Bose POV:
It was Saturday, and I just couldn't focus on anything. My thoughts kept drifting back to the day before, replaying everything that happened at Sam's apartment over and over. That statue. My head was a mess, and I didn't want to bother Chapa with it. She was excited for her nightâsomething about scary movies and takeout. I didn't want to ruin that.
Mom had invited me over for dinner. At first, I was dead set on skipping. I wasn't in the mood to sit around a table and make small talk. But then I figured maybe it would be a good time to ask her about my birth dad. I'd never asked much before, mostly because she didn't want to talk about him, and I didn't want to hear about him either. But now, with everything going on, I needed answers.
After a long, pointless day at workâwhere I barely got anything done because my mind was elsewhereâI headed home to grab my things. Chapa was already sprawled out on the couch, scanning through horror movie titles on the big TV.
"I'm thinking something with ghosts tonight," she mused, her eyes flicking up to me with a glimmer of excitement. "Or, ooh, maybe a psychological thriller."
She looked so happy. The way her eyes lit up when she found the perfect movie made me smile, even though my mood was in the gutter.
"You're seriously just gonna sit here all night watching creepy movies?" I teased, grabbing my jacket from the coat rack.
She gave me a playful grin. "You know I don't scream at these things." She tossed a pillow onto the couch beside her and stretched out. "You're missing out on some quality cinema, Bose."
"Quality?" I raised an eyebrow, chuckling as I shrugged on my jacket. "I'll take your word for it."
"Good luck with dinner," she said, waving as I walked toward the door. "Don't let your stepdad lecture you about the stock market again."
I smirked. "Thanks. Enjoy your, uh, 'scary' night."
I left the penthouse feeling a bit lighter, at least knowing Chapa would be having a good time. She deserved it. But as I drove to my mom's house, the weight of the day settled back in. By the time I pulled into her driveway, I felt like a storm was brewing in my chest.
Dinner was already on the table when I walked in. Mom greeted me with a hug, her usual warm smile on her face, while my stepdad gave me a nod from the dining room. Everything felt... normal, too normal. The kind of normal that only made me feel more out of place.
We sat down, and the sound of clinking forks filled the room. My mom tried to make small talk, asking about work, and my stepdad chimed in with some comment about how the stock market had been fluctuating lately. I nodded along, pretending to listen, but my mind was racing. I couldn't stop thinking about Sam, about the statue, about my birth dad. I needed to ask her, but every time I opened my mouth, the words stuck in my throat.
Finally, halfway through dinner, after my stepdad left, I couldn't take it anymore.
"Mom," I said, setting down my fork and looking up at her. "I need to ask you something."
She paused, her fork halfway to her mouth, her eyes immediately wary. "What is it, Bose?"
I hesitated for a moment before I forced the words out. "I want to know more about my birth dad."
Her face tightened, and she put her fork down, too, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Bose, we've been over this before. I don'tâ"
"I know you don't like talking about him," I interrupted, trying to keep my voice steady, but the frustration was creeping in. "But I need to know something. Where did he go after he left us? You have to know something."
"I don't know," she said firmly, her tone growing colder. "And even if I did, it wouldn't help anything, Bose."
"But it does help!" I snapped, my voice rising despite my best efforts. "I just need to know where he went. Or give me a name, something, anything."
"Bose, you know I don't want to talk about him," she said, her voice strained, as if this conversation was physically painful for her. "I don't know where he went, and even if I did, I wouldn'tâ"
"Then give me his name!" I pleaded, leaning forward in my seat. "At least give me that. I deserve to know who he is."
For a moment, her face softened, and I thought she might actually tell me something. But then she shook her head, her eyes hardening again. "No. I won't."
That was it. I pushed my chair back and stood up abruptly, anger and frustration boiling over. "Fine," I muttered, turning away from the table.
"Bose, wait!" my mom called after me, but I was already halfway to the door.
