Chapter 13
Caleb Mysia pov
After their quiet morning talk, Caleb and Kassia decided it was time to visit a clinic. Christy needed to take Chicago and herself to school, so she left them with a reminder to call if anything came up.
Caleb initially suggested they go to a hospital, assuring Kassia he would cover the bills. But Kassia firmly refused. Instead, they settled on a nearby clinic that offered free checkups.
Even though it was a school day, they both decided to skip. After what happened the night before, school could wait.
At the clinic, the doctor conducted a thorough examination and reassured them that Kassia was physically okay. He prescribed a few medications to help with stress and sleep.
Afterward, as they stepped out into the morning sunlight, Caleb turned to Kassia.
"Let's go to McDonald's," he suggested. "You haven't eaten this morning, right?"
"No, not yet," Kassia admitted.
They went together, quietly thankful for the moment of normalcy. Kassia ordered a pastry, while Caleb just got a milkshake.
As they sat near the window, Kassia looked over at him.
"Caleb… if you don't mind me asking—why are you being so overly concerned?"
Caleb glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"I know you hate me," she said. "So why all the aftercare?"
He let out a small laugh. "I don't hate you. I just find you a little annoying sometimes. But right now… we're on a truce. At least until all of this blows over."
Kassia didn't reply, but her expression softened slightly. The tension between them seemed to fade for a moment.
"On Monday," Caleb said after a pause, "the principal's probably going to ask why we weren't in school today."
"I know," Kassia replied. "Next week's our final exams, too."
"Have you submitted your admission letter yet?" he asked.
"Not yet. I'll do that on Monday," she assured him.
"Thanks for taking me out," she added after a moment. "I really appreciate it."
Caleb gave her a nod. "So, have you decided which school you want to attend?"
"I'm hoping to go to Columbia University," Kassia replied. "Though our teachers think I have a better shot at NYU. They say I might even get a scholarship there. So I'm applying to both—let's see how it goes."
"Oh, you don't want to go far from here?" Caleb asked.
"Yeah. I still want Chicago to stay in her school. She doesn't like changes much," Kassia explained.
"That's thoughtful," Caleb said.
"What about you?" Kassia asked. "Which university are you going to?"
"Liverpool John Moores University," he answered.
Her eyes widened. "Wow, you're going to the UK? That's pretty far."
Caleb nodded. "Yeah. But we have a house there, and my dad lives in the UK, so it makes sense."
"What did your brother say about it?" she asked.
"He's fine with it," Caleb replied. "He wants me to go. Thinks it'll be good for me."
Just then, a familiar voice called out from behind them.
"Caleb, baby, what are you doing here?"
They both turned around to see Caleb's mother approaching their table.
Kassia looked up from her half-eaten pastry the moment she heard a woman's voice—sharp, controlled, and far too familiar to be anyone but someone important to Caleb.
"Caleb, baby, what are you doing here?"
She turned her head in time to see a tall, elegant woman walking toward their table. Dressed in a blazer and heels that clicked with each step, she carried herself like someone used to being in charge. Her features were striking, refined—just like Caleb's—but her expression held more scrutiny than warmth.
Caleb stood quickly, his body going tense. "Mom."
So this was his mother.
"I had a breakfast meeting nearby," the woman said, her eyes briefly scanning Kassia before returning to her son. "Didn't expect to find you here... skipping school."
Kassia felt the weight of Mrs. Danvers' gaze settle on her like a spotlight. She stood, trying not to fidget.
Caleb's voice was calm but firm. "It's complicated."
"Try me," his mother replied coolly.
Before he could answer, Kassia stepped forward, keeping her tone polite. "Hi, Mrs. Danvers. I'm Kassia."
The woman gave a slight nod, her smile polite but distant. "Ah. You're Kassia. I've heard your name."
Kassia couldn't tell if that was a good thing or not.
"We were at the clinic," Caleb explained quickly. "Kassia needed to see a doctor."
"The clinic?" Mrs. Danvers repeated, her brow arching just slightly.
"She's okay," Caleb added. "It was a check-up. Nothing serious."
Another pause, and then the woman's sharp expression softened by a fraction. She turned to Kassia again. "I hope you're feeling better."
Kassia gave a small nod. "I am. Thank you."
Mrs. Danvers looked at her son one last time. "We'll talk later, Caleb. Don't be late for dinner."
And just like that, she turned and walked away, her heels fading into the background noise of the restaurant.
Kassia slowly sank back into her seat, heart still beating a little too fast. "That was... intense."
Caleb rubbed the back of his neck, clearly embarrassed. "Sorry. She's... a lot."
"Do you think she disapproves of me?" Kassia asked, the question leaving her lips before she could stop it.
Caleb looked at her, his voice quiet but certain. "She disapproves of a lot of things. But I don't care. You needed someone today. That's all that matters."
Kassia blinked back the sudden sting in her eyes. She wasn't used to people choosing her—especially when it was inconvenient.
"Thank you," she said softly.
He gave her a lopsided smile. "So... you still want that pastry?"
A laugh bubbled out of her. "Yeah. I think I do."
They sat together a while longer, their conversation drifting from serious topics to lighter ones—exams, college plans, favorite movies. And even though everything in her life still felt fragile, for the first time in a long time, Kassia didn't feel like she had to hold herself together alone.
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Author's Note
OMG, I still can't believe I managed to update THREE chapters in just two days! I'm literally over the moon right now! I was feeling a bit down for not updating in a while (thanks to being sick), but I'm back and on fire!
Chapter 14 is coming sooooon—stay tuned!
Thank you so much for reading this chapter. If you have any thoughts, I'd love to hear them!
Your support means the world to me.
Please keep reading—there's so much more to come.
With love,
Xoxo,
C.C.