crawling back to you.

Daniela woke with a headache that felt like six hangovers tangled into one. A deep, punishing ache pounded behind her eyes. God, she hadn’t got fucked up like that in years . Regret crept in slowly, curling around her ribs, settling in the pit of her stomach.

She swallowed against the nausea creeping up her throat, though she wasn’t sure if it was from the hangover or the weight settling in her chest.

What the fuck had she done?

She exhaled sharply, shifting to sit up. The hotel suite was empty, but the sound of running water and a voice—soft, melodic—filtered through from the bathroom. Lara.

Daniela ran a hand down her face. The night was a blur. Shots downed too fast. A party with people she barely remembered. Miles’ hand on her wrist, guiding her through the crowd, the easy pull of his smirk. Going back to his place and— oh fuck . Her stomach twisted. Every beat of her heart pounded with the sick realization of how fucking stupid she had been—not just for whatever had happened with Miles, but for the way she had lashed out yesterday, reckless and angry, cutting into the people who cared about her. 

She had a lot of apologies to dish out today. Especially to Manon and Megan. 

Megan.

A new memory surfaced—vague, hazy around the edges—but she knew, deep down, it had been Megan who had brought her back last night. Megan, who always seemed to find her when she was lost, like a rope tethering a wayward kite. 

Where was Megan? She remembered distantly that they’d fallen asleep together, she could still smell lavender on the pillows. Yet Megan was nowhere to be seen. 

Her head throbbed, the pounding insistent, but she barely had time to dwell on it before the shower shut off and Lara’s singing faded. A moment later, a Tylenol was pressed into her palm without a word. She muttered up a thanks to Lara who tightened her bathrobe and went over to the other side of the room to shimmy her underwear on under her robe. 

“You know you had us worried last night. Megan especially,” Lara said after a beat.

“Sorry,” Daniela murmured, swallowing against the dryness in her throat.

“Not really me you should be apologizing to.”

Silence settled between them.

Daniela groaned, pressing her palms into her eyes. “I was such a dick.”

Lara huffed a laugh. “Yeah, girl, you were.”

Daniela glanced over at her, catching the smirk tugging at her friend’s lips. Before she knew it, a smile of her own had slipped through.

“I won’t be crazy like that again,” Daniela said after a quiet moment, though they both knew it was a lie.

“Uh, yeah, you will.” Lara didn’t miss a beat. “You’re wild as hell, and I love that about you… but you need to be careful too. We love you, Dani. None of us ever want to see you get hurt.”

Daniela nodded, more serious this time, then pouted up at Lara. “I love you too, by the way.”

Lara gasped dramatically. “You do?”

Before Daniela could react, Lara flung herself onto her, full body weight and all. Daniela groaned at the impact, trying to shove her off as Lara tickled her sides.

“Oh my god, she loves me!” Lara crowed.

“Lara, stop—get off!” Daniela yelped between gasps of laughter. “You’re naked and your hair is dripping all over me!”

✰✩✩✩✩✩

Once the worst of Daniela’s hangover had passed she forced herself to look somewhat presentable and went on her way to find the rest of the girls. To apologise. She caught sight of a familiar head of ginger at the end of the hallway. Megan was engaged in a conversation with Yoonchae. Just as Daniela registered her, Megan looked up, their eyes locking across the distance and the girl seemed to freeze in place. Daniela smiled instinctively, lifting a hand to wave. But then, before the gesture could fully form, Megan turned abruptly, looping her arm through Yoonchae’s and disappearing around the corner without so much as a nod in return.

Daniela’s hand lingered mid-air for a beat before she slowly lowered it.

That was… weird.

Did she say something last night? Had she screwed things up that badly?

The door clicking open to her left broke her out of her thoughts. It was hers and Manon’s hotel room while they were here in Atlanta. So Daniela was slightly surprised to see Sophia tip-toeing out the room, her shoes and hoodie bundled in her hands. Her usually smooth and sleek hair was frazzled and her makeup from last night was still on– lipstick smudged, Dani noticed. And... was that Manon’s shirt?

“Sophia?” Daniela’s brow arched.

Sophia’s head snapped up like a startled deer. “Dani! Oh. H-hey,” she blurted, eyes wide. “You’re back!”

