The café was quieter than usual that morning.
Lana sat by the window again — the same seat where everything once felt warm, but now only reminded her of what she lost.
She wrapped her hands around her cup, watching the steam curl and fade. It felt like her relationship with Leo — once alive, now barely holding on.
Across town, Leo was staring at his phone. He had typed "I'm sorry" at least ten times and deleted it every single time. Pride and guilt made a cruel team.
They hadn't spoken properly in days.
Every time Leo tried, Lana's replies were short, distant — polite, but cold.
Lily noticed it too. "You can't keep pretending you're okay, Lana," she said gently as she sat down across from her.
Lana smiled — that practiced, tired smile. "I'm fine, Lily."
"No, you're not," Lily said, crossing her arms. "You're trying to fix everything by breaking yourself."
Lana looked away. The rain outside was still falling — like it had no intention of stopping.
She thought about Leo. About how he used to show up with coffee, flowers, or just a smile that could melt the entire world around her.
Now?
Even silence between them hurt.
And then, just as she stood to leave, someone called her name.
"Lana."
She turned — and her heart stuttered.
Mick.
Handsome as ever, smirking like trouble wrapped in charm.
"Long time, huh?" he said, leaning against the doorframe.
Lana's jaw tightened. "Not long enough."
"Still got that fire," he chuckled. "I missed that."
"I didn't," she shot back, walking past him — but he caught her wrist gently.
"I'm not here to fight," Mick said. "I just thought… maybe we could talk."
"There's nothing to talk about."
But as she pulled away, Mick's expression darkened for a second — just long enough for the mask to slip.
It wasn't affection in his eyes anymore.
It was something sharper. Something dangerous.
---
Author's Note (by ChocoFox )
Ahh, tension is building already ,
What do you think about Mick's sudden appearance? Friend or foe?
Comment your guesses below — your thoughts mean the world to me .
Next chapter will show the cracks growing deeper between Lana and Leo… and the first spark of revenge.