returning to a place filled with car horns, construction noise, and urgent footsteps felt jarring. A

u o

shing the door open.

verstuffed bookshelf, the cracked coffee mug she refused to throw away, the sweater she had draped over the back of t

e door and turned to her. "We

all smile. "Y

y in her chest, like a thread pulling tight again after days of

-

all? The beach, the dancing in the rain, the promises? But then she heard the quiet clinking of

e, humming under his breath

ast?" she asked,

uld pretend it's

arms around him from behi

ack against her shou

e quiet comfort of the cabin had given way to buzzing phones, email notifications, an

your advisor yet?"

eggs around her plate. "No. I n

not sure about

just feels... undecided. Like I'm standing on the edge of som

have to figure it all out at once. But

slowly. "Ye

ning the tables. "Have you finished

htened, just a little

yes. "You haven't

just... haven't f

eadline is i

kno

's holding

first time since their trip, t

y. "That if I try and fail... I won'

won't fail. You'r

e interrupted, voice lo

did

ve. That fear

and took his hand. "Then le

nod

-

a path. Pick a future. Define a direction. Jace, meanwhile, holed himself up in his studio apartment, surrounded by canvases, charcoal sketches, and half-f

thing that reflected not just his skill

takeout. He opened the door looking dishevele

lding up the food. "I fi

igured

of life-art spilling out of every corner. She noticed a half-finish

drawing me," s

stop," he

backs against the cou

d you,"

right

still felt lik

you think we rushed it?

"Where's that

imes when things come back together too q

ning how to hold each other without holding

ut didn't say

-

mila threw a "We Sur

much. But Camila insisted, and Jace agreed they could use a night out. The apar

in the kitchen. "Y

. "Good different

," she replied.

I think I'm g

with Jace

real. And

wine. "I'm glad.

them-Cassie-laughed a little too loudly at something he said. A

reepin

? Or insecurity

ed, like he was searching for her in the crowd.

-

t the ceiling. Jace slept beside her, breathing even

ac

irred

if we're trying to make

Sometimes. But I also think... if we love

ded, he

t want to lo

d, voice fading. "W

he semester, her notebook open, pen poised-but her mind was miles away. The professor's voice was

ntly in her pocket. She

mething today. Wa

s despite the heaviness of

offee first. I need

bring you

entration in his brow, the gentle curve of his smile when he looked at her like she was his whole world. It scared her

-

it was a secret. The painting was bold-unlike anything he'd done before. Stark blacks and soft golds. A window between night and d

forward. "

. "I called

t her square

it's be

wanted it to be true. We were broken for a while. We almost lost

d slowly.

"But we're not 'almost' a

maybe you should paint th

-

inish his portfolio, time with each other became more limited. They texted consta

hey were just exhausted. Late one night, Ava sat on the couch,

mi

nswered, rub

ila's voice was

wning in assign

d J

se. "

m on campus today. With Cas

her voice even. "Cassie's in his a

choed. "I just thoug

her readings. Her brain spun in tight, irrat

th Cassie?" before she could stop herself. Three dots appeared. Then

rried. But it would be a lie. And something inside her- some leftover brui

-

t his apartment, still carrying the tension in her shoulders. He greeted her with a kiss on the ch

ay?" sh

Just st

h your residen

eting with Professor Lyle t

en asked, "Did Ca

pped m

her. "What's

said she saw you t

d there was some

to. But I don't know. Every

hair. "We promised we wouldn

er," she

feel like you're w

broke

good at believing somet

version of me who pushed you away las

to belie

e don't believe in what we're

-

early hours of morning, Jace woke to find Ava curled against him, one hand gripping the fabric of his shirt. Like she was afr

-

studio hallway as he stepped into Professor Lyle's office, sketchbook under one arm, an

asked, holdi

He said it was my best work. He said h

to his arms, ki

r's lips, and for the first ti

-

t. They didn't need music or candles or t