Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 80 (Hande's POV) The cool evening breeze brushed against my skin as I followed Eddie down the narrow, dimly lit path that led to the center's maintenance yard. It was quiet here, a little too quiet, but that was what we needed. Eddie had insisted it was the safest spot to avoid prying eyes.

The area was surrounded by tall wire fences overgrown with creeping vines. Old benches and rusty equipment were scattered across the lot, forgotten and untouched for who knows how long. The faint glow of the center's floodlights in the distance gave the place an eerie, golden hue. Eddie had dragged a couple of crates together to make a table, and he'd even managed to scavenge a blanket for us to sit on.

"Not bad for a last-minute setup, huh?" Eddie grinned as he spread his arms wide like he was presenting sgrand masterpiece.

I raised an eyebrow, trying to hide my amusement. "You call this a date? I feel like I'm about to get interrogated in sdystopian movie." Eddie clutched his chest tically. "Ouch, Hande. That cuts deep. You wound me." I couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, fine. It's... charming." "Charming?" He scoffed, plopped down on the blanket and patted the spot beside him. "I'll take it. Con, before someone spots us and ruins the vibe." I hesitated for a moment and glanced around. The place was secluded enough, but the thought of being caught still madenervous. But Eddie's easygoing smile was contagious, and I found myself sitting down beside him. "So, what's on the menu tonight?" I teased, gesturing to the empty crates.

Eddie tically pulled out two slightly crushed granola bars from his pocket. "Only the finest cuisine for my lady." I laughed again and shook my head. "You're ridiculous." "But you like it," he said whilst wiggling his eyebrows. Maybe I did.

We sat there for a while, nibbling on granola bars and talking about nothing and everything. Eddie had this way of making the world feel lighter, even in a place as suffocating as the center. He toldabout his childhood, about the the and his cousin had accidentally set a field on fire trying to make a homemade rocket. I told him about my brother, about how he used to sneakout of the house to go stargazing on the roof. "Do you think we'll ever get out of here?" I asked softly, my gaze fixed on the faint stars overhead.

Eddie was quiet for a moment. Then he reached out and took my hand. "Yeah, we will. And when we do, I'm taking you to the best stargazing spot in the world. No rusty fences, no floodlights. Just you, me, and the sky." I looked at him, and my heart did a little flip. "You promise?" "Cross my heart," he said, grinning. "But until then, you're stuck withhere." I smiled and leaned into him. "I guess I could do worse." Eddie chuckled and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "You could do a lot worse. But hey, I'm pretty great, aren't I?" I rolled my eyes, but the warmth in his voice madesmile. "Don't push your luck." "Too late," he said and leaned in closer. His face was inches from mine, and for once, he wasn't joking. The playful glint in his eyes softened into something deeper, something real.

I didn't pull away.

When he kissed me, it was soft and gentle, like he was afraid I'd break if he pressed too hard. And for the first tin a long time, I felt... safe.

When we finally pulled apart, he grinned. His goofy charm returned in full force. "See? Pretty great, huh?" I laughed and rested my forehead against his. "Don't let it go to your head." We spent the rest of the evening talking and laughing, wrapped up in each other. For a little while, it felt like the world outside didn't exist.

000 (Thomas's POV) I watched Angel as she leaned against the tree. Her face was lit up by the faint glow of the moonlight. We'd found a quiet spot near the edge of the center's grounds, away from the noise and chaos. It wasn't much, but it was ours. "You're staring again," she said with a teasing smile tugging at her lips.

I shrugged, not bothering to deny it. "Can you blme?" She rolled her eyes but didn't hide the blush that crept up her cheeks. "You're so unserious sometimes." "And you love it," I said and stepped closer. She didn't move away, and that was enough for me.

The past few weeks had been... surreal. I'd spent so long watching her from a distance, wanting what I thought I couldn't have. And now, here she was. Mine. Or at least, as close to mine as anyone could be in a place like this. We sat down on the grass, and the silence between us slowly beccomfortable. I reached for her hand, and threaded my fingers through hers. She glanced atwith soft but guarded eyes.

"You're quiet tonight," I said as I brushed my thumb over her knuckles. "What's on your mind?" She hesitated. Her gaze drifted toward the horizon. "Just... everything. This place, Hendrix, us." I stiffened at the mention of Hendrix. "You're not having second thoughts, are you?" "No," she said quickly, squeezing my hand. "I just... I don't know. It's a lot."

I nodded, pretending not to notice the flicker of doubt in her eyes. I couldn't had blher. This place had a way of messing with your head, making you question everything. "I get it," I said softly. "But we'll figure it out."

She smiled faintly, but I could see the burden she was carrying. And as much as I wanted to take it away, I as! couldn't. Not when I had my own secrets. (Flashback) The man's voice was cold and sharp. "You know why you're here, Thomas. Don't forget your purpose." I clenched my fists as I stared at the floor. "I know." "Good," he said. "Because if you fail, it's not just you who pays the price."

I shook the memory away and forced a smile as Angel looked at"Hey," T said, tilting her chin up. "We've got this. Okay?" She nodded, and for now, that was enough.