Chapter 14: The debt
1200 Words
Cole’s POV
The morning air in the apartment smelled like stale coffee and regret.
I stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, staring blankly out at the glass. But I wasn't seeing the campus below. My mind was consumed by Serena-- by the way she had looked the last time I saw her at Vance City Hospital (VCH). Pale, hollowed-out, disheveled, crying on that sterile bed while her mother lashed out at her.
Guilt hit me like a physical weight.
She wouldn't have been that broken if she had never met me.
I had ruined her, used her, and left her picking up the pieces of a disaster I helped create.
Because I wanted to see if you're actually capable of it. Of being real. Of being someone who doesn't need a crown to feel like a person.
Maya’s words from last night crept back into my head, sharp and echoing.
"Earth to Cole," Jax’s voice broke through the haze.
I didn't turn around, just kept staring out at the rain-streaked window.
Jax let out a heavy sigh behind me. "Are you still thinking about the situation with Serena?"
I didn't answer.
"Give it up, Cole," Jax added, leaning against the counter. "Just forget about it."
"I lost a child, Jax," I said, my voice barely more than a flat, empty rasp. "I can't just f*****g forget about it."
Jax scoffed lightly. "And need I remind you that that child could've changed your life? Do you think girls would still want you the same if you were a dad? Your mom would kill you, too. I'm sure Eleanor is way too busy building a legacy to be a grandma. Honestly, what happened was probably for the best."
A bitter, dry chuckle forced its way out of my throat. I turned slowly to face him. "It was probably for the best, Jax? That my child died?"
Jax held up his hands, completely unbothered.
"It’s not that deep, man. It wasn’t even a fetus yet."
"Guys, guys, guys, guys," Theo chimed in quickly as he sensed the sudden, dangerous shift in the air. "Let’s not do this, please. We have other things to talk about. Let’s just leave this matter, please. Besides... the deadline for the bet is almost here. You need to tell us what you're going to do, Cole. Come on, king-- get your head in the game or you might just lose your car."
The tension in the room eased back slightly, though a heavy gray cloud still hung over me.
My child could've changed my life, Jax had said.
I swallowed hard, looking down at the floor.
Maybe my life does need changing.
I pushed the thought deep down where they couldn't see it. I just needed Jax and Theo off my neck about this stupid bet. I didn't have the energy for their constant interrogation anymore. I just wanted to get this done with so they drop it.
"Well," I said, forcing a smirk onto my face to keep up appearances, "since she won't bite at anything I give her, I’ll play my final card. If she wants to find the real me, I'll get her a map. I’ll just make sure the map leads to a dead end. I’ll leak just enough about the old man to make her feel like she’s cracked the code."
"Now that's what I'm talking about!" Jax grinned.
Theo snorted, "You’re going to use the ghost dad story?"
"Exactly, I’ll let her think she’s the only person on this godforsaken campus who actually understands why I’m such an asshole."
"And then what? Once she’s all soft and starry-eyed?" Theo asked, amusement in his eyes.
"Then I hit it," I said, my voice hardening. "I remind her why I’m the one who holds the crown. And then I walk away before she can even finish taking notes on my reformation."
On the outside, I gave them the swagger they expected from me. But on the inside, I didn't feel the thrill of the game anymore.
I caught up to her at 4:15 PM.
The campus was thinning out, the late afternoon sun casting long, orange shadows across the brick walkways. Maya was walking alone, her head down, a heavy-looking bag slung over her shoulder.
I stepped out from behind a pillar near the Humanities building, cutting off her path.
"You know, stalking is usually a sign of obsession, Cole," she said without looking up, her pace not faltering for a second. "I’d be flattered if it wasn't so predictable."
"Stalking requires effort," I said, falling into step beside her. I kept my hands shoved deep into my pockets, keeping the posture casual, but the usual electric arrogance in my chest felt strangely muted. "Besides, we have a debt to discuss. Two truths and a lie, rooftop. You won. I owe you a coffee. And as much as it pains you to believe, I don’t like being in the red."
Maya adjusted her bag, her expression entirely unimpressed. "How long has it been since that night, Cole? The statute of limitations on the coffee bet has surely passed. Besides, I’m busy."
"Busy doing what? Memorizing more ways to tell me I'm hollow?" I stepped a little closer, catching that subtle scent of jasmine and old paper that always seemed to cling to her. "Café Rosé. Tonight. 10:00 PM. We settle the tab, and I stop being the guy who owes you something. It’s a win-win. Plus, I heard they have the best black coffee for people who hate joy."
She stopped, staring at me for a long, quiet beat. I could see her analyzing me--trying to figure out if this was another performance.
"10:00 PM," she finally said. "And don't bother with the dramatic entrance. I’m bringing a book, and I fully intend to read it if you start talking about yourself in the third person."
"Deal," I said, watching her turn and walk away.
I didn't feel the sharp surge of a hunter marking his prey. I just felt a quiet, heavy curiosity about how the night was gonna end.
Café Rosé at 10:00 PM was quiet.
It was raining-- a soft, rhythmic drumming against the glass that made the interior feel warm and isolated from the rest of the world. The place was nearly empty, save for a tired barista wiping down the counter.
I was already sitting in a corner booth, two coffees waiting on the wood.
The bell above the door chimed at exactly 10:01 PM.
Maya walked in, shaking out a translucent umbrella. She looked around until her eyes landed on me. She didn't smile, but she didn't look like she wanted to bolt, either. She walked over and slid into the booth across from me, her movements precise. She looked tired, her eyes a little softer than they usually were on campus.
"You're on time," she noted, her gaze dropping to the steaming cup in front of her.
- Writer
