After the Specter's retreat, Miza's Nest didn't have much to do. They were in a slow period for once since the others had found their way back to their Nest. The high schoolers were finishing out their school year, and as they were diligent students, it went quickly. Akierda had thus far surpassed his own expectations on their finals, thanks to Alex's tutelage during the separation and the support of his family. This meant that he would be able to graduate with them next year, provided he made up the rest of the missing credits along with his senior course load.

  Today was the very last day of school, but with Miza's schedule, most of her finals were already completed. As part of the music and dance programs, most of the finals didn't follow the testing schedule. So, she found herself in the library, spending the last period chatting quietly with her friends. Allyson, Renee, and Heather were determined to drag her to what they called the party of the year, happening at one of the quarterback's houses.

  "Seriously, Sara," Renee interrupted her as Miza tried to refuse again. "I love you, but this is ridiculous. It's the last party of junior year! You haven't been to any parties, even after you started dating Tyler! Even after your boyfriend made the soccer team and got all popular!" She said exasperated.

  "Yeah, Sar. You've gotta live a little," Allyson added with a smirk, causing Miza to roll her eyes.

  "I am living," Miza replied dryly. "I don't need parties to prove that. Besides, high school parties just aren't my thing."

  It was true. She didn't see the appeal of what most kids did at parties. Hooking up, gossiping, or trying to gain someone's attention—none of it made sense to her. She had mates. She had responsibilities. On the weekends, she wasn't partying; she was strategizing with Donte, Valon, or Alex, sometimes all three, training or just trying to bond with her mates.

  Renee groaned dramatically, leaning across the table. "You have to come, at least for me. It's the biggest party of the year, Sar! Everyone's going to be there. You can't ditch your best friend on the last day of school!"

  "She's right," Allyson chimed in again, crossing her arms like she was scolding a child. "It wouldn't kill you to be a little sociable for once. Half the school is obsessed with you anyway."

  It was annoying how much sense Ally was making, and Miza could feel herself weakening. Somehow, she could hear the Nest strategizing the next phase of Sara Harison leveraging her social proof for the unveiling. She didn't really have anything aside from people liking her, likely only because they sensed the pull of her celestial consciousness.

  "Please, Sara," Renee added, her voice softening. "You've never been to a real party with us. And I want you there. It'll be fun. Just for once?"

  Miza sighed, trying to come up with an excuse that didn't sound like she was brushing them off again. She couldn't exactly explain that her life was a balancing act between school and a secret world of responsibility. Still, part of her was curious about what it would be like to just... go.

  "I'll... ask my dads," she said slowly, already sensing the shift in their energy. "But don't get mad if you don't see me."

  Renee and Allyson exchanged triumphant glances while Heather clapped her hands together excitedly.

  "You'll love it. We're not asking you to go wild or anything," Heather grinned. "Just be there. You deserve to have some fun."

  "Oh, I will be mad if you don't come," Renee added, practically glowing. "This summer won't be the same without you. We've gotten so close this year, Sar. Also, don't ditch me this summer like you did last summer. I refuse to spend the summer without my bestie." Renee laughed happily.

  The bell rang, signaling their early release.

  "Alright, I'll text you later," Miza said, offering a weak smile as she gathered her things.

  The girls exchanged quick hugs before heading in separate directions. As Miza watched them leave, her smile slipped. A party like that left so much room for things to go wrong. But maybe, just maybe, it would help her blend in more. Perhaps it would make her life feel a little more... normal.

  She was so deep in thought she didn't notice Tyler and Justin approach her from behind until Tyler gently shook her arm.

  "Babe," he said softly, snapping her out of her daze.

  "Oh, sorry," she replied, startled.

  "You were spaced out. Everything okay?" Justin asked, walking alongside her as they headed toward his car. Tyler's parents had finally allowed him to stay over with Justin for once, though not before giving him the inevitable "safe sex" lecture, just in case. Miza nodded, her mind still lingering on the conversation.

  As they reached the car, they spotted Akierda leaning against it, waiting for them. Alex was still at school, finishing up teacher duties before heading home.

