I sat there for a long ti after the door slamd.
Not moving. Not thinking anything useful. Just... existing in that hollow, buzzing way you do after soone drops a bomb on you and leaves you in the smoke.
By the next morning, nothing felt clearer — if anything, the quiet was worse.
Normally, Celestia would’ve texted by now. Sothing dramatic, maybe a You’re dead to gif or a selfie where she looked stunning but captioned it murder eyes. Or maybe she’d call just to yell at until I said sothing stupid enough for her to hang up on.
But my phone was silent.
No buzzing, no chi, no screen lighting up with her na.
The silence was worse than the shouting.
I leaned back into the couch, rubbing the back of my neck. I’d ssed up sohow — that much was obvious — but the problem was, I didn’t even know what the rules were this ti. Was I supposed to chase after her? Give her space? Apologize for sothing I didn’t fully understand?
Every option felt like stepping into a minefield without a map.
My thumb hovered over her contact anyway. Just call. Just... call and fix it.
But what if she didn’t answer?
Or worse — what if she did answer, and I said the wrong thing again?
I tossed my phone onto the coffee table and stood up, pacing the small living room like that would magically help think.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized I wasn’t thinking at all, I was spiraling.
I glanced at the phone again.
If she wasn’t calling ... maybe that ant I had to figure this out on my own.
Except, I had no idea how to do that.
Which is how, about fifteen minutes later, I found myself scrolling down to a contact I probably shouldn’t touch right now.
Marina.
My thumb hovered.
This was dumb. This was really dumb.
But maybe she could... explain? Translate Celestia logic into normal human logic?
Before I could stop myself, I hit call.
It rang twice before her voice ca through, smooth but with that faint undertone of amusent she always had.
"Well, this is a surprise. Should I be flattered or worried?"
"Hey," I said, and imdiately regretted how awkward it sounded. "Uh... can we talk?"
There was a pause, and I could almost hear her raising an eyebrow through the phone.
"Talk? As in, now?"
"Yeah. In person, if you’re free."
Another pause, then a dry laugh. "Wow. I hope your girlfriend won’t murder for this. I an, I like my life the way it is — murder-free."
I ran a hand through my hair. "She’s not... she’s not exactly talking to right now."
"Ohhh," she said, drawing the word out like she’d just uncovered a juicy secret. "So I’m Plan B when the heiress gives you the silent treatnt?"
"That’s not—" I stopped, groaning. "Look, I just... I need to clear my head, okay? I thought maybe we could et sowhere public. You know, public, so there’s no reason for anyone to commit homicide."
"Wow, you’re really selling this invitation," she said, but I could hear her smile. "Fine. There’s a 24-hour coffee place near campus. I’ll be there in twenty."
"Thanks."
"Don’t thank yet," she replied lightly. "I haven’t decided if I’m here to help you or roast you for whatever you did to make Celestia mad."
She hung up before I could answer.
I stared at my phone for a mont, realizing that sohow, I’d just chosen the dumbest possible option in this situation — and I was already committed to it.
---
She was already parked when my Uber dropped off. I spotted her leaning against the driver’s side of an older blue hatchback, hands shoved into the front pocket of her hoodie, hair falling loose over her shoulders. No makeup, no jewelry, no effort — and sohow she still looked like the kind of girl an indie song would be written about.
"Hey," I said, shoving my hands into my jacket pockets.
"Hey," she echoed, giving a once-over. Then her mouth curved just enough to make it dangerous. "I hope your girlfriend won’t murder for this."
I half-laughed, half-groaned. "She’s not the murdering type."
Marina’s eyebrow went up. "Right. Sure. Totally believe you." She jerked her head toward the passenger side. "Get in before I change my mind."
I slid into the seat, the faint scent of vanilla and coffee curling around .
"So," she said slowly, "what’s this about?"
I rubbed the back of my neck. "The party. Last night."
Her expression shifted instantly — not surprised, but alert. "Ah. You an the part where your girlfriend and I verbally slapped each other?"
"That... yeah. That part."
She drumd her fingers on the steering wheel. "And?"
I hesitated, staring at the dashboard like it had the right words printed on it. "And... she left. Walked out before the night was even over. Didn’t say much after that."
Marina tilted her head, eyes narrowing slightly. "Okay... and this is unusual because...?"
"Because she hasn’t called. Or texted. Or sent a about murdering in my sleep. Nothing. Complete radio silence."
That made Marina pause, her brow lifting. "Wow. Cold shoulder and a full ghosting. Must’ve been so fight."
"It wasn’t just a fight," I said quietly.
Her voice softened, just a touch. "Then what was it?"
I blew out a breath. "She told to choose."
Marina blinked. "Choose...?"
I glanced at her. "Between you and her."
Her mouth opened, closed, then she let out a low whistle. "Damn. I wasn’t expecting that one."
"Yeah." I leaned back in the seat. "And I froze. Like an idiot. Didn’t say a thing. Just... nothing."
She didn’t respond imdiately — which for Marina was almost as shocking as what I’d just told her. Finally, she smirked faintly, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Well. That’s... bold of her."
"That’s Val," I said without thinking.
Marina’s gaze sharpened instantly. "You call her Val"
"...Yeah?"
Her smirk returned full force, now with a side of mock offense. "Wow. Years of knowing , and I still get stuck with ’Marina’ like we’re in a business eting. But she gets a nickna? Interesting."
I rubbed the back of my neck. "It’s not like that."
"It’s exactly like that," she said, eyes glinting. "You don’t just hand out cute little two-syllable nas unless soone’s special."
"She’s my girlfriend," I said, exasperated.
"Mm-hm," Marina humd, clearly enjoying herself. "Guess I’ll just have to earn mine soday."
I groaned. "You’re missing the point."
"No, I’m savoring it," she corrected. "You’ve been best friends with for how long? And you’re over here handing out pet nas like candy to Little Miss Choose-Or-Lose."
I narrowed my eyes. "You are impossible."
"Thank you," she said sweetly, then waved a hand. "Anyway. Back to the drama. She gave you an ultimatum, and you froze. And now she’s mad."
"She’s not just mad," I muttered. "She’s... I don’t know. Done. Or at least acting like it."
Marina tilted her head, studying . "So, what now?"
"I don’t know," I admitted. "That’s why I called you. I thought maybe you could..." I trailed off.
"Fix it for you?" she supplied.
"Help figure it out," I corrected.
She smirked. "That’s what I thought. And sure, I can help. But..." Her eyes lingered on for a beat too long. "...ever thought about us dating?"
I nearly choked. "What?"
"Relax," she said quickly, lips curving in a sly smile. " neither. Just wanted to see your face. Totally worth it, by the way."
"You’re insane," I muttered, still recovering.
"Maybe," she said, eyes dancing. "Or maybe I just like reminding you I could be competition if I wanted to be. Keeps you on your toes."
I shook my head. "You’re unbelievable."
"And you’re predictable," she countered. "Which is why Val saw this coming before you did."
That hit a little too close to ho. I sank further into my seat, wishing I had so clever coback ready.
Marina noticed, of course. She always did. She sighed, softer this ti. "Look, I’m not here to steal you from her. But I’m also not going to pretend I don’t care what happens. You’re my friend, Kai. And you’re in way over your head with that girl."
I stared at her. "You think I can fix this?"
Her smirk returned, gentler now. "You? Probably not. But maybe Val doesn’t want perfect. Maybe she just wants you to stop freezing."
---
By the ti I got back to my place, my brain felt like it had been through a blender. Talking to Marina hadn’t exactly... clarified things. If anything, she’d just confird what I already knew — I’d ssed up, and Val wasn’t going to let it slide.
I sat on the edge of my bed, phone in hand, thumb hovering over her na in my contacts. My stomach twisted.
She hadn’t called. She hadn’t texted. But maybe she was waiting for to make the first move.
Screw it. I hit the video call button before I could talk myself out of it.
She picked up almost imdiately.
Her face filled my screen, hair a little ssy like she’d just gotten out of bed, eyes sharp but unreadable. "Wow," she said, tilting her head. "The missing boyfriend returns."
I winced. "Hey... uh, listen, about last night—"
"You’re starting with that?" she interrupted.
"Yes. No. I an—" I scrubbed a hand down my face. "Look, I’m sorry, okay? I’m really sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking, or not thinking, or whatever. I froze, and it was stupid, and I— I just... yeah. I’m sorry."
Her lips curved slightly, but she didn’t let it beco a smile. "Go on."
"Go on?" I repeated.
"Mhm." She leaned her chin on her hand. "So you love ."
"Yes," I said without hesitation.
> "And you don’t like Marina."
"Right— wait."
She narrowed her eyes playfully. "You paused."
"I didn’t pause, I just— fine, yes. I don’t like Marina. Like that," I added quickly.
Her grin grew. "And you’ll choose over anyone else."
"Obviously."
"And..." she drew the word out, pretending to think, "you’ll touch more from now on."
"Uh—?"
> "See, that’s the one you paused on."
"I— it’s not that I— what do you an, ’touch you more’?"
"I an normal touch," she said, looking mildly offended that I had to ask. "Like holding my hands and cuddling and hugging and..." She waved a hand. "...you know. I’m your girlfriend and you don’t touch unless I beg for it, or force it, or manipulate you into it. I don’t an sex—" she shrugged innocently "—although I’d like that too."
I stared at her. "I thought you were mad."
"I am mad."
"You just— you literally just smiled at ."
"Mhm," she humd. "You apologized already and made a lot of promises that will probably get you in trouble. So I’m good now."
I blinked at her, trying to keep up. "You’re... good now?"
She nodded like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I’m coming over tonight."
My brain scrambled for a response. "...Wait, what?"
"You heard ." She smirked, and before I could say anything else, the screen went black. Call ended.
I sat there, staring at my reflection on the darkened screen, trying to figure out if I’d just defused a fight or walked straight into a trap.
Probably both.
---
To be continued...
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