Chapter 3

Ava's room looked different with everything packed. The posters were gone, the shelves were empty, and the suitcase sat open on her bed like a reminder she couldn't ignore. Tomorrow morning she'd be gone—four years away, a few states over, living in a dorm she'd never seen before. The thought sent a shiver down her spine, and she felt a lump form in her throat.

She sat cross-legged on the floor, folding the last of her clothes, her hands shaking a little. She didn't know if it was excitement or fear. Maybe both.

Downstairs, she could hear Ethan and Jaxon talking. Their voices drifted up the hallway—low, familiar, comforting. She paused, listening. She couldn't make out the words, but she knew the tone. It was the same tone they used when they were trying not to think too hard about something. It was a tone that said they were trying to be brave, to be strong, but were secretly scared and unsure.

She swallowed, feeling a sense of trepidation wash over her.

Her last night home. Her last night with them. Her last night before everything changed.

The thought was both exhilarating and terrifying.

A knock sounded on her door.

"Ava?" Ethan's voice.

"Can we come in?"

She stood and opened the door, feeling a sense of nostalgia wash over her. Ethan walked in first, hands shoved in his pockets, a look of concern etched on his face. Jaxon followed behind him, leaning against the doorframe like he wasn't sure if he should be there.

Ava smiled, feeling a sense of comfort at the sight of her two favorite people.

"Hey."

Ethan looked around her room, taking in the sight of her packed bags and empty shelves.

"It's weird seeing it like this," he said, his voice filled with a mix of sadness and nostalgia.

"I know," Ava replied, feeling a pang of sadness herself. She had grown up in this room, surrounded by these walls, with Ethan and Jaxon by her side. It was hard to believe it was all coming to an end.

"You ready?" Ethan asked, his voice filled with a mix of concern and excitement.

She hesitated, feeling a sense of uncertainty wash over her.

"I think so," she said finally, trying to sound braver than she felt.

Jaxon's eyes softened, and he took a step forward, his eyes locked onto hers.

"You don't have to be," he said, his voice filled with a sense of understanding.

Ava felt a surge of emotion at his words, and she looked at him, taking in the sight of his tired face, his messy hair, and his broad shoulders. He looked older than twenty-one, older than she remembered. He looked like someone who'd already lived a life, someone who'd experienced things she couldn't even imagine.

She didn't know why that made her chest tighten, but it did. She felt a sense of wonder, of awe, at the person Jaxon was becoming.

She looked away, feeling a sense of shyness wash over her.

Ethan sat on her bed, a bag of chips in his hand.

"We brought snacks," he said, a grin spreading across his face.

Ava blinked, feeling a sense of surprise.

"Snacks?" she asked, laughing.

Jaxon held up the bag, a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Last-night tradition," he said, his voice filled with a sense of humor.

Ava smiled, feeling a sense of comfort at the familiar ritual.

"We don't have a tradition," she said, trying to sound playful.

"We do now," Ethan replied, his voice filled with a sense of determination.

Ava laughed and sat beside him, feeling a sense of ease wash over her.

Jaxon walked over and sat on the floor, leaning back against her dresser. He stretched his legs out, ankles crossed, looking up at her like he was trying to memorize her face.

Ava felt a sense of shyness wash over her, but she didn't look away. She just smiled, feeling a sense of connection with Jaxon that she couldn't quite explain.

They talked for hours—about nothing and everything. About the fire academy, about her dorm, about Ethan's terrible cooking, about Jaxon's habit of leaving his boots everywhere. They talked about the stuffed bear she'd packed in her suitcase and the memories they'd made together.

The silence that settled between them wasn't awkward. It was a quiet understanding, a shared comfort in each other's presence.

After a while, Ethan nudged her, his elbow bumping against her side.

"You're gonna forget us," he said, his voice low and serious.

Ava shook her head, feeling a surge of denial.

"No, I'm not."

Ethan's expression softened, but his voice remained steady.

"You will."

Ava's smile faltered, and she looked away, trying to hide the uncertainty that was creeping in.

"I won't," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jaxon spoke up, his voice quiet and reassuring.

"She won't."

Ava looked at him, and their eyes met in a moment of understanding. She felt a flutter in her chest, a sense of connection that she couldn't quite explain.

She looked away, trying to hide her reaction, but Jaxon's gaze lingered on hers, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. Her stomach tightened again, the familiar sensation making her feel both excited and nervous.

She didn't know what it meant, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was shifting between them.

Around midnight, Ethan fell asleep on her bed, sprawled across her comforter like he owned the place. Ava laughed softly and pulled a blanket over him, feeling a pang of affection for her brother.

She had always known he was a bit of a goofball, but in this moment, he just looked like a big, sleepy kid.

Jaxon stood, his movements quiet and deliberate.

"I should head home," he said, his voice low and gentle.

