Pov Leo:

The clang of metal echoed through the private gym as I pressed the barbell up, sweat dripping down my temples. My arms moved on autopilot.... up, down, up but my mind? That was a complete disaster.

The slap.

The look in his eyes.

The words I threw at him out of sheer, pathetic jealousy.

"Fuck," I muttered, letting the weights rest on the rack with a loud clank. I sat up, wiping my face with the towel draped over my shoulder, but it didn't do a thing for the storm inside my head.

Am I becoming like my father?

I hated that thought. That cold, controlling bastard who twisted affection into power plays. And here I was.... Leo Hamilton youngest son of that empire, letting my own jealousy turn into venom that hurt the softest boy I've ever met.

Gun. Sweet, awkward, shy little Gun.

A cinnamon roll in human form. A fluffy poodle who probably apologized to inanimate objects.

And I...

I said he was easy.

Because he thought of Zack. Because Zack made him smile. Because for five seconds, Gun found a friend that wasn't me.

Damn it. I am pathetic.

I ran a hand through my damp hair, frustrated at myself. Of course he should have friends. I wanted that for him. I hated how lonely he looked at college always sitting alone, shoulders drawn in like he was trying to shrink himself.

But the moment he said he'd been thinking of Zack...

Something inside me snapped.

That bratty chaos fairy with glitter in his veins and no filter on his mouth... yeah, I knew Zack wasn't actually a threat. He loved Alex, as unhinged as they both were. But still... the idea of Gun smiling at someone else like he smiles at me? It clawed something ugly to the surface.

Insecurity.

I tossed the towel in frustration and headed to shower, trying to shake the thoughts. After a cold rinse and throwing on some casual jeans and a fitted tee, I wandered to the kitchen, expecting to find Gun waiting at the table like he always did... eyes lighting up the moment I walked in.

But... he was already there. Already eating.

And nearly finished.

My heart dropped.

He always waited for me.

"Gun?" I asked gently, walking in. "Are you okay?"

He glanced up at me with a blank expression and nodded. "Hmm."

Then went back to chewing.

That's it?

That's all I get?

No soft "Phi," no shy smile.

I sat down slowly, watching him like he was an unfamiliar creature. He stood up, took his empty plate, and quietly walked to the sink without even looking at me.

Ouch!

Then picked up his bag from beside the counter.

"I'm leaving," he said, voice crisp. Cold.

I blinked. "What? Wait, Gun, I'll drop you-"

He was already walking toward the door. I jumped up, toast still halfway in my mouth.

"Gmmhmmpfh-" I garbled through the food, grabbing my bag as I jogged after him.

He paused only slightly at the door, not even looking back. "I'll take the bus, Leo. No need to bother."

Leo.

He said Leo.

Not "Phi."

I choked on my toast mid-chew, heart stopping for half a second. I practically sprinted to block the door, still chewing like a madman.

"Mmmmph... Gun! Whmph are ymmm goingg?" I mumbled around the bite.

Gun bit his lip, trying not to laugh, I knew that look. His cheeks puffed a little as he struggled to keep a straight face.

Okay, so maybe he was mad... but not too mad.

I exaggerated my chewing even more, making a big deal of it. "Guuuunnnnn, why won't ymmm talk to meee?"

He gave me a very unimpressed side-eye. But I saw the corners of his lips twitch. He was barely holding in the giggle.

I gulped down the toast with a dramatic chug of water. "Gun. Please. Say what happened. Why are you acting like this."

He rolled his eyes, finally breaking character. "I don't want to talk."

He tried to walk past me, but I caught his wrist... gently.

"You're not going anywhere until you tell me," I said, voice softer now, more serious.

He looked away. "I'm angry at you, okay?"

I nodded. "Fair. But then yell at me. Slap me again. Do something. I can't take the quiet."

He huffed. "I don't like violence."

"I know. So how about, tell me what I can do to make it right."

He stared at me for a beat. Then crossed his arms.

He folded his arms and looked away. "Figure it out. P'Zack said if I actually meant something to you, you'd know."

Of course it was that brat.

Zack had coached him.

I exhaled, stepping closer. "Okay. Fine. You want me to prove it? I will. I'll show you exactly how much you mean to me."

His eyes widened slightly... his ears already going pink just from the word mean.

"I can take the bus," he muttered again.

"Nope." I leaned down and, before he could protest, swept him up into my arms bridal-style.

"PHI!" he gasped, squirming slightly. "W-What are you doing?!"

"Taking my angry little love to college," I said, walking toward the car. "Is that illegal now?"

His face was redder than a cherry popsicle in July.

I grinned, cradling him carefully as I opened the car door and set him down in the passenger seat.

"You're so bad," he muttered as I closed the door and walked around to the driver's side.

"Why? What'd I do?"

"You don't let me be mad at you!"

I chuckled as I started the engine. "Well, how can I let my wifey stay mad at me, huh?"

His entire face froze. "W-Wifey?!"

