Slow Dive - DAERIN/CANDYZ

Chapter 3: The Girl in Question

AZALEA

I couldn't stop thinking about her.

It was silly, really—she was just some girl walking down the street, covered in paint, looking like she'd stepped straight out of a picture. But there was something about the way she smiled, so genuine and carefree, that lingered in my mind long after Avanna and I had left the dessert place.

I pulled the blanket tighter around me as I stared out of my bedroom window. The city lights flickered in the distance, but tonight, they didn't feel as magical as they once had. The bustling energy that used to fuel me, that made me feel alive, now seemed... loud. Suffocating, almost. The streets below, once so full of life, now just looked like chaos from up here.

Avanna's question echoed in my mind.

"How are you really doing?"

It had caught me off guard. At dinner, I tried to explain, fumbling over my words as I admitted that the city didn't feel the same anymore. But it was hard to explain something that even I didn't fully understand. How do you explain that the place that shaped you now feels foreign? That the life you built here no longer feels like yours?

I sighed, rubbing my temples. All these thoughts swirling in my head, and yet, I couldn't shake that girl from my mind—the way she seemed so at ease, like she belonged wherever she was.

Maybe it was because I felt like I didn't belong here anymore.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand, breaking me out of my thoughts. It was a message from Elijah.

Elijah: Hey, are you awake?

I sat up and began typing a quick reply.

Me: Yeah, what's up?

Elijah: I'm downstairs. Can I come up?

I wasn't expecting him, but that was just Elijah—popping in whenever he felt like it. I got up and opened the door, waiting for the sound of his footsteps. He walked in, looking a little more serious than usual, which immediately set off alarms in my head.

"What's going on?" I asked, stepping aside to let him in.

He flopped down on my bed, running a hand through his hair. "Nothing, I just wanted to check on you."

I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms. "You never just 'check on me.' What's up?"

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Okay, maybe I wanted to talk about you... moving."

I sat down next to him, feeling the tension between us. I hadn't actually told him yet that I was thinking about it, but I guess Avanna must've said something. Or maybe he just knew—he always seemed to know when something was on my mind.

"I haven't decided anything yet," I said, keeping my voice calm. "It's just a thought."

Elijah turned to look at me, his eyes soft but searching. "But it's a serious thought, right? You're not just talking about a weekend trip or something."

I sighed. "Yeah, it's serious. I don't know, Eli... the city doesn't feel like home anymore. I love it here, but I also feel like I'm... stuck. Like I need to get out for a while. Clear my head."

He was quiet for a moment, processing what I said. "I get that. I really do. It's just—" He paused, and I knew he was choosing his words carefully. "You've never been away from home. Like, really away. You sure you're ready for that?"

The skepticism in his voice was gentle, but it still stung. I wasn't sure if I was ready. But how could I ever be sure without trying?

"I don't know," I admitted, leaning back against the headboard. "But I think I need to do this for myself. You know how loud things get with you... all the attention, the cameras, the noise. I love watching you play, but sometimes it feels like I'm caught up in it too."