  "Hey, what do you guys think about going to a party tonight?" The three boys stared at her in silence with various looks of shock. "Um, okay then." She said, slipping into the car.

  ~

  Music pulsed from the house, the bass thudding so loud that Miza felt it vibrating in her chest. She stood on the edge of the yard, Renee, Allyson, and Heather flanking her, all staring at the chaotic scene unfolding before them. Teenagers packed the house, spilling out into the backyard, laughing, drinking, and shouting over the noise. A typical end-of-school rager, as she was told. Miza's nerves prickled, her discomfort simmering just beneath her composed exterior.

  "Wow, Sar. Never thought I'd see you at something like this," Renee teased, nudging her shoulder lightly.

  "Yeah." Miza gave a tight smile, trying not to wince at the nickname. She wasn't up for pretending tonight, but Justin, Tyler, and Donnie had all convinced her that showing up would be a good look. She shouldn't have asked. She could be in their rec room making out with Tyler, Justin, or Kierda. Honestly, at this moment, she would even take a sparring session.

  Donte had supported the idea for her image. But Valon had listed security concerns in his usual dry tone, making Miza think she'd dodged a bullet. That was until Tyler and Justin convinced him otherwise, promising they'd be by her side. Now, here she was. Damn, Tyler for being a natural at the hand-to-hand techniques.

  "You mean Tyler convinced you to come," Heather chimed in, her smirk a little too knowing. She scanned the crowd as though she expected Tyler to materialize. Tyler had opted to drive himself, just in case. "Honestly, he's the only reason I'd be here too."

  Renee rolled her eyes. "We get it, Heather. You're into Tyler. No need to keep reminding us. He's taken now."

  Miza bit back a sigh, glancing up at Justin, who stood quietly behind her. His sharp eyes took in the scene, and when Heather's gaze lingered on him, he simply raised a brow in response.

  "He's so unreadable," Heather thought, "even around his sister's friends."

  "Honestly, Sar," Allyson piped up, her voice too casual. "You're not like the rest of us. It's probably why Tyler likes you." Her lips curled into something between a smile and a sneer. "You never really fit in here. Besides, you never know with these guys. Look at Chris here." She said, letting a flirtatious glance go Justin's way. "I've been trying to talk to him all semester, and I still can't tell what's going on in his head."Justin, of course, didn't react.

  Miza's chest tightened. They didn't know. They didn't know that Justin was her mate. They had no clue about The Nest or her responsibilities. To them, Tyler was just her high-school boyfriend, who she would probably break up with soon, and Justin wasn't even Justin.

  "Chris is kind of hard to read sometimes," Miza replied, steering the conversation back to safer ground. "He's just focused on other stuff."

  "Focused on what, though?" Allyson's voice whined, but before Miza could respond, Justin cut in.

  "Drop it, Al." His voice was firm and icy, eyes narrowing slightly. "I'm not interested."

  Allyson's face flushed, and without another word, she stormed off toward the house, leaving Miza standing awkwardly between her friends. The tension was palpable, but the weight of her phone buzzing in her pocket drew her focus. She pulled it out discreetly, eyes flicking to the message from Akierda.

  We're here. Tyler's inside, and Val's watching everything. Are you good?

  Miza quickly typed back: Yeah, all good. Just hanging with the girls.

  As if on cue, the front door of the house swung open, and Tyler stepped out, scanning the crowd. His eyes found her instantly, and the corners of his mouth lifted into a smile. Heather straightened visibly, her eyes glued to him.

  "Speak of the devil," she muttered under her breath.

  Tyler moved effortlessly through the crowd. When he reached Miza, he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and gently kissed her temple. His presence grounded her instantly.

  "You okay?" His voice was warm, concerned.

  Miza nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine." She leaned into his touch, grateful for the familiar comfort.

  As the night wore on, Miza found herself watching more than participating. Her friends laughed, flirted, and drank. She remained on the outskirts, glancing around occasionally to see Justin, who excused himself to "find his friends," or Akierda, stationed nearby, keeping watch while chatting to some randos. Tyler offered to fetch her a drink whenever hers was low, but she rarely took more than a sip.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  In moments like these, she couldn't shake the feeling that she didn't belong. While everyone else was living out their teenage rebellion, she was constantly on edge, aware of her responsibilities. Her secrets. She was here to blend in, to maintain her cover. But even surrounded by her friends, she felt like an outsider—like the "mom friend," always watching, never fully part of the fun.

  By the time she decided to call it a night, the weight of her dual life pressed down on her harder than ever. Miza couldn't escape who she was, not even for one evening. No matter how much she hated it, she wasn't a kid anymore, and she hadn't been for a long time. No matter how much they tried to pretend otherwise, she had left her childhood behind when she rose.

  ~

  Miza's mood went down after the party. She sat in the study, staring at the training schedule on her screen. The Specters were still in the midst of restructuring as these things took time. She was currently planning for four separate teams, all cycling through quarterly retraining; prospects were transferring to Prarieview per her new protocol to be overseen by her. It would make rebuilding the faction easier to train the recruits with the household. Everything needed to be perfect, down to the last detail. The new generation of Specters had to understand why they served and why they gave their lives for the organization. Miza, Donte, and Valon would see to it personally.

  She couldn't focus. Her thoughts wandered, drifting away from the work that usually had her full attention. The Nest, of course, noticed.

  They always did, especially as they had trained to know every detail of her and Valon had slowly started releasing the binds on the Awareness, being sure not to tamper with the aspects blocking her Awareness's connection to the 'Reparti.' It was in the way she hovered just a little too long over mundane details, her fingers tapping aimlessly on the desk, her mind elsewhere. On the surface, anyone else might have missed it—her efficiency masked the melancholy well. But her mates knew her better than that.

  It wasn't that Tyler was more attentive to her needs. Everyone was busy except him because he was still a trainee. He could not deny, though, that their relationship had developed differently than the majority of his Nest-mates. He wasn't constantly focused on the propriety of the laws that governed the imperial family. He was free to have a regular high-school relationship with her, especially being the public boyfriend. With all his free time, he had spent the last few days watching his girl. He walked into the office to check on her, knowing she likely had forgotten to take a break.

  Tyler stood by the door now, leaning against the frame, arms crossed, studying her as she half-heartedly typed out notes.

  "You're still working on that?" he asked softly, breaking the silence. His voice was casual, but his eyes were sharp, searching her face.

  Miza's fingers stilled on the keyboard. "There's a lot to organize. It'll make things easier for everyone once it's in place." The weariness was clear in her voice.

  He didn't push her, but she could feel the unspoken concern between them. The others hadn't said anything either, but Miza knew they had been talking. Planning. Always thinking of her. Always protecting.

  Lucky for them, Tyler's family had a gathering coming up. Although she may not have enjoyed the party they went to with their classmates, Tyler knew she had enjoyed his family celebrations, and he hoped that would lift her mood. The Nest decided to use the opportunity.

  Tyler straightened, taking a step into the room. "We've got the family gathering this weekend. You liked it last time, remember? Thought maybe it could be a nice break. My parents want me home too. They've been hounding me for staying over the last few days. I can tell them I'll be home this weekend and that you are coming to stay and go to the party."

  Her eyes flickered toward him, and for a moment, she allowed herself to think about the warmth of his family. There was a comfort in the simplicity of it, something she rarely found in her world of power plays and endless responsibilities.

  "Yeah," she murmured, a small smile tugging at her lips.

  "Good." He replied. "Remember, we love you, baby girl." He said as he left the room to call his mother.

  ~

  Miza was grateful that Tyler had arranged for them to stay at his parents' house before they went to his cousin's for a "first day of summer" pool party with all the local Carlisles. They cuddled on one of the pool chairs while they rested after playing pool games with the little ones for well over an hour, both of them sporting wrinkly toes and fingers from the water.

  It was a beautiful day. Miza enjoyed all of the time she got to spend with Tyler and his family. It was very different from the experiences she had. Aside from Peter with his children, she had not experienced many positive parental relationships. In the palace, even her nieces and nephews had the weight of being born into the royal family, even if they were not reigning. It all came with expectations and rules.

  By comparison, the mayhem that ensued when all of the Carlisle kids got together was peaceful. She watched as some of the little ones clamber out of the pool to run through the sprinklers set up in the grass, as one of Tyler's uncles refilled bubble machines set around the perimeters of the play space set in the yard.

  She allowed herself to relax into Tyler's hold as he talked to several cousins and an aunt while he absently brushed his fingertips along her thigh. If only it could always be this simple. She nuzzled her nose to his chest as she soaked up the warmth of his skin and the sun and enjoyed his light touch.

  "So you two are getting really serious. Your mom mentioned that you have been staying at her house a lot."

  "Yeah, CC, we are very serious." He said with confidence, and Miza smiled up at him.

  "How do Sara's dads feel about that?" CC tried to ask casually.

  "Greg and George don't mind at all." He responded flatly as his hands stilled their gentle caresses.

  "I'm not trying to nag, Ty. You both are just so young to be so serious about someone. You literally have your entire lives; just have fun."

  "What exactly did mom say, CC?" Tyler inquired as Miza listened quietly. She was under the impression that the Carlisle's liked her.

  "Nothing really, Ty. She just mentioned how attached you two are. If you aren't doing your intern hours at your dad's firm, you are barely home. I think she just misses you."

  Miza hummed.

  "Maybe you have been spending too much time at my house." She said, causing Tyler to scoff at that.

  "I love hanging out at your house." He said, brushing the comment aside. " I'll talk to Mom tomorrow before we go back to your house." He said as he tucked some of Miza's curls that had slipped out of her loose bun behind her ear. She shook her head knowing that that was not going to be a good solution, but choosing to drop it. CC scoffed at Tyler as he turned to glare at her.

  Tyler's mother called out to him. He looked up to see where she was and respond, but saw Valon rushing towards them while Donte waited by the back door. Miza sat up.

  "What's going on?" She asked.

  "We've been trying to get ahold of both of you for an hour. Let's go." He scolded, sounding very much like a dad.

  "Shit," Miza thought to herself, "he's pissed."

  "Shit, Greg, I'm sorry. Let me just talk to my mom really quick. I'll be right behind you." Valon nodded and started to walk back towards the house to wait for Miza to change.

  "You aren't going anywhere, Tyler." His mother snapped, "You have barely been home since summer started."

  "I'm sorry, Mom. I'll be home more, but I really need to go." He said, going through the back of the house to the hallway that had the rooms they were storing their stuff in. Tyler's mother turned to Greg, who was standing at the entrance of the hall. As Tyler walked into the room, she realized Sara was changing in. George had gone back to the car.

  "Sir, my son needs to stay home, and I would appreciate it if you and your daughter respected that. Also, how are you and your husband okay with the progression of their relationship?" She said as Tyler's father stepped into the area.

  "I don't know what you mean. We have a family emergency that we need Tyler home for. He can come back after." Greg said flatly. He really didn't have time for this human shit.

  "What family emergency could your family possibly have that involves my 17-year-old." She rebutted. Greg's eyes flashed dangerously before he caught himself, not used to being questioned about such inconsequential points. Tyler's father stepped forward, not liking the look in the younger man's eyes directed at his wife.

  "Look," Greg said, dragging his fingers through his blonde locks, frustrated. "Their relationship is a little more involved than that."

  "And Tyler is still my son, so regardless of how much the kids are enjoying playing house, I need him to be home. I know you are a younger father and I understand that you are your parner adopted several teenagers, but you can't just be their friend, you have to set boundaries."

  "I understand that, but he is a near-grown man. He has business to take care of, and he's going to do that." Greg snapped.

  Miza opened the door, still half-dressed, and dragged Valon into the room away from the two very confused adults. Tyler's mother tried to follow, only to find the door locked. She heard muffled voices as they recognized that Sara and her father were arguing. Pressing her ear to the door.

  "...Baby..."

  "... consider moving in..."

  "..hiding relationship..."

  She picked up on very faint words, but what she did hear was concerning. Then the voices picked up.

  "Valon, just because you are to marry her doesn't mean you can just ignore what we say." Tyler urged.

  "Tyler!" She heard Sara admonish.

  "I'm sorry, brother, that was a low blow. My family is just frustrating me." Tyler apologized.

  Tyler's mother stepped back from the door and began knocking furiously. Greg opened the door, glaring.

  "What the hell do you mean you are marrying a 17-year-old girl." She seethed. "I thought she was your daughter. What is wrong with you? Tyler, step away from that man right now." She said, taking a step into the room to grab her child as her husband stepped into the room, automatically taking a protective stance between the girl and the older man.

  Valon absolutely did not like that. He was okay with playing the doting young father, Greg, but at that moment, he was ready to snap.

  "I'll ask you kindly to remove yourself once so that Sara and I can leave," Greg said to the older man.

  "What's this all about, really?" Tyler's father asked. "Why is our son involved in your 'family emergencies'? " He said, refusing to budge.

  "I'd appreciate it if you and your daughter would respect our wishes. Tyler needs to stay home. And frankly, I'm starting to question the entire nature of your relationship with her."Mrs. Carlisle said sharply.

  Miza opened her mouth to protest, but Valon was already shoving the older man out of the way. He grabbed Miza's arm to lead her out of the room.

  "I don't give a shit what you tell them," Valon stalked out, dragging Miza with him, "but get your people straight and get to the house." He snapped at Tyler slamming the door behind them.

  "Damn it," Tyler muttered, sighing loudly. " Ok, mom, dad. I need you to understand that Greg and George wouldn't have just shown up like that if it wasn't big. They trust me with Sara enough by now that if it were not an emergency, they would not have come here. I have to go. I'll be home more, I promise. But we really need to go." Tyler said, already grabbing his thing.

  "We want to know what's going on. This whole situation feels off. You have never acted this way before, and this man says to jump and you are rushing off. That's it. I think you need to break up with this girl. Leave that family alone. Let us handle things. We can help her if he is hurting her." His mother assured him.

  Tyler's eyes widened as he immediately started to refute the statement.

  "That is the absolute opposite of what's going on. He loves her. The last thing he would do is hurt her."

  "So you aren't denying they have a relationship." His father asked.

  " I am saying that this is more complicated than that and that I need you to trust me. You raised me. You should know I wouldn't do anything stupid. I can't believe... I mean, I can't... Mom!" He sputtered out. He took a moment to calm his frazzled mind. "Mom, Dad, I love Sara. I'm committed to her. And I'm not going to break up with her because you don't understand." He said resolutely.

  His father shook his head. "This isn't just about a relationship, Tyler. We're talking about your future. What is this girl's family asking of you? This doesn't seem normal."

  He knew his parents didn't fully understand and that their protective instincts were kicking in hard.

  "Sara is important to me, to us. Our relationship is... different from what you're used to, but it's real." He said firmly.

  Tyler's mother looked unconvinced, her eyes narrowing. "Different how? Because from where we stand, this arrangement looks deeply troubling."

  "I understand that, Mom, I really do. I had questions, too. I'm still learning. I can't tell you everything right now. This is so fucked."

  "Tyler, did you join a cult?" His mother's face hardened.

  "It's not a cult. There are cultural differences that are happening here, but everything in this family is a choice. I'm going to be very clear, and I need you to hear me. I get that this is strange for you, but I'm not walking away from her. If you keep pushing this, I'll have no choice but to move out. Please don't make me choose between my families." Tyler pleased.

  There was a tense silence. His father was visibly struggling as Tyler spoke up.

  "I'll be back when whatever is happening is resolved. Then we can talk this out like adults, but I have to go. Just please give us a chance to really talk."

  ~

  Rewrites for OGI will begin in March or April, depending on the feedback. So far, I have received some that are mostly targeted toward confusion about Miza's age and behavior. Some people are uncomfortable because Miza doesn't seem unhappy enough in the situation. So, I may add a few chapters in the beginning. I feel like she is breaking, but maybe not in the way that was expected.

  kitty