Leon's POV
It's been two weeks now.
Two weeks of watching her walk into class, sit quietly, take notes like nothing matters, and leave before anyone can even say hi. Not a glance. Not a word. Not to me, not to the others. Just silence.
And maybe… maybe it is my fault. Maybe it's all my fault.
Everyone keeps saying it, anyway. So I finally decide—it's time I do something.
That Friday, class ends early, so we hit up this new burger place that just opened down the street. A little chaos, a little comfort food. JJ suggests asking her to come. He does, of course—calls her, texts her.
But she says no. Again.
"She's so freaking stubborn," Roman grumbles, stealing one of my fries. "She's literally just another version of me and I don't even know why I'm so pissed about it."
I stare at my tray. No appetite.
"I mean, I do care about her, okay?" he keeps going. "I know it doesn't seem like it, but she's my twin. I just don't know how to fix things."
JJ groans. "Oh my god, Roman. Stop yapping. When are you going to accept that some of this is your fault?"
Liv sighs, arms crossed. "Not just his, JJ. It's all of ours. Especially Leon's."
Cass immediately jumps in, annoyed. "How is it his fault? She literally blamed him for her own stupidity!"
Cami shakes her head and looks straight at me. "Leon… are you really going to pretend you have no part in this? I think it's better you tell them before someone else does."
I look up, guilt washing over me like a tidal wave. And I don't know what comes over me—maybe I'm just tired. Or maybe it's time.
"I'm sorry," I say quietly. "I was a kid. And yeah, I hurt her."
The table goes still.
"But whatever I did… I didn't do it to hurt her on purpose. I just thought it was stupid of us to date. I didn't want a relationship. Still don't, if I'm being honest."
I let out a shaky breath. "But when it comes to her… I don't know. I just want her to be mine. Or something."
I pause. Then, almost in a whisper: "I don't even know when it started. I liked her. I always did. But I didn't want to. It was enough for me to just be friends with her."
I look at Roman. "You remember that guy from school she went on a date with? I got jealous. So freaking jealous. I couldn't stand the thought of them together."
JJ frowns, realizing where this is going.
"So I followed them. Spied, like a creep. And right before they kissed, I pulled her away. And kissed her myself."
Cami covers her mouth. Liv stares.
"She yelled at me. Told me to leave her alone. But I followed her until she got tired of fighting. And eventually… things happened. You all remember that phase, right?"
No one speaks.
"She wanted to make it official. I didn't. But I made her a promise—that no matter how long it lasted, I wouldn't look at another girl. I was hers."
I clench my fists.
"But things at home were falling apart. My family was a mess, and that made me double down on the idea that love wasn't worth it. So I pushed her away."
My voice cracks.
"I kissed someone else."
A pause.
"She saw it. Didn't scream, didn't cry. Just walked away. But even then, she still gave me another chance. And what did I do?"
I look at them, guilt written all over my face.
"I told her I couldn't do it anymore. Told her I stopped loving her. Said things I never meant. Mean things. Hurtful things. That's when she really started to spiral. That's when she stopped talking to any of us."
I wipe my face, embarrassed to feel it wet. I didn't even notice I was crying.
"So yeah," I say, voice breaking. "Before any of you say anything—I regret it. Every damn second of it."
"That day… the day I walked away from her—that was the worst day of my life. Because I gave up on the only person who ever really loved me. The only person I ever loved."
I look around the table. "And now, I just want to make things right. Somehow. I want her back. I want her to be mine again."
The air was heavier. Roman was quiet—of course he was. He already knew what happened between me and her. I had told him. Mason, though... he was pissed. He was the youngest in the group. Daphne treated him like her own, spoiled him, protected him. And when she left, he was all alone. He changed. He grew up. He never once got angry at her, because he knew—like him—she had her own problems. But right now, the anger was burning through him, and he exploded first.
"She was always there for me, and when she left, no one even noticed I wasn't okay. You—" Mason pointed at me, voice shaking, "—you broke her, and we all watched her break herself. I didn't stop her. I didn't know how."
Before I could respond, Cass's fist met my jaw. I stumbled back, lips bleeding. But I didn't say anything. I took it. Maybe I even deserved it.
Roman jumped in and pulled Cass back. "Cass, enough," he said, tense. "I knew. Okay? She told me everything. I didn't tell you guys because she asked me not to."
Cass growled. "And you thought that was okay? She's our sister!"
"I know," Roman said, quieter now. "I know. I almost lost it. I wanted to kill him too. But if she's our sister, he's still our friend. He had his own demons, Cass."
Cass's eyes widened, furious. "Are you even hearing yourself right now? He was the reason she did those drugs! She almost died, Roman!"
Julian opened his mouth to say something, but Roman interrupted again.
"She was already leaving that day. She had packed her bags. I stopped her. I was selfish—I didn't want her to go. But I didn't realize... staying would kill her faster than leaving ever could. She shut down, closed off everything. And then she met someone—an old friend—started dating. He was part of the wrong crowd, and that's how she slipped."
Julian's voice was calm but strained. "Guys, let's just… breathe. Please. Leon doesn't need me to defend him, but I will say this—she doesn't blame him. Not fully. Because she knows he's blamed himself every single day since."
He looked around at each of us. "We're not enemies here. This group? We've been through too much together. So let's stop yelling and do something that actually helps her."
Cass's chest was still rising and falling fast. "I'm angry, J. She's my little sister. You don't just hurt someone like her and walk away."
"I'm not walking away," I said finally, voice low but steady. "I'm not. I swear, I'll make things right. I have to. I will fix everything."
Mason's voice was quieter this time. "You better, man. You have no idea what it took her to start healing again. If you're going to be in her life—don't break her again."
