A month unfolded like pages in a forgotten diary as Thalia and Finn retreated into the separate corners of their lives.

Thalia found readjusting to her routine surprisingly smooth. She hasn't once hovered over that text box, in-fact, she's managed to stay far from it.

She came to a sobering realisation - perhaps she didn't need Finn in her life after all.

He was right, they're merely two separate souls who were friends as kids, and somehow stumbled into the arms of fate for a short lived reunion. That's all they were and it was foolish of her to think otherwise.

On a more positive note, Thalias bonds with Pierre and Adeline have flourished.

With Finn no longer occupying her thoughts, she's able to invest more time and energy into the people who truly matter, her genuine friends.

The rich aroma of coffee lingers in the ambience as the three souls sit near the bar, the barista accompanying them.

"I should start my own bakery." Adeline smiles, ocean blue eyes directed at the counter.

"When I have my own cafe, you should have a bakery next door." Pierre adds. "We can be neighbours!"

The benevolent girl gasps and points an agreeing finger at the blonde. "Yes!"

"That's one way to end a friendship." Thalia sips her coffee in a subdued manner, receiving a look from Juniper.

"You okay?"

"Am I ever?" She rolls her eyes.

"No, but you seem less okay than usual."

"It just seems that way cause we're sat with miss rainbow sprinkles and mr. Sunshine."

Juniper lets out a soft chuckle as they turn their gaze towards the two blondes, who are deeply engrossed in fervent discussions about their future bakery and cafe.

Adeline continues to ramble, but Pierres focus drifts away from the conversation as his gaze lands on an eerily reoccurring sight.

His eyebrows furrow as he observes the individual. Their eyes are concealed beneath a hat, and they seem to be hiding behind a laptop strategically positioned on the table.

Are they intentionally concealing themselves?

He's seen this person enter before. They never make a purchase, opting instead to sit with the laptop angled that way, precisely in that seat, always wearing a hat.

"Hey... I feel like I've noticed that person every time Thalia is here." Pierres voice is hushed.

The trio whirls their heads around, their attention fixed on the shrouded figure. Juniper leans in, whispering urgently into Thalias ear.

"Is that who I think it is?"

Thalia crinkles her eyebrows, but as juniper continues staring at her, she catches on and widens her eyes.

"I don't know. Isn't that sort of far fetched?"

"Guys, what are we talking about?" Adeline frowns.

"Confidential information, sorry darling." Juniper shrugs, interlocking their fingers with Adelines.

"Wait..." Adeline speaks again, her voice hinting at a revelation. "Yeah! I've seen that person too. And not just here. They were at the park yesterday."

Thalia and Juniper exchange glances. "It can't be." She shakes her head.

"Who else can it be?"

The concealed figure remains still, as if they're eavesdropping on the conversation at this very moment. Which, frankly, wouldn't bode well for anyone.

"You have a stalker, Thalia." Pierre covers his mouth. "This is so exciting!"

Thalia shoots him a glare.

"Sorry."

While the technicians install surveillance cameras in and around Thalias home, the four anxious figures sit in her bedroom.

Juniper is lying on the bed, fixated on the ceiling with their legs propped up on the wall. Thalia sits upright beside them, facing the opposite direction.

She fiddles with her hands as she delves into the story for the two inquisitive blondes.

Pierre sits on the bed with a resolute demeanor, while Adeline perches on the floor, arms resting on the edge of the bed.

Once Thalia reaches the end of her narration, Pierre speaks. "Wait... so you had feelings for Finn?"

The brunette throws her arms up with a scoff. "Camille is insane! Why does everyone choose to focus on that part?"

"So you think it's her that's following you everywhere?" Adeline tilts her head in question.

"Maybe."

"It is." Juniper adds.

Adeline furrows her eyebrows. "But why would she do that? You and Finn haven't spoken to each other in a month, it's not like you're a threat to their relationship."

"Well, hopefully these cameras will provide some answers." Pierre shrugs.

Soon, the technicians complete their work, and Thalia thanks them before they leave. She checks the live feed on her phone, feeling a sense of relief seeing the perimeter of her home under surveillance.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚

Thalia left her house around 9PM without disclosing her destination. She allowed the others to remain, as they wished to hang around and order food.

This routine has persisted for weeks, her slipping away at this hour without revealing her whereabouts.

The beach - It's somewhere she goes when she needs to be reminded of his face.

Standing at the edge of the shoreline, she lets the cool breeze tousle her hair as the waves crash gently against the sand. She takes a deep breath, inhaling the salty air and closing her eyes for a moment of solitude.

Despite their current estrangement, Finns presence lingers in her thoughts, a constant reminder of what once was.

No, they weren't destined to be anything. It's foolish to hold on so tightly to the past.

