Melted snow dripped from the dorm roof onto the lawn. In the awning soffit, a robin busied about its nest. Kalin stuffed his hands in his pockets and took a deep breath. Dorm room 502 was right behind him. He simply had to knock on the door.
He'd been loitering outside for a solid hour. His fingers brushed a photo in his pocket. His hopeful side said it'd go great and she'd say yes first thing. His rationality responded that she'd leave her room, spot him, and call the cops. And what would he say? "No, officer, I'm here for a good reason; I promise?"
He scratched his cheek, and his fingernail scraped the bright yellow criminal mark slashing down his right eye. As if they'd believe someone with a history like his. The longer he stayed here, the more uncomfortable he'd make everyone.
So he approached the door and knocked twice.
The clicks of high-heeled footsteps heightened his pulse. A redhead opened the door, leaned on the frame, and said, "Hey-"
Her mouth snapped shut the instant she recognized him. Her eyes narrowed millimeter by millimeter. She slammed the door. The hinge rattled like his nerves. Her voice was muffled through the wall: "Leave or I'm calling Security."
Shit.
"Look," he said, "I need your help."
"No. No. I don't care how much time passes or what Yusei tries to sell. You'll always be the maniac who tried to kill him. As far as I'm concerned, you should still be locked up."
Right, yep, same as he'd heard a thousand times before. When he took the photo from his pocket, his hand trembled. Made sense he'd be accosted, but if his scarred reputation was weaponized against someone else-
Unacceptable. "It's not for me. It's for Nico. She turns twelve next week. You're her hero. It'd make her day if you were there."
"I'm not some party favor."
"Please, Akiza." Kalin breathed in. The photo crinkled in his grip, firm to ebb the quaking. He crouched and slid the picture beneath the door. "Not for me, but for her."
Paper scraped against floorboards. Silent yet screaming seconds passed. The door whined open. Akiza scanned the photo in her hands, her brows pushing inward. She tugged at her uniform's creased collar. "This is her?"
"Yes."
Her eyes flicked to him for less than a second. "Fine. I'll be there, but we aren't sharing another word. Got it?"
Kalin nodded. He held up his hand to keep her a moment as he fished through his back pocket. He passed along a folded invitation.
Nico's Twelfth Birthday!
No gifts please. Bring a white magnolia: a crown for a queen!
Saturday 6:30 P. M. The Tops Roof Pool
REGRETS ONLY to Kalin Kessler
Akiza murmured, "I've got some regrets for you."
"Hilarious."
His eyes widened. Had he… really just said that?
Akiza pinned him with a glare. She disappeared into the dorm and jerked the door shut behind her.
Cherry blossom petals rained and clung to the soles of Kalin's boots. Ugh. Spring. Flowers were nice, he supposed, but the accompanying allergies and humidity weren't a fair price. He'd peel off his leather duster if he didn't treasure the mental comfort of being covered.
Kalin rounded the clock shop to the basement entrance. He lingered in the shadow of the store and faced a roll-up garage door just wide enough for a duel runner. His hands went clammy. Here he stood at yet another threshold hearing his heart hammer against his ribs.
He shook his head. He didn't have the luxury of time to waste. He tapped his knuckles on the cold steel. In the empty moments, a bead of sweat trickled down his spine. The metal rattled, and the door rolled up.
The sight of the blond man glowering down at him elicited Kalin's sigh of relief. Jack Atlas tilted his head. "You haven't visited in four months."
Kalin's initial reaction was astonishment at Jack keeping track. "Sorry. I've had to take long drives every day since December."
"Where?"
Kalin shifted his focus to the vines crawling up the iron trellis. A thousand lies populated his mind before the one truth. He knew he should be honest, and yet. He drew in a breath, looked skyward, and let it go. Kalin locked eyes with Jack and said, "To here. The City, that is."
"You didn't think to stop by once."
It wasn't a question. Kalin resisted flinching. "I couldn't. That's not what I'm here about. I have a delivery for you, Yusei, and Crow."
Jack snatched the invitation from Kalin's hand and squinted at the words. "Nico? Is she the girl whose father-"
"Yes."
Jack's eyebrow lifted. "Last time you were here, I recall you working through adoption papers for her and her little brother."
"Didn't work out."
"Oh, they wouldn't let a single, Satellite-born twenty-year-old with a criminal mark adopt two children? Shocker."
"Thanks for the support."
"I applaud you trying," Jack said. "You've always had a knack for working your damnedest for what is assured to fail. This must be more than a simple birthday party. I know you visited Akiza. I can hear her complaining to Yusei through the walls. What's the catch?"
A breeze passed between them. Kalin remained stone-faced.
Jack set a fist on his hip. "I'm not inviting the others unless you tell me."
Kalin's heart rate galloped. He briefly shut his eyes as he buried the seizing panic. The lifting of a corner of Jack's mouth suggested he heard Kalin's every thought. Kalin sighed through his nostrils and showed Jack the well-worn photograph in his pocket.
The playfulness drained from Jack's expression. He muttered, "Lots of long drives, eh."
Kalin couldn't meet his eyes.
Jack returned the picture and kept the invitation. "The three of us will be there. By the by, when we say, 'don't be a stranger…'"
A squirrel scaled the overgrown vines. Jack studied the cracks in the concrete. "It doesn't mean 'visit when you'll be happy company.' Visit when you're struggling, when you're angry, when you're at the edge. We'll pull you back. Alright?"
An ember of warmth coalesced in Kalin's chest. "Alright."
"See you at the party," Jack said before shuttering the garage door.
The sunset scattered crimson from the horizon towards the ultramarine of the encroaching night. Kalin was studying the smokestacks climbing from the Satellite when a grasp on his coattail stole his attention. Nico's big, brown eyes had a tilt of concern to them. Kalin said, "What is it?"
Nico tugged down her gray beanie. A crocheted, white magnolia bloomed from the temple. "Do you really think they're coming?"
The rooftop poolside was all empty beach chairs and folded umbrellas. By the elevator, Nico's roommate from the hospital, Luna, argued with her twin Leo. