13

Duo point of View

Alexander’s Point of View

I feel so fucking stupid

.

It was 9:00 p.m., and here I was standing outside her building, holding a bouquet of white and pink roses like some lost romantic from a cheesy high school movie.

My phone screen glowed in the dark, lighting up the contact I had stared at for almost fifteen minutes straight.

Missy.

That damn name. It already had a spot carved deep into my head, carved deeper into my chest.

“Just call her,” I muttered.

But my thumb hovered Still.

I had to beg Nico for the number.

Actually no scratch that. I had to fight for it.

“Give me the fucking number, meh,” I’d growled earlier today, grabbing his shirt like I was in some gangster film.

Nico just pushed me off and said, “Get a grip. She’s not a prize.”

He was right.

And that only made it worse.

Because I didn’t want her like some prize to claim.

I wanted her like she mattered.

Like she already mattered.

He eventually gave it to me.

Mumbled something about “don’t screw it up.”

And here I was now, screwing it up in real time by not calling.

The roses in my hand? I don’t even know what the hell I was thinking.

They were my sister’s idea. “Girls love flowers,” she’d said, slapping the back of my head when I told her I didn’t know how to talk to Missy.

She reminded me of roses, though.

Soft. Beautiful. Thorns hidden under the petals.

Like she could slice you without even raising her voice.

And now I was parked outside her dorm in my black Lamborghini like some creepy rich guy hoping the girl he likes comes down.

I sighed, gripping the steering wheel with my free hand. “Don’t be a bitch, Alexander. Just call her.”

I didn’t know if she liked expensive things.

Didn’t know if she'd hate this car or the roses or me.

Didn’t know shit except that I liked her and I didn’t want to mess it up.

If she came out? Cool. I’d take her for a drive, let her blast the music, maybe even make her smile.

If she didn’t?

I’d just drive home and cry myself to sleep.

Kidding.

Mafia men don’t cry.

Right?

I stared at her number again.

Breathed in.

Then hit “Call.”

___

Missy’s Point of View

My phone buzzed beside me on the bed.

I glanced at the screen, heart already skipping when I saw the name: Unknown Number.

I should’ve ignored it.

I really should’ve.

But something in me knew it was him.

“Hello?” I answered softly, curling my legs underneath me.

“Hey,” came that deep voice.

Rough around the edges, like gravel and honey.

It was him. Alexander.

I blinked at the wall like it might explain why my heart was beating this fast.

“You busy?” he asked after a second.

My voice came out quieter than I meant. “No.”

He cleared his throat. “I’m outside. Thought maybe you’d want to go for a drive? Just you and me. Nothing weird.”

I stared at the phone, heart tripping.

He sounded nervous.

Alexander the guy who usually looked like he could snap necks for breakfast sounded nervous.

“Okay,” I said before I could talk myself out of it.

There was silence on the other end, like he hadn’t expected that.

“Yeah?” he asked, softer now. “You sure?”

“Yeah,” I repeated, smiling despite myself. “Give me five minutes?”

He let out the smallest chuckle. “I’ll be here.”

The line went dead, and I jumped off the bed like a madwoman.

I tore through my closet. No, not the ripped hoodie. Not the pink sweater either.

Ugh why did I own so many shirts with cartoon bunnies?

I settled for a black crop top and my favorite ripped jeans. Simple. Comfortable. Me.

Grabbing my phone, I tiptoed toward the door so my roommate wouldn’t start screaming questions.

Of course, the second I cracked it open.

“Where are you going?” she called from the bathroom, towel on her head.

“Out,” I said, smiling.

“With who—wait, is that Alexander’s car I hear!?”

“I’ll tell you later!” I yelled back and practically flew down the stairs.

And there he was.

Leaning against a sleek, black Lamborghini with the door open, like he stepped out of a movie.

He wore all black. His hair was messy like he’d run his hands through it too many times, and he was holding a bouquet of roses.

Roses.

My steps slowed.

“For me?” I asked, wide-eyed.

He handed them to me and looked away, scratching his neck. “Don’t laugh. They were my sister’s idea.”

I sniffed them, smiling so wide it almost hurt. “I love them.”

He finally looked at me. And smiled.

“Ready?” he asked, holding the door open.

I nodded and slid in.

As the engine purred to life and the city lights blurred past us, I felt something loosen in my chest.

Maybe this wasn’t a bad idea after all.

Alexander didn’t say much as he pulled onto the highway, the city slowly melting into the open road.

The windows were halfway down, letting the night air dance through her hair.

The leather seat felt warm beneath her, and I was painfully aware of how close his hand was to mime on the gearshift.

"You can play music if you want," Alexander said, nodding to the screen.

My brows lifted. "Anything?"

He glanced at me with a half-smile. "Anything. I wanna hear what you like."

I reached for my phone, hesitating only for a second before connecting it.

I scrolled through my playlist with a shaky thumb. Then hit play.

The first song that came on was something soft and upbeat, and Alexander didn’t say a word.

He just tapped his fingers lightly on the steering wheel and nodded along.

Song after song, he let me take the lead. And when I started to sing, timidly at first, he didn’t laugh.

He didn’t even smirk. He just glanced at me with something like admiration in his eyes.

Then it started.

"Better" by Khalid.

I froze. My favorite.

"Wait—" I began, reaching for the phone.

"Don’t." He reached out and gently stopped her hand. "Let it play."

I  blinked at him.

Love to see you shine in the night like the diamond you are...

I sang it softly.

Then he did the unexpected.

He sang too.

I'm on the other side, it's alright, just hold me in the dark...

His voice was rough, not perfect, but it sent a chill down her spine. She turned to look at him and caught him already watching her.

We say we're just friends, but when nobody's around.

They both said it. In sync. Staring at each other.

Missy laughed, face heating. "You actually know this?"

He chuckled, his voice warm. "My sister blasts it all the time. Guess it grew on me."

I smiled, heart thudding.

He turned off the main road then, pulling into a quiet lookout spot that overlooked the glowing city.

The car settled into a calm purr.

Alexander leaned back in his seat. "You always sing like that?"

I giggled. "Only when I think no one’s listening."