"You didn't—

Rick stared with disbelief, I just sighed and strolled off.

Rick followed after me.

"Stop running, I'm not going to keep chasing you every single  time Kinsley!" He yelled

"Then don't."

Rick sighed and followed Celine silently as they made their way back home. The walk was filled with a heavy silence, neither of them speaking a word. Rick's mind was preoccupied with the events of the night, especially the sight of the scars on Celine's wrist.

Rick's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions as he walked beside Celine, the pang of sadness hurt within him learning about Celine's self-harm, and a realization hit him - he cared deeply for her. He hadn't expected someone as cheerful as Celine to struggle with such dark thoughts, and the thought made his heart ache.

Rick silently walked alongside Celine, consumed by his thoughts. He couldn't shake off the nagging feeling that somehow, he might have inadvertently contributed to Celine's actions. The idea of being responsible for her pain weighed heavily on his conscience, and he silently vowed that he would never forgive himself if that were the case.

☙❧☙❧

As Celine and Rick entered the house, they found Rina settled downstairs, engrossed in watching Mean Girls on the television. Rina looked up briefly, her eyes flickering over to Celine and Rick before redirecting her focus to the movie on screen.

"Where's mom?" Rick asked

"Upstairs sleeping." Rina replied.

Rick turned to Celine, his voice filled with a mixture of concern and frustration. "We can't keep doing this," he began, his eyes never leaving hers. "It's not good for either of us." His tone was firm, emphasizing the need for clarity and understanding. He paused for a moment before continuing, his gaze intense as he asked, "Just please tell me why you did what you did?"

"What did she do?" Rina paused the tv and turned her attention onto us.

"Rina please."

"Oh your the one talking?— you jump in my conversations all the time." Rina engrossed back onto the tv.

Celine opened the fridge, reaching inside for a bottle of water. She took a moment to take a sip before turning around, finding Rick looking at her intently. "Tell me please," he pleaded, his eyes locking onto hers. The weight of the situation hung in the air as Celine stood there, contemplating how to respond.

"..it's just how I cope with my emotions."

"That's not good for you though."

"I definitely didn't know that." Celine said with sarcasm, walking past the boy.

Rick's grip on Celine's arm was gentle yet firm, preventing her from walking past. He noticed the tears welling up in her eyes, and despite his initial instincts to match her sarcasm, he chose to hold back. He was aware that his usual reaction would only add more tension.

Celine averted her gaze, trying to avoid eye contact as tears threatened to spill from her eyes. Rick's gaze was unyielding, his tone gently but firmly questioning, "How long have you been doing this for?" His words hung in the air, his desire for the truth leaving no room for misinterpretation.

"A while." She stated

"Rick what are y'all talking about?" Rina stood next to her brother.

Rick gently lifted Celine's chin, guiding her gaze to meet his own. His voice was soothing as he spoke, "Don't hide yourself from me; it's okay—you're okay." Rick wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a hug, providing comfort and assurance.

Celine and Rick embraced each other as they sank to their knees on the ground. Celine's tears began to fall, the emotional weight of the situation finally becoming too much to hold back. Rick held her tighter, offering silent comfort and understanding.

Rina, who had been watching from a distance, was touched by the scene unfolding in front of her. She felt a pang of sadness for Celine and decided to join in on the hug, kneeling beside them. Rina placed a gentle hand on Celine's back, adding her own silent support to the embrace.

Celine looked up at Rick, her palm delicately resting against his cheek as she held him gently, the touch tender and affectionate. Their gazes locked together, a silent exchange of emotions passing between them in that moment. She caressed his skin softly, her touch conveying a combination of affection and vulnerability.

Celine's voice was soft and sincere as she apologized, her words filled with remorse. "I'm sorry, I won't do it again," she said, her eyes filled with a mix of guilt and regret. Rick didn't respond. Instead, he looked at her intently, holding onto her hand that rested on his cheek.

Rick gently hushed Celine, his lips lingering on her forehead in a tender kiss. Rina's eyes widened as she watched the unexpected display of intimacy between them. She had never observed this kind of chemistry between Rick and Celine before, and it left her surprised and curious about the depth of their connection.

Rina never saw this side of them, she always thought the two hated eachother. They would always argue, bicker or too stubborn. This surprised her.

