Late

In the park, under the shade of a tree, Emma settled at a cement table and chair, noticing Albie approaching. The gentle rustling of leaves offered a momentary calm before the storm of emotions to come.

"Hey Emma! What's up? I heard you're almost done with your part for Thursday?" Albie asked with a wide smile, his eyes bright with curiosity as he sat down beside her.

By now, Emma didn't feel the usual discomfort with Albie next to her. She gave a small nod. "Yeah, almost."

"But why didn't you call me? I could have helped you more," he said, a hint of envy in his voice after learning at dinner that Emma had asked Xavier for help.

Emma's lips twitched, a mix of helplessness. She had called Xavier for a quick yes-or-no question, and the call had lasted less than thirty seconds. Without replying, she returned to her work while Albie kept talking, her responses becoming automatic.

Mason walked over, looking tired, and took his seat in front of Emma. His presence was a comforting contrast to the bubbling tension. Meanwhile, Xavier arrived, his steps firm and confident. He gave Albie a pointed look, silently demanding that he vacate the seat.

Albie looked up at Xavier, understanding immediately. He didn't intend to take Xavier's spot beside Emma. It had become an unspoken rule that only Xavier could sit there. With a scoff, he stood up. "Yeah, yeah, you take the seat. I'll move," he muttered, trying to hide his wounded pride.

Emma didn’t look up but sensed the shift in the air. There wasn’t much to read into it, but still, something about Xavier made her feel safe without him having to say anything. His silent assurance was a balm to her frayed nerves.

Once the discussion started, they all became engrossed in the topic, with Albie occasionally gossiping. Emma's smile came easier, and she momentarily forgot her anxieties. However, she also forgot to check her phone, missing several calls from Kai due to the continuous talk.

Everything was going smoothly until Emma's phone buzzed for the sixth time, catching Xavier's attention. He nudged her shoulder gently, signaling her to check her phone.

Emma's focus instantly shifted, panic bubbling up. She hurriedly looked at her phone on the table, saw Kai's name on the screen before it turned black again, and noticed six missed calls from him. Her eyes widened in horror. She realized she was running late. She should be on her way home by now. How could she mess this up?

"Sorry for abruptly leaving, but I have some urgent work at home. I have to go. I’ll keep working on the project, don’t worry," Emma said, her voice tinged with desperation as she hastily packed her things. In her hurry, she forgot to call Kai back, and her hands fumbled, causing a few items to drop.

"Wait, wait! What happened? Why are you in such a hurry?" Albie asked, his concern breaking through his earlier envy. Mason and Xavier also looked worried, their faces mirroring Albie's anxiety.

"Is everything alright at home?" Mason asked, his voice soft but probing.

"What happened?" Xavier's worry was evident in his tone, his eyes searching Emma's for answers.

Emma didn't bother to look up until Xavier’s question. Her heart pounded, and her voice wavered with hesitation. "Nothing. I just forgot about some things I needed to do. My friend was calling me, but my phone was on silent. I have to go back; it's urgent."

Xavier's eyes narrowed, suspicion and concern warring within him. He couldn’t understand why a few missed calls from Kai would affect Emma so much. He clenched his teeth, stopping himself from pressing further.

Getting up from his seat, he walked around to pick up the items she had dropped. His movements were deliberate, his mind racing. He slowly gathered her pen pouch and other things, placing them inside the pouch before zipping it up. As he placed it on her seat, he noticed a diary under his chair. It looked personal.

The diary was open to a page with a date written at the top: '**/**/****'. Xavier realized it was from two months before they met. Unconsciously, his eyes read the first line: 'SHOULD I GIVE UP? KAI -'

Before he could read further, Emma snatched it away, her eyes wide with horror and worry. A rush of shame and fear colored her features. He gave a light shake of his head to assure her he hadn't read it.

Emma sighed, her breath shaky. She placed the diary and pouch in her bag, and moved out of her seat. Unfortunately, Xavier missed one pen on the ground. As Emma stepped on it, she wobbled and lost control.

Xavier’s eyes widened in worry. Not wanting her to fall back, he grabbed her right wrist and pulled her forward to save her. The sudden movement caused her to stumble, and her hand couldn’t hold onto Xavier's shoulder. She fell straight into his face, their breaths mingling in the brief, charged moment.