POV: Hex
I didn't want to talk to her.
Not in this room. Not in my space.
So I locked the door and sat on the edge of my bed, staring at nothing, wondering why the past always knew how to find me. My mind kept drifting to Jay. Where she was. What she was thinking. Whether she was angry. Whether she felt betrayed already.
Then came the knock.
I stood up, already annoyed. "Jay?" I said, walking to the door.
I opened it.
It wasn't Jay.
It was Trisha Reyes.
My hand reacted faster than my brain. I tried to slam the door shut, but she shoved her hand forward. The door pressed against her fingers.
"Ah!" she gasped.
My chest tightened.
"I'm sorry," she said quickly. "I didn't mean to."
I cursed under my breath and pulled the door open. "Come in," I said coldly.
She stepped inside, looking around like she didn't know where to sit, like she didn't belong here. Which she didn't.
I leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
She looked at me. Too long.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked.
"I'm just…" her voice shook. "I'm just happy you're alive."
I frowned. "Alive? Why wouldn't I be?"
Her face crumpled. "I thought you were dead."
The words hit harder than I expected. "How could you think that?"
She swallowed. "I came to your house years ago. Your father told me you and your grandmother were hit by a car after school. He said… you didn't make it."
"That's a lie," I snapped. "That never happened."
Her eyes widened. "I didn't believe him at first. I tried asking around. I talked to people. I begged for answers. But no one would tell me anything. Everyone avoided me."
I clenched my fists. "So you forgot about me? You moved on? Got married? Had Marco?"
She flinched. "I didn't forget you."
Silence.
"After I left," she continued softly, "I was broken. Then I found out I was pregnant. . I didn't even know at first. We got married because… I needed stability. I needed something to hold onto."
I laughed bitterly. "So I was just… a chapter?"
"No," she said firmly. "You were my biggest Achievement."
That didn't make it hurt less.
She hesitated, then asked, "Where's Jay?"
"She's in her room," I said. "I'm sure she didn't want to see you."
I didn't blame her.
Trisha took a breath. "Would you come with me? Just for a bit?"
I looked around my room. My safe place. My real home.
"I like it here," I said.
"I know," she replied quickly. "Just two days. You can come back on Tuesday."
I frowned. "Did Jay agree to this?"
She shook her head. "No. I wanted to ask you first."
That mattered. A little.
I ran a hand through my hair. Jay's face flashed in my mind. Her voice. Her eyes when she's worried but pretending she's not.
"…Okay," I said finally. "But I'm coming back."
She nodded, relieved. "Of course."
Before leaving, I paused at the door. "I'm sorry," I said quietly. Not sure who it was for. Her. Jay. Or myself.
Downstairs, everyone was waiting.
"Where's Jay?" I asked.
"In her room," Aries said.
I went up to her door anyway.
She opened it almost immediately.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"I'm going to my mom's place," I said quickly. "Just for two days."
Her eyes widened. "You're going with her?"
"I'll be back," I said. "Before you know it."
She stared at me. "Is this really what you want?"
I hesitated. The truth sat heavy in my chest.
"…Yeah."
She nodded slowly. "Okay. But keep me updated. About everything."
"I will," I promised.
We hugged.
Tight. Familiar. Safe.
I pulled back first. If I didn't, I wouldn't leave at all.
I turned, walked past Trisha, and headed out.
As the door closed behind me, one thought stayed loud in my head.
Please don't let this break what I have with Jay.