PAST
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Recap: Melina wanted to know why Zara cried, why Damon and Theo fought like born enemies on a battlefield — as if the winner would conquer the entire kingdom.
In the nursing room, she sat there with her piercing eyes on Theo, refusing to move until she had her answers. Theo almost told her, almost, with a disclaimer of don't ever tell Zara.
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THEO'S POV
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The girl sitting on the hospital bed beside me, legs wrapped in bandages, looked nothing like someone willing to let me off the hook. Her stare was sharper than the nurse's scissors.
If it were anyone else, I would've told them to piss off and walked out. I've done that a hundred times. But this girl wasn't "anyone else." Something about Melina held me here, like a chain around my chest, like a magnet dragging the iron key of my heart closer even though I fought it.
Maybe it wasn't deep. Maybe I just wanted to sleep with her, like every other fling. Maybe I only needed to taste her lips once, and then this stupid gnawing pull would finally quiet down.
I looked at her. She didn't blink. Her eyes were on me, hard, focused, patient in the scariest way possible.
I cleared my throat, trying to gather the words I didn't even have. Just say it, Theo. Come on. Say something.
But when I opened my mouth, time slowed. Literally. It felt like someone hit the slow-mo button on life.
Her lashes blinked like they were moving underwater.
Her head tilted in the smallest shake, her earrings clashing against each other, swinging violently like tiny weapons.
Her lips pressed together, waiting.
Pretty. Too pretty.
"... man."
That was the only part I caught of what she said. Probably "Just say it, man."
If only I knew what the "it" was. If only I knew which truth she actually wanted. There are more in the deep than on the surface.
And then, before I could even attempt, a voice shattered everything.
"There you were! I've been looking for you everywhere."
She said glancing at me but eyes landed on Melina.
" Oh Poor thing , i heart she got hurt "
Angela barged into the room like she owned it. She went straight to Melina, after sparing me a glance for 3 seconds approximately , and dropped to her knees beside the bed.
"Are you okay, love?" she asked, brushing Melina's hair back with too much care in her hands.
Love?! Excuse me?
Was Angela seriously calling her love? Was she… a lesbian? Because if she was, Melina wasn't her eyecandy. Back off, Bestie.
But Angela didn't back off. No. She leaned even closer, cupping Melina's face like she was holding something precious. Her eyes scanned for cuts, bruises, anything.
The proximity was insane. Her hand lingered on Melina's cheek like she had every right.
I stiffened, uncomfortable, awkward, not knowing where to look.
Angela liked her. Angela liked Melina.
"I'm alright," Melina answered softly. And then—god help me—she smiled and cupped Angela's face back, their foreheads almost brushing.
Oh my god.
That was it. I couldn't.
I shot up, bolting from the room before I did something I'd regret, like grabbing Angela by the wrist and dragging her away. I wasn't that guy. I wasn't anyone's controlling anything.
But goddamn it.
I stormed down the hall, fists tight, chest burning, until I slammed myself down in the classroom. My hands shook as I stole a blank page from someone's notebook, snatched a sharpened pencil, and gripped it so tight the tip looked like a weapon.
If I stabbed someone with it, it would go in deep. That thought almost made me smirk. Almost.
Instead, I shoved my storm up to the rooftop, my usual place. The wind bit at me as I sat down, dropping the paper to the floor and the pencil to the page.
I scrawled two names, almost too hard, breaking the paper.
Melina
Angela
FLAMES
Goodness gracious.
The result was M. - Marriage.
I blinked.
Marriage.
I leaned back, exhaling, my chest tightening with something i cant name.
"Get a job doing FLAMES," a voice said.
I tensed. My jaw locked. Damon.
That bastard.
I turned. There he was, strolling over like he owned the rooftop, bruises all over his face from our fight earlier. He smirked through the split lip like nothing hurt.
" If you are doing FLAMES atleast do it right" He shot.
"If you're so smart, then do it right," I snapped.
Without missing a beat, he sat beside me, shoulder brushing mine like we were friends. We were. He grabbed the paper, erased what I scribbled, and did the operation again.
Melina
Angela
FLAMES
"Sisters," he muttered, tossing the pencil back.
I stared. A smile I didn't expect tugged at my lips. Relief poured through me like water. Sisters. Thank god.
But Damon wasn't done. He leaned over again, writing with quick strokes:
Damon
Zara
FLAMES
My blood boiled instantly. Zara? This bastard wouldnt learn?!
I stayed calm, watching. My nails dug into my palm, but I didn't move.
Then he scribbled another pair:
Melina
Theodore
FLAMES
My throat went dry. My chest cramped.
I wanted to snatch the paper, to rip it away, but I didn't. Instead, I gnawed at my nails, watching his face, the way his brows furrowed.
He stared too long. Then, cursing, he crumpled the paper and hurled it aside.
"What was it?!" I snapped.
He didn't answer right away. His jaw clenched. Then, quietly, he said, "Affection. Yours was affection, Theodore."
Affection.
Yeah. That made sense. That was all it could ever be. Just affection. Nothing deeper.
But my heart didn't like that answer. My stupid, traitorous heart had wanted more. It had wanted marriage. Wanted something solid, binding, real.
Since when did I want that? Since when did I want her like that?
"What about you?" I asked, forcing my voice low, not meeting his eyes.
Damon pressed his lips together, then muttered, "Enemy."
I snorted before I could stop myself. "Ew. An adult pouting."
He shot back immediately. "Ew. An adult playing FLAMES like he's twelve."
"You did that too," I snapped.
"I meant me too," he said, quieter, looking away.
We both cleared our throats at the same time. Awkward silence hung heavy in the air, broken only by the wind.
Finally, I asked, "Why are you here, Damon?"
"Running away from a thug who hits his best friend," he muttered.
That hit me like a punch.
Without thinking, I moved, throwing an arm around him. "Sorry. I forgive you."
"Yeah. I forgive you too."
He smirked, then kicked me in the leg.
I groaned. We both laughed.
"You guys are now officially a couple?! Aw Love birdss" Gregg's voice burst out as he forced his way between us.
We froze, glaring at him, then broke into laughter again.
"Why did you two even fight?" Gregg asked, leaning in like he deserved to know.
"Nobody knows," Damon said flatly.
"Nobody needs to know. Not yet," I finished.
Gregg groaned. "Such a romantic duo." His sarcasm dripped like acid.
I leaned back, pretending to ignore him, but my thoughts slipped back to Melina. To Angela. To the way Melina had smiled when Angela touched her.
What if Angela tried to kiss her? What would Melina do? Would she laugh? Push her away? Kiss her back?
Before I could spiral deeper, Gregg added casually, "Oh, by the way, I heard Angela said she's lesbian."
My head whipped toward him so fast I thought I'd snap my neck.
"What?!"
Competition. Real competition.
I wasn't sure if I wanted to laugh, scream, or jump off the rooftop.
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