Day's POV
She's walking too fast. Almost running.
Hair unbrushed. Hoodie sleeves past her palms. That tiny gold sun pendant bouncing at her throat.
She's avoiding me like I'm the plague.
Which… fair.
I dodge a group of loud Year 12s and speed up behind her. "Sky."
No response.
"Sky—wait."
She spins around so fast I nearly crash into her. Her eyes are glassy. Her voice is sharp.
"Don't talk to me."
"I need to—"
"Save it, Day." She tries to move past me, but I step in front of her. "I don't care who she is."
"She's my sister," I say.
The silence that follows nearly knocks me out.
Her lips part. "What?"
"Lila," I say softly. "That girl you saw? She's my sister. Same eyes. Same face. Same annoying laugh."
She stares. Blinks. "But… but you hugged her."
"She punched me in the arm first. That's what siblings do."
Sky's brows furrow. Her lips wobble.
"And you didn't tell me because…?"
"Because you left before I could." I sigh and rub the back of my neck. "And I didn't chase you right away because I figured your dad would literally murder me with a spoon if I showed up at your mansion uninvited again."
She tries to hide it, but her mouth twitches. "He would've."
"I was gonna tell you today." I take a deep breath. "I was always going to tell you. I don't lie to you, Sky."
She looks down at her sneakers. Mumbles, "I thought you liked her…"
"I like you."
That makes her freeze.
"I don't do feelings," I say, quieter now. "But you… you're different. You're glitter glue in a world of black pens. You make my brain stop yelling."
She sniffles. "That's really weird."
"I know." I pause. "But it's true."
She bites her lip, looking up at me through lashes still damp with tears.
Then—suddenly—she throws herself into my arms, nearly knocking me over. She's crying now. Softly. Clinging to my shirt.
"I hate you," she mumbles into my chest.
I smile. "No, you don't."
"I do."
I wrap my arms around her anyway. "Okay."
She leans back just enough to squint up at me. "She's really your sister?"
"Promise."
"And you like me?"
"Very much."
"Even though I accidentally set your locker on fire that one time?"
"Especially because of that."
She grins—wide and blinding.
And I know.
I'm never letting her go.