Third Person's POV.
The following morning, the sun was bright, but the air was crisp as Percy drove to the exclusive golf club. He was meeting his two old friends and twin sister at a secluded gazebo overlooking the tenth hole—their unofficial, long-standing meeting spot since childhood. The weight of the necessary reckoning settled over the tranquil setting.
He found Cole and Daphne already waiting. Daphne was wearing sunglasses, and Cole stood up immediately as Percy approached, offering a hesitant, solemn look.
"Hey, Percy," Cole said, his voice measured.
"Hey," Percy replied, the familiar sound of his friend's voice already easing some of the tension. He sat down opposite them.
Before Percy could launch into the apology he'd prepared, Daphne removed her sunglasses. Her eyes, though still a little guarded, held deep sincerity.
"I have something to say," Daphne said, her voice clear. "I need to apologize for the way I handled things last year."
Cole nodded, leaning forward. "I have something to say too. My decision to leave the city left you hanging, man. We just disappeared when you were going through the most intense period with your mother and the business. That was cowardly, and you didn't deserve the silence that followed."
Daphne continued, the words coming out in a rush of long-held guilt. "I owe you the biggest apology, Percy. My feelings over... over everything, blinded me. I made your happiness about my failure, and that wasn't fair to you. I let my feelings for you fracture our entire circle. I should have talked to you instead of ambushing Gemini the way I did."
The tension in the air was thick, but before Percy could respond, a voice cut in, "It's about time someone admitted that."
Penelope strode up from the eleventh hole, carrying a half-empty travel mug. She immediately dropped into the seat beside Percy.
"I've been waiting for this moment for a whole year," she announced, looking pointedly at Cole and Daphne. "It's good you finally decided to own up to your mistake. You abandoned us."
"Pen," Percy warned gently.
"No, Percy, let her talk," Cole insisted, looking genuinely remorseful. "She's right. We did abandon you both."
"Look, I understand why Daphne left," Penelope said, her tone softening slightly. "But Cole, you were my twin's only lifeline outside of family obligations, and you just sent a vague email to him. He won't admit it, but I know how deeply that hurt him."
"I know," Cole said, looking down. "There's no excuse. I chose to protect Daphne, and in doing so, I failed my other two best friends. I'm really sorry."
With the core tension finally released, the four friends—the original, fractured quartet—could finally breathe.
"Thank you," Percy said, looking at all three of them. "I accept your apology. And I'm sorry too. I should have been a better friend. I was lost in my own feelings, and I didn't see how much I was hurting you, Daphne. I regret that my choices caused you pain."
After that, they fell into the rhythm of four friends catching up on a year's worth of major life changes.
"So, spill," Penelope demanded, a wide grin spread across her face as she looked at Cole and Daphne, who were sitting comfortably close, their knees brushing. "What have you two been up to?"
Cole smiled, reaching for Daphne's hand and threading their fingers together. "We're dating."
Percy blinked, then burst out laughing, a genuine, joyful sound. "You two! Seriously? I wasn't expecting that."
Penelope nodded sagely. "I totally called it. I always knew that you were bound to collapse into each other eventually. You two are just the same brand of chaos."
"Pen was always annoyingly good at these things," Daphne admitted, rolling her eyes with affection. "But yes. She's right. We spent a lot of time together and realized we have a lot in common."
They continued talking about the events of the past year. Daphne spoke first, and the change in her demeanor was remarkable. She looked rested, healthier, and genuinely serene.
"Taking a year off school was the best thing that ever happened to me," Daphne confessed. "I was so focused on the family path—the perfect grades, the expectations, the pageants—I was miserable."
She gestured with her free hand. "Being able to eat when I wanted, sleep early, read what I wanted, and travel the world with Cole, away from all that pressure... I discovered a whole new side to myself. I actually started painting, and I'm going to focus on art history when I go back."
Cole, looking infinitely more relaxed than Percy remembered, leaned in. "It was good for me too. I realized I was just coasting. We're both going to transfer to a less intense university closer to where Daphne wants to start a charity foundation for kids on the street."
"I guess we're all older now," Percy concluded, his eyes sweeping over his friends. "We're all making our own choices, and sometimes, the people we love won't agree with our path, but that doesn't mean we stop walking it."
"And that's okay," Penelope added. "We learned that chasing a definition of success that makes you miserable isn't worth it."
The four friends sat for another hour, moving easily from apologies to gossip, closing the rift. The original quartet, battered but ultimately stronger, was whole again.
Percy returned home to find Gemini immersed in a whirlwind of organization, surrounded by clothes, toiletries, and travel documents. Gemini was meticulously packing for their highly anticipated trip, folding shirts with the intense concentration he usually reserved for studying.
"Embracing the chaos, are we?" Percy teased, leaning against the bedroom doorframe, a relaxed smile on his face after the emotionally cathartic meeting with his friends.
Gemini looked up, his brow furrowed in concentration. "I'm trying to optimize space, Percy! Do you know how much I can fit in this carry-on if I roll everything correctly?" He pointed to the suitcase. "Also, I am trying to stick to the two-bag limit. This is going to be a learning experience for you, too."
Percy chuckled, walking over to embrace him from behind. "I have an entire closet of clothes dedicated to summer vacation, Bunny. Optimization is less of a concern than making sure you remember your passport."
"I have packed our Passports," Gemini announced proudly, tapping a small internal pocket on his backpack. "And I refuse to be that guy who shows up with fifteen bags on a trip just because he's excited about shopping."
"Of course not," Percy said with a smirk, kissing his head. "You can always buy new ones."
The next morning was filled with excited chaos. Penelope and Ohio arrived early to escort them to the airport. The mood was buoyant, the recent emotional tension forgotten in the face of summer adventure.
As they pulled up to the curb, Percy felt a moment of mild disorientation. He wasn't being whisked directly to a private hangar; this was a novelty.
"Look at you, my big brother," Penelope smirked, catching his eye as they waited for the luggage to be unloaded. "Catching feelings and flights. Flying with the common folk... well, almost common folk."
Percy rolled his eyes. "I draw the line at sacrificing legroom. I'm a tall man."
Ohio and Penelope laughed. Penelope gave Percy a genuine hug. "Just admit you're nervous about navigating a regular airport for the first time in your life."
"I am not nervous," Percy scoffed, though the smile betrayed him. "I'm just appreciating the new experience."
After fond goodbyes and a final warning from Penelope to send daily photo updates, Percy and Gemini headed inside.
For Gemini, the entire experience was thrilling. He'd never flown first class before; the spacious seats, the personalized service, and the quiet opulence were a world away from his previous travel experiences.
As they settled into their luxurious seats on the plane, Percy reached for Gemini's hand, a quiet sense of satisfaction washing over him.
"Bunny," Percy murmured, squeezing Gemini's fingers. "This is going to be our best summer yet."
Gemini leaned his head against Percy's shoulder as the flight attendants began their preparations. "I already know it is," he whispered, gazing out the window at the runway. "Just being with you is the best part."
The plane taxied toward the runway, ready to lift them away from the pressures of everything and toward the promise of sun, sea, and weeks of uninterrupted time together.