“Yeah, yeah…” Daniela rubbed the back of her neck, laughing lightly. “I think Megan came to get me? The details are kinda fuzzy.”

Sophia’s caught off guard expression quickly melted into one of concern as she studied Daniela. Something was off. Something had been bugging her friend this whole time since they had landed in Atlanta but Dani wouldn’t say what. And though Sophia was still a little annoyed about last night—having spent most of it consoling Manon and watching Megan pace a hole into the floor—it didn’t matter now. Annoyance was fleeting. Concern wasn’t. Daniela didn’t just spiral for no reason. If Daniela was acting out there must be a reason why she was.

“You okay?” Sophia’s voice was softer now.

“Y-yeah, no, I’m good.” Daniela flashed a smile, too quick, too easy. “Just… sorry about last night. I shouldn’t have—anyway, that’s why I’m here. To apologize.”

Sophia sighed, giving her arm a reassuring squeeze. Daniela met her gaze then, her expression shifting like something had just clicked.

“Wait.” Dani’s brows knit together. “Why are you here?”

Sophia stilled, the comforting motion of her hand freezing against Daniela’s arm.

“I—I was just, um,” she stammered, which was strange because Sophia never stammered. “Actually, Yoonchae needed me for something. Really sorry, gotta go.”

Before Daniela could press further, Sophia spun on her heel and practically fled down the hall. Daniela watched her retreat, bewildered. She knew when one of her girls was lying—and that? That was a truly atrocious attempt. Shaking her head at the weirdness of it all, she turned back toward the hotel room and stepped inside, looking for Manon. 

“Sophia’s acting weird—” She cut herself off mid-sentence, words dying in her throat as she took in the scene before her. Manon, wide-eyed and scrambling, yanked the covers around herself—her very, very bare self.

“Why are you—” she trailed off once again as her gaze flicked downward. A scattered trail of clothes littered the floor, unmistakably leading to the bed. Not just Manon’s. Sophia’s clothes too. Then she registered Manon’s flushed face. The sheer panic in her expression.

Suddenly Sophia’s weirdness earlier no longer seemed so weird.

Oh.

Oh.

“Oh my God.”

“Dani—”

“Oh my God.” Her voice pitched higher, the reality slamming into her like a freight train. “Ew!”

“Wait—ew?”

“You. You and Sophia?!” Dani gaped, gesturing wildly. “Since when?! How?! I have so many questions—oh my GAWD—”

“Why ew?” Manon asked, affronted.

“Because!” Dani sputtered. “I mean, I’m happy for y’all, I knew there was something there, but ew!”

Manon’s lips curled into a smirk. “Well, if you think this is ew, you should’ve walked in ten minutes ago—”

“No! No. Stop talking. ” Dani groaned, screwing her eyes shut as if that could erase the mental images forming against her will. The sound of giggles from Manon made her slowly reopen her eyes and send a slowly formed lopsided smile over to her best friend. Daniela flopped onto the bed with an exaggerated huff. 

“I can’t believe this,” she spoke mostly to herself, expression still a little dazed. Manon and Dani’s eyes met for half a second as they lay side by side and then they erupted into a fit of giggles. 

The laughter eventually faded into a comfortable quiet. Dani turned her head, reaching out to squeeze Manon’s forearm, grounding them both in the moment. When she spoke, her voice was steady, sincere.

“I am. Happy for you.” Daniela said, “You two make each other happy, I couldn’t think of two better people to be together.”

“Thanks Dani,” Manon murmured. 

A beat passed before Dani’s curiosity got the better of her. “So… how long—”

“Just tonight, I swear,” Manon cut in quickly. “I mean… we’ve both known for a while, but yeah.”

Dani hummed in acknowledgment, letting the silence stretch between them again. It wasn’t awkward—just reflective, weighty in a way that made her feel like something unspoken still lingered in the air.

Manon must have felt it too.

“About last night—”

“Dani, it’s fine—”

“It’s not,” Dani interrupted, firmer now.

“I shouldn’t have pushed-“

“No no you’ve got nothing to apologise for, I said something horrible and untrue and I’m sorry,” Daniela continued.

