The path slowly led them out of the quiet part of the park, the trees thinning until the sounds of the street drifted back toward them.
Skye kept his eyes ahead, pretending to be interested in the pavement while the breeze pushed softly against his sweater.
Beside him, Noah walked with the same relaxed stride as always, hands tucked inside his jacket pockets.
But the quiet between them had changed.
It wasn't empty anymore.
It felt… charged.
Like both of them were thinking too much.
Skye kicked a small pebble on the path.
It rolled a few feet before stopping near the grass.
"Why are you being so quiet?" he muttered.
Noah glanced at him.
"I was thinking."
"That's new."
Noah snorted.
"You're hilarious today."
Skye shrugged, though his cheeks were faintly pink.
They walked a few more steps before Skye spoke again.
"I'm going home tonight."
Noah blinked.
"Home?"
"Yeah."
Skye shoved his hands deeper into his sleeves.
"My mom wants me back at the Montclair house tomorrow."
Noah looked mildly surprised.
"That's sudden."
"Not really," Skye said. "She said I shouldn't stay in the apartment too long. People might start asking questions."
Noah frowned slightly.
"What kind of questions?"
Skye shrugged.
"The kind rich families worry about."
Noah hummed thoughtfully but didn't push further.
Instead he looked down at Skye again.
"You're going to leave already?"
Skye stopped walking.
"Why do you sound disappointed?"
"I don't."
"You do."
Noah smirked faintly.
"Maybe I just enjoy annoying you."
Skye rolled his eyes.
"Then you'll survive without me for a few days."
Noah tilted his head slightly.
"A few days?"
Skye hesitated.
"…Probably."
The uncertainty slipped out before he could stop it.
Noah noticed immediately.
"You don't even know when you're coming back?"
Skye shrugged again.
"It depends on my parents."
Noah studied him quietly.
The wind moved a strand of Skye's hair across his face.
Without thinking, Noah reached out.
Skye froze when Noah's fingers brushed his cheek, pushing the hair aside.
The touch lasted barely a second.
But it felt much longer.
Skye's heart jumped into his throat.
"What are you doing?" he blurted.
Noah seemed just as surprised as he was.
"You looked like a mess."
Skye stepped back quickly.
"I did not."
"You did."
Skye crossed his arms defensively.
"You're weird today."
Noah chuckled softly.
"Look who's talking."
They started walking again.
This time the silence felt even heavier.
Skye's mind kept replaying that brief touch.
The warmth of Noah's fingers.
The closeness.
Why did that feel like that…?
They reached the edge of the park.
The street stretched ahead, busy with late afternoon traffic.
Skye slowed down.
"Well," he said, gesturing vaguely down the road, "I should head back and pack."
Noah stopped walking.
"So that's it?"
"What do you mean?"
"You're just leaving."
Skye frowned.
"It's not like I'm moving to another country."
Noah shrugged.
"Still."
Skye narrowed his eyes.
"Why do you care?"
Noah looked away briefly.
Then he said casually,
"I don't."
Skye didn't believe that for a second.
But he didn't argue either.
Instead he turned toward the direction of his apartment.
"I'll see you around, Blackwell."
Noah scoffed.
"You're using my last name now?"
"Feels appropriate."
"Rude."
Skye smirked faintly.
"Bye, Noah."
He started walking away.
After a few steps—
"Skye."
Skye stopped.
He turned halfway back.
"What?"
Noah had shoved his hands into his pockets again.
His expression was unreadable.
"Don't disappear too long."
Skye blinked.
"Why?"
Noah smirked again.
"Because I'm not done bothering you."
Skye rolled his eyes dramatically.
"Of course you're not."
Then he turned and kept walking.
But as he disappeared down the street—
Neither of them noticed the small smile on the other's face.
---