♡

Luca was sprawled across his bed lazily, his limbs tangled together in a mess and a bunch of blankets covering his body.

He groaned softly into his pillow, gripping the corners before sitting up.

It was the day after the graduation night, and after all that was said and done, Luca found himself in one of the best moods he'd ever been.

His phone kept buzzing with endless messages from Ashton, saying sappy and cliche things that Luca found mildly cringe and mildly cute.

Ignoring his phone just for a moment, Luca moved out of his bed and stumbled into a standing position.

He had just one thing left to do.

When a knock sounded at his door it seemed the exact person he was on his way to talk to, had the same idea.

"Come in," he said, running a hand through his tussled locks.

The door opened and Betsy stood in the doorway, a bottle of hair dye in one hand and a book in the other.

"Hi," she said, her voice soft and timid, "Can I come in?"

Luca returned her smile, "Of course."

She entered inside the room and walked over to where Luca had moved to sit back down on his bed.

"I know I've been ignoring you for ages but you have to understand—"

"—Betsy, it's okay. You don't have to explain, I get it," Luca interrupted, patting down the spot next to him.

She let out a sigh and took the seat, placing the items she brought with her carefully on the bed.

"Last night... I realised many things as I sat there right beside you. I realised it in the words Ashton was saying, they way he looked directly at you, the way you told him you loved him."

Her fingers grazed through her red hair, now fading into pink, "I don't think I'm wrong for being pissed about what happened, but I was wrong in the part that I didn't give you a chance to talk, to explain, to tell me how much Ashton means to you. But I don't need you to tell me Luca, I see it written all over you face now. As much as I hate to admit it, you're perfect for each other."

Luca opened his mouth to reply but Betsy shushed him with a finger.

"You're selfish Luca, but so am I. You liked Ashton the whole time, since last year I'm sure and I only just realised now. You hated him because you loved him and I was so ignorant to that. Fuck, I hardly even liked Ashton, I just liked the sudden attention and that makes me selfish. You couldn't deny your feelings and Ashton couldn't deny his. Sadly, I just got messed up in the middle of it but I don't blame you. I don't blame anyone."

Betsy finished with a sad smile tugging up at her lips and she moved over to the box of hair dye.

Luca watched her pick it up, "I'm so sorry Betsy, just let me say that. You have no idea how horrible I still feel."

She chuckled and ripped open the box, "Does he make you happy?" she asked already knowing the obvious answer.

"Yes," Luca said with a nod.

"Then don't feel horrible. You're my brother Luca, my twin brother. You have been miserable your whole life and you've now found someone that has shown you a new light. I hid that light from you, and I can't be mad for something like that." Betsy replied, her eyes drifting over her brother's features.

"I have something to show you," she whispered, changing the subject.

Luca rose his eyebrows, his eyes gazing over the box she dropped back onto the bed and instead reaching for the book.

"I found it yesterday when I lost my silver heels," she muttered, tilting the book forward so he could read the title.

The gift of the Magi.

"I think it's a sign. We sometimes forget what's important to us when we get lost in all the drama. I know you and I both haven't thought about mum in ages. You didn't have the book, my hair faded in colour, this whole time neither of us counted on mum to be there for us when we were sad. Maybe that's because we had to learn to rely on each other, maybe this all had to happen for our bond to strengthen. We're new people now Luca."

Luca's eyes moistened at his sister's words and he took the book into his own hands before embracing his sister into a tight hug.

"I love you so much," he said, his voice muffled into her shoulder.

Betsy held him tight, "I love you too," she whispered in reply.

They were stuck in that position for the longest time but neither minded.

Luca and Betsy had never expected something would ever tear them apart the way it did.

They never expected to become new people from such time apart, but it was needed and no matter what happened, what direction they went—Luca always found his way back to Betsy.

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