wasn't too terribly phased, all things considered. It felt like there should've been more of an emotional response to this. I couldn't say for sure how long it'd been happening, but he was fairly used to it by this point, so it probably happened often enough that it didn't affect him so much anymore. He knew how to pick himself back up like it was nothing. And that thought made me so sad. It made me angry, too. That wasn't any way to live.

  We just stayed with Ash for as long as we could. He vented some of his frustration, but not a lot, mostly just in the way that he tended to ramble about his thoughts and feelings without going into too much depth about them. And we were there to listen, to offer support in any way we could. Later on, we played some card games and didn't talk about anything related to his father. Instead, we regaled him with our own stories about funny experiences or embarrassing moments to try to put some humour into his evening. Although I wasn't sure it was very helpful, he didn't mind the change of subject, at least. It almost felt like another regular hangout session. By the time dinner rolled around, Ashkan seemed a lot more collected and at ease. He assured us that he'd talk to his sister about what had happened. If anyone was going to really understand and empathize with the whole situation, it was her.

  Shaye and I chatted with Niista for a bit before heading out. She seemed to sense that things weren't quite right in the house, and although she didn't press Ash about it, she certainly seemed like she'd have his back in an instant if he needed it.

  As I laced up my boots, I recalled something from last week. "Hey, Ash. You still haven't told me what you want me to bring you from Earth."

  He rested his shoulder against the wall beside him. "That's right, I haven't."

  "So what do you want? The world is your oyster. ...More or less."

  There was a small pause as he thought it over. "I don't know; anything's fine..."

  I laughed, perplexed as to why I'd expected a better response. "Great. Super helpful. Give me something to work with, would ya?"

  "All right, all right. Um..." His hand came up to his chin, an idea bouncing around his mind. "...How about a rock?"

  "Like...a paperweight?"

  "Not necessarily. Just a rock."

  I glanced over at Shaye, who had finished tying her laces and looked equally lost. "Uh, any kind in particular?"

  He shook his head. "Any'll do, any kind. Doesn't matter what it looks like or how boring it is, just as long as it's a stone from your world."

  "Um..." I stared at him, not really having much in the way of a reaction to that. "Is that a joke, or...? Did something get lost in translation?"

  Ashkan chuckled lightly. "No. I don't want you to spend any money, I don't want to ask for anything difficult to acquire, bringing anything alive would be irresponsible, I'm barely familiar with any Earth languages, and any piece of technology would probably fail quickly if it'd even function at all. So...a rock."

  I blinked in surprise. "Okay. If you say so. One rock, coming right up..."

  "I'm looking forward to seeing it," he replied, seeming content.

  Before parting ways, Shaye and I tried to console Ashkan a little more, just to make sure he wouldn't worry too much about the argument. He did seem pretty collected now, but that didn't mean he wasn't stressing internally. However, he assured us he'd be okay and that he'd talk to his sister. In the end, we had to trust that he'd be able to heal after having such an emotional conversation. I hoped that his dad would come to his senses and see where Ash was coming from, but in case that didn't happen, the best we could do was just give him all the support we could muster. He might've needed a few days to process things first, then everything would go back to normal, but until then, we'd do our part to keep him from sinking under the waves. I knew he'd rebound with relative ease – the frequency of conflict like this meant he was probably well used to it, unfortunately.

  All in all, it just left a bitter taste in my mouth.