Moments like these made him reconsider all his decisions. Maverick cherished how you were on the verge of drifting off in his arms, as you both shared the small bed in your cozy bedroom. Your scent, like a gentle whisper, filled the entire room, a testament to how much of your time you spent there. He thought of the times he would climb up the vines snaking along the house—just to knock on your window, his heart heavy with the usual apologies he brought.

Apologizing was still foreign territory for him, something he only started doing after realizing how much his petty crimes cast shadows over your heart. that sooner or later, the consequences of his actions would overtake him. Something you didn't want to witness. You stated your worries more than just once. Maverick could still hear the echo of your voice from yesterday, when you had screamed at him. You, who were usually the calm harbor in the storm of his life; who didn’t find the allure and danger in stealing, vandalizing, and illegal graffiti like he did. And yet, despite the differences, you had somehow found each other, like two lost stars colliding in the vast universe. Both of you had no idea what exactly it was. The question of whether your relationship went beyond friendship was left to fate.

Maverick’s fingers danced along your waist, playing with the hem of your sweater until you twisted in the tiny bed to look at him. Your forehead was still creased, knowing that the items he had stolen earlier from the shopping mall were still stashed in his backpack. The tumultuous emotions from your argument still clung to the air. You glanced past him, your eyes fixed on the frayed bag. He already knew what you were about to say. "Yeah, yeah,... I know. I’ll take care of it," Maverick grumbled, annoyed at how you managed to weave your way into his very being. How you were the one who could plant the unfamiliar seed of guilt within him. "Just please, don’t be mad anymore, okay? I can't stand the thought of you hating me one day."