The next morning, Rea barely made it through first period.
Her mind was still stuck in Aster's dimly lit living room, still tangled in the way his voice had sounded when he told her about Jaxon—hollow, guarded, like he didn't want to let the words out but had done it anyway.
Like he had let her in, even if just for a moment.
She tapped her pencil against her notebook, staring blankly at the equations in front of her.
She wasn't sure what she was supposed to do now.
Aster had made it clear he didn't want people knowing about his brother.
But what if Jaxon hurt him again?
What if next time, Aster didn't just show up with bruised knuckles and tired eyes?
The thought made her stomach twist.
She hated feeling helpless.
Hated the idea of sitting back while something bad happened.
But this wasn't her fight.
Aster had made that clear.
And yet—
"Earth to Rea?"
She blinked, turning to find Elena waving a hand in front of her face.
"What?" Rea asked.
Elena raised an eyebrow. "That's what I was gonna ask you. You've been zoning out all morning. What's up?"
Rea hesitated.
Elena wasn't just a friend anymore.
She was her friend. Someone Rea trusted.
But this wasn't her secret to tell.
So she just shook her head. "It's nothing."
Elena studied her for a moment, like she didn't quite believe her.
Then she smirked. "Nothing, huh? Not even a certain bad boy who skipped school yesterday?"
Rea's heart jumped.
"What—"
"Oh, come on." Elena grinned, nudging her. "It's not exactly a secret that you and Aster have been, you know, circling each other."
Rea scoffed, but her face felt warm.
"We're not circling anything," she muttered.
Elena smirked. "Sure."
Rea rolled her eyes, turning back to her notebook.
But she couldn't ignore the way her chest tightened at Elena's words.
Because, deep down, she knew—
Aster wasn't just some boy she sat next to in class.
He wasn't just some reckless troublemaker she had gotten tangled up with by accident.
He was something more.
And that scared her more than anything.
---
Aster showed up halfway through lunch.
Rea had been picking at her food, lost in her own thoughts, when she spotted him walking through the cafeteria doors.
He looked... tired.
Like he hadn't slept much.
Like something heavy was still sitting on his shoulders.
But he was here.
And for some reason, that made it easier to breathe.
Elena followed her gaze and smirked. "Speak of the devil."
Rea shot her a look. "Don't."
Elena just laughed, but she didn't push.
Aster didn't sit with them.
He never did.
Instead, he made his way to the back of the cafeteria, slumping into a chair at an empty table.
Rea hesitated.
Then, before she could talk herself out of it, she grabbed her tray and stood.
Elena raised an eyebrow. "Where are you going?"
"I'll be back," Rea said, already walking away.
She could feel Elena grinning behind her.
Aster didn't look up as she slid into the seat across from him.
But he didn't tell her to leave, either.
He just picked at the food on his tray, spinning a fork between his fingers.
Rea rested her elbows on the table. "So. You're alive."
Aster smirked, but it was small. Tired. "For now."
Rea frowned. "That's not funny."
He shrugged. "Wasn't trying to be."
She exhaled, watching him for a moment.
Then she said, "You okay?"
Aster's fingers tightened around his fork.
He didn't answer right away.
Then, finally, he sighed. "Define 'okay.'"
Rea pressed her lips together. "Aster."
His jaw clenched.
Then he sighed again, running a hand through his hair.
"Jaxon's staying," he muttered.
Rea's stomach dropped.
"For how long?" she asked.
Aster let out a dry laugh. "Who knows? Long enough to make my life a living hell, probably."
Rea hesitated. "Did he—"
"I'm fine, Rea." Aster's voice was sharp.
Rea flinched.
Aster sighed, rubbing his face. "Sorry. I just... I don't want to talk about it."
Rea swallowed. "Okay."
Aster looked at her then, something flickering in his expression.
She wasn't sure what it was.
But it made her chest feel tight.
For a moment, they just sat there.
Then, quietly, Aster said, "You should stay out of this."
Rea's heart clenched.
She knew what he was doing.
He was pushing her away.
Trying to protect her.
But he didn't realize—
She wasn't going anywhere.
So instead of leaving, instead of letting him shut her out, she reached across the table and rested her hand over his.
Aster froze.
Rea didn't say anything.
She just squeezed his fingers, grounding him.
And after a long moment, Aster squeezed back.