{ Mia }
The next morning felt like a blur I hadn't asked for.
Scarlett's voice was the first thing I heard — sharp, teasing, too awake for someone who didn't technically *sleep.*
"Vitals normal. Though your stress levels could power a small city."
"Good morning to you too," I muttered, rolling out of bed. The white crow was still perched by the window, silent, wings tucked neatly. It tilted its head when I glanced its way, as if waiting for orders.
"Don't you ever go home?" I asked it, stretching.
It blinked slowly.
"Right. Guess not."
By the time I got dressed and grabbed a slice of toast, my mom was already in the kitchen, flipping through her tablet.
"Morning, honey," she said without looking up. "You're up early."
"Couldn't sleep."
She finally glanced at me, her brow creasing. "You've been saying that a lot lately."
I shrugged, biting into the toast. "Guess my brain's allergic to peace."
She gave me that look — the half-motherly, half-suspicious one — but didn't press further. "Eat properly, okay?"
"Yup."
As I left, the crow swooped from the window and landed on my shoulder. I didn't even flinch anymore. We had an understanding.
The walk to school was quiet. A few kids laughed near the corner store, music played from a car window, but the air still carried that faint buzz — the one that made me feel like someone was always a step behind. I pushed it down. Today wasn't about paranoia. It was about surviving chemistry.
The classroom smelled faintly of metal and coffee. Everyone was half-awake, buzzing in groups. I slid into my seat, the crow perched on the sill beside me — invisible to them, visible only to me.
Mr. Harris, our science teacher, clapped his hands. "Alright, class! New project partners today. Random pairs — because life is unfair and I enjoy chaos."
A few groans rose around the room.
He started calling names. "Maya and Jordan. Claire and Sam. And…" He paused, glancing at his list with mild amusement. "…Mia and Milo."
My head dropped into my hands. "You have got to be kidding me."
Across the room, Milo grinned like the universe had just handed him candy. "Guess you're stuck with me again, princess."
"Great," I muttered, tapping my pen. "Remind me to uninstall fate later."
The class moved on, but Milo made sure to whisper every few minutes. "You look tired. Rough night? Or were you just up thinking about me?"
I didn't look up. "If I say yes, will you disappear?"
He chuckled. "Not a chance."
When the bell rang, he stretched dramatically. "So, where are we doing this? My place has a lab setup. Might make your life easier."
"Yeah, no."
"Then yours?"
I grabbed my bag, already heading for the door. "Also no."
He followed, clearly entertained. "Wow. Two rejections in one sentence. You're on a roll."
"The park," I said finally, stopping to face him. "We'll do it at the park after school."
"The park?" He raised a brow. "What, scared I'll see your messy room?"
"Scared you'll breathe my air for too long," I shot back, and kept walking.
After class, the park was quiet — the soft rustle of trees mixing with the hum of distant traffic. I found a bench under the shade while Milo spread his notes out like we were running a full experiment in the middle of nature.
"Alright, we're making a model of chemical reactions," he said, scribbling something down. "You handle the technical part. You're good with gadgets."
"Observation skills: shocking," I said dryly, jotting a few details. The crow perched on my shoulder — invisible to all but me — its weight oddly grounding.
We worked in silence for a while, the kind that wasn't exactly comfortable but not unbearable either. The sky began to turn gold, and the shadows stretched long across the grass.
Finally, I packed my notebook, sliding it into my bag. "We'll finish tomorrow."
Milo nodded, standing up. "Sure. Don't be late."
I gave a faint smirk. "I won't."
And with that, I turned and walked off, the crow fluttering silently above before landing back on my shoulder — unseen by everyone but me.
{ Enzo }
I parked my car just past the edge of the park, keeping out of sight. And there they were—Milo with Mia. My brows knit together. My nephew, sitting so casually next to her, talking and laughing while she scribbled in her notebook.
I stayed hidden, letting the scene play out. She was… too calm. Too natural. And Milo? He seemed… satisfied, proud almost.
When she got up to leave, Milo didn't follow. He just watched her walk off. I started the car, sliding it smoothly in front of him as he reached the path.
Milo froze. "Uncle?"
"Get in," I said, voice sharp and final.
He hesitated, then slid into the passenger seat. I kept my eyes on him in the rearview mirror, letting the silence stretch.
"Who is she to you?" I asked finally, my tone controlled, but the words sharp.
Milo gave me a small shrug. "I just… I just want to prove I can handle her. Make you proud, you know?"
I let out a slow, controlled breath. "Listen to me carefully," I said, leaning back slightly, my eyes never leaving his. "You do not touch her. You do not mess with her. She is mine. Understand?"
Milo's smirk faltered for the first time. "You… you mean that?"
"I mean it," I said, voice low, dangerous. "She stays safe. You stay out of her way. You do anything to hurt her—or even think about it—and you'll regret it. You're not her keeper. You're mine. Only mine decides her fate."
Milo's jaw tightened. He looked away, a shadow of his usual cockiness fading. "Got it. I… I get it, Uncle."
I didn't soften. I let the weight of my words hang between us as the engine hummed. She was too important, too dangerous—and I wasn't letting anyone, not even family, get in the way.
I watched him closely, making sure he understood. She was off-limits. And he wasn't about to forget it.