THE SNOW HAD COMPLETELY STOPPED. This meant school opened and Ilaria was in a particularly bitter mood,not only was it ungodly early to be up but her hair wasn't co-operating with her either.

With an agitated click of her tongue, she pinned it back and decided that would have to do. Kai was waiting outside for her since Tate had left for college too, Ilaria couldn't help but feel the absence of her brother. She missed him already but he had been acting awfully weird the past week, she'd began questioning if he was going through, yet another break up.

She shoved the last of her necessities  in her bag and made her way downstairs where she found money and a note from her mother on the kitchen counter.

The drive to school was quiet but comfortable, as things usually were with Kai and as they stepped out, together, for the first time since they'd started investigating - Ilaria felt much more at ease with him next to her.

She linked their hands together and dragged Kai to her locker, he didn't protest, only leaned next to her with a book in hand, a classic ofcourse and he read as he waited for her. After pulling out the books she needed for her first period, which, was physics - her favorite subject and Kai's least favorite she leaned next to her locker too.

"your staring is getting very unhealthy" Kai murmered as he looked up at her, still not closing his book.

"it's not my fault you're pretty, pretty boy" she rolled her eyes "what depressing book is it this time?"

"War And Peace" he replied instantly lighting up and Ilaria knew he was about to start a ramble that would go on until the bell for first period rang.

She never complained, infact, she enjoyed his rambles. And so they stood there, Kai rambling, Ilaria listening - she'd interject to ask questions to show him she was listening and it would make him so excited Ilaria wondered how much cups of coffee he had that morning.

Their conversation was interrupted by the bell and this time Kai linked their hands. They shared, literally, all their classes together. Ilaria already knew this but it was different, in more ways then one.

"you look disgustingly happy" Kai observed as Ilaria plopped her books down on her desk.

"it's physics!" she answered "I love physics"

Kai screwed up his nose and sat down next to her, no one sat next to her anyway so she guessed it would be fine "physics is literally the worst subject"

Ilaria shook her head "that would be math"

Kai frowned "I love math"

"and let me guess, chemistry?" Ilaria said and Kai nodded "and I'm not saying so because they're my top subjects"

"sure you aren't, nerd"

"you're a nerd too"

"yeah but you're a classic reading, study everyday, nerd, nerd"

"you don't study everyday?" Kai's eyes widened "how the hell are we tied then?"

"it's as easy as breathing to me" Ilaria smirked smugly and Kai rolled his eyes.

"are you jealous?" she laughed

"no" Kai muttered "but we'll see who gets valedictorian"

"we already know the answer to that"

"maybe I should study on weekends too"

"then when is there time for me?" Ilaria replied dramatically.

Kai pointed an accusing finger at her "I see what you're doing, you're going to distract me now with your pretty face and then you're gonna get valedictorian and shove it"

"Atleast you get to kiss me" she shrugged.

Kai nodded "well, that is a win"

"see"

They fell silent as their class began filling and their teacher walked in.

♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎

Ilarias heart thrashed frantically in her chest as she quickly slid the USB out of Kai's computer and shut it, putting his computer back in place she quickly shoved the USB in her bag and hoped she wasn't being too jumpy for him to pick up.

Just then Kai appeared with two steaming cups of coffee in hand and Ilaria shook her head "haven't you had like 5 for the day? "

"one can never have enough coffee" Kai replied as he gave her a kiss, he tasted like coffee she noted and then he handed her a cup of her own.

Ilaria sat on the floor, back to his bed and Kai sank down next to her, where Ilaria had her legs pulled up to her chest, Kai stretched his long ones out.

"are you okay?" he asked, sipping on his coffee.

"fine" Ilaria replied instantly, which was a half truth. She wasn't not okay but she wasn't exactly perfectly okay. She guessed once she'd finish looking over the video she'd feel better, more relieved.

"when was the last time you slept?" he asked wearily and Ilaria shook her head "you can't ask that because you don't sleep either"

"but we aren't talking about me right now"

Ilaria didn't reply and they sat drinking their coffee in silence, she broke it eventually because she owed him that much "my dream has more detail now"

Kai frowned"you've still been getting that dream?"

