21

Duo point of View

Nico’s Point of View:

I stood outside the building, arms crossed, leaning against the cold brick wall, trying not to pace like a damn idiot.

But she was taking too long.

Missy, where the hell are you?

I kept my eyes locked on the path like she’d appear if I stared hard enough. Like I could will her back to me.

“I see the way you look at her, Nico.”

The voice came from behind, sharp and smug. Sienna.

I didn’t turn right away. “Huh?” I muttered, pretending not to know what she meant.

Pretending like my heart wasn’t halfway out of my chest every time Missy smiled at someone that wasn’t me.

Sienna walked up beside me, wrapping her arms around herself like she was cold.

“You like her,” she said simply, watching me with a smirk. “You think nobody notices, but I do.”

I shrugged. “It’s not like that.”

“Right,” she laughed softly. “You’ve been standing here for twenty minutes waiting for a girl who isn’t even yours.”

I clenched my jaw, eyes still searching the distance. “She went with her brother.”

“I know,” Sienna said, her voice softening just a little. “But the way you looked when she left Nico, you didn’t want her to go.”

I didn’t say anything.

Because she was right.

I didn’t want Missy to leave.

Not because I didn’t trust her brother, but because every second she was away from me felt heavier.

Like something could go wrong, and I wouldn’t be there to stop it.

“I don’t even know what this is,” I finally muttered. “I just when she’s around, I feel better. Lighter. And when she’s not”

“You get twitchy and moody and your jaw ticks like crazy,” Sienna finished with a grin.

I gave her a look. “That obvious?”

“Painfully.”

I sighed, dragging a hand through my hair. “I see her, Sienna. I see all of her. And I don’t think she realizes how rare that is. How rare she is.”

Just then, I heard laughter.

My head snapped up, and there she was walking back, her arm brushing against her brother’s, her face glowing under the soft light.

She looked okay.

Better than okay.

Happy.

And somehow, that made my chest ache even more.

Because she wasn’t laughing with me.

Sienna gave me a gentle pat on the back. “Go get your girl, Nico.”

I didn’t move.

Not yet.

I just stood there, watching her with that same damn feeling in my chest the one I kept trying to ignore.

My little Missy.

You’re the storm and the calm.

And I think you’ve already wrecked me.

___

Missy’s Point of View

“Okay, you’ve been staring into space for five minutes,” Sienna said, snapping her fingers in front of my face as we walked across campus.

I blinked. “Huh?”

She rolled her eyes. “Girl, we’re literally walking to class and you’re zoning out like we’re on some meditation retreat. What’s going on?”

I bit my lip, unsure if I wanted to admit it. But it was Sienna my loud, nosy, dramatic, ride-or-die roommate. I could tell her anything.

“I think I like Nico,” I said quietly.

She stopped walking. “Wow. Took you long enough to say it out loud.”

My eyes widened. “You knew?”

“Babe,” she laughed. “You talk about him every day. ‘Nico helped me today.’ ‘Nico stayed with me after class.’ ‘Nico brought me snacks.’ It’s giving boyfriend energy, and you’re the only one pretending not to notice.”

I flushed, tucking my hair behind my ear. “It’s not like that he’s just kind.”

“Kind and fine,” she added. “That boy could melt ice with his stare.”

I giggled. “Yeah and with him, it feels like I can breathe. Like he sees me, not just the girl everyone whispers about.”

Sienna nodded, letting me talk.

“But with Alexander I don’t know.” I hesitated.

“He’s sweet too sometimes but it’s like he’s trying to feel something, and I’m waiting for something that never comes.”

“You don’t have butterflies?” she asked.

“I have nerves,” I admitted. “Not excitement. Not peace. Just pressure.”

We turned the corner into the hallway, and that’s when I saw him.

Alexander.

Leaning against the wall like a scene from some movie.

All black clothes again, rings on his fingers, looking way too good for someone who probably didn’t sleep all night.

My heart stuttered.

Right beside him was Nico.

Back turned, arms crossed, fists clenched.

I could see the way his forearm tensed under his hoodie, the way his jaw shifted ever so slightly.

He didn’t even look at me, but something told me he was listening.

And maybe just maybe feeling.

“Missy,” Alexander said, stepping forward.

I swallowed. “Hey.”

“Can I talk to you for a sec?” he asked, his voice quieter than usual.

“I was wondering if you’d want to go out with me. Tonight.”

Straight to the point.

Sienna raised a brow beside me.

I looked between him and Nico, whose head turned ever so slightly but still, he didn’t say a word.

I had no idea what was going through Nico’s mind.

But I saw the way his arms were folded tighter than usual.

And for some reason, that hurt more than it should’ve.

“Uhm” I started, voice barely above a whisper.

I didn’t want to look at Nico.

I really didn’t.

But I did.

Right after I whispered, “Yeah, okay,” to Alexander.

From the corner of my eye, I saw him Nico stiffen.

His fists unclenched just long enough to shove them deep into his hoodie pocket.

His head dropped slightly, the way it does when he’s trying not to show emotion.

But he doesn’t have to say anything. I felt it.

The sadness.

The disappointment.

The hurt.

He turned and walked away without a word.

My chest tightened instantly, like my lungs forgot how to breathe.

What did I just do?

Alexander smiled, clearly relieved. “Really? That’s… great.” He stepped closer, hand brushing mine, and it made me flinch not because he was harsh or wrong, but because it wasn’t him.

It wasn’t Nico.

Sienna rolled her eyes dramatically beside me, crossing her arms.

“Wow, love triangle alert,” she muttered under her breath before tossing me a look. “Don’t forget what you told me earlier.”

Then she turned and strutted off like she wasn’t carrying the weight of my conscience in her words.

I stood there, frozen, trying to keep up the smile Alexander deserved but I couldn’t fake it.

Not when I knew what I was about to do.

“Tonight,” I said, barely above a whisper, “can we just talk?”

Alexander’s brows rose, but he nodded. “Of course.”

And just like that, I knew I was going to break someone’s heart tonight.

And maybe lose another one in the process.