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Chapter 15: Arlo’s POV — Off Balance
publish date:
2026-04-12 05:16:02
Latest chapter
His to Keep Chapter 17: Nikolai's Pov
Chapter 17: Nikolai’s POV He didn’t follow him out. That would’ve been obvious. Unnecessary. Nikolai stayed exactly where he was, watching the space Arlo left behind like it still held something worth studying. Three years. And Arlo still walked away the same way. Controlled. Deliberate. Like distance was a decision, not instinct. Nikolai exhaled slowly, adjusting his sleeve. No rush. There was never a need to rush. Because now— He knew where to find him. The next day is quieter. Structured. Predictable. Nikolai arrives early. Not because he needs to. Because timing matters. He takes a seat near the back of the lecture hall, posture relaxed, attention casual. Students filter in. Voices rise. Settle. Then— Arlo walks in. No hesitation. No searching. Straight to his usual seat. Bag down. Notebook out. Pen ready. Routine. Nikolai watches him for a moment. Still disciplined. Good. He moves then. No announcement. No hesitation. Just crosses the space and
His to Keep Chapter 16: Arlo’s POV — Replacement
Chapter 16: Arlo’s POV — ReplacementThe music is too loud.Arlo should have left twenty minutes ago.Maybe longer.Time feels off here—stretched, blurred, unnecessary.Kevin is talking. Or was. Arlo isn’t sure when he stopped paying attention.“…and then she tried to say it was conceptual,” Kevin laughs, shaking his head. “Like that makes it any better.”Arlo nods faintly. “Right.”Kevin pauses mid-sentence, watching him.“You’re doing it again.”“Doing what?”“Not being here.”“I’m here.”Kevin studies him for a second, then exhales. “Yeah. Sure.”He doesn’t push. He never really does.Instead, he downs the rest of his drink and leans closer. “I’m grabbing another. Try not to disappear.”“I won’t.”Kevin gives him a look like he doesn’t believe that, then turns and slips into the crowd.Arlo stays where he is.Back near the wall. Same spot. Same distance.It’s easier that way.The bass vibrates through the floor. People move too close, too fast. Conversations overlap into noise.And
His to Keep Chapter 15: Arlo’s POV — Off Balance
Chapter 15: Arlo’s POV — Off Balance“You’re still thinking about it.”“I’m not.”“You are.”Arlo doesn’t look up from his laptop.Kevin leans back in his chair, studying him like he’s a sketch he hasn’t decided how to finish.“It’s a party, not a contract,” he says. “You don’t need to analyze it.”“I’m not analyzing it.”“You paused for ten seconds before answering.”“I was working.”Kevin tilts his head. “You always say that.”“Because I usually am.”A beat.Kevin exhales through his nose, not annoyed—just… noticing.“That’s kind of the problem.”Arlo’s fingers still over the keyboard.“What is?”“You’re always working. Always thinking. Always…” Kevin gestures vaguely, searching for the word. “Somewhere else.”Arlo finally looks at him.“I’m here.”Kevin meets his gaze.“You are,” he agrees. “But not really.”Silence settles between them.Not heavy.But not easy either.Arlo closes his laptop.Slowly.Deliberately.“What do you want me to say?”“I don’t want you to say anything,” Ke
His to Keep Chapter 14: Three Years Later
Chapter 14: Three Years Later Arlo's Pov:“You’re ignoring me.”“I’m listening.”“You’re typing.”“I can do both.”Kevin leans over, trying to peek at Arlo’s laptop. “That’s offensive.”Arlo tilts the screen away without looking up. “That’s private.”“It’s economics,” Kevin says. “How private can it be?”“Very.”Kevin huffs, then nudges Arlo’s shoulder with his own. “You’re actually impossible, you know that?”Arlo finally glances at him.“You’re still here.”“That’s because I like you,” Kevin shoots back easily.Arlo pauses.Then returns his attention to the screen.“Debatable.”Kevin laughs under his breath, not offended. He never is.That’s part of it.Part of why this works.Kevin doesn’t push too hard.Doesn’t ask too many questions.Doesn’t try to dig into things Arlo has no intention of explaining.---It’s easy.---Kevin shifts closer anyway, resting his chin briefly on Arlo’s shoulder.“You’ve been working for two hours.”-“Three."“That’s worse.”“I have a deadline.”“You
His to Keep Chapter 13: Nikolai’s POV — A Problem
Chapter 13: Nikolai’s POV — A ProblemThe gun clicked empty.Again.“Focus.”Nikolai didn’t lower the weapon.Didn’t blink.Didn’t respond.Across from him, the target hung shredded at the edges but intact at the center—where it mattered.Where it counted.Missed.Not completely.But enough.A mistake he wouldn’t usually make.“Your grip is off,” Viktor said from behind him.Nikolai inhaled slowly through his nose, adjusting his hold, feeling the weight settle differently in his palm.Familiar.Controlled.He fired again.This time, the bullet landed clean.Center.Silence stretched through the training room, thick with the scent of gunpowder and expectation.“Better,” Viktor said.Nikolai lowered the gun, setting it down with deliberate care.“That wasn’t the first shot,” he replied flatly.“No,” Viktor agreed. “It wasn’t.”There it was.Not criticism.Worse.Observation.Nikolai reached for a cloth, wiping his hands slowly, methodically. No wasted movement. No visible irritation.Bu
His to Keep Chapter 12: Arlo’s POV – What Lingers
Chapter 12: Arlo’s POV – What LingersArlo didn’t stop working.He couldn’t.Even after Nikolai left, even after the room settled back into silence, even after the air felt lighter—His hands kept moving.Fold. Align. Stack.Again.Again.Again.But it wasn’t right.The rhythm was off.He stared down at the linen in his hands, noticing the crease wasn’t clean. Not sharp enough. Not like the one Nikolai had shown him.His fingers tightened.Focus.He redid it.Slower.More deliberate.Exactly the way Nikolai had—Arlo stopped.The realization came quietly.Too quietly.I’m copying him.His chest tightened.He dropped the fabric onto the table a little harder than necessary, stepping back as if the linen itself had done something wrong.This is exactly what I said I wouldn’t do.He exhaled slowly, pressing his palm against the edge of the table.This was supposed to be simple.Work. Save. Leave.That was it.No distractions.No complications.No—You already have.The words landed again
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