Carcel Evander Dawson

I watched Kalila walk away, her ponytail bouncing as she moved. It looked adorable on her—she is adorable. I hadn't expected her to move so quickly from the situation. Part of me knew she'd go looking for Ciel eventually, but I didn't think it would be this soon. I was still running on barely any sleep, but it didn't matter who needed sleep anyway, when she needed me. 

What did matter was that Kalila had thought ahead. She told her friends to come find me if she wasn't back on time. It's a very typical Kalila thing do. I chuckled to myself at the thought. Evara, no doubt, was probably the one pushing for them to find me quickly. Leaving Kalila alone with Ciel for even five minutes would set them on edge, and they were right to be cautious. Lucky for them, I wasn't far.

When they finally found me, I was talking to Ashton. They looked tense, like they thought I'd start something with him again. But Ashton? He didn't seem the least bit bothered—just laughed off the tension from our previous encounter. Still, the first thing out of my mouth was a declaration

"I like Kalila, and you're not going to interfere with her when I'm around." 

I didn't even think twice about saying it. Confidence, as usual, flowed without effort. But then, Ashton blindsided me with a fact I hadn't seen coming—he didn't like Kalila. Hell, he didn't even like girls in general. I felt a flush of embarrassment creeping in, though I'd never show it. My instincts had jumped to conclusions the moment Kalila was involved, and I hated being wrong, especially about something like this.

"I didn't know you could make that kind of expression." Ciel's voice cut through the air, snapping me back to reality. For a moment, I'd almost forgotten she was there. My mood crashed, plummeting from a high to rock bottom in seconds. Like she always made me feel.

"What kind?" I replied, keeping my voice as flat and cold.

"Like you're enjoying yourself looking at someone," she muttered, her tone barely above a whisper. "You've never looked at me like that before."

I raised an eyebrow. "Why should I?" I shoved my hands into my pockets, eyes locked on her, watching as she tried to swallow down the anger and hurt. I could see it in the way her hands trembled, how she was fighting to keep control. I sighed. I knew I was being a complete asshole, but she just wouldn't quit. How many times do I have to shove it in her face that whatever delusion she's clinging to won't work? She was forcing everything, even though it was clear she'd end up shattered in the process.

"Do you like her?" Her voice cracked as she asked, her eyes pleading for me to deny it. Begging for a lie, anything to hold onto. I felt pity and guilt looking at her but...

"Yeah. I like her like crazy." I let a smirk curl at the edge of my mouth, watching her fall apart in front of me, She should've known I wouldn't lie to her, wouldn't pretend to be madly in love like she wanted me to be. Just a moment ago, she'd been standing tall, acting brave in front of Kalila. Now? She looked ready to crumble. Her legs were shaking, her face pale.

I'm really your weakness, aren't I, Ciel?

She didn't say a word, didn't move an inch. She was stunned, frozen, probably because of how easily I admitted it. But she shouldn't have asked if she wasn't prepared for the truth.

I exhaled again, feeling the irritation build. This needed to end. My anger at how she treated Kalila was still fresh in my mind—the way she'd almost slapped her. If she ever laid a hand on Kalila, I wouldn't be this forgiving next time.

I stepped toward her, grabbing her arm to guide her into a chair before she collapsed right there. If she hit the floor, I wasn't going to pick her up. Better she sit down before her legs gave out entirely, and she did.

"I'll go to the admin and void your request on Kalila's booth." I waited, but Ciel didn't say a word. She just sat there, silent, staring at nothing. Not a single nod or acknowledgment. I sighed again, rubbing the back of my neck in frustration.

"Listen, Ciel," I said, my voice firm "I still consider you a friend. But if you do anything—anything—that makes Kalila's life harder or inconveniences her in any way..." I paused, putting a hand on her shoulder, forcing her to meet my gaze. "Things won't go well between us. You know as well as I do that it's better to keep me as a friend than to turn me into an enemy, right?"

Her eyes flickered with the faintest trace of anger, but she didn't argue. I gave her one last glance before walking away, feeling exhaustion pull at me. I yawned, desperate to get this over with so I could and finally sleep and head home for work. 

As I was about to leave the building, something caught my eye—a familiar figure hunched down in the corner. A smile crept across my face instantly. That ponytail. I knew it anywhere. But why was she crouching down like that?

I moved closer, careful not to let her notice me just yet. I chuckled quietly when I saw what she was doing. Kalila was playing with a kitten.

"Are you lost?" she asked the little thing as if it could talk back. I leaned against the pillar, arms crossed, just watching her. She looked so damn cute, so caught up in her world with the tiny creature.

"Where's your mommy?" she scanned the surroundings, but the kitten just rolled onto its back, showing its tummy. She squealed softly, the sound lighting up her entire face. She even pulled out her phone to take a picture of it.

She looked so happy, so small, and somehow even more adorable than before. The way she laughed—God, it was infectious. I could watch her like this forever, living in that unguarded joy.

The kitten rubbed against her legs, clearly winning her over. "Do you want me to take you home?" she asked, like the kitten would actually answer. Then she gasped. "Did you just nod?"

I chuckled under my breath, amused by her absurd questions. Watching her talk to the kitten like this... it was almost too much. She was lifting it gently, like it was the most fragile thing she'd ever touched.

"Ah, you're so cute. I'll take that as a yes," she cooed, cradling the kitten. But then she hesitated, her face scrunching up in thought. "Wait, what if someone sees you?" She glanced around nervously, as if picking up a kitten was a crime. "Can you fit in my skirt pocket?" she mumbled, checking the small pockets. What the hell is she doing now?

And then, to my utter disbelief, she started unbuttoning her shirt. I blinked, completely thrown off guard. Why the hell was she stripping? My first instinct was to look away, but before I could fully process it, I noticed she had a tank top underneath. I sighed in relief, shaking my head at her crazy stance.

Damn it, Kalila. You need to stop this nonsense.

"What are you doing?" I asked, stepping in before she went any further with her absurd plan.

"Jesus!" she jumped, eyes wide in shock, barely holding onto the kitten. She looked disheveled, her half-unbuttoned shirt hanging off her shoulders. It was as if she'd seen a ghost. I couldn't help it—I burst out laughing, pulling out my phone and snapping a picture of her mid-panic.

She blinked, still trying to process what had just happened. I glanced at the photo and chuckled. She was so damn cute.

"Pervert!" she screamed, but I just smirked, slipping my phone into my pocket before she could even attempt to grab it.

"It's not my fault you decided to strip in the middle of nowhere," I teased, walking over and petting the kitten in her arms. "What are you doing, bunny?" My eyes locked onto hers, the intensity making her flinch slightly.

"I... uhh..." she stammered, clearly flustered. I raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to explain herself. "I was trying to put him inside my shirt," she finally admitted.

I laughed in disbelief, shaking my head. "First of all, that's not a 'her'—it's a male," I said, watching her blink in surprise as she looked down at the kitten. "Second, you'd suffocate the poor thing if you stuffed him in there, dummy." I reached out and ruffled her hair gently. She was too damn adorable for her own good.

"Oh... so he's a boy, then." She held the kitten in her arms gently cradling it like a baby, completely unfazed by my teasing. 

"You like me, don't you?" She suddenly blurted out of nowhere. For a second, I froze, thinking she was talking to me.

I chuckled, but before I could stop myself, the words slipped out. "Yes."

She looked up at me, confusion flickering across her face. "I like you," I repeated, this time more directly, my voice firmer than before. Her reaction was... nothing. Just a blank stare, like I was speaking some foreign language. 

The silence between us stretched on, growing awkward as fuck, and for a second, I regretted every single word that just left my mouth.

Ah, shit. I messed up. 

This wasn't part of the plan—none of it. I wasn't supposed to blurt it out like that. I wasn't supposed to make it so... clumsy. Kalila's face remained unchanged, almost as if she hadn't even registered what I said. Maybe this entire situation hit her too suddenly, anyway, I had to do something to fix it.

I took a slow breath, trying to pull myself together, then shrugged off my bomber jacket. Gently, I draped it over her shoulders, the fabric enveloping her small frame. She flinched at the gesture, looking more shocked than ever. I wasn't helping things by making her uncomfortable, but I couldn't just leave her standing there like that, right?

"Here, wear this," I said, my voice soft but firm. I pointed to the large pockets on the sides of the jacket. "Put him in in here. The pocket is big enough for him, and you can let his head stick out. He'll be fine." I shoved my hands back to my pant's pocket, avoiding eye contact for a second as I fought the urge to keep rambling. The kitten meowed in her arms.

Without waiting for her to respond, I turned on my heel and started walking away. My pulse was racing, and I could feel the heat crawling up the back of my neck. 

What the hell did I just do? 

I cursed under my breath, cupping my face with my hands. None of this was going according to plan. This was harder than I thought it'd be. What I did was Impulsive as hell. And now I was panicking like a damn idiot.

Should I try again? God, I don't know what I'm doing. In a fit of frustration, I yanked my phone from my pocket and called Crue. "Hey, meet me at the admin building," I muttered as soon as he picked up. "And let's head back to my place after."

I hung up before he could respond. I needed a drink ASAP. By the time I reached the admin office, Crue was already there, leaning casually against the wall, waiting for me. I didn't waste any time. The moment the admin staff saw me, they recognized who I was, their attitude shifting immediately. I told them I was part of the project Kalila was involved in, and within minutes, they'd apologized for the inconvenience, promising to fix the issue with her booth. It was surprisingly easy to get things done when they knew your name.

As soon as everything was resolved, we headed out. I called Jordan to pick us up now and  It didn't take long before the three of us were lounging in my living room, the scent of food wafting in from the kitchen. Jordan was at the stove, cooking something up, and I couldn't help but glance over at him. For a guy built like him it was so bizarre to think that he cooks delicious food like a mother with five kids.

Maybe I should learn from him. Who knows? In case I need to impress someone someday.

Crue lounged lazily on my couch, watching as I sat at the table with my laptop open. I needed to clear up some work before I could relax. Emails were piling up, and the last thing I wanted was more headaches tomorrow.

"Why'd you wanna come home so early?" Crue asked, stretching out his legs. 

"I want to drink," I muttered, not looking up from the screen as I rapidly fired off replies. My fingers moved quickly across the keyboard. I sighed, leaning back in my chair once I'd finished the last of the emails.

"Why so sudden? I thought you were gonna crash early," Crue muttered, yawning as he sprawled further into the couch, already half-drifting off. I ignored him, walking straight to the counter where the whiskey sat waiting. The burn from earlier hadn't been enough to drown out the mess in my head, so I poured myself another glass. The amber liquid swirled in the glass, catching the light, and I downed it in one go, feeling the warmth spread through my chest.

Crue, noticing my determination, followed suit, pouring himself a drink as well. Neither of us spoke, but I could feel his eyes on me as I poured a second, then a third. He was watching, probably waiting for me to say something—anything—but stayed silent. By the time I hit my fourth glass, the sharp edge of reality had finally started to blur. The room felt heavier, but not in a bad way.

I finally slowed down, my hand resting on the glass as I stared down at it, the alcohol swimming lazily inside. My thoughts were all over the place—Kalila, my confession, how badly I'd fucked that up. The silence was starting to gnaw at me, so without looking up, I broke it.

"How the hell do you confess?" I asked bluntly, my voice rough from the whiskey and the frustration boiling beneath the surface. The words came out sharper than I intended, and as soon as they did, I heard the unmistakable sound of choking. Both Crue and Jordan sputtered, their drinks nearly spraying across the room. I blinked, not even realizing that Jordan had joined us and was now sitting on the edge of the couch, his glass halfway to his mouth.