Cass folded his arms, jaw tight. "I hope you're not in her life anymore, Leon. Honestly, it's better for both of you. I warned you back then—don't act on your feelings if you weren't ready. You said you had it in control."He scoffed. "Looks like you didn't."
I looked at him, lips still bleeding, heart heavier than ever. "I want to be in her life, Cass. I want to make things right. And this time… I'll actually do something about it. I'll do everything I can. I have the courage now—the one I didn't have back then."
He didn't look convinced, not right away. "You promise you won't hurt her again?"
"I swear." I met his gaze. "On everything I've got."
Cass exhaled hard. "Let's see, then. Do you even have a plan?"
I nodded, slowly. "I do."
Julian raised an eyebrow. "You're being mysterious now?"
I gave a small smirk despite the pain in my jaw. "Let's go home. I have to make a call first… then I'll fill you all in."
Roman clapped me on the back, silent but supportive.Mason didn't say much, just walked ahead.Cass stayed behind for a second, his voice low. "You mess this up again, Leon—and you're losing more than just her."
I nodded. "I know."
And this time… I wouldn't.
We reached the Lyrs' residence, and everyone needed a moment to process everything. I gave them that time.
I was on the phone—that call. I had to talk to him because, honestly, he's the only one she really listens to. Or, let's be honest—she's a little scared of him.
After I hung up, I gathered the gang in the living room.
"Oh my god, so what's the plan, huh?" JJ exclaimed, raising an eyebrow. Then, looking at my busted lip, added, "Don't you wanna clean that up first?"
Cami laughed. "Let me do it for you, idiot."
She grabbed some alcohol and medicine, took a cotton bud, and started dabbing at my lip. I winced, jerking away.
"It hurts!"
She dipped the bud again—this time hitting my lip on purpose. "That's for hurting her."
"Ouch!" I groaned, but she just smiled as she applied the medicine gently.
I mouthed a quiet sorry.
She gave me a look. That look that said I get it. Just don't mess up again.
"Okay," I began, sitting straighter now, "so I called Cam. He said he'll help."
JJ blinked. "Wait—Cameron? Our Cameron?"
I nodded. "After all, he's the only one who can really talk to her."
Cass yelled, "Are you crazy?! If he finds out what you did, you're basically dead meat!"
Roman leaned back, arms crossed. "Cass, he already knows. And yeah, Leon was dead meat… but Daphne sided with him back then. It's in the past."
Cami added softly, "He really is the only one she listens to."
"Anyway," I continued, "Cam said he'll talk to her. But I also suggested that we move closer to campus."
Mason frowned. "Wait, what? Why?"
"Because," I said, "campus is too far from home. When we're here, there's no one around. We need to be close—to each other, and to her. He agreed… but under some conditions."
Cass rolled his eyes. "Of course he did."
I held up my fingers, counting. "No hurting each other. School on time. No skipping unless it's really important. And absolutely no drugs."
Everyone went quiet. It was fair. It was serious. It was real.
"So," I finished, "lunch tomorrow. At Lancaster residence."
JJ whistled. "You're going all in, huh?"
"Basically," I said. "After that… it's up to us. We'll have to find a way to coax her. To bring her back."
JJ raised a brow. "Wait—are we renting this mansion or buying it?"
I smirked. "Buying, obviously. Do we look like people who rent?"
Roman grinned. "Finally. Some chaos money being put to good use."
"The house is insane," I said, pulling up the listing on my phone. "Eight bedrooms, private pool, outdoor deck, massive kitchen, a legit media room, and it's walking distance from campus. Cami and Cass's family already gave the green light, and Cam said he'll handle the paperwork."
Liv leaned forward. "Okay but like—how are we convincing her?"
"That's where Cam comes in," I explained. "If she says she wants to get her own place, he's going to step in. He'll tell her he's not comfortable with her staying alone and that he'd rather she be with people who can look out for her. And that way, it's less about me and more about safety. Which she'll listen to."
"She might still say no," Cami pointed out.
"Then we try harder," I said. "We can't force her, but we can show her we're serious. That we're staying. That this time, we're not walking away."
Cass leaned back, arms folded. "If she agrees… this house better be soundproof. I'm not dealing with your midnight breakdowns."
Everyone laughed, even Mason. For the first time in weeks, the room felt lighter.
I looked around at all of them.
"For real this time… let's bring her home."
"Ohk, so let's all get some sleep today," I said, trying to breathe some sense into the room. "Go home. Reset. We'll meet here tomorrow."
Roman leaned against the wall, arms folded. "Why go home? Just crash here."
I shook my head. "Dad's home tonight. I need to talk to him… clear some things."
Cass grabbed his hoodie. "I'll head out too. Need to talk to Cam about some things."
"I'll stay," Cami said, already turning toward the staircase. "I'll be in my room. Mom's not home anyway."
"I'll stay too," Liv added, looking at Cami.
"I'll keep you both company," Mason grinned, trying to lighten the mood.
Then JJ stood up and said it without hesitation, "I'm staying the night… with Daphne."
Everyone looked at him for a beat, but no one questioned it. It was JJ. Of course he'd want to be with her tonight. He wasn't about to let her be alone—not again.
I nodded and left.
Once I was in the car, I called Cam. He picked up almost immediately.
"Your work's done," I told him quietly.
"Okay," he replied, then hung up.
But the truth?
It was Cam who called me first.
Eleanor noticed things weren't okay—Daphne pulling away, the tension in class—and she told Cam everything. He read between the lines, figured out what was happening. And then he called me. Came up with the plan. The house. The lunch. Everything.
He said she'd only listen to him anyway.
But he didn't want the others to know. So I let them believe it was my idea.
It wasn't.
But if it works—if it brings her back—then I don't care who gets the credit.
Tomorrow… we begin.