Ash’s POV
It’s been a week since I heard from Dominic.
One full week of ghosting.
A week of unanswered texts, missed calls, and blank notifications.
A week of long, heavy days.
The only place I see his face now is on TV..standing beside his dad during campaign rallies, or in TikTok edits with romantic background music and captions like "Estrella’s most eligible bachelor."
It’s insane. People are out there thirsting over him while I’m just trying to rember what his voice sounds like.
I hate those videos.
The way they slow down his smile, how they caption it with things like "He’s the dream every girl wants."
They don’t know that smile was mine once.
Ever since that stupid rumor spread, about his engagent to the mayor’s daughter...the whole town won’t shut up.
He’s in every conversation, every news clip, every whisper in the hallway.
But not here. Not in school.
He hasn’t shown up once this week.
He missed practice. Missed the ga. His team lost without their captain, but he didn’t even text to apologize or explain.
Not a single word.
No "hey, I’m alive." No "sorry." Nothing.
He’s just gone.
Dominic always checked in...no matter what. Even when we fought, even when he was drowning in his father’s expectations, he’d find a way to let know he was still there.
But this ti... nothing.
And I keep wondering...if he’s really doing this to protect us from the Coil like Marcus said... could he at least just send a text? Or tell soone his plan? Anything?
Because this silence feels like being punished for caring.
I thought I’d be angry.
But I’m just....tired. Too tired to even feel rage.
It’s like soone switched off the color in everything.
I barely smile now. I can’t even rember the last ti I laughed at one of Marcus’s dumb jokes.
So yeah, maybe it’s better this way...filling my head with sothing else.
I’m starting work again at Mr. Sun’s Diner today. Anything to stay busy. Anything to stop my brain from replaying the last words he said to .
I slamd my locker shut harder than I ant to.
June was leaning beside it, munching chips. "Jeez, violent much?" she said, raising her eyebrows. "You look like you just buried soone."
"Funny," I muttered. "Feels like I did."
Her smirk faded. "Still no word from Domin?"
I shot her a glare.
She stopped mid-sentence, and pretended to cough. "Right. Forgot. No ntioning He Who Must Not Be Nad. My bad." She zipped her lips dramatically. "Wouldn’t want you to be angry at ."
"I’m not angry," I muttered, pulling my bag over my shoulder. "If I was angry, I’d be... yelling or sothing."
June chewed slowly, studying as we walked down the hallway. "You do know people process anger differently, right? So scream. So throw things." She pointed at with a chip. "And then there’s you the silent type. Which, honestly, is way scarier."
I laughed dryly. "Yeah? How so?"
"You’re just trying to convince yourself."
"I’m not," I said too fast.
"Mm-hmm." She nudged my arm. "Ash, when’s the last ti you actually ate sothing that wasn’t coffee?"
I rolled my eyes. "I’m fine, June! Can everyone just stop asking questions?"
She grinned. "I’m not gonna let you mope around forever."
I sighed. "He just... disappeared, June. Like I don’t even know if he’s okay. And I hate that I still care this much."
Her face softened instantly. "Ash... you love him. You don’t just switch that off because it hurts."
"I want to," I said quietly. "I really want to."
She handed the bag of chip, I shook my head.
"No, thank you."
She stuffed the chips back into her bag. "Then start with this...don’t look for him in every quiet mont."
I blinked. "What does that an?"
She smiled sadly. "You wait for his na to pop up on your phone. You hold your breath when the door opens, thinking maybe it’s him. You can’t heal if you’re still waiting for a ghost."
I looked away, forcing a weak laugh. "You’ve been reading way too many sad quotes on Pinterest."
She chuckled softly. "Yeah, maybe. But it doesn’t make wrong."
I zoned out for a second as we walked. My brain started replaying Dominic’s voice.. him telling how much he loves .
June kept talking, but her words faded for a mont. I caught myself just before she noticed.
She snapped her fingers near my face. "Hey. Earth to Ash."
I blinked, startled. "Sorry. Just... spaced out."
Her tone softened. "Yeah. I noticed."
We walked in silence for a while.
"Oh, by the way, I’m going to Ren’s place today."
I blinked. "Ren’s? Why?"
She grinned, brushing crumbs off her fingers. "The talent show’s this Friday, rember? We’ve got like, three days to prepare."
I raised an eyebrow. "Does Ian know about that?"
Her smirk faltered for half a second.
"Juneee." I said slowly.
She nodded imdiately. "Yeah, of course he does."
"...And?" I pressed.
She sighed. "He’s not thrilled about it, okay? But it’s not like I can cancel. He said, and I quote, ’Do what you have to do, just don’t make regret trusting you.’"
"That’s honestly worse," I muttered. "The quiet, emotionally suppressed kind of jealousy."
She groaned. "He’s not jealous. He’s just...concerned."
"June," I said, giving her that look.
"Okay, fine! Maybe he’s a little jealous," she admitted. "But it’s not like there’s a reason to be. I an, Ren and I are just friends. Music partners. Nothing else."
"Uh-huh," I said flatly. "And the beach house thing was what, a music exercise too?"
"Shhh!" she hissed, slapping her hand over my mouth so fast I almost dropped my backpack.
"What?!" I mumbled against her palm. "You didn’t tell him?!"
She smacked my arm, hissing, "Keep your voice down!"
"Ow! I’m just saying," I said, rubbing my arm.
"Of course I didn’t!" she whispered, glancing around the hallway like Ian might magically appear out of the lockers. "How am I supposed to bring that up, huh? ’Hey babe, FYI, rember the beach house? Yeah, that ti Ren used his shirt to wipe sothing off my lips.. but it’s no big deal!’"
I blinked at her. "You just said it perfectly. Maybe try that."
She rolled her eyes. "Ha-ha, hilarious."
I sighed, adjusting the strap of my bag. "Just... don’t let him find out, June. Seriously. And don’t get yourself tangled in whatever love triangle you and those two have going on."
"We’re not in a triangle," she scoffed imdiately.
"Right. Not a triangle."
She laughed, bumping my shoulder. "You’re dramatic. It’s not that deep. I just need Ren to get over the talent show, and then I’m done. No drama, no tension, no accidental lip-touching. Promise."
"Uh-huh," I muttered. "You’re going to make Ren and Ian have a fight."
She ignored that, grinning again. "Anyway, you sure you’ll be okay today? First day back at the diner after your emotional breakdown week?"
"Thanks for the confidence," I said flatly.
"I’m just saying," she teased. "Try not to hand soone ketchup when they ask for coffee."
"I’ll try," I said, sighing. "I just need to get myself together before Mr. Sun starts yelling about custor service again."
She gave a side hug as we reached the door to class. Then she smiled."You’ll be fine. And if you’re not, I’ll visit you anyways."
I smiled faintly. "Deal."
"Good. Now let’s go in before Ms Daniels makes us do another pop quiz on Shakespeare’s trauma issues."
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