of food before her. Adrian entered the dining room, his eyes col

lance her way as he settled in his chair,

n," Lena said, her v

ound that filled the room. Lena bit her lip, glancing down at her hands, which wer

chest. "I was thinking... Maybe we could tak

s one of pure disdain. "A walk? With you?" His tone was icy, h

had expected coldness, but each time he lashed out, it still manage

ut Adrian cut her off with a sha

ith a loud clatter. "Don't pretend like we'

turned his back to her. Lena's heart sank as she watched him w

hat the man she had once known was still in there. But every d

the mansion, her footsteps resonatin

r hand just barely resting on the door

or anywhere close to him. But she was too weak to live

ian sat behind his desk, staring at the documents in fr

talk," Lena said, her v

nt, Lena thought he was going to ignore her completely. But then he set the pen down

ked, his tone flat,

ing together in front of her. "We can't keep living

and dangerous. He stood up abruptly, his chair scraping against the

lled into fists at his sides. Lena instinctively took a step back, her heart poundin

nd mocking. "This is resentment. This is disgust. Every time I look

ars burned at the corners of her e

ruel, his lips curling into a sneer. "O

, her voice cracking. "Y

is eyes narrowing. "You're nothing to me, Lena. No

his comments. Lena's hands trembled as she

back to his work, his demeanor steady. He sat down with his back

ugh the walls were closing in around her, the words pressing hard against her

f their past played through Lena's mind-memories of a time when Adrian didn

n her brother James had introduced her to Adrian and Victori

irely-kind, watchful, and endowed with a ch

*

her heart beat faster every time Adrian looked her way. It wasn't j

n her best friend; he was the boy who had always been there, who protected her, made

next rock he was about to throw-it was hard not to notice how much he had changed over the years. He wasn't

ered teasingly in Lena's ear, sn

ck to the water. "No, I'm not," she murmured, hoping her frien

at him," Victoria teased with a knowing smile.

ere kids, Adrian had been the boy she admired from afar, too afraid to ruin their friendship by

foolish for even trying to explain. How could

ach flipped when he smiled at her. She hadn't wanted it to

," Victoria added softly, her eyes glinting

beat. "What? No, he doesn't," she said q

it, but I do. He's always different when you're around.

d over his shoulder at her just then, his eyes lingering on her a little longer than usual. For a second, som

and walked toward them. "What are you two wh

eetly. "Oh, nothin

gaze on her, more intense than usual, and it made her skin tingle. She wondered if what Victori

grin. "How about a challenge, Lena

his challenge brought her back to the

eel weak. He handed her a stone, his fingers brushing hers for the briefest moment. Lena sw

yfully but smiling nonetheless. "You two ar

r rock across the water, this time managing five bounces. "You're gett

made Lena's heart race even back then. "We

from hours spent outside. He looked carefree, his usual s

catching the sunlight, making her look almost ethereal. "Oh,

ass beside her. She remembered how, even back then, Adrian always found

in good fun, and back then, they had shared an easy ca

ith a sly smile, turning her sparkling blue eyes towa

eeping score." She smiled, enjoying the lighthearted banter between the t

rrowing his eyes playfully.

I can," she said with mock confidence, picking u

ind focused on the rhythm she'd need to get t

clapping her hands together with exc

re flicking her wrist and sending the stone flying. It bounced once, twice, three times

er hands together. "That was

t of competitiveness in his eyes. "Not bad, Lena, not

he smile on her face. "Oh, come on, Calloway

e in his voice softened by the p

ugh she were afraid to break the spell of the moment. She leaned back on her elbows, gazing

ent, his gaze distant as he stared

There was always a weight to Adrian's words, an edge that hinted at something deeper, something un

ng to keep things light. "Maybe

would be amazing." She glanced over at Adrian, her smile

something that looked almost like a promise. "Always," he'd said

infectious laughter rang out, playfully mocking the tw

inseparable-Adrian, Victoria, and herself. The bond they had sha

ver wanted to end, a day filled with laug

changed because nothi