Amalia Romano is sixteen years old now. Still a dancing prodigy, she lands herself a photoshoot for a magazine that'll help her get to where she wants to be.
It seems like everything's going perfectly fine. Her grades are booming, she has a nic...
I don't talk much, but halfway through the dinner Silas turns to me. "I can help you, you know."
I side eye her, bringing food up to my lips and chewing it as I shrug in response. Everyone else is immersed in conversation, but I can't bring myself to speak.
I look down at my phone, perking up when I see that there's a message from Archer.
ARCHER: Ally and I are gonna stay with my mum tonight.
I deflate.
ME: Is everything okay?
ARCHER: It's fine.
ME: Is Ally okay?
He takes a few seconds to reply, piquing my nerves.
ARCHER: She's okay, just tired. Are you okay?
ME: Yeah.
ME:
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ARCHER: I love you.
My heart flutters. I feel a blush spread to my cheeks.
ME: I love you too.
ARCHER: Do you wanna go somewhere with me tomorrow?
ME: Where?
ARCHER: Anywhere you want.
ME: Okay.
•
That night, when I'm planning out an outfit to wear tomorrow to wherever I go with Archer, Grayson and Cole walk into my room.
The former smiles gently, but I see the wariness in his expression. "Hey, Ammy." He says. "What're you doing?"
"Trying to find an outfit." I mumble quietly, throwing things I realise I don't want to one side. I hoist one behind me, and I only realise it hits Cole when he sets it on the growing pile.
"What for?" Cole questions.
"Tomorrow."
"What's tomorrow?" Grayson asks.
"I'm going somewhere with Archer." I answer.
"Where?"
I shrug. "We don't know yet."
"Did dad say you could go?" Cole questions.
"I'm going anyway." I mutter.
He frowns. So does Grayson, and I notice that they look similar in this moment. They've never been identical, but right now they have the same disapproving look in their matching eyes.