20

Missy’s Point of View

I don’t know how long we sat there. Maybe minutes.

Maybe hours. But after all the crying and the heavy truths, everything felt lighter.

My chest didn’t ache the way it used to when I thought about that night.

I turned toward Mark, finally letting myself look at him without flinching. Without wondering if I was dreaming or crazy.

“Did you see Dad though? Like it’s been ages,” I asked softly.

He gave a short laugh, one without any humor. “Nah. I don’t want to. It’s better we don’t meet him again. Like, ever.”

I nodded slowly. “Yeah probably safer that way.”

There was silence again, but this time it wasn’t heavy.

It felt like the kind of silence that existed between people who knew each other well enough not to fill every gap.

“Still know how to fight?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.

I smirked and stretched my legs out. “Of course I do.”

Mark grinned. “Yeah, you always were the one with more bite. But what’s up with the acting all cute and soft now? We both know you crazy as hell.”

I laughed, full and real. The kind of laugh that came from somewhere deep.

“Mom’s idea honestly,” I said, leaning back on my palms and staring up at the sky.

“After you ‘died,’ she changed. She made me dress sweeter. Talk softer. Said I had to be a lady now. Said you would’ve wanted me to be protected.”

Mark scoffed, “I would’ve wanted you to have brass knuckles and a taser in your bag, not lip gloss and a shy smile.”

I grinned. “I do have a pocket knife in my dorm. Just saying.”

He snorted. “That’s my sister.”

We stayed there in the quiet, under the soft moonlight and fading game lights in the distance.

For the first time in a long time, I felt like I had a part of myself back. The tough part.

The fearless part.

The real me, the girl who ran through chaos and survived it.

“I missed you,” I whispered, without looking at him.

“I missed you more, Little M,” he said, and his voice cracked a bit.

I reached for his hand and held it tight.

This moment felt like something we’d both been fighting for just to breathe the same air, to know we weren’t alone anymore.

“We should go visit Mom soon,” I said as we walked slowly back toward campus, the cool night air brushing against my skin.

Mark’s hands were tucked in his pockets, his face unreadable in the soft glow of the path lights.

“Yeah,” he murmured, not needing to say more.

I could feel my phone buzzing every few minutes in my back pocket.

I knew the others were probably looking for me Sienna, maybe even Alexander. But I didn’t want to rush this moment. Not yet.

“Tomorrow,” Mark said with a little grin, “we’re going full sister-and-brother day.

You’re gonna tell me everything. And I mean everything. Especially about your new boyfriend.”

I groaned. “Alexander is not my boyfriend.”

“Could’ve fooled me,” he teased, bumping my shoulder.

I rolled my eyes but smiled.

“Yeah, he’s hot and all that. I mean really hot. Like, can-melt-you-just-by-staring hot. But honestly…” I sighed, glancing at the sky. “I think I like Nico more.”

Mark raised a brow but stayed silent, letting me talk.

“He’s always there, you know? Helping me. Talking to me. Showing up. Alexander is just he’s always in his own world. Like some dark cloud is following him around or something.” I shrugged.

“I don’t want to chase someone who doesn’t even know if he wants to be caught.”

“Maybe you’re the one who’ll change him,” Mark said with a little smirk.

I laughed out loud. “Yeah, right. What is this, a fairytale?”

We both cracked up, our laughs echoing down the quiet path until I glanced up toward the front of the dorm building.

And I stopped walking.

There he was.

Nico.

Leaning against the wall like he had all the time in the world, arms crossed, head tilted, watching me.

Like he always did.

Patient. Constant. Present.

I swallowed and slowed my steps. “There he is,” I whispered.

Mark followed my gaze and gave a nod. “He’s been waiting for you.”

I didn’t say anything. Just stared at Nico standing there like he was where he was meant to be.

Alexander never did that. He was passion and fire and chaos.

But Nico? Nico was comfort.

Maybe that’s what I needed more.

Maybe that’s what love felt like.