I leaned against the streetlamp, hands in my pockets, waiting. The night was quiet, except for the occasional distant hum of a passing car.
It didn't take long before the front door cracked open. A soft voice spoke from inside.
"I'll just be outside for a few minutes."
A muffled response followed—something about not staying out too long. Then, Leah stepped out, pulling her hoodie over her head as she closed the door behind her.
Her eyes landed on me, and she raised an eyebrow. "You seem way too relaxed for someone who was busy all day. What happened?"
I smirked. "You're not gonna believe the kind of day I had."
She stepped closer, crossing her arms. "And you're not gonna believe how tired you look."
I scoffed lightly. "Tired? Please. I look amazing."
Leah rolled her eyes, brushing her hair back. "Uh-huh. If by 'amazing' you mean 'like someone who lost a bet and had to run five miles'—then sure, I'll believe it."
I exhaled, tilting my head. "Actually… let me start from the beginning."
But before I could continue, I took a second look at her—the oversized hoodie, the way she tucked her hands into the sleeves, the slight tilt of her head as she waited.
A small grin tugged at my lips. "By the way… you look kinda cute in that."
Leah blinked, then scoffed, looking away. "Yeah, yeah. Don't think that's gonna distract me from whatever mess you got into today."
I sighed, letting out a short breath as I glanced up at the sky. A few stars peeked through the passing clouds. "Where should I start?"
She folded her arms, tilting her head slightly as she waited.
"So, this actually started long before the fight that happened in your school." I looked at her to see if she remembered. "You remember those outside guys who interfered back then?"
Her brows furrowed slightly as she tried to recall.
"Well, me fighting them turned into something I didn't expect," I continued. "Later, students from our school started getting assaulted at night. I didn't know at the time that they were the ones behind it. When my senior, Jake, asked me to accompany him and a few other seniors to find the perpetrators, my friends and I decided to look into it too."
Leah's eyes narrowed slightly, but she remained silent.
"What we didn't expect was to end up encountering a guy named James. Unlike us, he's a bit older—maybe around twenty-one or twenty-two."
A car passed by in the distance, its headlights flashing momentarily across Leah's face before vanishing down the road.
"Because of our luck," I continued, "we had to put up another fight, but unlike everything before, we actually came to terms with him and solved things. I thought that was the end of it until I got a message saying—" I raised my hand and made air quotes, "'Are you the Daniel who fought James?'"
Leah gave me a look that made it clear she was unimpressed with my casual tone.
"So today, I went to figure out who was behind it," I added, shrugging. "I didn't want to involve the others—that's why I used your name as a cover to skip out today. But in the end, it was just some guy trying to prank me."
Leah's expression turned from disbelief to frustration. The streetlight above us flickered slightly.
"You went alone? Are you insane?" Her voice was sharp but not loud enough to wake the neighbors. "Even if you didn't want others to intervene, you should've at least asked for someone's help! You never know what you might be walking into."
I exhaled, rubbing the back of my neck. "I get your concern, but you have to look at it from my perspective. I was the reason they got caught up in all this in the first place. I'm grateful they're even my friends… Do you really think someone like me deserves all this attention?"
Leah's expression shifted instantly. Her brows furrowed, and I could see the fire in her eyes. "What did you just say?" she demanded. "Do you deserve them?"
I blinked, slightly taken aback by her intensity.
"If you didn't deserve them," she continued, stepping closer, "then why do you care about them so much? Why did you try to keep them out of this? That alone proves you're more special than you think."
The night breeze rustled the trees behind her. For a moment, we stood there in silence, her words lingering in the cool air between us. Then, I let out a small smile.
"I didn't mean it like that," I said. "I was just trying to downplay it. I meant that I'm not the active type, you know? They just spawned into my life and somehow became a part of it. If I needed their help, of course, I would've asked."
She huffed, clearly still irritated, but I could see the slight softening in her gaze.
"Besides," I added, my smirk returning, "I still have a lot more left to do than I thought."
I glanced at her, and just as I was about to change the topic, I paused.
"But that's not it," I said, tilting my head slightly. "It was my first time seeing you get so furious like that… and actually, you were kinda cute."
Leah's face instantly turned red, but before she could react, I continued teasing, "Would I have to make you more furious to see you like that again?"
She let out a small chuckle before kicking my foot.
I laughed, stepping back before saying, "That reminds me… On my way to meet that guy today, I saw this couple on the bus. They were sitting behind me, and I couldn't help overhearing them."
Leah crossed her arms again, but she was listening.
"At first, I thought the guy was bad news," I said. "He was raising his voice, asking something, but I couldn't hear it clearly. I was already on edge, thinking,'What kind of guy is this?' Then, as they fell into their own space, I heard him say, 'What's your problem? Do you have anything to tell me? I won't know unless you say it.'"
Leah nodded slightly, following along.
"The girl kept denying anything was wrong," I continued. "At first, I thought maybe it was some kind of abusive relationship, but then my entire assumption collapsed. Turns out, she was actually upset because her husband had helped a random girl earlier—guided her when she took the wrong bus. That was all. She was jealous."
Leah blinked, and I shrugged.