Manon only smiled at her. Warm and forgiving. Manon had forgave her as soon as she’d left the dressing room last night. She could never stay angry at Daniela, not really. She meant too much to her.

“It’s okay,” Manon murmured. “I know you were just angry. And… clouded.” She hesitated, then added carefully, “I know it was because of… your dad, somehow.”

Dani’s breath hitched.

Manon braced herself, suddenly unsure if she had overstepped, an apology already forming on her tongue. But Dani didn’t lash out, didn’t withdraw. She only looked away, squeezing Manon’s arm again—softer this time, almost absentmindedly.

When she finally spoke, her voice was low, quiet. Like if she said it softly enough, it wouldn’t make it real.

“I don’t know why it happens,” she admitted, the words coming slowly, like she was still piecing them together herself, “But he got in my head. He has this way of doing that,” Daniela chuckled darkly. “He always— he’s always there . In the back of my mind. Controlling. Harsh. Like a… darkness? I don’t know.” She exhaled, almost as if the words alone exhausted her. “Most of the time, I can push it away. Drown it out with dance. But last night?” Her throat tightened. “He was really there. And it really fucked me up, I don’t know.”

She let out a breath, shaky and unsteady, like she wasn’t sure she wanted to say more. Like she wanted to pull it all back. But Manon just stayed there, silent and steady, a quiet presence beside her. Manon was aware this was the most Daniela had ever opened up about her home life so she had to respond very carefully, she didn’t want to make this some big deal where Dani gets uncomfortable and clams back up again. One wrong move, one misplaced reaction, and Dani would shut down, retreat behind that familiar wall of deflection and forced nonchalance. Or worse, resort to her anger. Manon didn’t want that. 

But she also needed her to know that this wasn’t okay, wasn’t normal, and that she was here for her. To listen to all of the rest of it because Manon was sure there was a lot more going on in that beautiful, dumb head of hers. And above all, she needed Dani to know that her dad was a certified, grade-A asshole for making her feel this way. That the way he treated her, the effect he clearly had on her, wasn’t just not okay—it was not healthy.

But Manon also knew this wasn’t the moment to say all that out loud. Not yet.

So instead, she just stayed. A quiet presence, a steady hand, an unspoken promise. Her head finding its way to rest on Dani’s shoulder, a silent comfort. 

Dani exhaled, as if shaking herself free from the weight of her own thoughts, then forced a smile. It didn’t reach her eyes.

“And he invited us over for dinner tonight, remember. So yay. That’s gonna be a hoot,” she said, voice dripping with sarcasm.

Manon’s response was immediate. “We don’t have to go.”

Dani shook her head. “No. Not going will only make it worse.”

Manon studied her for a beat, then nodded. “Okay,” she said simply. “But we’re all going to be there. We got you.”

Daniela appreciated the sentiment but she wasn’t sure anything could really separate the vice of her dads hands over her brain. 

A moment passed and then—

“Also, I think Megan’s avoiding me.”

Manon rolled her eyes. “You do know she only did what she did because she cares about you, right?”

Dani let out a grunt—acknowledgment, reluctant but genuine. “I know, okay? I was an asshole. She’s next on my apology tour.”

Manon smirked. “Don’t worry. Megan’s all about talking about her feelings and shit. She won’t be angry. Never at you, I’m sure she’s not avoiding you.”

✰✩✩✩✩✩

Megan was avoiding Daniela. She didn’t know what else she could do ever since she’d realised her feelings for her. Megan had never been great at playing it cool, and now, every time she so much as thought of Dani, her heart did something stupid—stumbling over itself, catching in her throat, making her stomach turn in on itself like a collapsing star. It was humiliating. Obviously, she had to force these feelings down, pretend they never existed—like Megan’s entire world hadn’t just been flipped upside down by the realization that she was in love with her best friend. It didn’t matter. None of it mattered.

Daniela would never feel the same way.

First of all, she was straight. Second, even if she wasn’t, she would never risk jeopardizing the band. Work always came first for Dani—always. And third… this was friendship. That’s all it was. All it had to be.

So if Megan had to bury these feelings to keep things from falling apart, then that was exactly what she was going to do.

It couldn't be that hard right? 

