The Keys to freedom

Battle of the twinest

The memories of that night still echoed in Oz's mind, sharp and unshakable. She never wanted to break up with Pyke. She loved him—still loved him.

She'd always known heartbreak was part of the deal when it came to high school romances. People broke up, moved on. It was practically a rite of passage. But no one ever talked about this—what to do when the love hadn't gone away. When the feelings were still there, alive and aching, but you had to walk away anyway.

What do you do when neither of you stopped loving each other—but staying together wasn't an option anymore?

She sat by the shore, staring into darkness of the ocean. Her hands were wrapped around her knees as she listened to the distant laughter of her friends behind her. She barely noticed Grayson as he settled in beside her, mimicking her posture. "What's going on in that head of yours?" he asked, glancing sideways at her.

"Tetris," she replied, her eyes still fixed on the undulating waves.

"Tetris?" He questioned.

"I'm trying to piece everything together."

"Pieces of what?"

"My life. Where it all went wrong. Where that one piece didn't fit and everything else got jumbled after."

"So, what's the conclusion?"

She smiled softly, resting her head on her shoulder as she finally turned to look at him. "I'll let you know when it all comes together."

He nodded lightly his eyes shifting to the ocean, letting silence settle between them but there was something obvious on his mind. "So, what were you doing with Pyke tonight?" he finally said.

Her smile faded and she was quiet for a moment. "He was showing me where the bathroom was."

"Oh," he replied, his tone laced with doubt. And he was doubtful—because deep down, he knew she still loved him. He had never known the reason for why she broke up with him. But what he did know was that day had felt like the beginning of something he'd been quietly dreaming of for years.

It was selfish, and he knew it.

But it was his chance—to prove he could be more than just the goofy best friend, to show her he could be the one she needed.

But that same day also marked the start of his greatest fear. The fear that, no matter what he did, no matter how fiercely he loved her... one day, she'd go back to Pyke.

"Are you losers going to mope in the sand all night, or are you going to join us?" James called out, breaking the awkward tension that was growing between them.

Grayson stood up, brushing the sand off his pants before extending a hand to Oz. She sighed but took it, allowing him to pull her to her feet.

~

By the time they finally slipped through the door, the clock read 3:00 a.m. The house was silent, except for the soft sound of Jessper snoring beside her. Oz was wide awake, staring at the spinning ceiling fan above, her mind turning just as fast.

Tomorrow would bring change—she knew it, she could feel it. The idea of being separated from her brother made her want to vomit. He was the last piece of family she had left. And the thought of facing the world without him by her side everyday filled her with a sense of loneliness.

CACAAAAW!

Oz's eyes flew open, seething with frustration. For a moment, she was almost glad they were being kicked out—at least she'd never have to hear that cursed bird again.