*Mia's P.O.V *

When Charlie lets me into his house, my first reaction is: why so many books?

Even the centre table is balancing towers of pages. Then Charlie points out the ladder leading upstairs.

It feels more like an afterthought - as if the architect realised too late that there is enough space to make a top floor.

Charlie mutters something and enters a corridor. I wait until noises erupt. When I check, however, he tugs me away, saying, "Hey, let's go outside."

But when we get there and see cars arriving, we retreat. "They are relatives." He sits me on a couch. "Can you stay here for a bit?"

I nod. He heads out. The house goes quiet, followed by more yells, especially from a feminine voice.

As the noise quells, more comes from outside. I look out a window and see Charlie among mostly older people, laughing. One woman gives him bags while the others move to the canopy.
I help.

"Thank you," he puffs, passing the back. I follow him just as someone runs past us in barely any clothing.

"What the -"

"Where are you going?!" The same feminine voice booms inside.

Charlie informs me it is his sister talking.
We pack the bags in the kitchen, and then he gets me a seat under the canopy. When he heads back inside, eyes land on me.

Two of his Scottish-sounding aunties smile while their little children run around. When it dawns on me that Harry's niece is chasing them, I rush to the cars parked. His Lamborghini shines.

"Harry!" I wave as he climbs out. He doubles back. "Woah, hold on. Who are you?"

"Dude, it's me."

"You who?" Harry circles me. I flip him off, and he gasps, "Mama Mia!"

"Stop being dramatic."

"No. How is the college preparation?"

I sway my hand in a wishy-washy way. "How did you prepare?"

"Well, I messed around, so." He smirks. "You might not like my advice."

"Fucked-your co-singer-at-Washington type of messing around?"

"That wasn't messing around." His smirk plummets. There's a pause.

"And I fucked up. I get it," he mumbles. "Even Dalia and Kat will tell you I was remorseful - I-It was even my first time. I promise, Mia, I didn't want to hurt your friend."

I scowl at that. A part of me understands that Harry was going through a lot with Autumn still missing.

I also recall how Noah tried to remain calm throughout our call. Kean, however, cried for me to beg him for her forgiveness.

"They might get back together. He comes around during our rehearsals. He's pretty cool." Harry muses.

I rub my temples. "Duh."

Silence settles between us for a while. Then he says, "Charlie knows."

"Really?"

"Ya," Harry chuckles, " but you know the way he says things; he was like, 'The good news is studies have shown that our hormones -'"

"Dude!" I crack up. This boy just made a perfect mimicry of Charlie - voice, gestures and all.

Coming to think of it, he must know everything about Charlie. "Harry, how's his sister like?"

"Hm!"

"What?"

"She is coming." Harry motions to my left. As I tilt, she stomps straight for us. Sil wags her finger in Harry's face before taking something from the car. As she babbles, I stand there in awe. It's after she leaves that I utter, "Dude. Where are their genes coming from?"

"When you see her, you'll know."

*

Harry wasn't kidding.

The moment Charlie's mother arrives, my jaw drops.

She greets the other relatives, and I feel some tension in their interactions, but this woman - this woman walks like she doesn't have their time of the day.

"Sydney!?" I hear her son before he runs to her. As Charlie enwraps her tightly, she blinks blankly.

They remain that way until she throws his hand over her shoulder. Everyone starts to look at them.

I stand. "What's happening?"

"I'll check. Watch over my stuff." Harry rises, too.

*

Hours later, I find out that Charlie was so happy to see his mom he was crying.

Some family men complain that she has made him a softie, like the way she made his sister a miscreant-those jerks.

I wait at the door as Sydney, Silver, and Harry sit around him.

Charlie is asleep. His hand twists a little. Harry notices, but he waits until -

"AGH-"

"Woah, Charlie." He sits up. Sydney frowns, too, only for another yelp to drown out party music.

"AAGH- IGOR, PLEASE!"

"What?! Is he having a nightmare?" Sydney's eyes widen at her daughter. "Tell him you are here then!"

"I doubt it's about me, mom -"

"Don't call me that. Wake your brother up -"

"I've heard that name before," Harry interrupts them, quivering. My colour drains too.

