"Guys!" Lloyd exclaimed, running into the main room and waving a piece of paper. "It's Mia! She's run away!"
Kai's eyes widened. "What?!"
Jay, who was laughing with Nya, froze immediately and turned to Lloyd. "... No joke?"
Lloyd shook his head and looked down at the note. "She says she felt really lonely and... left. Because she has no part of the team!"
Nya gasped. "What?! Why?!"
Cole, Kai and Zane exchanged a look.
"... Nya?" Kai spoke up, looking at Cole. "Don't take this the wrong way, but... I think it's kinda you and Jay's fault."
"WHAT?!" The couple yelled.
Cole winced. "You see... I think when Jay turned good again after finding his goodness again, Mia wanted to spend time with Jay. But..."
Zane spoke up. "Jay decided to spend more time with Nya, making Mia more lonely. Because of this, it is likely she ran away in hopes of not being a burden."
Kai let out a deep sigh. "She never told you this, but..."
He looked at Jay. "You're her whole world."
Jay stared at Kai.
Just stared.
As if the weight of the entire universe had just been dropped on his chest.
"...She..." His voice cracked. "She never said anything."
"She wouldn't," Cole said gently, crossing his arms. "Mia's tough. She wants everyone to think she's fine even when she's breaking."
Nya's expression twisted into guilt. "We didn't mean to push her aside. We just... Jay had been through so much, I thought he needed someone."
"I did," Jay whispered. "But so did she."
There was silence in the room—tense, thick, heavy. The paper in Lloyd's hand fluttered from his fingers and drifted to the floor.
"...Where would she go?" Lloyd asked softly.
Zane's eyes flickered blue as he processed dozens of probabilities. "The places she associates with comfort. Familiarity. Quiet."
Kai spoke quickly. "The cliff near the waterfall in the west valley. She used to sit there with Jay when they were younger."
Cole nodded. "She's probably watching the clouds and pretending she doesn't miss us."
Jay was already grabbing his gear.
"Wait," Nya said, touching his arm. "Jay... are you okay?"
He didn't look at her.
"No. But I'll be better when I bring my sister home."
He turned, fire burning in his eyes.
"Because if I'm her whole world..." His voice was steady now. "Then I've got no right leaving it empty."
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The wind rustled gently through the trees, brushing Mia's hair back from her face as she sat alone at the cliff's edge. Her legs dangled over the rocks, and her arms were wrapped tightly around her knees.
She didn't cry. Not yet.
But the ache in her chest had only grown heavier.
The sun had started dipping behind the clouds, casting the valley below in a warm, golden glow. It used to be her favorite time of day. When she was little, she and Jay would sneak up here with snacks, and he'd ramble on about inventions while she laughed and pretended she understood.
She missed that.
She missed him.
"I guess you don't really need me anymore," she mumbled to no one, resting her chin on her knee. "You've got the team. You've got Nya. You've got your life. I don't fit in it like I used to."
A gust of wind picked up around her—a natural one this time, not summoned—and it almost sounded like it was trying to whisper something in her ear.
She sighed.
"I'm not mad at you," she whispered. "I just... don't know how to not feel like I've been left behind."
Then, behind her... a twig snapped.
Mia didn't turn around at first. She just blinked, wiped her nose on her sleeve, and muttered, "If you're some wild animal, take me now. I'm already dramatic and emotionally compromised."
A familiar voice answered.
"...You really haven't changed."
Her breath caught. Slowly, she turned.
Jay stood a few feet behind her, out of breath from running, his hair messier than usual. His eyes were full of guilt.
"I'm so sorry, Mia," he said quietly. "I didn't know how much I was hurting you."
Mia stared at him.
Then stood up.
Then walked over.
And punched him—lightly—on the shoulder.
"Dummy," she said, her voice shaking. "I missed you."
Jay winced and rubbed his shoulder. "Yeah... I deserved that."
She looked up at him, lip trembling. "Do you still want me in your life?"
Jay's face broke into the saddest, softest smile.
"You're my sister, Mia. My best friend. You were never out of it."
She threw her arms around him, and he held her tightly as the wind picked up around them—this time, summoned.
This time, home.
(Lol this is how I felt when my best friend moved away, then came back two months later to visit with her BF)