She winced at the memory of their earlier hallway encounter—Dani looking at her with confused, questioning eyes, and Megan, a complete disaster, fumbling over herself like an idiot. That could’ve gone better but, again, Megan was terrible at playing it cool, and trying to act normal around Dani now? When everything inside her was a tangled, burning mess? Impossible . With a groan, she dropped her head into her folded arms on the table.

Yoonchae, sitting across from her, shot her a wary look. “What’s up with you?”

“Nothing…” Megan mumbled into her arms. Then, after a beat, “Everything.”

Yoonchae hesitated before reaching out, giving the top of Megan’s head a few tentative pats. It wasn’t the most effective comfort, but Megan appreciated the attempt.

And then—footsteps. Light, familiar. She felt her before she even saw her.

“Hey, Yoonchip.”

Dani’s honey-warm voice sent a bolt of panic through Megan’s chest. She snapped her head up, body going rigid. So much for avoiding her.

“Hi Dani,” Yoonchae beamed. 

Dani smiled back before turning her gaze toward Megan, eyes soft but searching. “Do you mind giving me and Megan a sec?”

Yoonchae, sensing the shift, nodded and got up.

Megan swallowed, avoiding Dani’s gaze as she took the now-empty seat beside her.

A brief silence stretched between them before Dani broke it.

“Are you avoiding me?”

Megan sputtered. “No—I, no! Why would you think that?”

Dani just sighed, letting it go. “Okay, fine. Then are you mad at me? Did I say something last night?”

Megan hesitated. Daniela did say some things last night that stuck with her but nothing she was mad about. If anything, they’d just left her… sad.

If she was angry, it wasn’t at Dani—it was at the way Dani treated herself, the sheer disregard she had for her own well-being. In general, but especially last night. So many things could’ve gone wrong. So she channelled that anger because it was better than being a blubbering mess who couldn’t get a reign on her feelings right now.

“Yeah actually, something bad could have happened last night. You were reckless Dani! You were out there drunk as hell in the pitch black of the night on a random street and anything could have happened! Do you even realize how dangerous that was?”

Dani opened her mouth, but Megan wasn’t done.

“God, do you know how worried I—we were?” She caught herself, barely, but the stumble didn’t matter. Her voice had dropped now, quieter but no less intense. “You didn’t even text. You could’ve been hurt, and it would’ve been my fault.”

Megan avoided Dani’s gaze but Daniela couldn’t tear her eyes away, she felt enormous guilt for worrying Megan, angering her, but it was quickly replaced with confusion, her brows drew together, “How would it have been your fault?” 

Megan shifted uncomfortably, swallowing against the tightness in her throat. “After the show… I pushed you. I knew you were in a dark place, and I still pushed. And then I let you go. I should’ve stayed. Should’ve—” She exhaled sharply. “I should’ve at least found out where you were going.”

Dani blinked at her, then sighed. “That wasn’t your fault Megan, I wasn’t thinking clearly… And you’re right. I’m sorry. I should’ve texted or something, let you guys know I was fine. I was with Miles anyway.”

Megan’s stomach twisted. “Who’s Miles?”

“Just some guy I used to know.”

She gulped. Nope. Not dealing with that feeling right now either. She changed the subject instead.

“Are you mad at me?” she asked quickly. “For lying? You know… faking sick?”

Dani leaned back slightly, considering. “Maybe at first… but now I’m realizing it was coming from a good place.”

“It was,” Megan admitted, voice quieter now. “I just… care about you. And you weren’t taking care of yourself, and I just wanted to help.”

Dani’s lips quirked—not quite a smile, but something close. “I get that. And I love you for it. But Megan… don’t do it again. I can take care of myself.”

Megan didn’t argue, though every fiber of her being wanted to. She just nodded. Carefully.

Dani let out a breath, then added, almost offhandedly, like she was trying to not seem affected by it,“By the way, my dad’s having us over for dinner tonight.”

Megan’s brows knitted together. “I thought you didn’t want to go back there.”

Megan watched as Dani’s shoulders tensed, “When did I say that?”

Megan opened her mouth, then closed it. “No—never mind. I’ll let Yoonchae know, we’ll start getting ready soon.”