Before I could reach it, my stepdad stepped in and blocked my path. "Don't walk out on your mother like that," he said, his hand gripping my shoulder.
I jerked away from his touch. "Get your hand off me."
"You need to show her some respect," he said, his voice rising, his face growing red. "I've been here for you, not him. Your real father walked out, Bose. He's a coward, and the way you're acting right now, you're not much better than him."
His words hit me like a punch to the gut. I clenched my fists, trying to keep my cool, but I couldn't stop myself. "You don't know anything," I spat, my voice shaking. "You're not my real dad, so don't act like you have any right to say that."
His face twisted with anger. "I may not be your real father, but I'm the one who raised you. He abandoned you, Bose. He's nothing, and you're better off without him."
I was about to snap back when my mom stepped between us, her voice sharp. "That's enough," she said, looking between us. "Stop it, both of you."
But my stepdad wasn't done. "He's lucky I was around to pick up the pieces," he muttered. "And honestly, maybe you're more like him than you think. Your father shouldn't even be alive. And sometimes I think neither should you."
I could feel my chest tightening, my throat closing up. I couldn't breathe. Without another word, I turned and walked out, slamming the door behind me.
I got into my car and just drove. I didn't even know where I was going. I ended up at Swellview Park, the same place I used to go when I needed to clear my head. I parked the car and sat there for hours, staring at the trees, the empty playground, the night sky. I didn't cry. I didn't even let myself feel it. I just sat there, numb.
Around 10 p.m., my phone buzzed. It was Chapa.
"Where are you?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern. "You said you'd be home by now."
"I lost track of time," I mumbled, running a hand through my hair.
"Bose, where are you?" she asked again, this time with more urgency.
"Swellview Park," I admitted.
"What are you doing there?" she sounded confused, and I could hear the worry creeping into her voice.
"I'll be home soon," I said, trying to brush it off.
"Boseâ"
But I hung up before she could finish.
I drove back to the penthouse in silence, my mind a blur. When I finally arrived, Chapa opened the door, her expression a mix of anger and concern.
"Where the hell have you been?" she asked, crossing her arms. "You said you'd be home hours ago."
But then she looked at me, really looked at me, and her face softened. She could tell something was wrong. I stepped inside, not saying a word, and before I could stop myself, I started to cry.
Chapa's eyes widened, and she immediately wrapped her arms around me. "Shh, don't cry," she whispered, trying to comfort me, her hand running soothingly over my back.
I couldn't stop the tears. I tried to apologize, my words stumbling out between sobs, but she just shushed me softly. "You don't have to apologize," she said, pulling away slightly to look up at me. She wiped the tears from my cheeks, her touch gentle. "You don't have to say anything."
I nodded, still sniffling as she led me toward the couch. "Come here," she said softly, tugging me down beside her.
I sat down, feeling drained, my head falling onto her shoulder as I tried to collect myself. She didn't ask questions, didn't push me to talk. She just sat there with me, holding me close as the weight of the night finally hit me.
"I'm sorry," I whispered again, my voice barely audible.
She shook her head, brushing my hair back from my forehead. "Don't be sorry. It's okay."
Chapa sat beside me, her eyes steady but filled with concern. I hadn't said much since I got home, and I knew she was waiting for me to open up.
"Bose," she began gently, "Wanna talk about it?"
I let out a heavy sigh, rubbing my temples. "It's just... everything. It's not just about the statue. It's about my birth dad and what happened at my mom's tonight. I thought asking her might help, but it just made things worse."
Chapa stayed quiet, waiting for me to continue.
"I tried to ask her about my birth dad," I explained. "I've never really asked much before, but after seeing that statue at Sam's, I needed answers. I thought she could at least tell me where he went or give me a name. But she didn't want to talk about it. She just shut me down like always."
Chapa frowned, her expression softening. "That's gotta be frustrating."
