Davyn knew what would happen the moment Harkin had pushed Millie into Snitch Gravel's office. Like a fool, he'd hoped she would understand. It had taken all of his self-control not to jump over the desk and murder Harkin the moment he laid hands on her.

But he hadn't. Because he was convinced that if dear ole Nicholas even suspected how much Millie meant to him, he was done for, and she would be in constant danger.

Yes, what she had gone through was brutal, and he wished he could've done things differently. Her fear was justified, but maybe his words had gotten through to her, and she'd consider them once the initial shock was over.

Until then, he had to deal with the fact that she'd broken up with him and walked away. He hadn't lied, he truly believed that she still loved him, and he trusted that it was too powerful to be erased by this incident. He was unfortunately also aware that she might choose to smother her feelings and never return.

But he'd give her time and space before approaching her again. He wouldn't let her go without a fight, but he had to choose his battles to win the war.

In the height of irony, two days after Millie left, the police finally decided to close the investigation regarding Harkin and his activities. It caused a flurry in Saint Agnes, and the number of protesters increased. Davyn was half-tempted to go into school and check out what was going on, but it would be a bad idea. He had no reason to be there, and he didn't want to draw attention upon himself or forge a further link between him, Snitch Gravel, and the school.

With his apartment empty, he retreated to the house for a while, making sure to leave a note every time, just in case Millie decided to return. He used the extra time to stay with Ron.

After he'd returned from rehab camp, he seemed more meek, or at least Freider wasn't complaining about him as much. However, Davyn got the sinking feeling that he was plotting something. He couldn't get any information out of him, though. Even if Ron no longer snapped and snarked, he also refused to discuss anything, as if he'd decided silence was the best punishment for Davyn's betrayal.

So Davyn did the next best thing and spent his time with Ron tutoring him for school, with a reminder that they could always talk about anything if he felt the need. Over the months, he never did. But with Millie gone, Davyn increased the sessions from two per week to almost every day. He needed to focus on something else, or he'd go crazy. Or worse, seek her out and scare her some more.

"Why are you here so often?" Ron asked one afternoon, two weeks after Millie had left.

Davyn continued drawing the triangle he was on, gritting his teeth. "Just have a bit more time on my hands, so I decided to take advantage of it."

It had become increasingly hard to wait. He missed Millie so much, there was a constant pain in his stomach.

"Something went wrong in your perfect life, didn't it?"

"Let's talk about your perfect life."

That silenced Ron immediately, and he returned to drumming his pencil against the empty page.

Davyn finished the triangle and wrote down the length of two of its sides. "Okay, solve for x."

Ron didn't answer, seeming lost in thought. Davyn didn't push either, because the pain was being particularly potent that day, and he wanted to take a few moments to think about Millie and miss her some more.

"Do you think I'll get any taller?" Ron asked all of a sudden.

Davyn flinched and glanced at him. "Of course you will."

"As tall as you?"

"Maybe. Even Freider and Bill are pretty tall, so you definitely have the genes for it."

Ron crossed his arms on the table and leaned his chin on his hands. "Why aren't I growing then?"

"You're still young. You have all the time in the world."

"When did you shoot up?"

"I don't remember. When I was around your age, I guess."

"I don't remember you short."

This drew a laugh out of Davyn. "That's because you were always much shorter than me."

Ron didn't seem amused, just looked him up and down. "You're much bigger than Freider and Bill, though."

"That's because they don't work out or do any sports. Do you want me to teach you how to fight or something?"

This seemed to cheer Ron up a little, because he straightened his posture and nodded. "And maybe I can start lifting or something."

"No, it would stunt your growth. You can start after you're done growing in height." This made Ron deflate again, and Davyn got a little suspicious. "Why are you so worried about it?"

"I'll be fourteen in three months. All my friends are growing, and I'm just stuck looking ten."

"You don't look ten, Ron." He looked eleven, but Davyn meant what he'd said. He'd grow up and then laugh at himself for caring so much.

Ron just hummed, staring off into space. Davyn squinted at him.

"What's this about? Is there someone you're trying to impress?"

Ron didn't answer, but his cheeks glowed bright red. Davyn wasn't sure if he found that cute or infuriating since it reminded him of his own heartache.

"Who's the lucky girl?"

"It's not... I don't..." He blushed even worse, but this time it came with repressed anger and what looked very much like frustration.

"Look, it's only natural to get hormonal at your age even if nothing comes of it. Don't worry about it. You're normal."

"What if..." He bit his lip, and to Davyn's shock, tears filled his eyes.

"What if what?" Ron didn't answer, and Davyn got a horrible sinking feeling in his stomach.

"What if I'm not normal?" he whispered. "What if I can't, and I'll never be normal?"

Davyn pondered on the question, wondering where it was coming from, but he knew he needed to give an answer. "You know I think normal is overrated, but we're nowhere near as unique and special as we think we are."

It didn't seem to make Ron feel better because he leaned his cheek in one hand and continued to stare off into the distance, his eyes still glistening with tears. Davyn clasped his shoulder and squeezed.

