Glass Hearts [BL]-Chapter 244: When Things Start to Get Bloody

Ash’s POV

"I’m not about to cry," I said quietly, rubbing my eyes. "I’m just... thinking if he’s okay."

She cut me off. "Hey, stop. You’ll make yourself sick. Overthinking won’t make him show up faster."

I nodded weakly.

June gave me this soft, tired smile, the kind that tried to reassure even when she didn’t believe it herself.

Then she stood up, brushing dust off her jeans.

"I’ll go check on Alia," she said. "Don’t stay stuck in your head too long. It’s loud in there."

"Yeah," I said quietly. "I know."

She squeezed my shoulder. "Try not to spiral while I’m gone."

"No promises."

June stopped by the door and turned back. "Ash, he’ll come back. I don’t know how or when, but he will. You two are like..." she waved her hands, "....you know, those tragic movie couples that refuse to stay apart even when the universe tells them to. Just... don’t lose yourself waiting for him, okay?"

Her voice trembled just a little. She forced a smile before I could say anything.

"Anyway," she added quickly, "Marcus, don’t let him spiral. If he starts biting his nails again, slap him."

"Got it," Marcus saluted.

She rolled her eyes and finally slipped out.

The room went still after the door clicked shut.

Just me and Marcus.

He sat across from me, spinning the chair halfway around before slouching into it.

For a moment, it felt like old times....the banter, the unspoken comfort.

"Hey," I exhaled. "Thanks for coming. Honestly."

He shrugged, pretending it was nothing, but his eyes softened.

"Does that mean you’ll come back to Blackwell too?" I asked, maybe too hopefully.

Marcus laughed, then he shook his head. "About that? Nah. I kinda like my new school."

"Oh." I tried not to sound disappointed. "What’s it like?"

"Different," he said, stretching his legs out. "Blackwell’s for talented and artsy people like you and June...painters, dancers, the people who see color in their emotions or whatever." He smirked.

"I’ve got none of that. I’m more of a science freak. Estrella Tech, is actually perfect for me. People there don’t care about the latest outfit or who’s sitting with who at lunch. Everyone there is into robotics, coding, AI, the cool nerd stuff. The top geeks are literally the popular ones. Can you imagine?"

I blinked. "So... basically my worst nightmare."

He snorted. "Pretty much. But it’s nice. No cliques, no drama. Just brains, and who the best at coding."

I blinked. "Wow. That’s...sound boring."

"I know, right?" he grinned. "Imagine living in a world where being smart actually gets you respect."

I smiled faintly. "So you finally found your people, huh?"

"Yeah," he chuckled. "And no offense, but it’s a nice break from all the ’which couple broke up this week’ drama."

I laughed quietly. "I’m happy you love it, Marcus."

He nodded. "Yeah, I do. And unlike Blackwell, Estrella actually rewards my overachiever tendencies."

But then he went quiet, drumming his fingers lightly on the back of the chair. The energy shifted.

"I know you didn’t wanna talk about The Coil because of June."

My shoulders stiffened.

"I get it," he added quickly. "You were protecting her. So I didn’t push. But..." He leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. "I’m worried about you, Ash."

I frowned. "Worried about me? Why?"

He shrugged, but his eyes stayed steady on me. "Because I’ve seen this before. You pretending you’re fine. Lying to yourself, lying to everyone. It’s your whole coping brand."

I looked away, throat tight. "I’m not pretending. And I didn’t lie to her, I just... didn’t say the truth."

He leaned back, letting the silence hang before sighing. "Look, I know you think you’re doing the right thing. Keeping secrets. Protecting people. But sometimes..."

"Sometimes it keeps them safe," I cut in.

Marcus’s eyes softened. "And sometimes it kills you in the process."

My lips parted, but I didn’t have an answer.

"Just promise me one thing."

"What?"

"If Dominic’s mixed up in something dangerous... don’t try to handle it alone."