Dani smiled slightly. Nodded. Let her eyes linger on Megan for a second longer and then left. And Megan let out a breath—long and unsteady, as if she’d been holding it in for far too long.

✰✩✩✩✩✩

The house hadn’t changed.

That was the first thing Daniela noticed as they stepped inside. The same pristine marble floors, the same towering ceilings that made everything feel colder, the same art on the walls—framed glimpses of a life meant to be admired but never truly lived in. She hadn’t been back since she left for Dream Academy 2 years ago but it was all the same. Even the air smelled the same. A mixture of polished wood, expensive cologne, and something sterile.

Dani’s fingers curled into fists at her sides, trying to keep the memories rising at bay. 

She shouldn’t have been surprised. Her father wasn’t the type to embrace change. He was the type to preserve, to control—to keep things exactly as he wanted them.

“Welcome,” came his voice from the entryway.

Dani forced herself to look.

Her father stood at the bottom of the sweeping staircase, posture impeccable, dressed in a suit despite the fact that this was supposed to be a casual dinner. His presence filled the space effortlessly, commanding attention without even trying.

Dani hated it. 

She liked to think she was tough, that she had built herself into something unshakable. But around him she couldn’t help but feel scared. Always waiting for the other shoe to drop. The familiar fear crept in, slithering under her skin. She forced it down, shook the feeling off, she could not let her mask slip. Not again—not in front of him. And certainly not in front of the girls. She couldn’t make this into a bigger deal than it was and have them worrying about her. She’d put them through enough already. 

So she did what she always did. She straightened her spine, lifted her chin, and smoothed the edges of her expression into something cold, calm, and unshaken.

The professional he had moulded her to be.

Next to her, Megan swallowed. She had met Mr. Avanzini before—briefly, after the show—but this felt different. This felt like she was meeting him for real. Here, in his domain, he was entirely in his element, commanding the space with an ease that sent a chill down her spine. Somehow, she hadn’t expected him to be this… imposing.

And yet, looking between him and Daniela, she saw it. The sharp confidence, the unwavering composure, the way his presence alone could shift the energy in a room. Dani had inherited more from him than just his striking features.

“It’s so nice to see you girls again. Thank you for coming,” he said smoothly, his charm effortless, polished.

Daniela watched as the girls relaxed, offering him easy smiles, unaware of the carefully constructed façade beneath. All except Manon and Megan, who played along but held themselves a little too stiffly, shoulders tight, wary. 

“Thank you for having us,” Sophia gushed. “Your home is beautiful!”

“Yeah, we’re just sorry it took us this long to finally come and meet you,” Lara added, her enthusiasm genuine.

Mr. Avanzini’s grin widened, all teeth. “What’s that about, then? Were you trying to keep me a secret, Daniela?”

The girls laughed. Dani didn’t.

“I’m joking, of course,” he added breezily. “I’m sure you’ve all been busy. What matters is that you’re here now.”

Then, his gaze landed on Daniela. “Dinner is ready. I trust you remember where the dining room is.”

Dani didn’t reply. She just led them down the hall, her movements a little too precise, her back a little too straight.

Megan fell into step beside her, lowering her voice. “You okay?”

Dani didn’t answer right away. Then, without looking at her, she murmured, “Let’s just get this over with.” 

✰✩✩✩✩✩

The dinner was… surprisingly fine. Pleasant, even.

Dani might have gone as far as calling it nice—so far, at least. The conversation flowed effortlessly, the girls chatting as they always did, their laughter filling the grand dining room in a way that almost made it feel warm. Which was strange since she couldn’t ever remember this house being warm. Her father was engaging, charming as ever, cracking the occasional joke, and to her own surprise, Dani found herself smiling more than once. The tightness in her chest had loosened, the weight pressing against her ribcage lighter than before. Manon was right when she had comforted her earlier, this was a lot easier with her girls here. Megan wove a hand into hers under the dinner table and Dani squeezed twice to signal she was okay.

It was going as well as it possibly could.

Until it wasn’t.

“So, we were hoping to meet Dani’s mom too… is she not here?”

Sophia’s voice was light, earnest. Completely unaware of the way the question cut through the air like a blade.