"I get it," he said, his voice low. "Love is pain. Attachement is pain. But it's worth it in the end. I still believe that." Even after what happened to his mother, even after Millie left him. He really needed to talk to her.

Ron sniffed and still didn't look at him.

"It's going to be okay. Whoever she is, she's lucky you looked her way. Is this why you were asking me about growing taller and buffing up?"

"It's not... There's no girl."

Davyn would have taken it as denial if Ron's tone hadn't been so frightened and if it didn't link with everything he'd said before.

"Oh," he said. He knew he had to say more than that, but the realization completely blindsided him, so he needed a few seconds to regroup.

"Yes," Ron mumbled. "Oh."

"No, I mean there's no difference. What I said applies."

His little brother turned to him, disbelief written on his face. "No difference?"

"Not to me."

"The difference is huge!"

Davyn wasn't sure how Ron meant, so he decided to shut up rather than say something insensitive. But since he kept glaring, it was obvious he wanted an answer, more of a reaction.

"All I can say about it is that I'm here for you no matter what." He hesitated for a moment. "I really don't care. It's still normal."

Ron let out a strangled sob and wiped his eyes with his sleeve. When he pulled his arm back, his sleeve rolled up. Davyn's blood seemed to freeze in his veins.

He grabbed Ron's elbow and shoved his sleeve down. There were purple marks on his forearm, which looked remarkably like the indicators of a too strong grip.

"What happened?" he asked, his tone deadly. If any of his idiot friends had dared touch him, they were dead. Quite possibly literally this time.

"Nothing." Ron tried to yank his arm back. "I just bruise easily."

"Don't try to bullshit me. Who did this to you?"

"Just drop it! And let me go, or you'll end up bruising me, too."

"I will not just drop it."

But he did release Ron, who cradled his arm and started rubbing it.

"Well, you should. Because you'll end up leaving again, and I'll have to deal with this shit."

Davyn's vision darkened as he read between the lines. "Freider? Did you tell him what you just told me?"

Ron flinched, obviously not expecting him to guess that easily. But the shock and the fear were all the confirmation Davyn needed.

He pushed the chair back and darted out of the room.

"Davyn, wait!"

He didn't wait, he strode down the hall and kicked the door to Freider's room open. It was empty, so he headed down the stairs towards the home office. He raised his foot and kicked out just as the door opened. His foot caught Freider in the chest and propelled him across the room and into the desk. He rolled to the floor, wheezing.

"What the fuck?" he barely managed to say.

Davyn strode inside and grabbed his collar, yanking him off the floor. "If you touch Ron again, I'll beat you up so badly, you won't be able to move for weeks."

"Let me go, you psychopath!" Freider tried to pull free, but he still seemed stunned by the hit he'd received.

"Did you hear me?"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

Davyn leaned in closer. "When your little brother confesses something delicate to you, you support him, not bruise him."

Freider lifted his fist, obviously trying to hit back, but Davyn blocked with ease.

"Oh, so you're going to give me lessons on how to handle Ron? You, who only comes by when it's convenient for you?" Freider tried to land a punch again, but failed.

Davyn balled his fist and drove it straight in Freider's face. "I'm going to keep doing that until you actually listen."

"Let. Me. Go!"

Davyn just punched him again. It was so easy when his anger and frustration finally found an outlet.

"Look at him," Freider said through the blood pouring from his nose. "Just look at him." And he nodded over Davyn's shoulder.

Ron stood in the doorway, leaning his shoulder against the frame, a grin on his face, as if he was truly enjoying the scene. Davyn dropped Freider and stepped away.

"What the hell is this?" he asked. "Did you lie to me?"

Ron shook his head. "I didn't say anything. You just assumed and went straight for it. Though God knows Freider needed that. I'm a bit shocked he didn't hit you back."

"I'm not abusive," Freider said between his teeth. "He self-harms." He touched his nose and winced. "This really hurts, you asshole. And I'd certainly return the favor if I knew I could land a hit."

Davyn stepped back, staring from one to the other.

"I don't self-harm like that, Freider. I cut myself. The bruises are all yours."

"Yeah, from trying to stop you."

"Bullshit. From trying to make me do what you want."

"I just want you to be normal!"

"Some people are not normal!"

"You used me?" Davyn asked, turning to Ron.

His little brother shrugged as if it was no big deal. "You're quite the useful weapon. And Freider deserved it."

"Oh, you little shit," Freider said between his teeth, wiping the blood with his sleeve. "I'm doing my best with you."

"Your best is pathetic. All you both care about is yourselves."

"I'm so done with this," Freider said. "You two are the most ungrateful brats on this planet. You, get out of my house!" He pointed at Davyn. "And you, get back to your room and finish your fucking homework, or so help me God, I'll show you what a beating is."

"You can't just threaten me with physical abuse," Ron said, nodding towards Davyn. "Not with him here."

