Marcus

I pace back and forth in my room, the floorboards creaking beneath my restless footsteps. It's become a routine, this anxious energy that courses through me whenever there is something going on with Melanie. Adam's voice comes through the phone, a steady presence amidst the chaos of my thoughts.

"Marcus, relax," Adam says, his voice a calming force. "Mallory and I will be there with Melanie. Nothing will happen to her."

I want to believe him, I really do. But the gnawing fear in the pit of my stomach refuses to be appeased. "What if Daniel convinces Melanie to get back together with him?" I ask, my voice trembling with uncertainty.

Adam's response is immediate, his confidence unwavering. "That's not going to happen, Marcus. Melanie loves you."

"How can you be so sure?" I press, my voice strained with worry. "What on earth came on Mallory suggesting something like that?"

Adam's voice is patient, his words measured. "I think Mallory is right," he admits. "Maybe Daniel will back off if Melanie just talks to him."

I sigh heavily, running a hand over my face in frustration. The uncertainty of the situation weighs heavily on me, dragging me down into a pit of despair. "This is insane," I mutter under my breath.

Adam's voice cuts through the tension, bringing me back to the present. "Melanie is coming in," he says, his tone urgent. "I'll hang up now, but I'll keep you posted over texts, okay?"

I begrudgingly agree, knowing that there's little else I can do from here. I hang up the phone and sink onto my bed, throwing my phone onto the mattress beside me. I check for messages, but of course, there are none yet. I just hung up with Adam, after all. I can feel myself teetering on the edge of madness, the uncertainty of Melanie's situation threatening to consume me.

I need company. I need distraction. With a heavy sigh, I snatch up my phone and head out of my room, the need for human connection driving me forward. I make my way to Natalie's door, my footsteps heavy with the burden of my thoughts.

I knock on the door, the sound echoing through the hallway. "Come in," Natalie calls out from inside. I push open the door to find her sitting at her desk, a textbook spread out in front of her. "Hey, big bro," she greets me with a warm smile. "I thought you'd be at Melanie's by now."

I shake my head, unable to hide the turmoil raging inside me. "Well, I'm not," I reply tersely, my frustration bubbling to the surface.

Natalie examines me closely, her eyes searching mine for answers. "What's wrong?" she asks gently, her voice filled with empathy.

I hesitate for a moment, the words catching in my throat. "Do you have some time?" I finally manage to ask.

"Of course," Natalie says without hesitation, pushing back her chair and standing up.

I step into her room and close the door behind me, the sound of the latch clicking echoing in the silence. I walk over to Natalie's bed, where she's already sitting, and take a seat next to her.

Natalie wraps her arm around my shoulders, a comforting gesture that brings a small measure of solace. "What happened?" she asks softly, her voice filled with concern.

I let out a heavy sigh. "Melanie is out with Daniel right now," I admit, the words tasting bitter on my tongue.

Natalie's eyes widen in shock, and she exclaims, "What?"

I nod, feeling a knot forming in the pit of my stomach. "Daniel kept annoying her," I explain, frustration creeping into my voice. "He even followed Melanie and her friend, Evie, to find out where Melanie's apartment is."

Natalie's expression darkens with anger. "And Melanie is out with him right now?" she asks incredulously. "That's messed up."

I run a hand through my hair, feeling a surge of frustration coursing through me. "I know," I say, my voice heavy with resignation. "Mallory suggested yesterday that if Melanie takes the time to talk to Daniel, maybe Daniel will leave her alone."

Natalie's brows furrow with concern, her grip on my shoulder tightening slightly. "Do you think that's a good idea?" she asks, her voice laced with uncertainty.

I shake my head, feeling torn between conflicting emotions. "I don't know," I admit, feeling the weight of uncertainty bearing down on me. "But I can't shake this feeling of dread, Nat. Something just doesn't feel right."

Natalie sighs and tightens her arm around me, offering silent support. My phone buzzes in my hand, and I unlock it with trembling fingers. It's a message from Adam. I quickly read it and then look up at Natalie.

"Adam and Mallory are at the café with Melanie and Daniel," I inform her, my voice strained. "They're sitting a few tables over. Adam is texting me updates."

Natalie's eyes widen with curiosity. "What does Adam say?" she asks, her voice tinged with concern.

I frown as I read the message. "Just that Daniel has arrived," I reply, my tone grim.

