KAYLA'S POV:
It was late by the time I got home.
The whole house was wrapped in silence, the kind that only came after midnight, when even the walls seemed to breathe softer. The lights downstairs were off, and the hallway was dim except for the faint yellow glow of the night lamp near the stairs.
Everyone was asleep.
Perfect.
I slipped off my shoes near the entrance and quietly made my way upstairs, holding my bag close so the metal chain wouldn't clink and wake anyone. My body felt heavier than usual, exhaustion clinging to me after the mess at school. My mind was still replaying the chaos from earlier, the fight, the blood, the shouting, the nurse's office, the looks people gave us.
I was tired.
Too tired.
I just wanted to shower, throw myself on the bed, and pretend none of it had happened.
When I reached my room, I pushed the door open and stepped inside, already loosening the strap of my bag from my shoulder.
But before I could even take a full breath,
The door suddenly shut behind me.
Click.
The lock turned.
I gasped and spun around so fast my heart nearly stopped.
For one wild second, I thought someone had broken into my room.
Then I saw him.
Theo.
Standing there by the door like a suspicious criminal, hands half-raised as if he'd just realized he looked guilty.
I stared at him, my heart pounding from the fright, then marched over and slapped his shoulder.
"You scared me!"
He winced dramatically, rubbing the spot I hit.
"Sorry," he said quickly, his voice low so he wouldn't wake anyone. "I just wanted to talk."
I narrowed my eyes at him, still trying to calm my heartbeat.
"You could've knocked like a normal person."
"I tried," he muttered.
"You absolutely did not."
He gave me an awkward little smile that screamed caught.
I rolled my eyes, tossed my bag onto the bed, and walked toward the mirror.
The soft lamp beside my dresser cast a warm glow across the room as I reached up and started taking off my earrings one by one, placing them carefully on the table. I watched his reflection in the mirror instead of turning around.
"Go on," I said, pulling the second earring free. "Spit out whatever's going on in that head of yours."
Theo stayed quiet for a moment.
Too quiet.
That alone told me this wasn't some random late-night visit.
I lifted a brow at his reflection.
"Well?"
He shifted where he stood near the door, his hands in his pockets now.
"What were you doing at the school nurse's office today?"