Dani froze.

The shift was immediate, the warmth drained from the room in an instant. Her fingers went slack in Megan’s grasp. Then, her fork slipped from her grip, the sharp clang as it hit porcelain echoing in the sudden, suffocating silence.

Slowly, she lifted her head, her pulse pounding in her ears as her eyes found her father at the head of the table.

Dani felt every muscle in her body lock up, her breath stalling in her throat as she watched him. He hadn’t moved—not really—but something in his expression had shifted, so subtle that no one else would have noticed. But Dani did. She always did. The slight tightening of his jaw, the flicker of something unreadable in his eyes before his carefully composed mask settled back into place.

The girls were still oblivious, waiting for an answer, the tension unnoticed by all except for Megan and Manon. Megan’s grip on Dani’s hand tightened beneath the table, a silent anchor, but Dani barely felt it.

Then, her father smiled.

It was the kind of smile that looked effortless—practiced, polished—but Dani knew better.

“I’m afraid that won’t be possible,” he said smoothly, reaching for his wine glass with the same ease he did everything. “Daniela’s mother and I are no longer together.”

The words were light, casual, as if he were discussing a business deal that had simply run its course. But to Dani, they rang in her ears like a gunshot.

Sophia’s face fell. “Oh, I— I didn’t realize. I’m so sorry.”

He waved a dismissive hand. “No need. It was a long time ago.”

A long time ago.

Dani swallowed, her throat suddenly dry.

That was one way to put it. Another way would be to say it was a hurricane that tore through her life, leaving nothing but wreckage in its wake. But sure. A long time ago worked too.

Manon shot Dani a quick glance, wary, searching. Megan didn’t even bother being subtle, her gaze drilling into the side of Dani’s face as if she could will her to look back. But Dani didn’t. She couldn’t. She hadn’t told them about her mom no longer being around. She felt the confusion and hurt coming off of them in waves.

“Right,” she said, her voice as steady as she could make it. “Shall we have dessert?”

The conversation hesitantly picked up again, laughter returning in bits and pieces, but Dani barely heard any of it.

She didn’t touch anything else on her plate for the rest of the night.

And beneath the table, Megan never let go of her hand.

Before she knew it the night was coming to an end. The girls took turns offering their thanks, their voices warm with genuine appreciation, and one by one, they drifted out of the dining room, heading for the car.

Megan couldn’t quite bring herself to leave the room without Dani. Dani, ever the performer, offered her a small, reassuring smile—just enough to convince, but not enough to reach her eyes.

Megan hesitated only a moment longer before murmuring a quiet, “Thank you for dinner,” and stepping out of the room. She got as far as the hallway and decided to linger there instead, giving Dani the space she needed to say goodbye to her father.

The dinner hadn’t been that bad. Up until Sophia had brought up Dani’s mother that is. Then something in the room had shifted even if just for a moment. Megan couldn’t believe that Dani hadn’t said a word that her parents were split up. Megan would’ve classed that as pretty vital information to share with your best friends. Then again, it was Daniela. Daniela who had always held her cards impossibly close to her chest, insisting that she could handle things alone.

So maybe Megan wasn’t surprised. But she was sad. Sad that Dani hadn’t trusted her with that part of herself. Sad that even now, after everything, she still kept so much locked away.

A sudden crash.

Megan startled, yanked from her thoughts. A voice—sharp, thunderous—cut through the silence of the house like a blade.

Dani’s father.

His voice was deep and unrelenting, each word laced with something dangerous, something heavy. The walls almost seemed to tremble with the force of it. Megan had never heard him sound like that before—not at the show, not even earlier tonight.

“ Did you want to embarrass me by not telling them about your mother?!”

The words cracked like a whip, reverberating down the hallway. Megan’s breath caught in her throat. Megan couldn’t make out much of what was said after that, only bits and pieces.

She strained to hear what Dani had responded with, if she had responded.

A chill ran through her.

And then, her mind painted an image she didn’t want to see—Dani, standing small under the weight of her father’s rage, spine rigid but hands shaking. Dani, cowering.

No . It was so wrong. 

That wasn’t Daniela Avanzini. But the thought alone made Megan’s stomach twist violently.