Natalie's brows furrow with worry. "At least Adam and Mallory are there," she says softly, her voice tinged with reassurance. "Melanie is safe, right?"

I nod, feeling a flicker of relief amidst the chaos of my thoughts. "Right," I agree, trying to cling to that small semblance of comfort.

We sit in silence for a moment, the weight of uncertainty hanging heavy in the air. Then, Natalie breaks the silence, her voice hesitant.

"Are you worried that Melanie will change her mind and get back together with Daniel?" she asks softly.

I close my eyes, feeling a surge of anxiety coursing through me. "Yes," I whisper, the admission weighing heavily on my heart.

"Melanie is not that stupid," she reassures me, her voice filled with conviction. "I'm not just saying that because you're my brother, Marcus. You're great, and if Melanie can't see that, well, the joke's on her. But I'm sure she knows it, and she won't leave you for Daniel."

A small smile tugs at the corners of my lips, gratitude flooding through me for Natalie's unwavering support. "Thanks, Nat," I say softly, feeling a glimmer of hope flicker within me.

My phone buzzes again, and I quickly unlock it to read the message from Adam. "It's going smoothly," he says, relief washing over me. "They're talking, and it seems that Daniel is trying to weasel his way back in, but Melanie is firm."

I show the message to Natalie, who reads it with a small smile. "See?" she says, her voice filled with reassurance. "It's all going to be okay."

"Thanks, Natalie," I say, gratitude evident in my voice. "I think I'd go crazy if it weren't for you keeping me company."

Natalie shrugs nonchalantly. "That's what sisters are for," she replies with a small smile.

I roll my eyes playfully. "I could do without all the teasing," I say, feigning annoyance.

Natalie chuckles softly. "Unfortunately for you, Marcus, you're vastly outnumbered," she says teasingly. "And it's not our fault that you're so in love you act like a buffoon."

I playfully nudge her shoulder. "Hey," I protest with a grin.

Natalie laughs, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "If I ever act like that, please, slap some sense into me," she says, her tone light.

I chuckle at her remark. "I could do that right now," I joke, reaching out to lightly tap her arm. "And I hope someday I'll see you acting like that."

My phone buzzes again, and I feel a sinking sensation in the pit of my stomach as I read Adam's message. "That manipulative bastard is crying," the text reads, and I clench my jaw in frustration. "I can't believe it; he's trying to guilt Melanie into getting back together with him."

Natalie reads the message beside me, her expression darkening with anger. "Son of a bitch," she mutters, her fists clenching at her sides.

I quickly type out a response to Adam, my fingers trembling with anger and worry. "What is Melanie doing?"

Adam's reply comes swiftly. "She's trying to maintain her composure and get him to stop crying," the message reads, and I curse loudly, the sound echoing in the room.

Without thinking, I stand up, my hands shaking with frustration and fear. Natalie springs up in front of me, her eyes filled with concern as she takes my hands in hers.

"Hey, Marcus, look at me," she says firmly, her voice cutting through the turmoil in my mind.

I meet her gaze, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over me for her steady presence. "Take a deep breath," she instructs gently, her grip firm but comforting. "Melanie is not stupid. She will not fall for his theatrics."

"What if she does, Nat?" I ask, my voice filled with apprehension. "What if Melanie gets back together with Daniel?"

Natalie meets my gaze with unwavering determination. "Take a deep breath, Marcus," she says gently, her voice soothing. "You'll know soon enough. And I know you probably don't want to hear this, but if Melanie ends up getting back together with Daniel, maybe it's better it's happening now, not before you invest too much time in her."

Her words cut deep, slicing through the tangled mess of emotions swirling within me. My heart bleeds at Natalie's honesty, but deep down, I know she's right.

Taking a deep breath, I feel some of the tension leave my body, if only for a moment. Natalie tugs on my hand, pulling me back onto the bed. We sit side by side, and she wraps her arms around me in a comforting embrace.

My phone buzzes once more, and I reluctantly check Adam's text. "Daniel left," it reads simply. "I'll text again to tell you what's going on with Melanie."

I let out a heavy sigh and run a hand through my hair, frustration coursing through me. "Daniel left," I mutter, my voice muffled as I bury my face in my hands.

Natalie lets out a sigh of relief beside me. "Finally," she says softly, her voice filled with exhaustion.

After a moment of silence passes between us,Natalie breaks the quiet with a question. "Now what?"