CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
ROWAN
New York smelled like too much of everything at once.
Noise. Heat. Exhaust. Movement that didn’t stop even when nothing important was happening.
The airport exit felt like being pushed into a different version of reality where everyone moved like they had somewhere urgent to be, even if they didn’t.
I adjusted my bag strap for the third time before we even reached the transport bus.
Serena walked beside me, scrolling through her phone.
“You’re quiet,” she said without looking up.
“I’m observing.”
“That’s what you call avoiding thoughts.”
“It’s not avoiding.”
She finally glanced at me. Smirked. “Sure.”
The team bus was already parked outside.
Blackthorne banners on the side.
Players loading luggage underneath.
Chaos pretending to be organised.
Caleb was already there.
Of course he was.
He waved when he saw me.
I gave a small nod back.
Then I saw Mason.
Not immediately.
That was the problem.
I noticed him second.
Which meant I’d already been looking without realizing.
He was standing slightly apart from the group, headphones in, bag slung over one shoulder.
Not talking.
Not laughing.
Just… present.
Like he didn’t need to prove anything by interacting.
That should’ve meant nothing.
It didn’t.
Mason
She stepped out of the terminal like she didn’t belong in the noise around her.
I saw her before I meant to.
That was happening too often now.
Caleb was beside her again.
Same pattern.
Same distance.
Same ease.
Jace leaned into my side slightly.
“You’re doing it again,” he muttered.
“I’m not doing anything.”
“You’re watching her like she’s part of the scouting report.”
I didn’t respond.
Because she looked up.
And for a second, we saw each other clearly.
No movement.
No interruption.
Just distance that didn’t feel like distance anymore.
Then she looked away first.
That was new.
That stuck.
Rowan
We boarded the bus in groups.
Noise immediately filled the space again.
Luggage overhead. Seats shifting. People claiming space.
I took a seat halfway down.
Window side.
Serena sat beside me.
Caleb was two rows behind.
Mason…
was further back.
I didn’t look directly.
I didn’t need to.
Because I already knew where he was sitting.
That was the problem now.
Serena leaned back. “You’re doing the thing again.”
“What thing.”
“The awareness thing.”
“I’m not aware of anything.”
She smiled slightly. “That’s worse.”
Mason
Bus started moving.
City blurred slowly outside the window.
New York didn’t feel real yet.
Just loud.
Jace stretched in his seat. “This is going to be long.”
“Three hours,” I said.
“That’s not what I mean.”
I knew what he meant.
I didn’t respond.
Because I was already aware of where she was sitting.
Halfway down.
Window seat.
Not looking back.
Not once.
Caleb behind her.
That detail shouldn’t have mattered.
It did.
Rowan
I felt it before I turned.
Not literally.
Just awareness shifting.
Mason wasn’t doing anything obvious.
But I knew he was there.
That was becoming a problem.
Serena nudged me slightly. “Stop pretending you don’t care what direction the bus is facing.”
“I don’t.”
“You absolutely do.”
I didn’t answer.
Because I could feel the distance behind me.
Not physical.
Something else.
Mason
We hit traffic outside Manhattan.
Bus slowed.
Noise inside increased.
People talking.
Phones buzzing.
Everything louder.
I leaned back.
Tried not to look forward.
Failed.
Rowan shifted slightly in her seat.
Just enough to notice.
Caleb said something to her.
She replied without turning fully.
That was normal.
But now everything she did felt like it had weight.
Jace noticed me again.
“Dude,” he said quietly. “You’re cooked.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not even slightly fine.”
I didn’t answer.
Because the bus stopped completely.
Traffic dead.
We were stuck.
And she was still in front of me.
Not moving.
Not turning.
Just there.
And suddenly three hours didn’t feel long anymore.
It felt unavoidable.
Rowan
The bus stopped.
People groaned.
Phones came out.
Conversation filled gaps.
I stayed still.
Window reflection showed movement behind me.
Not clear.
But I didn’t need clarity.
Mason was still there.
I could feel it.
Caleb leaned forward slightly. “You want headphones?”
“No.”
He nodded.
Didn’t push.
That was his pattern.
And that was part of the problem too.
Because nothing about him forced anything.
Which made everything else feel louder.
Mason
Bus still wasn’t moving.
Jace sighed. “We’re not getting there soon.”
“Yeah.”
I looked forward again.
I shouldn’t have.
But I did.
Rowan was still facing forward.
Not turning.
Not checking.
Just existing in a way that made the space feel tighter than it should’ve been.
Caleb shifted slightly behind her.
Her shoulder moved slightly with it.
And I noticed that too.
That was the part I didn’t like.
Not her.
Not him.
Just how easily I was tracking it.
Like it mattered.
Even when I told myself it didn’t.