Thalia takes a few steps back and takes a seat on the familiar area of sand. She gazes upward at the glowing moon, seeking its comfort in the darkness.

She shuts her eyes close.

The sound of approaching footsteps reverberates behind her, nearing with each passing moment. Thalias heart skips a beat as her eyes remain squeezed shut.

She dismisses the fear, chalking it up to the possibility of encountering a passerby, although it's uncommon for anyone to visit this beach, especially at night.

Thalias heart nearly leaps out of her chest as she senses a silhouette settling down beside her.

The sensation intensifies when she hears the unmistakable voice.

"Hello, Thalia."

With an exhale, she opens her eyes and turns her head toward the smiling girl leaning back beside her.

"Hey."

"How's life?"

She almost laughs at the absurdity of it. "Oh, just brilliant. I lost my closest friend and now apparently I have a stalker."

Camille remains silent, her features laced with that unsettling smile of hers. It's astonishing how one with such an innocent appearance can bear so much insanity.

"Thalia, I have no bad intentions here," she begins, "I just came here to enjoy the breeze. Plus, it's a full moon tonight."

"Are you secretly a werewolf? I wouldn't be surprised if you were."

Camille laughs, catching Thalia off guard.

"You even laugh like an evil witch. You're not gonna murder me in this isolated beach, are you?"

"I don't have anything against you, Thalia. I just wanna be friends."

Thalia scoffs. "Well... you could just ask me instead of following me around."

"I'm sorry. To be honest, I didn't follow you here. I didn't even know you knew about this beach. Finn brought me here and it's been my comfort space ever since."

Thalia feels a sudden pang in her chest, prompting her to swallow hard in hopes of pushing away the discomfort.

"When did he bring you here?"

"On our first official date. It was really sweet of him." Camille giggles, leaving Thalia wanting to rip her own skin apart.

"Oh."

Finn

🖕

holy shit
you texted
okay wait
i have so much to say to you

Save it.
Your girlfriend just ratted your ass out.

huh
wdym

Well, if you don't know then 🖕

stop 🖕ing me
OH
is this about the beach?
yeah i'm sorry lia
i shouldn't have taken her there
that was very fucked up of me
and so was everything i said
during our last conversation

It's been more than a month.
I'm over it, and you.
Like you said, we're nothing.

no
we're friends
so let me fix this please
i've been training for this conversation

Hurry.

well, first of all i was insanely
jet-lagged and felt like i was losing
my head but i know that's no excuse. nothing is an excuse for the way i
spoke to you. i didn't mean anything
i said, i was just lashing out. of-course
i would never want to forget about you.

You're a slow typer, Finn.

if i had to forget about everything in
the world, i would literally only want
to remember you. you're the only one
who really gets me, my closest friend.
i'm so sorry lia. i literally can't believe
how dumb and immature i was being.
i shouldn't have reacted that way at all.
i know you were only trying to look out
for me, and i appreciate that and you sm

Okay.
Anything else?

yes
you can't escape me
we'll grow old together and die
together and get buried next to
each other, and even in the
afterlife i won't leave your side.

Is that all?

honestly i understand why
you don't wanna forgive me yet
i was such an asshole for no reason.
but i promise i'll do anything i can
in my power to make it up to you

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚

Thalia sits on the couch and chews her lower lip - a nervous habit. Juniper is beside her, gaze fixed on a novel.

"Jun, can I talk to you about something?"

Juniper looks up from their book, a concerned expression crossing their face as they take in her demeanor. "Of course, what's going on?"

Thalia hesitates for a moment before plunging ahead. "It's about Finn."

Their eyebrows shoot up in surprise. "Oh? What about him?"

"He apologised to me, about what he said."

Junipers slowly nods as they take in her words. "And how do you feel about that?"

Thalia lets out a frustrated sigh. "I don't know. Part of me wants to forgive him since he's... you know, him. But another part of me... he was just really fucking insensitive that day."

Juniper nods in understanding. "I get that. It's not easy to forgive someone, especially when they've been acting like a little bitch."

Nodding with a slight chuckle, Thalia leans back. "What's weird is I had to be the one to reach out first. He couldn't even apologise on his own."

Junipers eyes narrow as they shut their book, turning to face Thalia.

"That doesn't sound like a true apology, then. If he can't take the initiative to make things right, is he really sorry?"

Thalia falls silent, pondering Junipers statement. The words gnaw at the edges of her consciousness, bringing her into a stinging realisation.

If Finn truly sought her forgiveness as earnestly as he portrayed, shouldn't he have been the one to initiate contact? Why did it take her texting first to coax out his apology?

"You have a point."

"I always do, baby."

Juniper returns to their book, lending a shoulder for Thalia to lean on while she's lost in her thoughts.

AUTHORS NOTE

I wanna draw all these characters.

The next chapter will be so intense fr.