"So, yeah," I said. "Good example of not judging a book by its cover. But that got me thinking… Would you feel jealous if I talked to some girl like that?"
Leah smiled knowingly. "I know you're not that talkative around girls, so I don't care."
I feigned surprise. "What are you saying? You're a girl. And I spend more time with Sarah, Lena, and Nina than with you. We're actually pretty close, too."
She smirked. "I don't care. I'm sure they find you boring."
I burst into laughter. "Are you jealous? I'm actually pretty well with them."
Leah stepped closer and suddenly hugged my right arm.
I raised an eyebrow. "So, you are jealous." I grinned. "Don't worry, I already told you—I love you. I've never felt anything for the others. They're just part of the group that makes everything whole."
There was a comfortable silence between us. Then, I remembered something else.
"Actually—" I started, but before I could finish, Leah cut me off.
"Save it for another time," she said, resting her head against my arm. "Would you tell me everything about your past and future before we even get married? We'd end up with nothing left to talk about later."
I blinked, caught off guard. I wasn't sure if I was more surprised or flustered by that sudden comment. It came out of nowhere, and I had to take a second to swallow my words before replying.
"We're still teenagers," I muttered, looking away. "Don't just talk about things like that so casually."
Her face turned red as well. She clearly hadn't thought much before saying it, but now that the words were out, she couldn't take them back. She quickly looked away.
I smirked. "What, embarrassed now?"
She groaned. "Shut up."
I chuckled. Yeah, this was a good way to end the day.
House
I wasn't planning to come home.
Not because I didn't want to—just that I wasn't used to it anymore.
Between school, training, and everything else that filled my days, coming back felt like stepping into a life that had been moving without me. Not like I was a stranger—just… a guest.
But here I was, standing at the door, hand hovering over the handle for a second longer than necessary before I finally pushed it open.
And the first thing I heard?
"Well, well, look what the wind dragged in."
Dylan.
Arms crossed, leaning against the wall like he had been expecting me.
I smirked. "That excited to see me?"
He scoffed. "Excited isn't the word I'd use."
"Devastated?"
"Indifferent."
I rolled my eyes. "Missed you too."
Before Dylan could come up with another smart remark, something small barreled into my leg.
Tiny arms. Surprisingly strong grip.
I looked down just as my youngest brother blinked up at me with round, sleepy eyes.
"Danny!"
I knelt slightly. "Hey, little man."
He didn't say anything else—just pressed his head against my knee, like that was enough proof I was real.
Dylan raised an eyebrow. "Guess at least someone's happy to see you."
I ruffled the kid's hair. "Of course he is. I'm the favorite."
Dylan snorted. "Right. Tell that to Mom."
I sighed. "She's not that mad, is she?"
"Oh, I didn't say she was mad." Dylan smirked. "I said you should tell her that."
Mom sat across from me, arms crossed but not really mad. Dylan, on the other hand, looked like he was enjoying himself a little too much.
Dad was on the couch, half-watching TV but still listening.
As soon as I picked up my spoon—
"So," Mom said, raising an eyebrow. "You didn't tell me you were coming."
I sighed. "It wasn't planned."
"Oh, so you just happened to wander in this direction?"
Dylan smirked. "Maybe he got lost."
I shot him a look. "You're hilarious."
Mom exhaled sharply, but I could tell she wasn't actually mad. More like… mildly exasperated.
"And? You're leaving tomorrow?"
I nodded. "Yeah. Just here for Sunday."
Before Mom could say anything else, my little brother—who had been very focused on playing with his food—suddenly pointed his spoon at me.
"Dada!"
I blinked. "…Huh?"
Dylan immediately lost it.
"Oh, man! Looks like you got promoted."
I stared at the toddler. "I'm not your dad, kid."
The baby just giggled, smacking his hands on the tray.
From the couch, Dad spoke up casually, not even looking away from the TV. "Well, you barely show up, so I guess he figured you must be some kind of long-lost father."
Dylan almost choked on his drink.
I groaned. "You too, Dad?"
He just shrugged. "What? Not my fault the kid's got a point."
I sighed, shaking my head as I focused on my food. This is what I came back to.
Not questions. Not drama. Just this.
And honestly? It felt kind of nice.
Dylan leaned back slightly, tapping his fingers against the table.
"So."
I glanced up. "So?"
"Things still the same at Crestwood?"
I raised an eyebrow. "That's a weird way to ask something."
"Just curious." He shrugged. "It's been a while since I visited."
I smirked. "What, thinking of transferring?"
"Yeah, right. I like my school."
I scoffed. "Then why ask?"
Dylan tapped his fork against his plate. "I dunno. Just wondering how you're holding up there."
I rolled my eyes. "I'm fine."
"Huh." He studied me for a second longer than necessary, then grinned. "Guess I'll have to visit again sometime."
I raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"What, you scared I'll embarrass you in front of your friends?"
I scoffed. "You overestimate yourself."
Dylan smirked. "Or maybe you underestimate me."
Mom sighed loudly. "Both of you need better hobbies."
Dylan ignored her, tilting his head slightly. "I'll think about it. Could be fun."
I just shook my head. Something told me he wasn't joking