A tiny smile tugged at the corners of Rina's lips as she witnessed Rick's tender gesture. Despite her surprise, a feeling of warmth and happiness washed over her. This was a different side of her brother that she had not seen before.

But it filled her heart with a sense of joy. It was clear to her that Rick was not just being protective; he just cared deeply for Celine.

They both did for each other.

☙❧☙❧

𝐓𝐖𝐎 𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐇 𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑..

Rick and Celine made their way down the school hall, a noticeable change in their dynamic. Rick's arm was wrapped around Celine's shoulders, their bodies close as they walked together. People stopped and stared, noticing the obvious shift in their relationship. The rumors and whispered glances confirmed that Rick and Celine were now officially dating.

The hallway was filled with various reactions from different individuals. Some girls who secretly had a crush on Rick wore expressions of disappointment, clearly envious of Celine's newfound relationship with him. Kennedy, among them, felt a pang of jealousy but also understanding after Celine had explained her feelings to her. Celine had harbored feelings for Rick from the beginning, and it was inevitable that they would eventually become a couple.

"We're getting mean glares." Celine whispered to her boyfriend.

"Ignore them." Rick smirked

As Rick and Celine walked through the hallway, his jock friends from the football team noticed them. They approached Rick, grinning as they said, "Hey, bro." Their expressions held a mixture of amusement and teasing as they playfully fist-bumped Rick, acknowledging his newfound relationship status.

Rick's friends looked at him expectantly, asking if he would be joining them for a smoking session. He glanced at Celine, silently seeking her opinion through his gaze. Celine, sensing his silent plea for guidance, rolled her eyes playfully, signaling that it was up to him to make the decision.

"Yeah I'll come."

Rick mouthed the words "I love you" silently, his lips moving almost imperceptibly. Across from him, Celine smiled and mouthed "I love you too" back, her own lips mirroring his words.

Celine turned away from Rick, finding herself facing Kennedy and Kayla. They both had mischievous grins plastered on their faces, their eyes filled with curiosity and amusement. Celine smirked, bracing herself for whatever they had planned.

"Go ahead say it." Celine rolled her eyes jokingly with a laugh.

Kennedy and Kayla smiled mischievously, their eyes widening as they responded in unison, "Say what?" Their playful banter and feigned innocence only added to the suspense.

"That I'm obsessed with him?" Celine rolled her eyes playfully.

"Hey! your words not ours." Kayla replied.

Kayla, who had recently joined Celine's group of friends, was a brunette with tan skin. She was known for her cool demeanor and friendly nature, as well as her impressive intellect. Celine had quickly bonded with Kayla, appreciative of her new friend's diverse qualities.

Kennedy's gaze lingered on Celine, her curiosity evident as she made a suggestive gesture with her fingers. "So, have you guys... you know?" Her question was direct and unabashed, leaving no room for misinterpretation.

"Ew no!"

"It's actually not that bad, it hurts at first but then it feels good." Kennedy stated

"Of course you know." Celine replied

"Excuse me!" Kennedy exclaimed playfully, before shaking her head

"No offense though."

"None taken."

"I appreciate your concern though, but I think I'm not quite ready for that yet—especially since we've only been dating for a couple of weeks now. It feels too soon for me."

"Wow, you're better than me." Kennedy said amazed.

As the bell announcing the start of class rang out, the girls continued their conversation by the lockers. Suddenly, a previously unfamiliar male arrived at the school, dressed in a black jacket and possessing brunette hair. The attention of everyone in the area turned towards him, the unexpected arrival catching their interest.

The newcomer attracted a lot of attention, people clearly noticing his handsome appearance. He was tall but not as tall as Rick, and didn't possess muscles as defined as Rick's, yet there was an air of confidence and charisma about him that drew eyes towards him.

.. And why did he also had some similarities with Rick?

Rick's intense gaze fixated on the newcomer, and he muttered under his breath, "You've got to be kidding me." The sight of the new student, who bore an uncanny resemblance to Rick, clearly irritated the tall quarterback.

Rina, standing nearby with her own group of friends, was watching the interaction unfolding before her. Her eyes widened in surprise. "Fuck no." She let out

The male, with a familiarity, approached Rick and gave his hair a gentle rub. "Hey there, little cousin." he said with a casual tone.