The flower petals disappeared from Nick’s body as he kept walking. He saw Alejandra sitting in the passenger seat. He wasn’t sure what he expected to see. Her stewing in anger or sharpening her nails into claws, possibly. Both were an exaggeration. Instead, he saw a far more humanizing depiction of her. She had her eyes closed, breathing steadily, easing herself out of a panic attack. Nick felt a twist of guilt. Most of it was from knowing she was hurt and she probably didn’t want him to help.

When Alejandra opened her eyes and noticed him, the panic changed to terror. Nick didn’t like it, but he understood. He walked around the car, staying a distance away as he waved. He realized what this might look like; him coming to her when no one else was around.

She opened the door a crack, and Nick knew that was all he would get.

“So, when you write up the rules, give them to me at school. I’ll just… keep them in my locker,” Nick said. Alejandra gave a quick nod. “Also, um….” Nick sighed, glancing away. “I still will not apologize for that first punch. But I will apologize for….” Nick had to pause, really thinking about how much of Rafael’s pain he felt sorry about to be genuine with his apology. He then remembered what Rafael had said to him. If Nick ever hurt Alejandra the same way Rafael hurt Evelyn, they both agreed his old friend would be free to do the same thing. It was that common ground that helped rebuild their friendship.

What about his actions would have been crossing the line if Rafael did the same to him? “But I’m… sorry Tyler and Derek had to hold me back to get me to stop. And I’m… sorry I was so consumed in anger that I was furious with him for weeks afterwards. That I constantly thought about hurting him more. Despite my original belief that your brother absolutely deserved the first punch, everyone, including myself, agrees that I let my anger get the better of me for too long. And… I’m sorry.”

Alejandra blinked. “Okay. Um… thanks.”

Nick nodded, then stuffed his hands in his pockets, turned around, and headed back toward the tent. There was a lot less ceremony with that apology, but he hoped she sensed the sincerity. He wasn’t sure what he expected. Another assurance that she’d never hand him over to Akshi was always welcome. But no. No, he just needed to apologize. It was as Evelyn said. Everyone agreed he crossed the line with being so consumed with anger. He didn’t think he would have murdered Rafael, but… he also wasn’t in a good head space for a while, either. Alejandra needed to hear at least that much of an apology. In fact, he remembered he didn’t stop being angry at Rafael until Tyler told him he was acting like Walt. It was the only thing that shook him out of it. Hopefully Alejandra would stop looking at him with such frost in her eyes. Maybe they could patch together a relationship that truthfully might only be friendship.

He almost got to the tent when Grizzizzik walked outside, giving Nick a knowing glance. The message was clear. Once everyone was asleep, Nick needed to do something chaotic again. It was the only way Grizzizzik could gain this warlock level he earned.

Nick let out a sigh, glancing behind him to see Alejandra again in the car on her phone. It took every ounce of strength to stay standing as he looked back at Grizzizzik.

“Please stop making me do this,” Nick whispered. It didn’t matter if he whispered it or screamed it. Only Grizzizzik could hear, but he still felt the need to whisper. “I’m trying to gain her trust again. I can’t do that if you force me to do something chaotic.”

“Get Walt’s spray paint from his garage and spray the wolf mascot in front of the school. Do that, and we won’t have to ask Chaos to do something to the world.”

Nick closed his eyes, pressing his lips. Panic gripped him as he thought about it. “I can’t. The school is too far. I’d have to get my bike.”

“Then get your bike.”

“It’s in the garage. My dad has cameras. He’ll catch me.”

“Then get caught, and you won’t have to spray paint the wolf.”

Nick’s fingers curled into fists as he opened his eyes to glare at his rogue character. “Tell everyone what’s happening, and we’ll figure out what to do as a group.”

“Never.” This was far sharper coming out of Grizzizzik’s mouth. “If there’s even a chance they’ll stop me, I will not ask them.”

“Once you get your sword, tell everyone. Please. I… I am terrified of what this will do to my friends. With my relationship with them. They need to know there was a reason behind it, and you need to tell them.”

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Grizzizzik studied Nick closely. “I’ll let everyone know. Once I get the sword.”

Nick stared at Grizzizzik. His mouth went dry, his breath caught in his chest. That was an obvious lie. Nick knew, as the creator, that Grizzizzik would keep this hidden for as long as possible.

Grizzizzik's smile was not friendly as he walked past Nick toward the van. Nick stared at nothing, his mind churning.