"It was," I said, shaking my head. "And when I pressed her, my stepdad stepped in. Things got... bad. He said some stuff that really hurt. He told me not to bother my mom about it, that I should just leave it alone. But then he started talking about my birth dad, saying he was a horrible person and that I'm no better than him. That I'm... I'm just like him."
Chapa's eyes widened in disbelief. "He said that?"
I nodded, my voice faltering. "Yeah... He even said I shouldn't be alive."
"He even said that to you?" she asked, her voice rising slightly. I nodded, feeling a mix of exhaustion and frustration wash over me again. I hadn't expected her to get so worked up, but then again, this was Chapa.
She clenched her fists. "I swear, Bose... next time I see him, I'm gonna kill him."
I glanced at her, surprised by how serious she sounded. "Chapaâ"
"No, seriously! What kind of person says that to you?" She stood up, pacing in front of me now, her eyes burning with fury. "Who does he think he is, talking to you like that? You're his stepson. You're sort of family, and he treats you like that? Nah. He doesn't get to say stuff like that and just walk away."
I sighed, leaning forward with my elbows on my knees. "I appreciate it, Chapa, but he's not worth it. He's just... not."
"Not worth it? Bose, he made you feel like shit. He's definitely worth me knocking his teeth in." She crossed her arms, still pacing back and forth.
I couldn't help but smile, despite everything. That was Chapaâfierce and protective when it came to the people she cared about. "I don't need you going to jail for my problems."
"Who said anything about jail?" she shot back, a wicked grin creeping onto her face. "I'm fast. In and out before he knows what hit him."
"Chapa," I chuckled, shaking my head. "I mean it. Let it go."
She finally stopped pacing and sat back down beside me, still fuming but calming down a little. "Fine. But if he ever talks to you like that again, I'm not holding back."
I looked over at her, feeling a warmth in my chest that hadn't been there before. Even with all the mess I was dealing with, Chapa always found a way to make me feel better, even if it was in her creepy way. "Thanks," I said softly. "For having my back. Even when I don't ask for it."
"Always," she replied, her voice firm but kind. "But seriously, Bose, you don't deserve any of that. Don't let him make you feel like you're not good enough."
I nodded, taking a deep breath. "I'll try."
We sat in silence for a moment before Chapa broke it, her tone a little lighter. "You wanna know what happened while you were gone?"
I turned my head toward her, the tension easing slightly as I raised an eyebrow. "What?"
She grinned, leaning in conspiratorially. "I spent the whole night watching horror movies on your giant TV. I didn't scream once, by the way. You missed out on a classic marathon."
I couldn't help but chuckle, despite everything. "I don't know how you watch that stuff. Those movies are insane, they even make you wanna kill my stepfather."
She shrugged, her grin widening. "I wanted to kill him ages ago. But I find the movies fascinating. You know I love all the jump scares and creepy twists."
"I swear you're braver than I'll ever be," I joked, feeling a little lighter.
"Hey, don't worry," she said, nudging me gently. "Next time, you can join me. I'll protect you from all the ghosts and serial killers."
I laughed softly, the tension in my chest easing just a bit more. It felt good to talk, even if everything still felt messy.
Miles POV:
It was Sunday, and today was the day Blaise would finally go to her Billie Eilish concert. That meant Bose and I were on babysitting duty for her little sisters. Bose seemed way more excited about it than I was, which didn't surprise me. It's not that I hate kids or anythingâI just wasn't looking forward to spending the entire day entertaining them. But I knew Blaise would have an amazing time at the concert, and that made it worth it.
We'd decided to bring Blaise's sisters over to Bose's penthouse. It was the obvious choiceâhis place is huge, full of all kinds of cool stuff to keep them busy, and it definitely beats the tiny, boring apartment I use as a cover.
Around 5pm, I hopped in my car and drove over to Blaise's house. Normally, I teleport everywhere, but I couldn't exactly pull that off when I had to take her sisters with me. Keeping my powers a secret was the priority, after all.