She took a step forward hesitantly before she could think better of it, torn between fear and fury. The words slicing through the air were harsher now, each syllable laced with venom, sharp enough to cut. And Megan couldn’t stand it. How dare he speak to her like that? Had he always been like this? Had Dani grown up drowning in this kind of cruelty?

Would walking in make it worse?

Would Dani hate her for it? Push her away again?

A sharp, unmistakable sound cracked through the silence.

And suddenly, none of those questions mattered.

Her feet moved before her mind could catch up, carrying her back into the dining room.

She saw him first. Dani’s father, his back turned to her. At the sound of the door slamming open, he spun on his heel, his expression flickering—shock, then something colder. His furious gaze met Megan’s. His shoulders heaved, his breath came hard and fast, his entire presence crackling with restrained fury.

But Megan didn’t flinch.

Megan levelled his gaze, challenged him as if to say someone has caught you out, you’re not as polished and charming as you pretend to be, you’re a coward who pretends . 

They stood there, locked in a silent battle. Dani’s father waited for her to falter, to look away, to step back. But Megan didn’t. She wouldn’t. Not when it came to Dani.

She didn’t usually think of herself as brave—that was Dani’s thing. But Megan would walk into the flames if it meant pulling Daniela out of them.

A muscle in his jaw twitched. Then, without a word, he dropped his gaze. A flash of something—guilt, maybe, or just irritation at being witnessed—crossed his face before he turned and stormed past her, out of the room. 

Megan barely noticed.

Because now, with him out of the way, she could see what his body had been blocking.

Dani.

Crumbled on the floor, a hand clutching her cheek. Her eyes were wide, unblinking. Frozen in shock.

Megan’s stomach dropped.

She was at Dani’s side in an instant, lowering herself onto her knees. “Dani.” Her voice was softer than she expected, barely a whisper.

Nothing.

Dani didn’t move, didn’t react.

Megan’s fingers twitched with the urge to reach for her, to smooth back her hair, to do something—but she hesitated. Because Dani looked like she might shatter if Megan touched her right now. A shaky breath left Dani’s lips. Then another. Her fingers curled into fists at her sides. And slowly, so slowly, she blinked.

Her voice was hoarse when she finally spoke. “You weren’t supposed to see that.”

Megan swallowed. “Too late.”

A humourless breath of a laugh. Then, silence.

Megan didn’t press. Didn’t ask if she was okay, because of course she wasn’t. Instead, she reached out, careful, cautious. And when Dani didn’t pull away, she gently pried Dani’s hand from her cheek.

Her jaw clenched at the sight of it. Red, already blooming into something darker.

Megan inhaled sharply through her nose. “We’re leaving.”

Dani didn’t argue. Didn’t insist she was fine, didn’t try to pretend for once. 

She just nodded.

Megan stood and held out a hand. Dani stared at it for a long moment before finally taking it. Megan pulled her up, steady, solid. And when Dani swayed slightly, Megan squeezed her hand in silent reassurance.

Then she led her out of the house without looking back.

They left Atlanta in the morning. Daniela had never been so glad to go back home. Her real home. She looked over at Megan who was sitting beside her on the plane, her head turned towards the window,  sunlight spilling over her face in soft, golden streaks. Dani watched her for a moment, something in her chest loosening at the sight, couldn't help the small smile that appeared on her face. Megan was gentle. Megan was safe. She didn't know why but tears began to sting her eyes as memories of the last week settled into their slots in her brain. She swallowed harshly, eyes still on Megan, but the memories of the last week pressed in, each one heavier than the last. Megan turned her head to meet Dani's gaze, feeling it somehow, and shot her a lazy smile. Then she noticed Daniela's teared up eyes, the storm behind them—and her smile shifted. Softened. As if she could finally see a little past Dani's walls. Megan had seen some of the reason why Dani was so fucked up sometimes and Daniela no longer had to hide it and at that, understanding flickered between them, silent and steady. You don’t have to explain, Megan’s eyes seemed to say. I get it now.   Something passed between them. And Megan just leaned forward, resting her head in the crook of Dani's neck. Daniela exhaled shakily, turning her face into Megan’s hair. 

She cried silently on the entire plane ride home.