It Will Come Back

An artist with a troubled past

"An artist with a troubled past, that's one for the books," Ravi said, his voice echoing through the bustling school hallway. He walked beside me, his casual demeanor contrasting with the chaos of students rushing to their next classes. I chuckled softly at his comment, shaking my head.

"So, when are you going to tell Dad?" Ravi asked, his tone light but inquisitive. I didn’t answer right away. My mind was elsewhere, lost in thought, and Ravi’s question barely registered.

"Earth to Lux! Is there anyone in there?" he teased, waving his hand dramatically in front of my face. I blinked, snapping out of my daze.

"Sorry, when am I going to tell Joe about Kiron?" I asked, my voice faltering as I said the name. Just the thought of him made my stomach churn, a mix of anger and unresolved pain bubbling beneath the surface.

"No, about you wanting to be a baker," Ravi corrected, his grin infectious.

I laughed, the sound bittersweet. "I love you, Rav, but don’t be dim. I’m already on thin ice with Joe as it is. Do you really think he’d be okay with me throwing away four years of work and a diploma in photography to be a... what did you call it? A silly little baker?" I said, my voice tinged with self-deprecation.

"I think you’d do swell," Ravi said without hesitation. "I’ve tasted your cooking, Lux. It’s amazing."

I glanced at him, his sincerity evident in his warm brown eyes. It was hard not to smile. Ravi always had a way of grounding me, of saying exactly what I needed to hear without sugarcoating the truth. Unlike Yasmin, who’d been my best friend for years but never felt like family, Ravi felt like my real brother. He was tactful, thoughtful, and brutally honest—qualities I valued deeply.

"Thanks," I said, my voice softer now. "But photography is the one thing Joe and I have in common. He was so proud when I decided to follow in his footsteps, to become the next David Bailey. For a while, it felt like he was actually proud of me… like a father who genuinely cared."

Ravi frowned, his expression thoughtful. "You can still have that, Lux. You just need to find something else to bond over. You can’t give up on your dreams just to protect his ego."

I laughed, but it was a bitter sound. "What am I supposed to say to him? ‘Hey, Joe, I’ve decided I hate photography, so I’m not following in your footsteps anymore. Instead, I’m going to bake cakes and tarts and pies and muffins.’ That’ll go over well."

Ravi smirked. "What’s the difference between tarts and pies, anyway? I thought they were the same thing."

"The difference is that tarts only have a bottom crust, and it’s thicker than a pie crust," I explained, unable to hide my smile.

"Okay, Mary Berry, I see you!" Ravi said, his tone playful.

"Lux," he said more seriously, his voice pulling me back.

"Yeah?" I replied, meeting his gaze.

"Did you start baking because your mom baked all the time?" Ravi asked, his question laced with genuine curiosity.

I nodded, my heart aching at the memory. "At first, yeah. It was a way to feel close to her. But then it became something more—a passion, something that made me genuinely happy."

"Then tell Joe," Ravi said firmly.

I hesitated. "Maybe. But if I’m going to pursue baking, it’ll have to wait until I move into my new apartment."

"Our new apartment," Ravi corrected with a grin.

I laughed. "Oh, yeah. What did Joe say about you moving in?" I asked, suddenly anxious.

"He said I’m a man now," Ravi said, puffing his chest out mockingly. "But honestly, I think he just wants all of us out of the house. Yas is moving in with Jake, and Joe probably wants to start dating again without feeling guilty."

I felt a flicker of annoyance. "I never asked him not to date. I even encouraged it. If he’s feeling guilty, that’s on him, not me."

We entered the lunch hall, the smell of greasy fries and mystery meat wafting through the air. My eyes instinctively found Yasmin, seated at the popular table, smack dab in the middle of the “cool kids” clique.

"You know she asked us to stop staring at her while she’s in school," Ravi pointed out, grabbing a tray from the canteen line.

I rolled my eyes. "How would she know we’re staring unless she’s staring first?"

Ravi laughed, piling a burger and fries onto his tray. "What’s got you so bugged today, Lux? You’ve been on edge all morning."

I sighed, my shoulders sagging. "I don’t know what to do."

"About Kiron?" Ravi asked, his voice softening. I nodded, my throat tight.

"If I were you, I’d ignore him," Ravi said bluntly. "He doesn’t deserve your forgiveness, Lux. Let him rot."

Tears pricked my eyes, and I pulled Ravi into a hug. "Thanks, Ravi. I can’t wait to move in with you."

"Oh, while we’re here," I said, pulling back. "Do you want to check something out with me?"

"What are we checking out?" Ravi asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Behind the school, by the bins," I said, a sly smile tugging at my lips.

Ravi raised an eyebrow. "You know people hook up back there, right?"

I nodded. "I know. But I had the strangest dream last night. It was so vivid, so specific."

"Okay," Ravi said, falling into step beside me. "What happened in the dream?"

I hesitated, the memory of it still fresh in my mind. "Well...