~~~

My heated anger dissipated during David's appointment. During the ride here, he'd been pleading with me to talk to him but I was stubborn until now, when his doctor informed us that his scans were clean.

I was purely happy about the good news as the doctor proceeded to get him cleared. "I'm excited," I stated, hugging him briefly and holding his hand. "You've come a long way." He was sitting on the exam bed, and I was standing right next to him.

"With you by my side. That's something I'll never forget." He pulled me close by the waist and I was a blushing mess as I leaned down to kiss him.

"I'll always be by your side, David, if you'll let me," I promised.

"Of course. When I call you my angel, I mean it. You're my little light and... you saved me." My heart stuttered a bit when he said that to me. I wanted to smile but my heart was still heavy with Rowan's words. David tilted his head. "Why don't you want me to call you that anymore? Do you not like it?"

"I do; i-it's just... Is that what you called Rowan?"

His eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "No. Is that really what you thought?"

I wrung my hands uneasily. "He said that he and I had similar qualities. Then he mentioned that your nickname for me was angel, a-and no one told him that so how else would he know unless you called him that too? Did I jump to conclusions?"

"I can see why you'd think that, but that title is reserved for you only. It means something to me, more than just a nickname."

"So how'd he know?"

"Casper." He gently held my hand. "I could ask the same question. He knew my hospital room, he knows where we live..."

"Do you think he's been... I don't know, keeping tabs on you throughout the years?"

David shrugged, appearing exhausted. "It's possible. But I'm gonna get my answers, and I want you with me this time."

I rubbed his arm soothingly. "I'm sorry I snapped at you earlier."

"That's okay―"

"No it's not. We trust each other; I should've talked to you before storming out like that."

He pecked my cheek. "So I can still call you angel?"

"You, sir," I traced his soft lips with my finger teasingly, "can call me whatever you want." He smirked slowly as I captured his lips with my own. It was a much needed kiss, and I remember hoping his doctor wouldn't walk in and catch us.

But seriously... I didn't really care.

**

It felt good to be in the passenger's seat for the first time since David's surgery back in November. He decided to drive us back home, and the closer we got, the more I started to dread going inside.

Ever since I was little, I'd been hiding myself in a shell that David managed to pull me out of just last year. Well, for lack of better words, if anybody could shove me back into that shell, it was Rowan. I wanted to believe that I could be strong about this entire situation, but I wasn't kidding anyone.

"Casper?" David brought me back to earth, and I looked at him, realizing that the car had stopped. "We're here."

I nodded and unbuckled my seatbelt before exiting the car and shutting the door. He did the same, rounding the car and putting an arm around me.

"Wanna check the mail? I'll go open the door."

"Okay," I agreed, letting him go walk over to the mailbox. Honestly, I couldn't check mail without holding my breath and hoping none were addressed to me. I grabbed all of the letters, closed the box and walked to the house. I didn't dare look at any of them. I just entered the house, set the mail on the kitchen bar counter, and ignored it completely.

I could hear Dani's voice upstairs, and I figured that she was talking to David. I moved out of the kitchen and went up to see him putting a leash on an excited Sofie.

"Hey, you okay?" Dani asked me. She was dressed in a sweater, sweat pants, and socks. Her hair was tied in a messy bun and she was leaning against the wall lazily.

"I'm fine," I assured as Sofie licked my fingers.

"I should take her for a walk; haven't done that in a while." David affectionately stroked her behind the ears and she gave his nose a lick in gratitude, making him chuckle deeply. "I better go now because it's gonna be extra chilly tonight." He stood up.

"Alright. Sure you don't want me to come with?" I offered.

"No, it's okay. I need to think a little. We'll see you guys later; come on Sof."

I bit my lip and watched him go downstairs with Sofie then I turned to face Dani. "You seem tired."

"Today's my lazy day. Well now that I think about it, every day is lazy day for me."

"Must be nice. You rarely seem stressed."

"Duh. Get you a brother like mine, who lets you live in his house and pays for all your shit." I could tell she was trying to make me laugh, and it worked for a brief second.

"Do you think we're gonna get through this? Because that's what I keep telling him but... I'm not so sure I believe it."

She sighed, crossing her legs. "Are you asking if David's going to stick with you by the end of all this?"

I slowly nodded. "I'd like to know if that's a possibility at least. Some kind of hope I can hold onto."

"Absolutely," she answered. "If anything, his relationship with Rowan will tell you that he's neither a player nor a cheater."

"So it's true? They've been together since they were fourteen? I thought Rowan lied about that."

"Hm. Rowan's many things, but not a liar. I guess that's why the fact he managed to be dead for eight years is just... unbelievable and totally unlike him. Hell, it's unlike any sane individual. At the same time... he can be a little impulsive and extreme." Dani shrugged. "David once told me he thought Rowan might have borderline personality disorder, which would explain his some of his behaviors, but it could just be PTSD."

"Why? What happened that would make him think that?" My eyes were wide with surprise.

Dani lowered her voice. "Rowan was shot when he was young. In the shoulder area."

"That's awful. I had no idea."

