(Sierra's POV)
The next morning on campus felt lighter—maybe because Marko had healed enough to joke again, maybe because Angel had dragged me to class, refusing to let me overthink, or maybe… because Stefano hadn't insulted me all morning. That was new.
We walked across campus, Angel talking about her new nail design while I continued to catch myself glancing around—half expecting Stefano's dark stare from somewhere.
Coming to the architecture building, I saw Marko leaning against the railings, talking to a few boys, his hand freshly bandaged but the gauze looked neater—like someone had helped him redo it.
He was the first to look up. Smiled in that soft, brotherly way he had started giving only me.
"Sunshine, hey!" he said when I handed him water. "You're early today." I smiled. "How's your hand? Did you change the bandage like I told you?"
Marko heaved a melodramatic sigh. "Yes, ma'am. I even spared Ethan the punching when he swiped my fries." Angel laughed, "That's the strongest proof he's healing. Marko never lets fries go."
He nudged me with his shoulder. "Actually… thanks for yesterday. Really."
"It's okay," I smiled. "You'd have done the same."
He blinked at that, eyes tightening—like the words hit him deeper than I intended. "I would," he said quietly.
Before I could answer, Ethan and Sebastian jogged up, sweaty from the football field.
"Stefano wants to see if you're joining after class," Sebastian said, a little out of breath. "Coach is arranging mixed practice."
Marko snorted. "Mixed? Stefano will die before he agrees to that." Angel rolled her eyes. "Your brother is allergic to normal people."
Sebastian laughed. "He's trying."
He looked at me with care, not overprotective, yet warm. "You okay, cupcake?" His voice softened around it every time. I smiled weakly and nodded.
"Alright, go ahead before Professor Dean kills you for being late," Ethan said grinning, shooing us away.
Angel tugged my bag. "Come, class!"
I approached the building, yet when I turned around, Marko was still watching me thoughtfully; he appeared to question himself. I wanted to ask him why he was behaving like he was guilty.
(Stefano's POV)
I really ought to have been limbering up-stretching, breathing, anything other than staring like an idiot at the architecture building. But the moment Sierra walked away with Angel, I caught Marko looking at her with this stupid soft expression.
It wasn't romantic-I knew Marko. If he ever crossed a line, I'd know. But still…
Something twisted in my chest. She had that effect. Without trying. Without knowing. I dragged a hand through my hair.
"Dude," Ethan mumbled beside me, lacing up his shoe. "You good? You're watching her like you're tracking a criminal.
"Shut up," I muttered. "I'm not watching her."
Marko smirked. "No, of course not. You're looking at the clouds behind her." I glared at him. "Aren't you supposed to act normal? You're getting too soft."
Marko froze. Glanced down at his bandaged hand. And whispered:
"She took care of me for four hours, Stefano. Four. Hours. Look at this hand—nobody's ever done this for me, not even my girlfriends."
His words punched somewhere I didn't want to acknowledge.
Ethan shrugged. "Maybe she's not what you think."
"She's exactly what I think," I snapped. "I'm just… using patience." Marko raised an eyebrow. "Is that what you call it?
I ignored him, but a strange heaviness pressed against my chest.
When Marko had been hurt yesterday, I'd come home ready to tease him-only to find Sierra asleep by the couch, holding Marko's hand with her head leaned on the pillow near him.
And something pulled painfully tight inside me. Irritation. Or something worse.
"Practice!" Coach yelled. I forced myself to run, to push every thought of her out of my mind. But I still saw her everywhere: the way she bit her lip when she was nervous, the way she held onto Sebastian's sleeve when she got overwhelmed, the way she could care even when no one deserved it. I was losing control. And I hated it.
(Sierra's POV)
After class, Angel dragged me to the campus café, where Marko and Arko were already waiting and waving animatedly.
"Sierraaaa," Ethan drawled, "Come, sit. We ordered strawberry shakes."
"For me?"
"For you," Marko corrected, smiling. "You looked tired today."
I flushed. "Thanks…" Angel grinned and mouthed, "they love you, before ordering nachos."
We would laugh, joke, and complain about professors; once, Marko even mimed falling in front of the dean, and Angel choked on her drink. For the first time since moving here… I felt like I belonged.
"Okay, confession time," Ethan said suddenly, pointing at me. "Be honest—did you have another nightmare?" I froze. My heart thudded painfully. Angel looked confused, but Marko leaned forward, brows drawn. "You had one? Again?"
I swallowed, my fingers tightening around my cup. "A little."Immediately, Marko's voice softened. "Sierra… why didn't you call one of us?
Because the last time I had one— It was Stefano who found me.
My breath caught at the memory. I'd been shaking uncontrollably, sweating, crying, unable to breathe. And then—His arms. His voice. His quiet "It's okay." His lips, light as air, brush against my temple; it grounds me. I blinked fast, pushing the memory away. "I… didn't want to bother anyone," I whispered. Marko ran a hand through his hair. "Sunshine, you're not a bother. Ever."
Marko leaned back. " call me. I'm awake all night anyway." My chest warmed painfully. "Thank you. Really."
"Speaking of nightmares," Ethan suddenly snickered, "guess who looked like he hadn't slept at all this morning?"
Marko laughed. "Ohhh yes. Stefano." My breath stilled. Not him again. Something happens hearing his name.
Angel groaned. "Why are we talking about him again?" Ethan shrugged. "Because he looked like he murdered sleep." Marko added wryly, "Or like sleep murdered him."
I hid my face in my hands, cheeks burning, because I knew exactly why Stefano hadn't slept— He had stayed in my room longer than he should have. Calming me. Watching me fall asleep. And then just quietly leave.
(Stefano's POV)
I found them in the café later: Sierra laughing, Marko talking too much, Arko waving his arms, and Angel just about to fall off her chair. They looked… annoyingly happy. Sebastian nudged my shoulder. "They're bonding fast." "Too fast." I muttered.
"Sebastian."
"Yeah?"
"Shut up." He laughed. But the truth was devastatingly clear. I was softening. Worse, Sierra didn't even know. And I couldn't let her know-not yet. Not when I still didn't understand what this feeling was supposed to be. Not when hurting her had been part of my plan.
A plan that was slowly… painfully… falling apart. Because the more she smiled, the more she cared, the more she touched our lives— The more impossible it became to hate her.
(Sierra's POV)
From the café, we all walked toward the courtyard. Sebastian went ahead to meet some teammates, and Angel ran to the library, leaving me with Marko and Ethan.
Marko held the gate open for me. "Be careful walking today. You almost tripped earlier." I gasped. "I did not!"
"You absolutely did," Arko added. "It was majestic."
I shoved his shoulder, laughing. "You two are impossible." Marko smiled warmly. "You're good for us, Sunshine." My heart squeezed. "Bye, you two," I said softly, waving. "Text me if you need anything," Marko called. "Or if you trip again!" Ethan added. I laughed, walking into the architecture wing—
Only to stop dead. Stefano was standing between the pillars, his arms crossed, staring at me. Not angry. Not cold. Just… watching.
(To be continued…..)