pte

i

ing, I couldn't hel

membered every move made b

ing in my head before Sof

r on our way out onl

er eyebrows befor

cautiously, "I can'

mpromise. He seemed rath

antly, confirming

fia expected feedback fro

in ag

know, it felt mor

enuine willingness

corner of my eyes an

e, she didn't say anythi

fears or re

he dense air, it sh

I couldn't shake the sens

ior r

ning, as I steppe

tphone vibrated with

! You

he first wor

ect and the detailed

y. Her message was nice bu

chi

it read, "he

. Hope he's not leadin

be trusted. But wh

ou who t

f you choose not to

t. I wish you wo

ould feel my coronar

ases. Amber had b

designed to sow se

I was beginni

y to make the m

't help but however marvel

Alex drawing close

s quickly as we met at the

ing. I didn't even e

cautiously, "h

ith Amber

ow, "Amber!" Clear

on. "N

f the way to pass

his morning I got a mess

she's trying to create

sion darkened, and I

d too. "What

ssage to him, on a

eyes. "I wouldn't sa

fessed. "Amber has

er mischievous and

o suit her. But what made

as she so interested in c

ach minute, anxiety a

. Our restlessness increas

ontinues. And having inform

posed to have

scious effort to trus

ence, we found the distru

s, and our progress

of trust between us. The o

lt to separate fa

and anxiety increase

ser. The little bond we ha

sip

ht work- session wit

and I flared up, letting m

nderstanding lit the fir

to hell with you. I

tion." I f

t just get it, Mia

s. "Can't you just adm

pigheadedness is t

ack, my voice tinged

r insistence on this ro

is what has been keeping

with people o

ecame silent, like

n the air in the room beca

ther as the project is

his drama, Sofia a

to unravel. The constant

irit, and energy, turning

g each othe

roat softly and stoo

signs, and asked me

e with it but somet

ithout further argument.

in their eyes had ceased.

ea

and easy solution t

thing, I suggest we go on

ves into two. And re

eryone accepted her

. Daniel whi

ave reached a brea

tainty as she spoke, "D

oach. What we're doing is

ult

ion was evident,

be it's time we expl

tegi

orarily split threat

though our team was fra

ne hung above our

d like our project

s pushed us out of our st

common

, the truth about A

s pushed to confront Alex

ioned what Amber sai

. Because there was somet

Unfortunately, he ha

ality. I glanced at

acing a common enemy was

mur

e our distrust and

pared to let him a little

what awa