The morning sun filtered softly through the balcony doors of the Davenport Tower in Centium City. The sleek, futuristic breakfast table sat empty of Diana's presence, which Bree immediately noticed.
"Has anyone seen Diana?" Bree asked as she glanced around the group, her brow furrowing. Everyone else was seated, casually chatting about the mission from the day before, but Diana's absence hung heavy.
Kaz, already in the middle of eating, swallowed a bite of his cereal and answered, "She didn't want to talk to anyone, and she said she didn't have an appetite."
Chase, who had been silently stirring his food, suddenly lost interest. His appetite vanished at the thought of Diana feeling so low. He looked up sharply at Kaz. "Do you know where she is?"
Kaz nodded, motioning towards the living room. "She's on the couch, reading. She looked... pretty sad."
Without a word, Chase pushed back his chair, leaving his plate untouched, and strode into the living room. Sure enough, Diana lay curled on the sofa, a book in her hand. Her eyes seemed distant, barely flicking across the pages, and an unmistakable sadness hung over her.
Chase approached slowly, his voice soft as he sat down beside her. "Diana?"
She glanced up briefly before turning her attention back to her book. "Hey, Chase. I'm fine. Just... want to be alone."
Chase wasn't convinced. He hated seeing her like this. Diana was his best friend—he knew her better than anyone, or at least he thought he did. He never expected her to hide something from him, especially not her pain.
"Do you want to go out and grab something to eat? Just us?" Chase asked, his voice full of concern.
Diana shook her head without looking up. "I'm not hungry."
Chase leaned closer, refusing to back down. "Diana, please. Talk to me. What happened?"
Her grip tightened around the book, and after a long pause, she sighed deeply, finally setting the book down. She sat up a little, her voice quiet and shaky. "Yesterday... when we were fighting that villain... he messed with my mind. Made me relive a nightmare. One where... my best friend found out I had feelings for him and... crushed my heart."
Chase frowned, his heart aching at her words. He couldn't stand the thought of anyone hurting her, let alone in a nightmare like that. "Diana..." he whispered, watching her retreat back into her book.
Not willing to let her hide away, Chase gently took the book from her hands, setting it aside. He knelt in front of her, his eyes locking with hers. "Say it again," he urged softly, his voice almost pleading.
Diana looked at him, confused and scared. "Say what?" she whispered.
"Say that you want me," Chase whispered, his voice full of raw emotion. "Because I want to hear it from you."
Diana shook her head, her eyes filling with tears. "No, Chase... I can't. You don't feel the same. I'm just... I'm just your best friend. You don't want me like that."
Chase's eyes darkened with a mix of frustration and something else—something protective. "You think I don't care? That villain didn't just mess with you, Diana. He messed with me too. He made me see you... killed. In my arms. And it wrecked me."
Diana's breath hitched as she looked at him, her tears spilling over. "Chase, I—"
He cut her off, his voice breaking. "No girl has ever told me she loves me before." His voice wavered as he met her eyes, raw and vulnerable. "But I need to hear it from you."
Diana couldn't hold back anymore. She broke down, tears streaming as she threw her arms around Chase's shoulders, burying her face into the crook of his neck. Her sobs were muffled, but he heard every word. "I love you," she cried. "I love you so much."
Chase's heart pounded as he held her close, his own tears slipping down his face. "Diana..." he sobbed, overwhelmed by the intensity of it all. He pulled back just enough to look at her, his face inches from hers. "You're mine," he whispered, his voice breaking. "You've always been mine."
In the midst of their shared tears, Diana pressed her lips to his, and Chase kissed her back, each kiss full of emotion, full of the fear, love, and relief they both felt. Between sobs and kisses, everything else faded away.
