GUYS DO NOT HATE ME FOR THIS LMFAOAOAOAO

The school hallways buzzed with the familiar chaos of morning chatter, sneakers squeaking against the polished floor, and the faint smell of cafeteria coffee wafting through the air. Fina adjusted the strap of her backpack, taking a deep breath as she stepped inside.

It felt strange to be back. After everything that had happened recently, part of her had wanted to avoid this place altogether. But her family had encouraged her to face it head-on, and she'd convinced herself this was the fresh start she needed.

And maybe, just maybe, she'd catch a glimpse of Aiden.

She shook the thought away as quickly as it came, forcing her focus on the day ahead. Her brothers had driven her to school that morning, Matteo teasing her relentlessly about how he'd be parked outside if she needed backup, and Dante reminding her to "keep it together." Their playful banter had eased her nerves—at least until now.

She turned the corner into the main hallway, her steps faltering when she saw a familiar figure near the lockers. Her heart gave a hopeful lurch. Aiden.

He stood a few feet away, his back turned to her, looking every bit as calm and collected as always. Her lips curved into a small smile before she noticed her.

Sophia.

Fina froze in place, her breath catching in her throat. Sophia stood too close to Aiden, her hand resting lightly on his chest. Fina's stomach churned, but she told herself to wait, to watch, to give him the benefit of the doubt.

That fragile thread of hope snapped when Sophia leaned in, pressing her lips to his.

Fina's world tilted on its axis. The air seemed to leave her lungs, and her chest tightened as a cold wave of disbelief and betrayal washed over her.

No. No, no, no.

Her vision blurred, tears stinging her eyes. She couldn't see Aiden's reaction clearly through the haze, but it didn't matter. The image of them—of her—was seared into her mind.

She didn't wait for explanations. She couldn't.

Turning on her heel, Fina bolted down the hallway, the sound of her footsteps swallowed by the noise of the crowd. She ignored the curious stares, the muffled questions of classmates as she pushed past them. Her only thought was to get away.

Fina burst through the school's front doors, gulping in the crisp morning air as if it might steady her racing heart. But nothing could stop the storm swirling inside her. The image of Aiden and Sophia burned in her mind, her chest aching with every step she took away from the building.

She didn't know where she was going—she just knew she had to disappear. Somewhere, anywhere, that wasn't here.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, but she ignored it, her fingers trembling as she powered it off. No calls, no texts, no explanations. She couldn't face anyone right now. Not her brothers, not her parents, and definitely not Aiden.

How could he?

She squeezed her eyes shut, biting back a sob as she turned down a side street. Her legs carried her on autopilot, the adrenaline coursing through her making every step feel urgent, desperate.

Back at Home

The house buzzed with its usual morning chaos, but the mood shifted when Dante barged into the kitchen, his expression tense. "Fina isn't answering her phone," he said, holding up his own.

Isabella glanced up from the counter, her brow furrowing. "What do you mean? She should be in class by now."

"I don't know. I texted her, and nothing. I called twice—went straight to voicemail."

Antonio, sitting at the table with his coffee, narrowed his eyes. "She's probably just ignoring you. You do text her every five minutes."

"It's not that," Dante said firmly, his worry bleeding into his tone. "Something's off."

Alessandro entered the room, his gaze sweeping across his sons. "What's going on?"

"Fina," Dante replied. "She's not answering, and her phone's off."

Isabella's heart sank, her hands instinctively gripping the edge of the counter. "She's never done that before..."

Antonio stood, his calm demeanor cracking slightly. "Alright. Let's not jump to conclusions. Matteo, you're closest to the school. Can you swing by and check if she's there?"

Matteo nodded, already grabbing his keys.

"I'll check the park," Luca offered, heading for the door without waiting for confirmation.

"We'll split up," Alessandro said, his voice steady but commanding. "Enzo, come with me. Antonio, you and Dante call her friends, see if they've seen her."

Isabella stayed behind, her fingers trembling as she reached for her phone to call the school. Her mind raced with worst-case scenarios, but she forced herself to breathe. Fina would be found. They would bring her home.

Somewhere Quiet

Fina had wandered for what felt like hours, her legs finally giving out beneath her at a secluded park on the edge of town. She sank onto a bench, her head in her hands as tears streamed down her face.

I trusted him.

Her thoughts spiraled as she replayed the scene over and over, her chest tightening with every painful memory. It didn't matter if there was an explanation. It didn't matter if it wasn't what it looked like. The damage was done.

She wasn't sure how long she sat there, the world around her blurring into silence. All she knew was that she couldn't go back—not yet.

Aiden's Realization

Aiden paced his room, his phone clutched tightly in his hand as he replayed the morning's events. His mind was a whirlwind of guilt and frustration.

The kiss. The damn kiss.

Sophia had cornered him out of nowhere, her flirtations escalating before he could stop her. He'd pushed her away, told her he wasn't interested, but not before Fina had seen.

His heart sank at the memory of her face—her wide eyes, the tears threatening to fall before she turned and ran.

When his phone lit up with a call from Antonio, he didn't hesitate to answer.

"Aiden," Antonio's voice was sharp, his usual calm replaced with urgency. "Fina's missing. She's not answering her phone, and no one's seen her since this morning."

The blood drained from Aiden's face. "What? What do you mean she's missing?"

"You tell me," Antonio snapped. "You saw her at school, didn't you? What happened?"

Aiden ran a hand through his hair, his stomach twisting. "I—I didn't do anything. She... she saw something, but it's not what it looked like. I need to find her."

"Damn right you do," Antonio growled. "If anything happens to her—"

"It won't," Aiden cut him off, his voice firm. "I'll find her. I swear."

Without another word, he grabbed his jacket and headed out the door, his mind racing as he thought of all the places Fina might have gone.

a/n

hehe.