[Otabek's POV]

My eyes are glued to the spot where Yuri last stood. I feel like my heart has been ripped out of my chest. Why does being away from him bring me such despair? I guess I was right—I really do need him. I feel empty and lost, like I've been thrown into a cold darkness.

Is this what you call heartbreak?

"Don't mind Yuri," Mila consoles me. "He doesn't like not being in control."

In control...of what?

"I'm...I'm not mad at him." I say dazedly. "It should bother me but it doesn't. Instead I'm just thinking about ways to make things better."

As I say the words, things start to become clearer to me— why Yuri is constantly on my mind, why I want to do things for him all the time, why it feels so lonely without him.

"I'm not sure what Yuri wants from me, and I don't think he knows either." I continue. "But...what I do know is that I want to be close to him."

Mila smiles in approval. "Well looks like you're not as completely clueless as Yuri, I'll give you that. I guess that will do for now."

"I-I need to do something for him." I say with determination. "I'm not sure what's wrong, but I want to make him happy."

Just then, Victor and Yuri walk past chatting away innocently. The sunlight shining through the doors glistens on their matching rings. I eye them as they pass me, my cheeks flushing pink. I have an idea.

.

[Yuri's POV]

I storm into my apartment and slam the door behind me. I scan the room intensely but, as expected, it is empty. I guess Otabek really is staying the night with Mila. Argh, why does that bother me so much?! Geez, as my friend he should have known I wasn't being serious.

I growl in rage and kick over the closest chair to me.

"Please don't trash the house, I just spent a good two hours cleaning that monstrosity in the kitchen."

I look up to see the unimpressed face of my house cleaner.

"Oh, hey Paula." I greet grumpily.

"I sense something is bothering you, so I'm gonna go." Paula says bluntly before walking past me.

"I don't understand it Paula." I start anyway.

She sighs and crosses her arms. "What don't you understand?"

"Why am I so bad at making friends?" I ask as I collapse onto the couch.

"Because your socially incompetent." Paula answers shortly.

"But I did manage to have a friend, and he got taken away." I cover my face with my hands. "It's all stupid Mila's fault. She was imposing on our friendship."

"It sounds to me like you're jealous." Paula says.

"I know I'm jealous!" I snap. "But what do I do about it? I hate feeling so insecure all the time!"

"Don't you get impatient with me!" Paula replies sternly.

"Sorry Paula." I apologise gloomily. "I'm just so confused and frustrated. You're the only person I can come to."

"Yeesh," Paula places her hand on her forehead and shakes her head slowly. "Look kid. You've got to be honest. You're the one that messed up, so you gotta fix it. But before you can start telling other people the truth, you have to be honest with yourself."

I lie there staring at the roof for a few seconds trying to contemplate what she just said. I hear the door click shut and when I sit up to look, Paula is gone. The room falls silent. It's really lonely without Otabek; I almost can't believe I used to live here by myself.

.

[Narrator's POV]

Otabek eyes the front doors of the ice rink nervously.

"Why hasn't Yuri showed up to train?" He questions worriedly.

Victor focuses in on the conversation at the mention of Yuri. "Who, Yurio? He texted me saying he wasn't coming today."

"Why not?" Otabek demands.

"That's what I asked but he left me on read." Victor sulks.

"Where could he be? I was scouring the city all of last night for him." Otabek panics.

"Calm down, let's check his apartment." Mila says.

Yakov walks through the doors only to be shoved aside by a frantic Otabek and a concerned Mila in a rush.

"Where are you going? Training has already started!" He yells, but Otabek and Mila were already outside speeding away on Otabek's motorcycle.

.

Otabek sprints down the hallway and fumbles for the spare key Yuri had given him. He bursts through the door of Yuri's apartment and scans the area. A few moments after, Mila comes puffing along and collapses on the coach.

"Get up, he's not here." Otabek orders. "We must continue our search."

"W-What?" Mila pants. "Where—else –could—could he be?"

Otabek thinks hard before slamming his fist down into his palm and exclaiming, "Where's the nearest waterfall?!"