When I pulled up to Blaise's place, one of her sisters opened the door. Jennie, I think. She's 14, and I remember Blaise mentioning that she didn't really need a babysitter. But she was coming anywayâmostly because she was obsessed with Bose and wouldn't miss a chance to hang out with him.
Jennie's face lit up when she opened the door, but her excitement died down pretty quickly when she saw it was me. "Oh, it's you," she said, her tone somewhere between disappointment and indifference. I couldn't help but chuckleâguess I wasn't the one she was hoping to see.
I laughed under my breath. "Nice to see you too, Jennie."
She didn't respond, just turned her head and yelled up the stairs. "Blaise! Miles is here!"
A moment later, Blaise came running down the stairs. She was dressed in baggy jeans with some kind of cute accessories dangling from them, and a basketball jersey that showed off her shoulders and arms. She had a ton of jewelry on, as always, and it somehow all worked perfectly. I swear, Blaise is the most stylish person I know. She can throw anything on and make it look incredible.
As she reached the bottom, Jennie gave her a knowing smirk. "Bet your room's a mess from picking out an outfit, huh?"
Blaise let out a laugh, shaking her head. "Not wrong," she admitted, rolling her eyes. "I've been up there forever trying to decide."
"You look great," I said, glancing at her outfit. "Totally worth the effort."
She shot me a grateful smile. "Thanks. You know, it's Billieâgotta bring my A-game."
Jennie rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Billie's gonna notice you from the stage, sure."
Blaise stuck her tongue out at Jennie before turning back to me. "Honestly though, I'm running late because of all this. Picking an outfit was way harder than I thought."
I grinned. "You? Overthinking an outfit? Never."
She gave me a playful shove. "Shut up. You don't get it."
"You're right, I don't," I laughed. "But you look awesome, so I'd say you nailed it."
Jennie piped in again, "She was stressing, like, hardcore. It was annoying."
Blaise rolled her eyes but laughed. "Guilty."
Just then, the other three sisters came bounding down the stairs, all dressed up like they were about to meet their idol. Clearly, they were trying to impress Bose. They could barely contain their excitement.
Blaise raised an eyebrow at their outfits. "Wow. You guys really went all out. I'm the one going to the concert, you know."
Sadie, the youngest, blushed and shuffled her feet. "We just...wanted to look nice. In case we see anyone...important."
Blaise smirked knowingly and shook her head. "Uh-huh. Sure."
"Alright, let's get moving," I said, clapping my hands together. "Everyone in the car."
The girls scrambled outside, and Blaise and I were left alone for a brief moment. She sighed, looking slightly frazzled.
"Thanks again for doing this, Miles," she said, her eyes softening. "I know watching my sisters isn't exactly the most exciting way to spend your Sunday."
"Don't worry about it," I shrugged. "They're good kids. Plus, it's your birthday gift and you have to babysit them all day. You deserve to have fun."
She smiled, looking genuinely touched. "Thanks."
I waved her off. "Just make sure you scream loud enough for both of us when you hear Billie."
Blaise laughed. "Oh, trust me. I will."
As we shared one last look, I felt something stirâsomething I hadn't really acknowledged before. But before I could dwell on it, her sisters were shouting from the car, eager to get to Bose's place.
"Alright, go have fun," I said, giving her a little salute.
"I will! See you later, Miles," she said before disappearing back inside.
I got into the car, where Jennie, Lena, Sadie and Remi were practically bouncing with excitement.
"Is Bose really as cool as Blaise says?" Sadie asked, her eyes wide.
I smiled, knowing Bose's penthouse would blow them away. "Yeah, he's pretty cool. You'll see."
Bose POV:
Last night, I slept better than I expected after everything that went down at my mom's house. I didn't think I'd be able to relax, but Chapa really made me feel at ease. The way she just knew how to comfort me without forcing me to talk about itâit helped.
Now, it was Sunday, and Chapa had just come back from spending time with Sage and her parents. She flopped onto my couch, looking worn out but relaxed. I glanced over at her.