*

So, after the party, back in my hotel room, I hyperventilate. I need air. I need confirmation. But I need air more and someone to talk to. Cynthia picks up while my uncle's video call plays in my mind.

*

*Charlie's POV *

"Is it still our birthday?"

"Yes." Sil lifts my pillow over her lap. Laying my head again, I stare at the ceiling.

"What are you looking at?" She frowns.

"It will fall."

"Bruv, stop talking like that."

When my slumber evaporates, she disappears. I'm frightened for a moment, especially because the windows open.

Sydney is passed out on the couch. I search for my phone to reach Harry. After he assures me that he's with Sil, I call Mia.

"Oh, hi, I'm in my hotel room. Talk later," is her voicemail.

I replay to it till my birthday ends. In the morning, I don't bother waking Sydney.

After making her breakfast and wrapping my gift for Sil - a PlayStation- I go to mass.

I am returning from the church when Tim contacts me.

"Hey, so the Japan thing. Are you in?"

"Pardon me?"

"You know that nosy magazine woman," Tim scoffs, "she asked if you'll go for the casting."

"Please, I have a test -"

"That's what I told her."

"Well, I don't even know much about it," I muse, "besides, you said it starts summertime?"

"No, I said I'll be famous by then. If the show was so soon, do you think I'd need to babysit you?"

"... No."

He sighs. "Just ask if you can join lectures online. I'll send you some info..." Then, my notification rings.

Reading through some posts and documents, I realise it requires a lot. They are paying for everything except accommodation. Supermodels have already taken the opening and closing walks.

I'm not even a well-experienced model, let alone super. My runway walk is ok, but who wants it?

Shutting the phone, I return to my books.

*

On Monday, Mia surprises me with her presence.

"Pigtails?" She giggles at my hair. I mutter my frustration with rubber bands as she sparks her ride. "Have you been hearing from Leo?"

I tense. "No."

"Do you have nightmares about him?"

"No." You failed him, Charlie.

"Should I get you a therapist?"

"No."

"Leo says happy birthday."

I glare at her. If she realises this, her trained gaze is a good decoy. She focuses on the road and then my head.

"Please, is there a problem?"

"Your hair."

"What ... Please clarify."

So she parks on the side. "You didn't part it well." She motions to my scalp.

I groan, untying it. When I hand her the bands, her brows scrunch. Ducking, I ask her to tie it low kindly. She hesitates.

"Mia?"

"Oh ya -" Her trance subsides. As she stretches the first band, my neck rotates for her. Her breathing quickens.

"Mia, what is it?"

No movement. Nothing.

"Mia-"

She leans forward as if the second one may tear. I wince, and her arm lifts off my shoulder. "Sorry. Done."

Another lengthy silence, soothed by the engine's hum.

Driving faster, she mutters, "I've to go today. But I'll call him again so, what would you want me to tell him?"

"I'm sorry." I put on my earmuffs. I'm sorry he won't be out till after my degree. I'm sorry for not visiting. I'm sorry for everything.

*

Mia has to go home.

She parks on campus. I hop out. Bending over the car window, I say, "Enjoy your prom." I didn't.

"Enjoy your lectures," she chortles, "and I told the guy at your door, you said yes."

"Who? And yes, to what?"

"Tim. Your Prada show."

"I don't have a sh -" I halt in realisation. "Mia! -"

"Goodwiiiilllll, Charlie." She blasts her radio before I can protest.

*

When I return to my room, there sits a whole series of Nancy Drew and a note from her: 'Happy birthday, thief.'

Bless her humour. It's evening, so I study. The next day goes on the same way, then the next. Days go by like this: sleep, nightmare, college, library, photoshoot, study, rest.

I try to stay happy throughout. My family and Harry call often, but at a point, I forget to answer. Mia sends me pictures of her prom in Russia and the US -she went to perform with her band - and I send her a couple of my daily photos. I can't travel as much as her, though, so she probably finds them boring.

I'm alone till summertime.

When Tim comes over, the model's voice overflows daily-talking about our preparations and where we should stay. The cheery repetition of 'our' stuns me into a puzzle.