Ilaria nodded, running a finger around the rim of her cup." I'm super young in it and the bear I have in it was my favorite when I was around 10. The guy is definitely mixed... But that's all I can tell about him, I can't figure out his age, I don't know his name."

Kai took her hand and she let that comfort her." I'm going to let it go" she lifted her shoulder "maybe it will go away eventually, I don't know"

"and if it doesn't?"

"I'll have to start taking my medication again" she bit down on her lip "I hate that"

"I know" Kai whispered, Ilaria rested her head on his shoulder "but you're doing just fine" he told her honestly "so what if you have to go back on your med's? That doesn't mean you're weak."

Ilaria remained silent and Kai rested his head on her own too "you're the strongest person I know, Agent"

♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎

"I fucking told you he likes you" Rose squeeled, Ilaria had found herself at her friends house after leaving Kai's. She hadn't seen Rose in what felt like ages and they had alot to talk about.

The girl rolled her green eyes "friends my ass"

"well we aren't exactly dating either" Ilaria shot back with a laugh, they had a barbie movie on and had enough snacks to feed a nation on the table infront of them.

"yes but it's definitely more than friends" Rose replied, biting on a sour gum "and besides, you're totally inlove"

Ilarias cheeks pinked "am not"

Rose shook her head "you can deny it all you want but you are a hundred percent, head over heels, stupid - brain turns to mush around him inlove"

"my brain does not turn to mush around anyone" Ilaria scoffed "what do you take me for?"

"yeah okay, Einstein"

They fell in silence, Rose occasionally singing along to the music from The Diamond Castle, it had been their favorite since forever. Ilaria was grateful Rose decided to take a gap year before going to college, she was attached to her and Rose wasn't just going to some college just outside of town.

She was going to Princeton and who knew when they'd see each other again?

Her friend moved closer to her and laid her head on Ilarias lap "you know, I'm actually going to miss this"

"you say it like we'll never see each other again and besides we have a couple months left" Ilaria said "we'll visit"

"oh right, you're going to be in Quantico."

"might go to Quantico" Ilaria corrected.

"be optimistic" Rose shot back "you gotta let the universe know what you want, no exceptions. That includes your hot 'friend' or whatever"

They fell in silence, Ilaria knew they were both thinking of the same thing. If Kenna had still been with them, she would probably go to some art college, Kenna never had a specific school she wanted to go to. She said she would decide when the time came.

When the movie ended and both girls had sung their lungs out at the end song, they sat eating their snacks and staring at the credits rolling.

"not to ruin the mood or whatever" Rose began "but I want you to know that you didn't fail anyone by giving up the case. It was for your own safety."

"you can thank Kai for that" Ilaria told her "I didn't want to give it up."

"I figured. You have zero self preservation skills."

"why does everyone say that" Ilaria laughed with a shake of her head.

"because it's true, you literally had a serial killer chasing you down and all you could think of is getting a look at his face? Girl, you could've died"

"shut up"

"my point is that you mean the world to so many people and it was unfair of me to make you feel like you had to find whoever has been terrorizing us. It's not your job anyway, it was selfish of me and I'm sorry"

"it wasn't you, you know that. It's just how I am. I have to figure it all out and if I don't I feel useless." Ilaria blew a strand of hair out of her face and moved to hug Rose.

Her friend hugged her back, tightly and rested her chin on Ilarias shoulder. They knew that they'd always feel an aching, gaping hole around them but atleast they had each other.

And no matter what happened from then on out, they'd stick together. Be there for each other. Kenna would have wanted that.

They'd be okay, eventually. Ilaria knew that and she trusted they'd get through all the pain, the suffering - even if in the moment it didn't feel that way.
♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎

Hey Angel's! ❤️

Okay so the next few chapters are pretty much going to be light and sunshine and rainbows, kind of - because alotttt of the book deals with very dark themes and the very last few chapters are going to be heavy aswell so I thought I should give everyone a moment to breathe lmfao 😭

What do you think of this chapter??

Apologies for any errors, correct them if you find any <3

If you enjoyed don't forget to comment and vote 🤍

Thanks for reading!