STORM - (Intersex)

CHAPTER 24

CLARA

The past few days, Tyler has been distant. Being at my grandparents' house has been comforting—Eli and my grandfather have bonded, and I've grown closer to my grandmother. But Tyler? She's been...off. Working alone in the room, disappearing into the library, or working out with my grandfather. Something's on her mind, but I can't seem to figure it out. I let it slide, focusing on the rare peace we have here.

Patrick has been sending small updates about Mark, but each time they're close to catching him, he manages to escape. Working remotely from my grandparents' estate has been surprisingly tranquil, especially with the constant flow of stories about gods, magic, and mystical beings. It feels like I'm reliving my childhood with their tales. Tyler seems absorbed in it, soaking up every word. It doesn't surprise me—she's always had a curiosity for things beyond the ordinary.

As I finish replying to some emails, I head downstairs, only to hear hushed whispers. It's just me and Tyler here—everyone else is at the park.

"Don't think I won't find you! ... What? No, just leave us alone... NO! I won't do it!"

Her voice is sharp, filled with anger. I hear the call end abruptly. My heart races as I quietly peek around the corner, trying to see where she's gone. Before I can make sense of it, Tyler appears right in front of me.

"Spying are we?" she says, her tone teasing, but the usual light in her eyes is gone.

I jump, startled, clutching my chest. She smirks, but it doesn't reach her eyes. Something's off, and it's breaking my heart. I reach out, gently cupping her face, my thumb brushing over the scar on her lip. Her lips meet mine in a slow, tender kiss, but there's a sadness in it, a heaviness I can't ignore. As we kiss, I feel her tears on my cheek.

We pull apart, and I see them—the tears streaming down her face. I wrap my arms around her neck, pulling her into a tight embrace.

"Baby, what's wrong? Who were you arguing with?" I ask softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

She lets out a shaky breath, but instead of answering, she takes my hand and leads me toward another room—the music room.

Once we're inside the room, Tyler sits me down and looks at me, the weight of whatever she's about to say pressing down on both of us. I can feel something's wrong deep in my gut, the kind of wrong that you can't shake off easily.

She sighs, her voice trembling as she speaks. "We need to break up."

I feel my heart clench, but there's something in her voice, something off. This isn't real. It's a lie, and I can sense it. Instead of lashing out, I hold her hands, gently lifting her chin so our eyes meet.

"Look at me and say it."

She hesitates, her teeth gritting as she forces the words out. "We need to break up."

I can see the struggle in her eyes, the conflict behind those words. It hurts, of course it does, but I know there's more. She's protecting something, hiding something. I have to dig deeper.

Suddenly, the pieces click together in my mind. I'm not stupid. I know exactly what's going on.

"Tyler," I say calmly, "give me your phone."

Her eyes widen in shock, her expression torn between fear and confusion. She's fighting something internally, I can see it.

"I can't. I really can't. I love you, but we need to break up," she repeats, her voice shaking harder now.

I hold her gaze, refusing to break eye contact. "I love you too. Now, give me your phone. As friends."

She looks even more confused as I offer her a small smile, trying to ease the tension. She probably thinks I've lost it.