Tears behind walls

"I mean… your dad," she clarified, her voice softer now, almost hesitant.

The warmth in Xavier's expression dimmed, replaced by a shadow that darkened his features. His jaw tightened, and for a moment, she thought he wouldn't answer.

"I mean," she added quickly, "we could ask Ms. Conley to regroup you. You don't have to do this."

His lips quirked into a faint, wry smile, but he shook his head. "No, Kamsi. I think it's time I face it." He paused, his gaze softening as it locked with hers. "I made a promise to someone that I'd give this a try. And I plan on keeping it."

Her brows furrowed slightly in confusion. "Who—"

But before she could finish, his hand lifted again, his fingers lightly brushing against her cheek. The touch sent a shiver through her, and she closed her eyes instinctively, leaning into the warmth of his palm.

"Let's get back," he said, his voice low and strained, as though he were battling something within himself. If they stayed here any longer, he wasn't sure he'd be able to stop himself from kissing her again—or more.

Kamsi's eyes fluttered open, her cheeks still flushed. "Hmm," she nodded, her voice barely audible as her heart pounded in her chest.

As they began walking back, Xavier surprised her by lacing his fingers through hers. The gesture was simple, yet it sent a rush of warmth through her entire body. Her heart fluttered wildly, and she didn't dare look at him, fearing he might see the effect he had on her.

But Xavier seemed completely unbothered, his expression calm, even content. She, on the other hand, felt as though the world had turned upside down.

Unbeknownst to them, a shadowed figure lingered in the corner, a camera in hand. The lens focused on the pair as they disappeared down the hallway, their joined hands the final image captured.

the mysterious figure capturing their moment.

As Xavier led Kamsi back to her post, their hands remained intertwined, the warmth of his touch sending an unexpected rush through her. The steady rhythm of their steps was interrupted when they reached the backstage area, where tension hung thick in the air. Xavier's grip on her hand tightened, and the unease in his posture was palpable.

Without warning, he stopped, and Kamsi felt her heart skip a beat as his eyes flared with anger. Her own gaze followed his, to where his father, Alastair, stood a few feet away, his gaze flicking between them. Xavier's hand stiffened around hers, but he didn't look away. His father's eyes lingered on their intertwined hands, but Xavier couldn't have cared less. His focus remained on the man before him, the one who had always failed him.

"Xavier, we need to talk," Alastair's voice was firm but tinged with something almost pleading.

Xavier didn't even flinch. His response was a quick, dismissive turn toward Kamsi. "Go ahead," he murmured, offering her a reassuring smile—one that didn't quite reach his eyes. She returned it, her heart swelling with a mix of worry and support.

But as she walked away, trailing just behind him, Kamsi couldn't shake the feeling that she needed to be there for him, should things escalate. She wasn't trying to eavesdrop, but the pull to stay close was undeniable. Xavier's distance had always been an obstacle, yet in this moment, she wasn't willing to let it keep her from offering him the quiet support he so desperately needed, whether he realized it or not.

The weight of what was unfolding between father and son pressed on her chest, but she stayed back, unsure of what Xavier would do, or what his father's next move would be. There was a flicker of tension in the air, and though Kamsi didn't want to intrude, she couldn't help but feel that she should be there for him, just in case.

[Music recommendation: Before you go by Lewis Capaldi ]The backstage area felt like a quiet storm, thick with tension. The sharp, strained air was only broken by the sound of Xavier's heavy breathing, as he stood with his father—Alastair—just a few feet away. Kamsi, who had returned to her post, could feel the weight of the moment hanging in the air. Her heart beat faster, a dull throb in her chest as she observed the exchange.

"Talk?" Xavier's voice was like a whip crack, biting the words off sharply. "I thought you can't be seen associating with a bastard like me. Doesn't that ruin your perfect reputation, Father?"

Alastair's face darkened, his lips pressed together in an effort to keep his composure. He opened his mouth, but it was almost as if the words were choking him. "Xavier, we need to—"

"Don't bother," Xavier cut him off, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I get it. It's not that you're ashamed of me. You just don't want the world to know about your mistake. Yeah, that's pretty much the definition of being ashamed."

Alastair's expression softened, guilt washing over his features. "Xavier, I've tried... I've tried to fix this," he said, his voice cracking slightly.

Xavier scoffed, his eyes narrowed as the words cut through the air like a blade. "Fix it? You've been fixing yourself for years, haven't you? Me? I've been left in the shadows of your perfect life."

Alastair took a hesitant step forward, his voice faltering with regret. "I never meant to hurt you. You have to understand—"

"I understand perfectly," Xavier interrupted, his fists trembling at his sides. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself, but his body betrayed him. His chest tightened, a knot of emotion threatening to break him. His eyes stung, and before he could stop it, a single tear rolled down his cheek.

The sting of it was like a wound opening up, exposing everything he'd tried so hard to hide. His father stood there, frozen, unable to respond. And as that tear fell, it was like everything that had been buried inside Xavier for years came pouring out, unrestrained.

Kamsi, standing silently in the background, felt her breath catch in her throat. She knew she should retreat, should give Xavier the space he seemed to demand. But the sight of him—so raw, so vulnerable—left her torn. She wished she could reach out, wipe away the tear, hold him together. But the walls he'd built were too high, too impenetrable.

Xavier wiped his face quickly, but the tear lingered, a stark reminder of everything he'd been forced to carry on his own. He looked at his father, his gaze cold, unyielding. "I'm done with this," Xavier muttered, his voice barely above a whisper, thick with emotion. "You can pretend all you want, but it doesn't change anything."

Kamsi took a tentative step forward, her voice quiet, but her words filled with a tenderness she hadn't intended to show. "Xavier..."

He snapped his head toward her, his anger reigniting in an instant. "What do you want, Kamsi?" His tone was sharp, a mixture of frustration and something darker, something he didn't fully understand himself.

"You want to fix me too? Join the line." She flinched at his words, but didn't retreat. Her heart ached for him. She could feel the fire in his words, but she also knew there was more to him than this—more to the pain he was trying to bury under layers of bitterness.

"I just..." Kamsi hesitated, her voice trembling with a vulnerability she didn't know she had. "I don't want you to carry this alone."

Xavier's eyes flashed with something dangerous, something sharp and protective. His lips curled into a bitter smile. "You can't fix me, Kamsi." His words cut deeper than he intended, and even he felt the weight of them the moment they left his mouth.

She recoiled, as if his words had physically struck her, but she didn't back down. "Maybe not. But I can be here. I can listen. You don't have to be alone in this fight."

Xavier's eyes narrowed, an unfamiliar discomfort settling in his chest. It was as if, for the first time in a long while, someone was actually seeing him—not the mask, not the arrogance, but the rawness underneath. His throat tightened, and the walls he'd built around his heart felt like they were beginning to crack.

But before he could admit that, he turned sharply, his voice lowering. "Stay out of this, Kamsi. It's not your fight."

Kamsi didn't answer, instead stepping back, her gaze softening. She wasn't going to push him—not yet. But she knew, in that moment, that Xavier's battle was far from over, and somehow, she was going to be there for him. Even if he refused to acknowledge it.

Xavier didn't turn back. His back was to her as he stepped further into the shadows of the backstage, away from the harsh light, away from everything. Kamsi watched him disappear into the darkness, feeling a pang in her chest. She wasn't sure what was happening between them, but something had shifted. And no matter how hard he tried to shut her out, she wasn't going anywhere.