How could Grizzizzik possibly keep all this hidden? He’d get the sword eventually, and that was a pretty impossible thing to lie about. Or killing Akshi and having the snake not regenerate. They would know then. After it was all done. Grizzizzik had always been the kind of person to ask forgiveness rather than permission. Even asking forgiveness was a stretch.

It left Nick feeling empty and frightened. He leaned against the tent, his eyes coming into focus enough for him to realize he was staring at the base. He was in over his head. Nick already knew this when Grizzizzik made that pact weeks ago, but this confirmed it. They had to level up fast. He could not let this go on much longer. It would ruin his relationship with his friends. With Evelyn.

With Alejandra.

Nick closed his eyes. He had half a mind to just not do it. To force Grizzizzik’s hand. But he remembered how cold and calmy he felt in Chaos’ presence. How horrible it would be to give the personification of perfect chaos free rein to do whatever he wanted to earth.

“Nick?”

His eyes snapped open as he saw Tyler next to him. Nick stared at Tyler, perhaps the only other person in the group who could get impressions from Chaos.

“You okay?” Tyler asked.

Nick let out a shuddering breath before he took in another, deeper breath. “No.”

“How can I help?”

“I…” He wasn’t sure what to say. No, he knew exactly what to say, but Tyler wouldn’t hear it. “I need… to be away from Grizzizzik. For the next little while. He’s… messing with my head.”

Tyler nodded. “Consider it done. We’ll keep him at Rafael and Alejandra’s house under Hraktar’s care until you feel ready to see him again.”

“Thank you,” Nick said.

“Not a problem. Is there anything else I can do for you?”

“He’s multi-classed as a warlock. Leveling himself up. Trying to get a sword. To kill his father. I’m doing illegal things for him to keep Chaos from doing whatever he wants to the world,” Nick said.

Tyler patted his back. “That’s the spirit. Come on, let’s get home.”

Nick let out another shuttering breath, making a mental note that it was almost freakier to tell them the truth.

***

It was late when Alejandra finished writing the notes. Evelyn had texted her the list of rules and boundaries for Nick, and she took to heart what Nick asked. She definitely didn’t want Nick to get in trouble with his dad.

She wrote them all down when she leaned back in the chair, glancing through them like she hadn’t already read through them a dozen other times. It was good. This helped her feel better about things. She had read all this to Nick, but it was before he apologized. Sort of apologized.

No, it was still an apology. Nick punched Rafael, but he still apologized for everything else. And he seemed genuine about it.

Alejandra read through the list one more time, then realized what she was missing. Or, rather, what she wanted to take out.

She brought out her pen and hoovered it over the line, glancing at the wall as though asking for its permission. Her heart was at war with this. She should keep that boundary after what he did.

But he did apologize.

He still hit Rafael, though.

He apologized for everything else.

He was so angry. Did Alejandra really want to be around someone with such a short fuse?

Short fuse? That’s what it’s called? His sister got sexually assaulted. He was right to be angry.

No one should have a right to be angry. People getting angry was scary.

Alejandra closed her eyes, hearing the ghosts of her parents fighting. Screaming. Things breaking. Rafael, muffling his shouts, standing in front of Mariana to make him the target.

Hearing his muffled screams as he landed on the ground, Nick crushing in his ribs.

She opened her eyes again and saw the list of rules. Maybe this would come back to haunt her. Maybe she was being a ridiculous teenager. It would absolutely make sense to keep that boundary.

Yet the pen rolled over the words, and she couldn’t stop it. The brief paragraph about how she was attending the ball with him to stay as a group was gone. All mentions of her feelings toward him as a shut door was gone. The two of them never having a relationship again was scribbled out.

Alejandra stuffed her hands in her hair to look at the crossed-out paragraph. Did she still have feelings for Nick?

Alejandra grabbed the sheet of paper and tore it out of her notebook, crumpling it up as she shook her head. This was ridiculous. She couldn’t hand him this paper with that paragraph crossed out. It would give him ideas. That was the last thing she wanted.

She started writing out the boundaries again. When she got to any chance of a relationship being securely closed behind a door, she hesitated again. Maybe she didn’t want to give Nick ideas. But she didn’t want to stop them from forming, either. Was this what giving him a chance was like?

Alejandra finished up the boundaries. She did not place the paragraph about their relationship in there. It was big and bulky, anyway. These were more like bullet points. Easier to memorize. She already told him they wouldn’t get back together, and he seemed fine with it. She gave a boundary, and he respected it.

Alejandra covered her face in her hands. She did not have romantic feelings toward Nick anymore. But part of her had to admit that the door wasn’t completely shut. There was a bolt on that door that she didn’t fasten into place. It was time to admit Nick’s apology had nudged it open.