The Devil In Disguise

Morning Discoveries

The morning sun slipped through the blinds of Jordan's guest room, casting soft rays over the quiet scene inside. Gianina and Marcus lay asleep, wrapped in each other's arms, their breathing slow and peaceful as they lay tangled together beneath the warmth of a blanket. It had been a long, exhausting night, but in each other's presence, they had found a moment of peace and closeness, far from the chaos that had haunted them for days.

Meanwhile, downstairs, the gang was beginning to stir. Mary yawned as she looked around, noticing right away that two of their friends were missing. She frowned, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she nudged Jordan.

"Where's GG and Marcus?" she asked, glancing around the room.

Jordan's brow furrowed. "I don't know. They were here when we all fell asleep, right?"

Rufus stretched, getting to his feet. "They probably went off to talk. You know how it is. Last night was a lot."

Cal, who had been listening quietly, stood abruptly. "I'll go check around," he said, his voice flat.

The group exchanged glances, sensing the edge in Cal's tone, but they shrugged it off as they began searching. Mary and Jordan looked around the main rooms, calling out Gianina's name, while Rufus checked the kitchen and dining area.

After a few minutes, Jordan frowned, worry creeping into her voice. "They're not downstairs... maybe they went outside?"

Cal shook his head, already moving toward the stairs. "Or maybe they just went somewhere quieter to talk. They've been through a lot," he said, but there was a sharpness to his voice, an intensity that made the others pause.

The group followed him upstairs, their footsteps soft on the carpet as they headed toward the guest rooms. Cal's expression grew darker with each step, his mind racing as he wondered what had happened between the two of them. Finally, they reached the door of Jordan's guest room. Without waiting, Cal knocked once, then opened the door.

Inside, they found Gianina and Marcus, curled up together under a blanket, their forms hidden beneath the soft fabric but unmistakably close. Gianina's head rested on Marcus's shoulder, their arms wrapped around each other in peaceful slumber.

Jordan's eyes widened in surprise, quickly covering her mouth with her hand. Mary blushed, glancing away out of respect, while Rufus raised an eyebrow, his expression somewhere between amused and shocked. Cal, however, froze, his jaw clenching as a spark of anger flickered in his gaze.

"Well," Rufus said after a pause, his tone light but teasing. "Guess we know where they wandered off to."

Mary gave him a gentle nudge, shooting him a look as if to say, Not the time. She turned to Cal, who was still standing in the doorway, his expression unreadable.

"Cal?" she asked quietly, noticing the tension in his posture.

Cal took a slow breath, forcing a neutral expression. "They shouldn't have wandered off alone," he said, his voice controlled but tight. "After everything that's been going on, it's... it's reckless."

Jordan looked at him, surprised. "They've been through a lot, Cal. Maybe they just needed some time."

But Cal's expression remained hard, his gaze lingering on the pair asleep on the bed. "They should have stayed with the group," he said, his voice low. "That's how we stay safe—together."

As if sensing the tension, Gianina stirred, blinking her eyes open as she took in the sight of her friends standing in the doorway. She quickly sat up, keeping the blanket covering her body as she looked at them, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment.

"Oh... we didn't mean to... uh, sleep so long," she stammered, glancing at Marcus, who was also beginning to wake.

Marcus looked up, blinking as he realized what was happening. He glanced between the group and Gianina, giving her a reassuring smile as he sat up, keeping the blanket wrapped around them both.

"We didn't mean to worry anyone," he said, his voice calm as he met Cal's gaze.

But Cal's expression remained cold. "You should have thought about that before you disappeared," he replied, his tone sharper than he intended. "We've been on edge all morning, wondering if something happened to you two."

Marcus's jaw tightened, but he kept his tone steady. "We just needed a bit of privacy, Cal. We've all been through a lot."

Mary quickly intervened, sensing the tension between the two. "It's fine, really. We're just glad you're both safe." She smiled at Gianina, trying to ease the awkwardness of the situation.

Gianina returned her smile, but she could feel the weight of Cal's gaze on her. She glanced at him, surprised by the intensity in his eyes, and a flicker of guilt tugged at her. She hadn't meant to worry anyone, and the last thing she wanted was to cause more tension within the group.

"We're sorry," she said softly, looking around at her friends. "Last night was... intense, and we just needed a break."

Jordan nodded, her expression understanding. "No one blames you, GG. We all deal with things differently. Just next time, maybe leave a note or something, so we're not wondering where you went."

Cal said nothing, his jaw clenched as he turned and walked out of the room, his steps heavy on the carpet. Rufus raised an eyebrow, watching him go before glancing back at the others.

"What's his problem?" Rufus muttered under his breath, crossing his arms.

Jordan gave him a look, her voice low. "It's Cal. You know how he gets... he's protective."

"Protective or possessive?" Rufus replied quietly, but he shrugged it off, letting the comment hang in the air. Jordan shoots Rufus a confused glance before heading after her boyfriend.

Marcus glanced at Gianina, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze as he looked back at the group. "Thanks for understanding, guys. Last night... well, we just needed each other."

Mary smiled warmly. "We get it. Just, you know... give us a heads-up next time?"

Gianina nodded, feeling the warmth of her friends' understanding wash over her. But as she caught sight of the empty doorway where Cal had disappeared, a small part of her couldn't shake the unease his reaction had left behind.