I looked away, and tightened my jaw. "Yeah," I said quietly. "Sure."

He knew I was lying. I could see it in his face, but he didn’t push.

He just sighed and muttered, "You’re gonna do it anyway, aren’t you?"

I smiled faintly. "Probably."

Marcus shook his head. "You’re such an idiot. When are you eventually going to tell June about it?"

"She can’t know." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

The words slipped out before I could stop them. My chest felt heavy just saying it. "June should not be involved in something as dangerous as that. I can’t risk it."

I dragged a hand down my face, sighing. "They came for you, Marcus. What if they go for her too?"

"They won’t," he said calmly.

I looked up fast. "What do you mean they won’t? How can you be so sure?"

Marcus hesitated. "I’ve got this friend at Estrella. Her uncle’s... connected. Like, Coil-connected."

I froze. "Marcus. That’s dangerous."

"I didn’t ask for details, chill," he said quickly, "but she told him about you guys..well, not by name, but enough. He told her one thing, and I quote: ’Don’t get involved in a game rich people play. They’ll always make a deal when things start to get bloody.’"

I frowned. "What the hell does that even mean?"

Marcus’s tone dropped. "It means... they already did make a deal."

A deal? My thoughts started racing before I could even breathe properly.

What kind of deal?

For a second, everything in me went cold. I blinked, trying to make sense of it. "Wait..hold on." I started pacing slowly. "The last time I heard from The Coil was during Liam’s funeral. That was the last time anyone saw them."

Marcus nodded.

"Do you think someone has something on them? Like a leverage?" I started piecing the thoughts out loud. "Like, someone powerful enough to keep them quiet all this time? Because that’s the only reason they’d back off."

He hummed. "Could be. But who the hell could go toe to toe with The Coil?"

We both went silent, thinking.

My fingers found my chin without realizing, mirroring Marcus’s posture.Trying to connect dots that didn’t want to connect.

We were standing right on the edge of something big

And then..

The door burst open.

June walked in, holding Alia by the hand, with her phone on loudspeaker.

"Vote Hudson Vale for Mayor!" the campaign jingle blared cheerfully from her phone. "A better future starts today! Vote Hudson Vale!"

I froze.

Marcus’s head snapped toward the sound.

Our eyes met.

"Dominic’s dad," we whispered at the same time.

Hudson Vale running for mayor.

Dominic suddenly being "engaged" to the mayor’s daughter.

The Coil going silent right after Liam’s funeral, the day his dad came back.

No. No, that couldn’t be a coincidence.

Could it?

It made too much sense... too much for comfort.

June blinked. "He’s definitely going to win!"

Before either of us could answer, Alia’s squeal cut through the room.

"MARCUS!!"

He barely had time to react before she ran straight to him.

"Ouuh...can’t breathe, she’s choking me!" he groaned, as Alia wrapped her arms around his neck. He laughing as he tried to pry her off.

"I missed you!" she said with a wide smile, then turned dramatically to me and folded her arms. "Ash said you were mad at him and didn’t want to visit anymore."

I blinked. "Alia!"

Marcus shot me a glare. "You told her that?"

"What?!" I raised both hands. "She asked about you literally every day! I had to say something!"

June rolled her eyes, grabbing Alia’s hair into a quick ponytail. "Okay, okay, enough drama. Since everyone’s here and emotionally unstable, let’s go out. Starbucks, burritos, whatever. I’m starving."

Alia gasped. "Can I come too?"

"Of course, honey," June said, giving her a quick boop on the nose. "We’ll even get you ice cream."

Marcus raised a brow. "Hold up...how are we affording this again?"

June smirked, already slinging her bag over her shoulder. "You don’t have to worry about that."

I gave her a suspicious look. "June..."

She leaned closer and whispered, "I’ll put it on Ian’s black card."

My jaw dropped. "June!"

She grinned, already heading for the door. "What! Let’s go."