Diary Of A Davison

Chapter 1

I just can't stand to see you leaving
But heaven couldn't wait for you
No heaven couldn't wait for you
Heaven couldn't wait for you
No, heaven couldn't wait for you
So go on, go home.

Beyonce - Heaven

...

Kyla’s POV

“Kyla! You’re back!”

That voice. I’d know it anywhere.

Hannah.

“Yeah,” I muttered, tugging at the strap of my backpack. “Rose begged me to return. Said missing the exams I worked so hard for would be… unforgivable.”

“It still would’ve made sense if you took more time to heal,” Hannah said softly. She closed the space between us and wrapped me in a hug.

I didn’t hug back. Just leaned my head against her shoulder until she let go. I wasn’t in the mood for embraces. I wasn’t in the mood for anything. After you bury your parents, gestures like love feel… hollow.

If it wasn’t for Rose reminding me daily that Mom and Dad would be disappointed if I threw everything away, I wouldn’t even be here.

Hannah and I had been friends for less than a year, but she was different. Her family moved to New York last summer, and somehow, on her first day riding the minibus, I was the first person she spoke to. Most people keep their distance—something about being a “celebrity kid” makes them either obsessed or avoidant. Hannah never cared. She was genuine, easy to laugh with. And after my parents died, she never left me alone in the dark.

“Look who decided to come back.”

That deep voice pulled a smile out of me, unwilling or not.

Alec.

Sweet, charming Alec. We’d been friends since middle school interview day. He was tall now, shoulders filling out, black hair falling into his eyes. Emerald-brown eyes that had no right being that warm. His grin was enough to melt walls I didn’t know I’d built.

“Not even a hug?” he teased, arms opening wide.

I rolled my eyes but gave in. His chest was solid, radiating heat through his hoodie.

“Okay,” I mumbled against him, “gonna pass out if you don’t let go.”

He laughed and loosened his grip, looking sheepish. “Sorry. Guess I missed you more than I realized.”

He missed me.

Well, of course he did—we’re friends.

(Yes, and he said it out loud. Just saying.)

That was Emma. My inner voice. The nosy roommate in my brain who doesn’t pay rent.

“Hey, Kyla.”

Leo stepped into view, the one boy who always felt more like a brother than anything else. Protective. Steady. The kind of guy who makes you feel like the world isn’t completely falling apart.

“Hey, Leo.” I smiled for real this time and hugged him. He always knew how to draw out my laughter when I needed it most.

Despite having a fleet of cars at home, I still rode the student minibus. My parents insisted it was “good for socializing.” Honestly? I never cared. It was only ten minutes. But now, as I stood at the pickup spot with stares burning holes into my skin, I wanted nothing more than for the bus to hurry.

Jerry, our driver, had collected me from the estate as usual. A sprawling mansion overlooking the Hudson River—secluded, endless glass and stone hidden in the trees. As a kid, I called it the haunted house in the woods. No neighbors, no noise. Just silence.

My father, Vaughn Davison, was known everywhere. Billionaire. Philanthropist. Visionary. The world admired him. I just missed him. Both of them.

“Finally!” I blurted when the bus groaned to a stop.

“That’s a first,” Hannah smirked. “Usually you complain it’s too early.”

“I just want to sit down,” I muttered, climbing aboard. Hannah followed, sliding into the seat beside me. Before she came, Alec was my bus buddy.

One more stop: Deveon Moore.

The school’s golden boy. The kind of boy who collected broken hearts like trophies. Captain of the basketball team. Walking heartbreak in sneakers.

But today… no stop. No Deveon.

I frowned, leaning toward the window. “Hannah,” I whispered.

“Yeah?” Her green eyes sparkled, her smile as calm as ever.

“Where’s Deveon?”

She shrugged. “No clue. Maybe he’s running late.”

“Oh.” I tried to keep it casual.

“Why?”

“No reason.”

Her look said liar.

“Fine,” I muttered. “He’s hard to miss, that’s all.”

“True,” she giggled. “But honestly? He’s been asking about you. Like… a lot. Every morning after you disappeared, he wanted to know if I’d seen you. And when the announcement about your parents happened… I think he actually felt bad for you.”

I stiffened. “Let’s not talk about it. What’s Linda been up to lately?”

Linda. Cheer captain. Queen bee. Chaos in designer heels.

Hannah’s eyes lit up. “Girl. Rumor is she was at the club last weekend—with Mr. Martins.”

“What?!”

“Yup. Lap dances. Kisses. A whole soap opera.”

“How did she even get in?”

“Either sweet-talked the bouncer… or worse.”

I groaned. “And her parents are just… fine with this?”

“Apparently. But wait—yesterday, she tried to kiss Deveon. In the middle of the basketball court.”

“WHAT?!” My voice bounced off the bus walls. Every head snapped toward me.

“Really, people?!” I snapped back. Everyone looked away.

“You don’t have to yell at everyone who looks at you,” Alec said carefully.

“Leave me alone, Alec,” I muttered. Guilt pressed down immediately. I wasn’t raised to be rude. But ever since the funeral, every whisper, every glance—it felt like I was just a headline.

Alec’s expression softened. “Sorry, Kyla. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

I sighed, leaning against the window. “It’s not your fault, Hannah. I just hate the attention.”

“I know,” she whispered. Then, with her small smile: “Ready for today?”

“Not like I can crawl back into bed,” I said dryly.

“Exactly,” she grinned. That smile always made things a little less heavy.

As we filed off the bus, the stares followed. I lifted my chin, forcing my steps to stay even. That would be my mantra now:

Act like no one exists.

Right, Ky. You’ve got this.

Let’s do this.

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