"Hold on, Tim. Can you speak a bit slower?"

"Sure, champ!"

*

After the casting calls for the Prada show, I write a test.

It's hard. I pretty much chew my hand off and then call Silver afterwards to say, "Ur, I think I just failed accounting."

"You? Oh, please," is her response.

Long story short, I performed below my standard. I need to sit up.

Hence, I spend less time anywhere else besides the library. Tim, however, has been on my neck as if we are the best of friends.

He apologises once, saying they pay for some models' accommodation.

"I'm part of that list, so sorry."

"Why are you apologising? They haven't even picked me for the show -"

"This is why you should be coming to the agency." He huffs.

*

Before Christmas, I am in Osaka with the selected but unaccommodated models. It's supposed to be fun, they say, but really, when so many guys are gathered together, it's annoying.

One guy farts in my face while I am in an online lecture.

*

I should have asked for money for this trip. I argue with myself over this for an entire stroll around the bustling streets.

Many shops, food spots and colourful lights attract me, though it's night. My stomach rumbles, so I buy anything. I don't know the names of their food, but I try the ones that Leo's mom used to make.

Oh, I wish Leo was around.

I thought we could make everything right, and now here I am eating oily stuff while he eats-what do they even serve in prison?

I have no idea. I call Mia since she was able to reach him. I'm still a little pissed that Sydney and practically everyone in my family pushed me away from him - as if he infected me with some disease - yet they can talk to him. Even Harry and Mia get to visit him.

They say he's fine, but I know he could be pretending.

Hey, what if I find Leo's extended family and send them to him? He'll be happy and -

Wait, that doesn't address the real problem.

But it can make him happy. That's what matters.

As for the real problem, I don't feel ready to find Igor.

*

I find a travelling agent and use the details from his mom's obituary to locate the family home. The journey is stressful.

*
*

While I was relearning how to use chopsticks, Leo wasn't eating.

He slipped on the floor beside his fellow cellmate. At that time, no one was supposed to be awake, so he whispered, "Sssshhh!"

"Why, is the guard near?" The inmate looked out the cell gaps.

"Sssh!" He whispered again. His cellmate rolled his eyes and then said, "What else have you got, kid?"

"Bread. Drinks. Noodles. More noodles -"

"Shiiiit ... They bought you all this? How many people visit you?"

"Mm." Just my team, my dance crew, my customers, Harry, Mia, Roon... Everyone but, Charlie.

Leo sulked, pulling out the stuff.

His cellmate feasted on some portions while he tried not to cry.

Occasionally, they watched for guards-the ones around pitied him enough to look away.

For if he entered the cafeteria again, he would be a dead man.

Even his cell wasn't safe. Although his lawyer couldn't provide evidence about the cartel, Leo remembered his camera.

He could call Harry and instruct him to send everything, but to whom?

He didn't trust Joe. Not after she 'misplaced' the files. What kind of a professional would do that? Why did she leave the office open for rogue cops to catch her? Her drunkenness that day was no excuse to him.

"When I get out, she has some serious explaining to do," Leo grunted.

His inmate smirked. "Why wait? Just threaten her to get you out. Bluff. Then find out."

"That won't be nice."

"You think this place is for being nice? This ain't juvie. You can't sell your shit to get by here. How do you still have this mentality?!"

When Leo did not respond, the inmate said, "Either you do that or take my knife."

"No, but thank you."

"Are you scared?"

"Obviously." But I'm not gonna harrass a new mother. Do you want mine's ghost to pull my ears?

"You haven't seen anything yet, boy -"

"Two slices is 100 bucks."

Leo's mind only changed when his mom's parents called, informing him that I am with them.

*
*

Mia's P.O.V*

Everything is fucked. Cynthia found Autumn.

Author's note: My limit is fifty chapters, and I don't want to rush the ending, but, ya, we are almost through. There may be a sequel, depending on y'all.

However, that book will then be in Mia, Charlie and Sil's P.O.Vs, unlike this one, which has a bit of Joe's. Comment if you have an issue with this arrangement for the sequel.