"Yeah." I smirked. "I'm thinking of getting matching rings next. Maybe with 'Cinnamon Roll' engraved on yours."

He covered his cheeks with both hands, letting out a groan. "Phi, stopppp."

But even as he whined, he was smiling.

And for a second-just a second-I felt like maybe I could fix this.
Maybe I hadn't ruined everything.

Maybe I was learning-slowly, messily-how to love him right.

And I'd do anything to get it right.

__________

Pov Gun:

The moment P'Leo pulled into the college gates, I didn't even wait for the car to fully stop.

I flung the door open like I was escaping a heist gone wrong.

"I'm going, bye-!" I rushed out.

"Bye, wifey!" he called casually through the window, voice loud and clear, and painfully unbothered.

I nearly tripped on my own foot.

Wifey?!

A few students nearby turned to look. One of them definitely heard that. I ducked my head and muttered something that sounded like "Curse you," but came out as a squeaky "Cursh" instead.

I meant bad by the way. Not crush. Even though my heart had no clue what side it was on.

How was I supposed to act cold and distant to someone who just bridal-carried me to car and called me wifey with that dimpled smile?

Ugh. P'Leo was bad. Very bad.

I made it to class, face still burning, and slid into my usual corner seat... far right, second row, back against the wall.

But today... today was not like other days.

Soft whispers started as soon as I sat down.

I tried not to look around.

Tried to pretend I was invisible.

Tried to believe maybe they were talking about something else.

Spoiler: they weren't.

A girl with a ribbon in her hair turned around, her expression somewhere between excited and nosey.

"Gun!" she whispered, leaning closer. "Are you and Leo Hamilton, like... dating?"

I blinked. "W-What?! No! Why-why would you-?"

Before I could finish, a boy leaned over from the next row, phone already in hand.

"Dude, look. That's you and Leo, right?"

He showed me the screen.

It was a selfie.

Our selfie. From a few days ago. I looked like a tomato and P'Leo was laughing, arm thrown casually around my shoulders.

Caption:
"Just my cinnamon roll 🍥🖤"
Posted. On his public Instagram.

I stopped breathing for half a second.

"He posted that this morning," the boy said, eyes wide. "Like, right before college. Bro, you're all over his feed."

"Gun, you didn't tell us you had billionaire taste," another girl whispered, elbowing me gently.

"She's right! Leo Hamilton? He's like the dreamboat bad boy with actual money. Literal couple goals."

"You two look so cute together, honestly."

Someone else added, "God, the Hamiltons are unreal. Hot, rich, dramatic. I heard they own a castle in Scotland."

I curled into myself slowly, like a piece of overcooked pasta. My social anxiety was SCREAMING.

I hated attention. I didn't ask to be a cinnamon roll!

Why, P'Leo? Why would you just throw me into the public eye like that?! Did he think this was romantic?

I was still trying to process it all when someone actually sat next to me.

Sat. Next. To. Me.

The empty bench that usually scared everyone off was now occupied by a girl in a floral hoodie and a scary amount of lip gloss.

"Gun," she said sweetly. "You've met the Hamiltons, right? I mean, obviously."

"I-I guess..."

"They're, like, so hot. Even the middle one. What's his name... Crish, Crish"

"Chris" someone behind us chimed in.

"Right, Chris. Is he really single? I heard he's like the strict, mysterious one."

"Yeah," another boy said, leaning in. "Long hair, broody eyes, walks around like he's plotting the stock market."

I blinked. Was this really happening?

"Do you have his number?" the girl asked.

"W-Why would I-?!"

"Gun, don't be shy! Spill! Is he as hot in person as the news says?"

"Tell us everything! Who's the hottest brother? Is Leo a good kisser?"

I wanted to scream.

The teacher walked in just in time to rescue me.

"Alright, quiet down everyone," she said, placing her laptop on the desk. "Gun, please stay focused. You're presenting next class."

I nodded, trying not to bury my face in my own bag.

As class started, the whispers died down. I breathed a little easier and tried to pay attention. But my heart was still racing.

I glanced to my left. Someone else was sitting near me now. A blond boy with soft waves in his hair and bright blue eyes... very similar to P'Zack's, actually.

He gave me a friendly smile and leaned over.

"So... cinnamon roll, huh?"

I blinked, completely mortified.

He grinned. "Relax. I think it's cute. It's better than my ex calling me 'my little cabbage.'"

I gave an awkward, strangled laugh. "T-Thanks, I guess."

He chuckled. "I'm Theo, by the way. I'm the guy who always sits alone two rows back. Figured we should combine lonely powers."

I smiled, shyly. "Gun."

"Nice to meet you, Gun. Don't worry, you'll get used to the whole 'dating a Hamilton' chaos."

I wasn't sure whether that was comforting or terrifying.

But as class continued, I thought maybe P'Leo's post... might've accidentally made me a little less invisible.

Still, I was definitely pouting later. He was so getting glared at.

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