Ava's smile faded, and she looked up at him, feeling a sense of reluctance.

"You don't have to," she said, her voice soft.

Jaxon hesitated, his eyes flicking to the clock on the wall.

"I don't want to wake your parents," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"They won't care," Ava replied, trying to reassure him.

Jaxon looked at her for a long moment, his eyes searching hers.

"You sure?" he asked, his voice low and hesitant.

Ava nodded, feeling a sense of conviction.

"I'm sure."

Jaxon sat back down, his movements slow and deliberate. The room felt smaller suddenly, quieter, softer. Ethan snored lightly behind them, the only sound in the house.

Ava hugged her knees, feeling a sense of anxiety wash over her.

"I'm scared," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jaxon leaned his head back against the dresser, his eyes closing as he let out a slow breath.

"I know," he said, his voice soft and understanding.

"What if I don't make friends?" Ava asked, her voice shaking slightly.

Jaxon's eyes opened, and he looked at her, his expression serious.

"You will."

"What if I hate it?" Ava asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jaxon's expression softened, and he leaned forward, his elbows on his knees.

"Then you'll come home," he said, his voice low and reassuring.

Ava felt a lump form in her throat as she looked at him, her heart swelling with emotion.

"What if I'm not good enough?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jaxon's eyes locked onto hers, and he spoke in a voice that was both gentle and firm.

"Ava... you're more than good enough."

Ava's heart skipped a beat as she looked at him, feeling a surge of emotion.

"You think so?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jaxon nodded, his expression serious.

"I know so."

Ava felt a sense of wonder wash over her, a sense of awe at the depth of Jaxon's words. She didn't know why they mattered more than anyone else's, but they did. She didn't know why she wanted to remember the way he said them, but she did. She didn't know why she wished she could freeze the moment, but she did.

The clock ticked past one, then two. Ava's eyes grew heavy, and she leaned her head against the wall, blinking slowly.

Jaxon watched her, his eyes soft and gentle.

"You should sleep," he said, his voice low and soothing.

Ava shook her head, feeling a sense of resistance.

"I don't want to," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Because when I wake up... I have to leave," she said, her voice trailing off as she looked at Jaxon, her heart heavy with emotion.

He exhaled, a long, quiet breath that seemed to fill the space between them.

"Yeah," he said, his voice low and gentle.

Ava looked at him, her eyes searching his face for reassurance.

"You'll still be here when I come back, right?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jaxon nodded once, his jaw clenched in a small, firm motion.

"Always," he said, his eyes never leaving hers.

Ava's eyes lingered on his, and for a moment, they just looked at each other, the only sound in the room the soft hum of the clock on the nightstand.

Ava's face was pale, her skin looking almost translucent in the dim light, and Jaxon felt a pang of concern for her. She didn't know why that made her throat tighten, why she felt a lump form in her chest. She didn't know why she believed him so easily, why she trusted him with her deepest fears. She didn't know why she wanted him to say it again, to promise her that he'd be there for her no matter what.

But she felt the weight of tomorrow pressing closer, the weight of leaving behind everything she knew and loved.

Ava's eyes finally closed, her breathing slowing as she relaxed into the softness of the blanket. Her head tilted to the side, resting lightly against the wall, and Jaxon felt a pang of sadness.

He watched her for a long moment—longer than he meant to. He didn't touch her. He didn't move closer. He didn't cross any lines. He just watched, his eyes drinking in the sight of her, the way her hair curled around her face, the way her eyelashes fluttered against her cheeks.

The awkward, thin, still-growing girl who used to trail behind him and Ethan... was leaving. Growing up. Becoming someone new.

Jaxon didn't know why that made his chest ache, why he felt a pang of sadness. He didn't know why he felt protective in a way he couldn't explain, why he wanted to shield her from the world. He didn't know why he hoped she'd come back the same and different all at once, why he wanted her to stay the same girl he'd grown up with, but also to grow into the woman she was meant to be.

He didn't know anything yet. But he felt the shift, the subtle change in the air, the way the room seemed to vibrate with an unspoken understanding.

He stood quietly, grabbed the blanket from the bed, and draped it over her shoulders.

She didn't stir. Ethan snored louder behind them, a deep, rumbling sound that made Jaxon smirk.

He turned off the light and walked out of her room, closing the door softly behind him. The hallway was dark, the house silent except for Ethan's muffled snoring.

Ava slept curled beneath the blanket he'd draped over her, the stuffed bear tucked beside her suitcase. It was her last night home, and he'd stayed until she drifted off.

That felt like the right way for the day to end.

As he walked back to his own room, Jaxon felt a sense of peace settle over him. He knew he'd do everything he could to support Ava, to be there for her no matter what.

And as he lay in bed, his eyes drifting shut, he felt a sense of hope, a sense that tomorrow would bring new beginnings, new challenges, and new opportunities for them both.