"He's a good person. A bit careless, but it's who he is. I won't stand here and lie to you. In fact I owe you all the truth in the world so yes, they've been together since they were fourteen. They're each other's first love and that's never easy to move on from."

"So... if David decides he wants to be with me, I have to give him time to let go."

"Exactly." She whisked some of my hair out of my face. "It'll be okay, Casper. I'm gonna go get some rest; I feel super exhausted today."

"Okay. Thanks, Dani."

She smiled, retreating into her room and closing the door. Huffing out a sigh, I walked into the master bedroom to change into something warm and comfortable. I entered the walk-in closet that I shared with David and followed Dani's lead, pulling out some sweatpants and its matching sweatshirt.

After putting them on, I made my way to the door, daring to venture outside of my room. But as soon as I opened my door, there stood Rowan on the other side of it.

I almost jumped out of my skin, but I didn't let it show.

"I was about to knock," he explained.

"Wㅡ I..." Unfortunately, I didn't know what to say to him. I wasn't expecting to see him up here. "Can you please not taunt me..."

"I only wanted to apologize to you."

I hadn't seen that coming either. I gripped the doorknob tightly. "Is... is this a game?"

"I wouldn't do that. I shouldn't have said you were my shadow. David clearly loves you for a reason and you're the only other person he's fallen for. I was out of line. I'm angry at myself. At life. David's the only amazing thing that's ever happened to me."

"I feel like a part of you meant to say those things you said to me. So why are you apologizing?" I folded my arms.

"I was wrong. I didn't come here to hurt your feelings. I owe my fiance one hell of an explanation and we need to figure out our relationship. We have to."

"I know."

"I'm sorry," he apologized. I averted my eyes, not wanting to forgive him. But it wasn't in my nature to hold grudges as much as I'd like to. He seemed very genuine, which made it that much harder to reject his apology.

So I just didn't say anything in regards to it. "You're probably right anyway. Maybe I do remind David of you. I don't know you so I can't tell for sure, but what I do know is that he spent 7 years without loving someone. Then I came into the picture. I was his student. He could've fallen for any other person within those years."

"I said those things out of spite, Casper; don't listen to me. The anger I feel is neither meant for you nor caused by you."

"Still. The truth hurts, and you were being honest. Maybe I needed to hear it."

"I called you my shadow. That's not the truth, and I'm sorry." He glanced to the side, toward the staircase. "I-I should... go back downstairs." There was hesitation in his voice, as if going down the stairs frightened him. He looked back at me anxiously. "Actually, I think I might just stay up here."

"What's wrong?"

He shook his head. "Nothing."

"Do you... have an irrational fear of stairs?"

He rubbed the side of his head and furrowed his eyebrows. "Somewhat... and bathtubs."

"Okay... Need help then?" I slowly asked with my eyebrows raised.

"No, I'll just go stand over there."

There was an awkward silence between us before he walked over to the wall near the staircase and positioned himself there. I was a bit confused, so I just stepped back and closed the room door. That was really odd.

~David's POV~

I was stalling.

Of course I was, but I couldn't be blamed for it. Less than a week ago, I mourned my first love for the eighth year in a row. Less than a week ago, I discovered that he'd been alive. I learned that I put my life on hold all for nothing. I also learned that I lost friends, fell into a depression, and became a recluse due to my oblivion of the truth.

And I would never admit this out loud but when I found out about my tumor, I was prepared to let it kill me because of the hope I might see Rowan again. I could've passed away without knowing he was still alive and unharmed.

I didn't want to blame him for it, especially since I didn't have the full story yet, but I was a hundred percent sure that whatever his reason was, faking his death would never be justified. What hurt the most was that I knew there had to be an alternative option he could've considered, and the past 8 years would've been avoided.

But I wouldn't have known Casper, not the way I did now. I might've met him, sure but he'd have been invisible to me. So there was no need for me to focus on what would have been.

I let Sofie sniff around, holding her leash as I pulled my phone out my pocket with my free hand. I scrolled through what few contacts I owned and tapped on the one person I hated calling the most.

"David? Is that you?" He answered after the phone rang for half a century.

"Yes, Dad, it's me," I grumbled like a child, continuing my stroll with Sofie.

"You never call."

"You never pick up," I retorted. "Besides, I only call you when it's important."

"What're you accusing me of this time, son? I called off the press, just like you asked. I'm much too busy to worry about your... love life..."

"I've heard you say that exact statement infinity and one times yet, still, you manage to pull one stunt after another to spite me. Speaking of which, I'm calling you because of my fiance. I need you to tell me exactly what you did to make him so miserable. To. my. Face. Because if you pull something like that on Casper―if you hurt my love―mark my words, you will not leave this world until you pay for it. So cancel your meetings, hop onto your fancy jet, and come see me. Preferably tomorrow morning; Casper will be in school and you don't deserve to breathe his air."

My father grunted through the line, a slight hum to his voice. "All just empty threats from you, son―"

"Well, then, go ahead. Call my bluff." I gave him a good minute or two, but I only received total silence. "You still alive? Was that a heart attack I just heard?"

"I'll see you tomorrow," he said firmly before hanging up the phone.

~~~~~