I step in shyly, my heart hammering against my chest as I slide into the seat between Dan and Dom.
The tension is thick, pressing down on me like an unbearable weight. I had overslept, forgetting that today was the day we were scheduled to meet the school counselor. If Dom hadn't texted me, I might have missed it completely.
Mrs. Darwin watches me closely, her gaze unwavering. As soon as I'm settled, she clears her throat and begins speaking in her infuriatingly gentle, baby-like voice.
"Well, since Helen's here, I guess we can now commence, properly"
I swallow hard. I know how hard she must gotten them to talk,
I wasn't ready to say anything. My throat tightens as I shift uncomfortably. I glance at Dom, whose eyes remain fixed on Mrs. Darwin, his jaw locked.
I don't dare look at Dan. I make sure to keep my distance from him, not wanting to get drawn into his presence.
Mrs. Darwin sighs, scanning the three of us. "Since no one wants to talk, let's make this an individual session—"
"No."
Our voices merge in unison, surprising even ourselves. The refusal is immediate, instinctive.
Mrs. Darwin leans back in her chair, her expression unreadable.
"So, I'm all ears," she says, folding her hands together, waiting.
I clear my throat, forcing myself to speak.
"It was all a misunderstanding, and I take the blame for the fight."
Dom's head snaps toward me, his eyes clouded with confusion. "That's not true," he says, his voice firm but laced with disbelief.
Unconsciously, my hand finds his, resting on his knuckles softly, as if pleading for him to let this go.
Our eyes lock, and for a moment, I feel the weight of everything between us, unsaid words,
Dan scoffs loudly. The sound jolts me back to reality. My fingers twitch as I quickly pull my hand away, setting them awkwardly on my lap.
I hadn't meant to do that. I hadn't meant for any of this.
Mrs. Darwin tilts her head slightly, studying us.
"So, what's going on here? What's the truth and what's not?"
Dan seizes the moment, leaning forward.
"It seems Helen here was confused about who the father of—"
"You say confused? Why do you keep lying?" Dom cuts him off sharply, his voice tight with restrained anger.
Mrs. Darwin's brows knit together in confusion.
I'm exhausted from the back and forth, from the spiraling tension that never seems to end.
"Dan's right," I say finally, my voice small but steady. "I got some things mixed up."
Dom jerks his head toward me, eyes wide. "What?"
I don't turn to look at Dom, he couldn't understand it.
Dan smirks, leaning back into his chair. "Well, at this point, I deserve an apology."
I turn my head slightly, finally looking at him for the first time since I entered.
His face is smug, triumphant.
"You must be kidding me," I say, letting out a dry, humorless laugh.
He turns to look at me with a wicked grin on his face
Mrs. Darwin sighs.
"Helen, I also think it's only fair. You agreed with Dan."
I inhale deeply, my stomach knotting. I can feel Dan's eyes on me, that smirk still lingering, waiting, expecting.
I open my mouth—
"Helen, don't do this." Dom's voice is soft but urgent. He's pleading.
I close my eyes shut. The sting of tears pricks behind my eyelids, but I force them down.
"I am sorry for the misunderstanding," I say, the words tasting bitter in my mouth.
Dan chuckles, his laughter low and victorious. I look at him, my chest tightening.
Deep down, I was sorry,
really sorry. But not for what he thought.
Mrs. Darwin nods, folding her arms.
"I guess we're all done here."
Dan doesn't hesitate. "I need an apology from my cousin too."
Dom and I whip our heads toward him, equally shocked.
"You know you're never going to get it from me,"
Dom spits out, his voice burning with defiance.
Dan grins wickedly. I don't say anything—I just stare at Mrs. Darwin, silently begging her to put an end to this.
She sighs. "You may be excused, Helen."
I blink. "Me?"
"You apologized. I'm done here with you."
I stand up, feeling like I'm being shoved out of a conversation I barely had control over. Without glancing at either of them, I walk out, my movements stiff.
The moment the door shuts behind me, I hear Mrs. Darwin's voice rise sharply.
"What the hell is wrong with both of you?"
No response.
I don't move away from the door. I need to know what's going on.
"Aunty, if anyone deserves an apology, it's Helen," Dom says firmly.
I freeze. Aunty?
Mrs. Darwin was their aunt? I had no idea. Did anyone else?
Like everything was a mystery when it came to this family,
"You busted me up because of a girl?" Dan snaps.
