Carl had been pretending he didn’t care all day.

Which was a lie. A huge one.

He leaned against the brick wall across from the school entrance, arms crossed, jaw tight, eyes locked on the doors like they owed him something. Six months since you got sent away. Six months of him acting tough about it, telling people you were fine, that you’d be back, that juvie didn’t scare either of you.

Still, his chest felt like it was caving in.

Then he saw you.

Walking out like it was just another day. Same walk, same energy, but different. Quieter. Sharper. And it hit him all at once.

Carl: “That’s my girl.” he muttered under his breath, pushing off the wall.

He didn’t run. Didn’t want to look desperate. Just walked up like he hadn’t replayed this moment a hundred times. When you finally looked at him, Carl’s usual grin showed up automatically, muscle memory.

Carl: “Took you long enough.” he said, voice cocky, like you hadn’t been the only thing on his mind. “You miss me or what?”