"Hey, you know Blaise's sisters are coming, right?" I reminded her casually.
Chapa shot me a surprised look. "Here?!" she asked, sitting up straighter.
I nodded, trying not to laugh at the mix of annoyance and surprise on her face. "Yep, here."
She groaned, rubbing her temples. "Four obsessive sisters swooning over my boyfriend? Sounds like a dream," she said sarcastically. I couldn't help but grin at that.
"Well, you could always hang with your friends," I suggested, trying to offer a way out for her. Chapa seemed to consider it, then grabbed her phone to text Mika.
Before she could send the message, though, the doorbell rang. I glanced at her and smiled as she let out a small sigh, muttering something under her breath.
"Showtime," I said with a smirk, standing up to get the door. When I opened it, there they were, all decked out like they'd just walked through a makeup explosion. I raised an eyebrow but smiled. They all looked up at me, eyes wide, too stunned to say much.
"They weren't kidding..." I heard one of them whisper. "He really is hot."
I couldn't help but chuckle. "Hey, girls," I greeted, stepping aside to let them in. They blinked up at me like I was some celebrity, which technically I am, but stillâit was cute how starstruck they were.
Before anything else, they insisted on pictures and autographs. Apparently, they didn't get to at Blaise's birthday party, and this was their chance. So, we spent the next few minutes snapping pictures and signing stuff. Jennie even asked for a selfie, trying to look as cool as possible while posing next to me. It was kinda funny seeing how serious they were about it.
After the mini-photo session, I asked their names, just to make sure I got them all right. "Okay, so we've got...Remi, Lena, Sadie, and Jennie, right?" I confirmed, pointing to each of them.
Lena, the youngest and most outspoken one, pointed toward the couch where Chapa was sitting, casually observing the chaos. "Who's that?" she asked, looking curious.
Before I could answer, Remi, the 12-year old, leaned in to whisper loudly, "That's his girlfriend from the video!"
At that, all four of them rushed over to Chapa, surrounding her. I watched as she tried to act cool, but I could tell she was getting a little overwhelmed.
"Hi, girls," Chapa greeted them, managing a smile as they bombarded her with questions.
"What's it like dating Bose?" Lena asked eagerly.
"How does he smell?" Sadie added, leaning in closer to get a better look at Chapa, like she had the inside scoop.
Chapa shot me a helpless look, though there was a glint of amusement in her eyes. "Uh...he smells like, you know, a normal person?" she replied, trying not to laugh.
I leaned against the doorframe, watching the chaos unfold. Miles, meanwhile, was standing by the door, looking like he'd already had enough of the madness. He glanced at me, eyebrows raised, clearly not as amused by the situation.
I shrugged. "Welcome to babysitting Blaise's sisters," I mouthed at him. He rolled his eyes but smiled, clearly counting the minutes until this was over.
As the girls continued to ask Chapa all sorts of questionsâeverything from how long we've been dating to whether I snore at nightâChapa handled it like a pro, even though I could tell she wasn't thrilled about being the center of attention.
"Can you believe these kids?" I whispered to Miles as we watched.
"Yeah, I'm ready to tap out already," he muttered back, shaking his head with a small grin.
Chapa finally looked over at me with a pleading expression. "A little help here?" she mouthed.
I chuckled and stepped in.
"Alright, alright, let's give Chapa a little space. I'm sure we've got plenty of time for all your questions later," I said, gently nudging the girls away from her.
Chapa mouthed "thank you" to me, finally able to breathe again.
Now that the girls were somewhat calmer, I led them over to the pool table. "So, who's ready to play some games?" I asked, instantly getting their attention back on something other than Chapa and me.
They immediately perked up, rushing over to check out the games and pool table.
Miles caught my eye, giving me a relieved nod. "Thank God. Let's hope that keeps them occupied for a while."
I laughed. "Yeah, we'll see how long it lasts."