But Davyn had had enough. He needed to process all this and get out of there before he ended up drop-kicking them both. He'd never expected Ron to be so devious. He'd always thought Freider was the devil, but maybe he wasn't. Maybe it was him getting everything wrong.

So he turned around and left the house, wondering if he'd ever made any correct choices in his life.

♣️

Millie's tears seemed to never dry. The moment she'd left Davyn behind, she thought it would be easy. She was scared, angry, disgusted. That should have been enough to effectively kill any positive feeling she had towards him.

It wasn't that easy. After a few days in which she mostly hyperventilated, it started to hurt. Not her bruises or the disappointment, but being without him. She missed him. She felt the need to have him near, to hold him. She missed his kisses, the sound of his voice, falling asleep in his arms.

Snitch Gravel's arms, she kept reminding herself. She'd been sleeping with Snitch Gravel.

This reminder stopped working after a few days. It just started to sound natural. But she couldn't see him again because she would never accept what he'd become. And yet, it was him she felt the need to talk to about it. Rage how nothing was fair and how the very feelings which had given her life now murdered her.

She wished Bianca and Diana were still there because her new room mates were young and excited and definitely didn't need to hear how Davyn broke her heart. Max was a horrible choice to share her wowes with so that just left Freider.

Except when she met him for lunch, she was shocked by the bruises on his face.

"What happened to you?" she asked, hating herself for thinking about Davyn again and the time he'd showed up bruised.

"Sometimes things get a bit complicated," Freider said, trying to smile, but wincing. "It doesn't matter either way. I'm just glad that we're getting to see each other."

Millie shuddered, and he tensed.

"Is anything wrong?"

"I just don't like violence."

He sighed. "To be fair, me neither. Which is why I ended up looking like this. But enough about that. What have you been up to?"

Hearing that Freider rejected violence, even if it meant defending himself, made her feel both hopeful and disgusted. She obviously needed to steer away from bad choices. She opened her mouth to say something innocent, but a whimper came out instead. He frowned and leaned closer to her.

"Maxi, what's wrong?"

She shook her head, trying to drive away her tears, but there was no use. Having someone to talk to was fueling her already unstable emotions.

"I'm so sorry, I don't mean to get all weepy. I just..." She had to say it. It was killing her. "I just went through a horrible break up, and I feel like I'm suffocating." And she sunk her face in her hands and let it out.

After a few moments, she could feel Freider's arms around her as he pulled her against his chest and leaned his chin on the top of her head. She snuck her hands between them, wanting to push him away, but she ended up clutching his shirt.

She had no idea how long she stayed there, crying, but when she finally pulled away, his shirt was crumpled, and she felt both better and worse.

"I'm so sorry," she said, sniffing. "That was very rude of me."

"It's alright," Freider said with a shrug. "Pain is something I definitely understand. I also know that dwelling on the past is not going to help you with it."

She nodded, wiping her eyes. But it was hard to think about the future when everything was so raw and fresh. She hadn't even returned to her usual schedule, hadn't painted or practiced her music.

He took one of her hands and held it between his. "It's okay to hurt. It's also okay to hope and to believe that it will get better. You're young. You'll find love again."

She let out a strangled laugh. Finding love again sounded like betrayal when she had promised Davyn forever. And he'd promised her the same. Except, she'd walked out.

"Plus, anyone who would ever walk out on you must be the biggest idiot walking this earth and doesn't deserve a second thought."

"I actually walked out on him." She pulled her hand away, and grasped her knees under the table.

Freider faltered. "Oh. Then I'm sure he deserved it, the asshole."

Even if he had no idea what he was talking about, his attempts to make her feel better warmed her up. She gave him a smile, hoping it didn't look as forced as it felt.

"Here's what." He leaned back in his chair. "This could be a new stage in your life. We should go out to dinner and celebrate."

The word dinner sent alarm bells thought her body, accompanied by an instant wave of guilt. But the moment she rationalized it, she conceded that there was no reason for her not to accept. Freider was her friend, and she was single, so no one could misinterpret what it meant.

"Okay, sure."

His smile was honest and made him look handsome. "Just give it a few days for my face to deflate. We can have coffee until then. See you tomorrow after classes are over?"

"Yes, of course."

She was walking a thin line, but she no longer cared. Davyn had betrayed her, so she deserved to feel better.

As she walked towards the dorms, she felt lighter than she had in days. The crowd didn't even bother her as she made her way inside and climbed the stairs to the last floor.

When she finally reached her room, she took out her keys, but froze. Something didn't feel right. She glanced over her shoulder, and it was confirmed that she was not alone. With a scream, she jumped and turned to face the intruder.

It was Davyn.

♣️♣️♣️

So much happening in this chapter. Davyn should really stay away from his house. Every time he goes there something bad happens. And now Ron used him so this won't end well.

And poor stupid Millie, seeking comfort where she maybe shouldn't. But alas, Davyn is back and maybe, just maybe, they'll work something out.

Thanks so much for reading. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated!