Tyler – POV
I was losing patience.
Antwan jogged ahead of me, his phone's flashlight swinging over trees and dirt paths like it might actually help. My legs ached from chasing Julia earlier, and my brain hadn't stopped spinning since she ran.
I was scared.
Scared I'd pushed her too hard. Scared she hated me. Scared she hated him. Scared she hated herself—and that I hadn't seen it sooner.
I pulled out my phone, thumb hovering over Camila's name.
Tyler (call log): Camila – Calling…
She picked up after two rings.
"Hey, Camila—have you seen Julia? She ran off. I—I don't know where she went."
Silence for a beat.
Then: "No," she said, voice soft. "I haven't."
Something in her tone… the kind of softness you use when you're lying for someone you love.
"Right," I murmured. "Well, if you hear anything…"
"I will," she said, and hung up.
I sighed and shoved the phone into my jacket pocket.
"Anything?" Antwan asked as he caught up to me.
I shook my head. "Camila said she hasn't seen her."
"Do you believe her?"
"I don't know," I muttered. "I don't even know what the hell I believe anymore."
But I knew Camila well enough to know when she is lying
But just to be safe I kept my thoughts to my self
We kept walking, our boots crunching over dry leaves, tension stretched tight between us. After a while, he finally spoke.
"She didn't choose."
"I know."
"You hurt?"
I glanced sideways at him. "Yeah. But I think she's hurting more."
He nodded slowly. "Same."
It was quiet for a while.
"I'm not trying to be your enemy, man," I said eventually. "I'm not trying to take her from you."
Antwan looked ahead, jaw clenched. "I know. But I can't just step aside either."
"I'm not asking you to," I said. "I just… want her to be okay."
"So do I."
We both stopped walking as headlights curved toward us from a side road. A car. Familiar.
Anthony.
He stepped out, his leather jacket catching what was left of the sun. And next to him was a girl. Brunette. Wavy curls. Tall. Pretty.
"Great," Antwan muttered under his breath.
Anthony raised his hands. No trouble what are you guys doing out here he said
She is missing and we can't fine her
Camila! Anthony almost shouted
Julia I said defeted we had a fight and she ran off
He sighed the kind I wish I could sigh a sigh of relief and said he would help us look
Neither of us spoke. We didn't need to.
The brunette offered a polite, "Hey," and looked between us with wary curiosity.
We decide to split up and meet back right here in an hour and so we did
No sign of her we looked every where she possibly could have been even in her own fridge
My phone buzzed in my pocket.
I scrambled for it
Camila (text):Julia's safe. Please go home. Both of you.
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
"She's safe," I told them. "Camila has her."
Antwan glanced at the message over my shoulder and nodded. "Alright. Good."
Anthony visibly tensed at the mention of Camila
We all stood there for a moment in an awkward triangle of relief, resentment, and leftover adrenaline.
"I'll head home," Anthony said, stepping back toward his car. "Glad she's okay."
Antwan turned to me. "You driving?"
I motioned to my bike. "Always."
We both started back toward the road, neither of us saying much until we reached the street.
"You think she'll be okay?" Antwan asked, quieter now.
"I think she's overwhelmed," I said. "And we didn't help."
He sighed. "Maybe we give her time."
"Yeah," I agreed. "No more pressure."
He nodded, and we parted ways—maybe not friends, maybe not allies—but not enemies either.
Just two guys who both cared about the same girl.
And weren't ready to give up on her yet.