ℐ𝒸ℯ 𝒬𝓊ℯℯ𝓃 ; Adam Davenport

𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭?!

Marcus paced back and forth, fists clenched, his thoughts spiraling out of control. "You think I didn't see it, Taelyn?" he snapped, his voice sharp. "I saw the way you looked at him. Adam! You think I'm stupid?"

Taelyn stood still, trying to stay calm despite the tension in the air. She could see the hurt in Marcus's eyes, masked by his anger, and knew she needed to diffuse the situation.

"Marcus, stop," she said softly, stepping toward him. "It's not what you think."

He stopped pacing and turned to face her, frustration clear in every movement. "Then what is it, huh? You don't just look at someone like that if you're not into them. I saw it—on the cameras, Taelyn. You were all over him."

Taelyn's heart sank, realizing where his anger was coming from. "Marcus," she said, her voice gentle but firm, "I'm not into Adam. I swear, it wasn't like that."

Marcus shook his head, his fists unclenching just slightly. "Then explain it to me. Because it sure didn't look that way."

She took a deep breath, stepping closer until she was standing right in front of him, meeting his gaze. "Adam helped me. That's all. I slipped, he caught me. Yes, we looked at each other, but it wasn't anything romantic. I was just surprised. And maybe for a second, I felt flustered—but not because I like him."

Marcus's jaw tightened, but he didn't say anything, just listened. His eyes searched hers, trying to find the truth in her words.

"I love you, Marcus," Taelyn continued, her voice steady, but with a warmth that softened the air between them. "You're the one I want to be with. Not Adam. No one else. Just you."

He looked down, the anger in his expression starting to give way to something else—doubt, fear, vulnerability. "Then why did it seem like something was going on?" he muttered, more to himself than to her.

Taelyn reached out and gently took his hand. "You're seeing things that aren't there because you're afraid of losing me. But you're not going to, Marcus. I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."

He didn't pull away, but he still looked conflicted. "I just... I don't want to lose you," he admitted quietly, his voice finally softening.

"You won't," she reassured him, her hand squeezing his. "I'm yours. And you have to trust me when I tell you that Adam is just a friend. That's it. Okay?"

Marcus nodded slowly, the tension in his body finally releasing as he exhaled. He met her eyes again, the storm of jealousy and fear starting to fade. "I'm sorry. I just—I don't want to lose you, Taelyn."

"You won't," she repeated, pulling him into a hug, and resting her head against his chest. "I promise."

☆

As Marcus pulled up in front of Taelyn's house, the car came to a slow stop. Taelyn stared out the window, her fingers idly tracing patterns on the glass, not quite ready to face the reality waiting for her inside. Tomorrow was her birthday, but she wasn't looking forward to it like most people would. The attention, the forced smiles, the endless questions about how she planned to celebrate—it all felt like too much.