CHAPTER 17: Circles and Lines

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Chapter 17: Circles and Lines

A Missed Call

Lina stared at her phone.

One missed call from Marcus.

Then a text:

> "If you're free, meet me at the old observatory."

She debated it. He wasn't exactly consistent. But he was always honest.

And that mattered more now than she cared to admit.

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The Observatory

Marcus stood leaning against the rail, hood up, city lights glowing below.

When she walked up, he didn't look surprised.

"I used to come here when I wanted to feel small," he said. "It was easier than feeling disappointed."

She folded her arms. "What brought that on?"

"My dad. Calvin. Daisy. The truth."

He looked at her then. "It's all heavy. But I wanted you to know something."

She raised an eyebrow. "Go on."

"I don't say much because words never fixed anything in our house. But you—" he paused. "You make silence feel safe."

Lina's breath caught. "And you make chaos feel... less like destruction. More like a story I want to read."

They didn't kiss. They didn't hug.

But they stayed. Longer than either of them usually let people stay.

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Elsewhere — Siblings

Back on campus, Calvin sent Marcus a text:

> "Thanks for telling me the truth. Whatever happens, I've got your back."

Marcus read it in silence, then typed and deleted three replies before settling on one:

> "Same here. We protect what matters."

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Lina's Voice Note to Daisy

> *"Hey.

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