The Reason

Sammi’s POV

I spent the entire day tucked away in the art room, feeling like every piece of paper I touched was a waste. Crumpled sketches were scattered across the floor, a testament to my frustration. After hours of trying, I finally gave up. The urge to clear my head led me to the aerial hoop, hoping the rhythm of swinging would bring some clarity. At some point, Zade had poked his head in, announcing he was leaving. I just nodded, barely acknowledging him.

That was over an hour ago. Since then, the silence has only grown louder. I watched them leave—Mac and my brothers—but Grayson hasn’t come up. No texts. No check-ins. Nothing. It’s like he vanished with them, leaving me to stew in my thoughts. My brain keeps spinning the same web of worry, but I try to convince myself I’m overreacting. Still, something feels off. Why hasn’t he come back? Why is he staying away?

Everything is getting so tangled, so confusing. I’m just swaying gently on the hoop now, not really doing anything prod