Credence

“TMZ will be here before they are.”

I shake my head, peering around the corner to see him digging his hand into a bag of my veggie fries as Mirai stands close, hands on her hips and huffing.

She holds up her claws like she wants to strangle him. “I’ve never wanted to hit someone so much since—”

“Since last night when you dreamed about me?”

I pull back and lean against the wall. Mirai’s anger over what went down on the mountain between the Van der Bergs and me is still strong—but man, he’s not afraid of it.

“Where is she?” he asks.

“I don’t know.”

“Mirai?” he sing-songs.

“Screw you.”

I peek around the corner again, seeing their backs to me, him standing behind her and egging her on.

“It didn’t happen like you think it happened,” he explains. “We’re her home. We’d kill to protect her.”

My cheeks warm at hearing that, but Mirai still isn’t having it.

“Fuck off,” she says.

I jaunt past the archway and dash up the stairs before they can see me, not having the energy to get in the middle of that tonight. I’ll say hi to Jake tomorrow.

“I’m calling security,” I hear her warn him.

“I’m not leaving,” he taunts. “I’ll be here all night if I have to. Waiting with you...”

“Nope, you won’t.”

“Close to you…” he continues.

“Shut. Up.”

“Watching you…”

“Ew.”

“Just you and me…” he teases.

There’s a pause and then, “Ow!” Jake bellows. “That hurt! My nose is bleeding. Jesus!”

“Not on the carpet!” she cries.

I speed walk to my room, grab the handle, and quietly close the door.

I’m not sure if Noah found me, because he knew his father was coming, or if Jake came to see how Noah was doing and decided to make a stop here, but either way, I’m happy they’re both here. I just hope Jake made provisions for someone to stay on the property back home and take care of the animals in his absence if Kaleb is still no where to be seen.

I’ll leave him and Mirai alone for now, though. They need to spend some time together and sort their shit out. Whether or not she approves of what happened, he’s not going anywhere. If she wants to keep being here for me, she’ll have to deal with him.

I crash to my bed, burying my face in my pillow. It was a good day but long. The ever-present flutter that left my heart when I left the peak six weeks ago is back to some extent. They’re here, and I feel more like I’m home. A little more, anyway.

My course catalog for school looms like an elephant on my nightstand, but I feel good, and looking at that makes me feel less good. I wanted to go to college this morning.

But now that they’re here…