I press myself closer to the door, holding my breath.
"And I'd do it all over again," Dom shoots back, unwavering.
Mrs. Darwin's voice cuts through their tension.
"You two need to stop this and apologize to each other."
I try to listen for more, but suddenly the door swings open.
It's Dan.
My chest tightens. I avoid his gaze, but I can feel the weight of it pressing down on me. He's about to say something when Dom steps out behind him.
"Helen," Dom says gently.
I lift my eyes to meet his.
"Thought you left," he continues.
"No, I wanted to thank you for standing up for me in there," I say nervously.
Dom runs a hand through his hair.
"You deserve it. You deserve someone standing up for you against him. I know what Dan's like."
He stops himself, catching his words before saying too much.
I shift awkwardly.
"Are you going to class now?" I ask, changing the subject.
"Yeah." He smiles.
We begin walking together.
"Thanks for the other day too. And... I never meant to blow up on you. I—" I stammer.
Dom stops, turning to face me. "Helen, I want to be there for you. But I can't, if you keep pushing me away."
I lift my head, my breath catching. His words shake something deep inside me. My vision blurs slightly with unshed tears.
"You don't have to accept it now," he continues. "But think about it. Please."
A tear slips down my cheek. I laugh nervously, reaching up to wipe it away—
But Dom's hand beats me to it. His fingers brush my skin, wiping the tear gently. A sudden spark jolts through me. I should pull away—but I don't.
Before I can process the moment, Selena bursts in between us, wrapping her arms around our shoulders.
"So, does this mean my two favorite people are back together?" she squeals excitedly.
Dom chuckles.
I scrunch my nose. "When did he become your favorite duo?"
"Just now. But you know I'd never betray you," she says playfully.
Dom smirks. "Glad to be included."
Selena grins. "So, we should go on a date—all of us!"
I hesitate,
feeling Dan's angry words echo in my head. But Dom's warm gaze pulls me back.
"I'd love to," I whisper.
Selena links arms with us, tugging us into the classroom with her usual bubbly energy like she's trying to drag the weight off our shoulders.
The corners of my mouth lift before I can stop them. And just for a fleeting second, I let myself believe,
maybe things will actually be okay.
The thought barely settles before a question bursts out of me, unfiltered.
"Why didn't we know Mrs. Darwin is your aunt?" I blurt, my words slicing through the moment.
I'm done. Done with the family secrets. Done with the guessing games.
Selena stiffens mid-step, then spins to face Dom, her brows furrowed. She turns to me, eyes wide.
We both look at Dom now, who's suddenly a statue, still and silent like he's running calculations in his head,
"You know... it's nothing important," he says with a shrug that tries—and fails—to be casual.
"No, this can't be nothing, Dom," Selena says firmly, shaking her head. "We didn't even know Dan was your brother until a week ago."
Dom lets out a slow, heavy sigh—the kind that says he's about to open a door he'd rather keep shut.
"Okay... just don't tell anyone this came from me," he mutters.
I narrow my eyes. "Don't tell me this is what I think it is," I snap, voice sharp with suspicion.
Selena senses me bristling and hooks an arm around my shoulder, grounding me as I prepare to hear whatever truth Dom is hiding this time.
He looks at me—no,
through me—and I can already see it in his eyes, we are thinking the same thing.
"Oh no," I whisper, my stomach tightening.
Dom glances around like the walls might have ears, then lowers his voice.
"My dad and Dan's dad inherited this school from my grandfather. Their dad."
Dead silence.
Selena gasps, a full-on what-the-hell gasp. "What?!"
I say nothing, but my eyes are wide, disbelieving. "Like, what else are y'all hiding? Are you kidding?"
Dom chuckles softly, almost sheepishly. "I promise you, just this."
Selena raises a brow. "We don't believe it. Or wait—what's next? Is Mrs. Edwina also related to you guys?"
Dom grins, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Maybe..."
I and Selena turn to each other at once, exchanging a you've-got-to-be-kidding-me look.
Dom bursts into full laughter then, the tension breaking like a snapped rubber band. His brown eyes shine with amusement,
"I got you guys," he says between laughs. "Seriously though, Mrs. Edwina's just an employee."
Selena smacks his chest playfully, rolling her eyes as she laughs too, though I can still feel the heat of shock simmering under my skin.
Secrets. They never stop with Dom.