I was here again.

California.

Sitting down in the moistened sand with my legs straightened out in front of me. The cool ocean waves tickled the soles of my feet as they greeted the shoreline, before receding once more.

A soft breeze gently blew wisps of my coily hair into my field of vision as I gazed at the sunset before me.

"Hey, you okay?" Christian nudged my shoulder.

I faintly smiled at him, nodding my head. "Yeah."

He raised an eyebrow, looking at me quizzically. "What are you thinking about?"

"Danny." I spoke softly as my eyes shifted towards the sunset again.

Christian sighed, sinking his left hand into the sand. "I bought a house in Austin."

He grasped my attention and I peered at him with curious eyes. "Really? Why?"

Christian smiled to himself as he looked out towards the ocean. "Danny really liked that city. Interestingly enough that's where he met you."

"You're not gonna miss California?" I asked.

Christian shrugged his shoulders. "I probably will but really all that's left is our childhood home back in San Jose. Being here in San Diego just takes me back to the day Danny died. I need to get away."

I softly chuckled. "That's funny because I'm here to be closer to him. I mean I did say I'd visit him soon."

Christian smiled at me. "You sure you wanna visit his grave tomorrow?"

"This trip wouldn't be complete if I didn't."

...

I listened to the swishing of the grass beneath our feet as Christian and I walked through the cemetery where Danny was laid to rest.

The gentle sunshine and vivid blue sky almost made me forget how much cemeteries creep me out.

We approached his gravestone and I warmly smiled at the sight of flowers already present. I sighed deeply, placing the single white rose I gripped tightly in my hand onto his gravestone.

Christian and I sat down on the manicured lawn and my eyes were glued to his epitaph.

In Loving Memory of

Danny Giovanni Brivio

February 15, 1993 – May 24, 2018

Beloved son, brother, cousin, nephew and friend

Taken too soon, may you rest in peace until we meet again.

I accidentally placed my hand above Christian's, meaning to touch the grass instead. My hand slightly flinched, but seeing he wasn't bothered, I relaxed, letting my hand rest on his own.

"Hey Danny," Christian began. "Nadia decided to visit you today." He turned to look at me, brightly grinning. I shyly smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "She's got something to share with you."

I cleared my throat, sitting up a bit straighter. "Well, um, for starters, I don't think your mother likes me that much anymore."

"That's not true." Christian interjected, shaking his head.

"But, but," I glanced at Christian lightly smiling. "I'm onto something that will hopefully change her mind."

Christian looked at Danny's gravestone again. "That 'something' is, she thinks she knows who killed you. And honestly, I'd like to know too."

I slowly started to feel my anxiety crawl up my spine. I never got the chance to tell Christian the name of Danny's killer. Well, alleged killer I guess. But I'm so sure Maia did it.

I took a deep breath, gazing at my hand that was still gently on top of Christian's. "Christian please don't be mad at me." I quickly mumbled.

He furrowed his eyebrows at me, giving me a closed-mouth smile as I saw the confusion slowly transform his features.

"Wha-what do you mean? Why would I be mad at you?"

"I think Danny's killer may have been one of my best friends." I spewed my words out my mouth, cringing as I awaited his reaction.

"I mean, we aren't friends anymore. I haven't seen her in months." I nervously added.

Christian's shoulders relaxed as he quietly exhaled, gazing at me with a pure softness in his eyes.

Almost instantaneously, I started to calm down.

"Nadia, I wouldn't be mad at you for that." His voice was hushed, somewhat soothing.

"But, I just, I just," I sniffled, feeling the urge to cry. "I just feel like Danny's death is my fault because I-,"

"No, no, hey, come here." He scooted closer to me, wrapping his arm around my shoulder.

"Nadia, Danny's death is not your fault. I don't want you to ever think that, okay?" He reassured, soothingly gliding his thumb over my shoulder.

I silently nodded against his chest, blinking my tears out of my eyes.

"I just want to find her." I breathed out. "I know she killed him."

I felt Christian's chest slowly rise and fall as he deeply inhaled.

"You will. You'll find her."

Christian narrowed his eyes as he focused his stare on Danny's gravestone; revenge coursed through his veins.

"And I'm going to help you hunt her down."

...

I know it's gonna take awhile for this story to pick up on reads (as it is a sequel lol) but if you're here pls feel free to leave a vote and comment! 🤍