19

Stella's limbs were heavy when she got home in that perfect kind of way—worn out from laughing, from the sea breeze, from the few hours where she didn't feel like the world was pressing in.

She didn't even bother to kick her shoes off. Just trudged up the stairs, hair still salty from the ocean, and collapsed on her bed face first. Her phone buzzed in her back pocket, but she didn't reach for it right away. She stared at the ceiling, soaking in the stillness.

Eventually, she rolled over, pulled out her phone, and started scrolling through her contacts aimlessly—thumb pausing on the name that felt like home.

Christopher.

She didn't think too hard before pressing call.

"Yo," his voice crackled through after two rings, a bit muffled. "Tell me you didn't just pocket-dial me again."

Stella smiled. "Nope, guess it's your lucky day."

"Oh wow," he gasped. "An intentional call? From you? I'm honored."

She laughed, voice still groggy from exhaustion. "Shut up."

"Seriously though," he said, tone softening, "you good?"

"I'm fine. Just tired. Spent the day with Olivia and a friend at the docks. It was actually kind of nice." She explained, avoiding the subject of JJ.

"Well, damn," he said. "That's the first time I've heard you say anything's nice in like... a year."

"I'm evolving," she deadpanned.

He snorted. "Careful. If you start showing signs of emotional growth, Mom might faint."

That made her giggle. "Speaking of emotional growth—my birthday's next week."

"Oh shit, really?" he teased. "When did that get scheduled?"

"Ha ha," she said dryly. "I mean it's the first one without you home. Kinda sucks."

His voice shifted, a little softer now. "Yeah... I was thinking about that the other day. Feels weird, huh?"

"Super weird."

"You want me to fly down?" he offered without hesitation. "I'll figure something out."

"No, no," she said quickly. "Don't do that. I know school's kicking your ass. I just wanted to hear you. I guess... I just wanted you to still feel close, even if you're not here."

He was quiet for a second. "I'll send you something," he said. "Something good. Like, emotionally devastating, probably. You'll cry."

She laughed, soft and sleepy. "Perfect."

"You hanging in okay?" he asked, voice gentler now.

She hesitated. "Trying to. Things are kind of a mess."

"Yeah, I figured. I've been getting Mom's cryptic texts like, 'We need to talk soon' followed by nothing."

"Classic Elizabeth."

Christopher let out a low whistle. "Well hey, if it gets too insane, you always got a couch here with your name on it."

"Wow, how sweet of you..." She sarcastically said, glancing at her freshly manicured nails.

"No problem, brat. Call me whenever, okay?"

"Okay."

"And hey," he added. "If anyone's giving you shit, call me. I'll sort them out."

Stella smiled at the ceiling, the ache in her chest dulled by his voice. "Thanks, Chris."

"Anytime, Sis."

Stella ended the call with a small smile, the kind that lingered even after the screen went dark. She set her phone on the nightstand and leaned back into her pillows, the conversation with Christopher still playing in her mind. It felt good — familiar. Like something steady she didn't realize she'd been missing.

A quiet knock tapped against her door.

She glanced over. "Yeah?"

Elizabeth opened it gently, peeking her head in. "Was that your brother?"

Stella nodded, sitting up a little. "Yeah. Just catching up."

Her mom stepped inside, her arms crossed loosely over her chest, but her voice was soft. "That's nice. It's good you called him."

"Yeah," Stella said, a little quieter. "It was."

Elizabeth walked over and perched lightly on the edge of her bed. "He misses you, you know."

"I miss him too," Stella admitted, playing with the edge of the blanket in her lap. "It's weird not having him around. The house feels... I don't know. Too quiet sometimes."

Elizabeth gave a small smile. "I know what you mean."

Stella looked over at her, then back down at the blanket. "It's not like we talked all the time when he was here, but... it still felt different. Like he was just down the hall if I needed him."

Her mom reached over and squeezed her hand. "I get it. I really do."

There was a quiet moment, warm and still, where neither of them said anything — like it was enough just to sit there.

"I'm glad you two are still close," Elizabeth added after a beat. "It matters."

Stella nodded. "Yeah. It does."

Elizabeth gave her hand one more squeeze, then stood. "Alright, I'll leave you to rest. Just wanted to check in."

Stella leaned back with a tired smile. "Thanks, Mom."

"Anytime, sweetheart," Elizabeth said as she quietly pulled the door closed behind her.