After a few seconds of silence, I suddenly heard the sound of a key, and the door opened. It was my father.
"You really thought I didn't have a copy? Mia, if you ever talk to me like that again, there will be consequences."
"Are you going to hit me?" I asked.
"Oh, Mia… my God. You're being a child."
I stood up and said, "Why can't I date Chad? Tell me."
He threw my phone onto the bed. "I'm giving this back to you, but you already know the rules. And remember, I'm your father. I'm not going to argue with you. Get out of my room. I want to shower and sleep."
Then he left. I was furious.
I waited until the entire house was asleep. When silence finally settled in, I grabbed my phone with trembling hands and called Chad. My heart was pounding so loudly I could barely breathe. But he didn't answer.
I stayed there for a few seconds, staring at the dark screen, feeling a hollow emptiness grow inside me. I lay down, trying to force myself to sleep, but the more I closed my eyes, the more his face appeared. The longing hurt. It was a physical, suffocating pain, tightening my chest and refusing to let me rest.
I could only think about him. About everything we had lived. About what I might have destroyed.
The memory of the airport hit me like a punch. Brandon asking if I regretted it. I had said no. Maybe out of pride, maybe because at that moment I still didn't understand the size of the feelings I held for Chad. But when I picked up my phone and saw it empty, no messages from him, no missed calls from him, I broke down.
That was the moment I realized it. I did regret it. Truly.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't erase what I felt for Chad overnight. He was part of me. And just the thought of losing him for good left such a deep hole in my chest that I knew no one, not Brandon, not any other boy, would ever be able to fill.
That was when I made an impulsive decision, perhaps the most sincere of that night. I needed to see him. Look him in the eyes. Ask for forgiveness. Try, somehow, to fix what I had broken.
I texted Adam, asking him to come with me to Chad's house. He took a few minutes to reply. When my phone finally vibrated and I read "I'll go with you," I almost cried. He thought the idea was completely crazy, and it was, but he still agreed to come.
I changed my clothes and left. When I reached the garden, Adam was already there. We took a taxi.
"When we get in front of Chad's house," Adam asked, "what do we do? He's not answering me either."
We noticed that Will's bedroom light was on.
Adam tossed a small pebble. Will opened the window. We motioned for him to come down. He hesitated for a bit, but eventually came down.
"Hi. What are you doing here?" Will asked when he saw us.
"Where's Chad?" I asked.
"I think he's asleep," Will said with a shrug.
"Please, call him," I asked.
He sighed. I think he felt sorry for me. "Come on in. My mom's asleep. I'll help you get to his room."
Will took my hand and led me to Chad's room. The door was open. I heard the sound of the shower running. He was bathing. I locked the bedroom door, sat on his bed, and waited.
When he came out of the bathroom, surrounded by steam, he was wearing only underwear and drying his hair with a towel. He jumped back when he saw me.
"What are you doing here?"
I noticed then how worn out he looked, his eyes red and swollen, just like mine.
I stood up and stepped closer. "Chad, I miss you."
"Mia… if someone finds you here…" he began.
"Forget that. We need to talk," I said.
He quickly put on a pair of shorts. I couldn't help staring at his body, hypnotized. He sat beside me on the bed.
"So, Mia. Tell me about the trip."
"I saw my grandparents and my friend…" I started.
He interrupted. "And Brandon?"
I took a deep breath. "Chad, I'm confused. I love you, but…"
"But you feel something for him."
"Yes… but the one I want is you, not Brandon."
He sighed deeply.
"Did you kiss him?"
I stayed silent. He stood up and headed toward the door. I thought he was going to throw me out.
I ran and stood in front of him.
"Mia, please, leave…" he started.
"Chad, we're victims of a past that isn't ours. I was hurt, and everything felt impossible with you. But when I kissed him, I realized no one makes me feel what you make me feel."
"When I arrived, your mom was with my dad."
"What?" he interrupted.
"Yes. They were being very intimate. It's not fair to us."
I hugged him. He pulled me into a tight embrace.
"Chad, forgive me."
He looked away, sat down on the bed, dragged his hand aggressively over his face, then looked straight at me.
"If we get back together, do you promise to stop talking to Brandon?"
"I promise," I said without hesitation, and kissed him.
I had forgotten the taste of his kiss. He kissed me deeply. We lay down on the bed.
"Chad, I want you so badly," I whispered.
My phone started vibrating. He kept kissing me.
"No, don't answer it," he said breathlessly.
I glanced at the screen and saw Brandon calling again and again. After five calls, it stopped for a moment. Then it rang again. This time it was Adam.
"Wait… Chad, it's Adam…"
"No, Mia. I just want us. Turn off your phone."
"I can't. He's waiting for me outside."
Chad kept kissing me. I didn't answer.
I had taken off my jacket and was wearing a button-down shirt. Chad looked into my eyes and slowly unbuttoned it, kissing my skin.
The phone kept vibrating, but it felt distant. I decided to give myself completely to the moment. We carefully removed the rest of our clothes until there was nothing left between us. He looked into my eyes, silently asking if I was sure. I smiled and kissed him.
Knock, knock.
Chad let out a deep sigh, as if he couldn't believe someone was interrupting that moment.
We jumped up, startled. I quickly put my shirt back on. He signaled for me to be quiet. My heart was racing with fear as we got dressed and heard someone on the other side of the door.
"It's Will."
We breathed in relief.
Chad opened the door. Will looked him up and down. Even with Chad wearing shorts, it was obvious what he had interrupted. Chad grabbed a pillow and covered himself, then asked, "What do you want?"
"Sorry to interrupt," Will said sarcastically. "But Adam is freaking out. He told you to come down, Mia."
"Why?" I asked.
"Apparently Brandon called him. Something happened at Emma's house. The place is full of police."
My heart raced. I ran down the stairs and straight to Adam. His eyes were full of tears; he was shaking.
"Calm down," I said, hugging him.
"Mia, I'm so scared. If something happens to her, I…" he couldn't finish.
Chad appeared behind us, already dressed. "Come on. I'll take you there."
Adam and I jumped into the car. On the way, Adam talked to Brandon, but he didn't know much. When we arrived, the house was still surrounded by police cars. Time felt frozen. My heart was ready to burst. I was trembling.
All I wanted was to get there and find Emma safe.