Chapter 29: The Room You left
Noel returned a few minutes later with two bottles of water. Luca was still lying on the bed, sprawled like a starfish, the panic clearly drained from his body.
"You alive?" Noel asked, tossing one bottle gently onto the bed.
Luca groaned and reached for it. "Barely. That was emotionally traumatic."
"You have no idea what real trauma is if that’s your standard," Noel said, settling at his desk.
Luca sat up slowly, unscrewing the cap. "You know, you didn’t have to remind me. Could’ve let me crash and burn."
"I considered it," Noel replied, sipping from his bottle. "But I also didn’t want to deal with your whining for the next week."
Luca smirked. "Admit it—you care."
Noel gave him a sidelong glance. "I care about peace and quiet."
Luca laughed softly and took a long sip of water. The silence stretched a little after that, not awkward but thoughtful.
"Hey," Luca said eventually, his voice quieter, "thanks. For real."
Noel didn’t look at him right away. He nodded, almost too subtly. "Don’t mention it."