Page 64 of Sunrise

I want to know what happened so I can help her work through it.

Maybe I should install my own security cams at her place to monitor everything.

Stop being a psycho.

Zooming through the streets, I head straight to Knox’s. He doesn’t answer when I knock, so I use mykey and let myself in.

Jesus, it smells good in here. Knox’s place is basically a library with some furniture shoved into it. He must have over a thousand books stuffed into the wall-to-wall bookshelves. More are stacked in piles all over the floor. He’s got blankets galore and I swear even his couch is the most comfortable thing ever. It’s neat and cozy and perfect.

Unlike my cold ass house, which I barely go to anymore.

Vault: Where are you rn?

I’m left on delivered.

Dropping my ass onto his couch, I lean back and close my eyes. The next thing I know, the door is opening, and I jump out of a deep sleep, confused and disoriented.

Knox freezes, halfway through the door, and gawks at me.

I shake my head to wake the hell up and stand to stretch. “Sorry. I must have dozed off.”

The door slams shut behind him. “What are you doing here?”

Words fail me. Knox is dripping in sweat, wearing a pair of gym shorts, a t-shirt, and has a backwards baseball hat on. He must have been out for a run.

“Earth to Vault. Why are you here?” He walks up to me, concern etching his face. “Is something wrong?”

“Why does something have to be wrong?”

He scoffs. “You don’t show up unannounced unless something’s up.”

Is that true? I try to sift through a lifetime with this motherfucker and… “No, I don’t. I come over all the time.”

“Planned invites. Call aheads. Not out of the blue anymore, bro.”

Again, I try to go through a billion memories and fall short. “I’m sorry.”

There’s nothing else I can really say because I think he might be right. I run to him when I need help. Other than that, we just chill when it’s planned. I used to show up unannounced just because I missed him, but those days are long gone.

Until now.

“I missed you,” I confess.

“Something must be in the Monarch Club’s water supply,” he mumbles, walking away from me.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing.”

Maybe he didn’t fucking hear me. “I said I missed you.”

Halfway to his kitchen, Knox turns around. He’s guarded and I get it. I’ve built a massive wall between us and only allow friendship through the cracks, which also hasn’t been the same since I started working at the Monarch Club. Maybe he doesn’t understand why I submerged myself in an environment that thrives on the very thing I struggle with. Or maybe it’s that I’m a popular stone top with the Butterflies and that makes him jealous.

Or maybe he’s fucking clueless.

“I’m trying,” I say, exposing myself. “I’m fuckingtrying, Knox.”

He slumps. “I know you are.”

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