Chapter 14
642 Words
Chapter 14: The Cracks
The rooftop of Clarisse’s house buzzed with light music and low conversation, the city lights below like scattered stars. Beers in hand, coworkers laughed in clusters—familiar teasing, light gossip, the usual birthday buzz. The air smelled of grilled meat and mango-flavored vape.
Feliz leaned against the railing, arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her lips were pressed in a thin line, eyes trained on nothing in particular. She wore her usual faded jeans and a plain white shirt, hair up in a messy ponytail she hadn’t even bothered to fix properly.
Sly had been there from the start, but something about him tonight was off.
He wasn’t hovering near her. He wasn’t making sarcastic comments at her expense. No smirks. No stolen glances. Not even a raised brow.
He was laughing across the rooftop with Aaron and Clarisse’s boyfriend, sipping from a beer bottle like he hadn’t kissed her senseless days ago. Like she hadn’t run out of his arms, confused and breathless.
Lucas appeared quietly beside her, offering a cold drink.
Lucas [quiet, smiling]
“It’s your favorite.”
Feliz accepted it with a small nod. No words. Just a soft hum of thanks. Lucas didn’t linger, didn’t press. He just stood near her—a quiet presence. Steady.
And still, her eyes drifted back to the one who wasn’t looking at her at all.
---
Moments later, Lia plopped beside Feliz on a bench, tipsy and grinning.
Lia [teasing, playful]
“You’ve been staring at Sly for a solid ten minutes. You good?”
Feliz blinked.
Feliz [defensive, quick]
“What? No.”
Aaron passed by with a beer and smirked.
Aaron [grinning, loud enough for others to hear]
“If y’all kiss again, just announce it. We’re tired of pretending nothing’s happening.”
Feliz [louder than intended, sharp]
“There is nothing happening.”
The conversation around them dipped for a beat, then resumed like nothing happened.
Sly looked over.
Their eyes locked.
Then he looked away.
---
Feliz needed air. Or maybe space. Or maybe just an excuse to leave.
She found herself inside, near the stairwell. The hallway was quieter, shadows stretching long. She leaned against the wall, willing her heartbeat to slow.
Footsteps approached.
Sly.
Sly [neutral, calm]
“You okay?”
Feliz scoffed.
Feliz [cold, defensive]
“Fine. You seem to be having fun.”
He didn’t rise to the bait. Just leaned beside her, both of them staring ahead.
Sly [quiet]
“Why are you upset?”
Feliz [bitter]
“I’m not.”
Sly [soft chuckle, resigned]
“You look like you want to slap someone. Maybe me.”
She turned, eyes narrowing.
Feliz [tense, accusing]
“Why are you acting like nothing happened?”
He looked at her for a long beat.
Sly [flat, controlled]
“Because you wanted it to be nothing. I was just trying to make it easier.”
She opened her mouth. Closed it. Her throat tightened.
Feliz [voice trembling, almost breaking]
“Why are you avoiding me now?”
Sly stepped closer. Not teasing. Not cocky. Just raw.
Sly [quiet, raw]
“Because I want you. And I can’t have you on your terms.”
She froze.
He didn’t touch her. Didn’t move.
Just said it—and stood still, like he couldn’t take it back.
And she couldn’t breathe.
---
The party continued on the rooftop, but Feliz didn’t go back.
Neither did he.
Eventually, she left.
Not to her room.
Not to forget.
But to walk. To think.
To feel.
The city was quiet beneath the late-night haze.
Feliz stopped in front of a familiar door.
Standing like a statue.
Staring like a thief about to break in.
Breathing like it might be her last brave thing.
She raised her hand to knock—
Then dropped it.
And walked away.
- Writer
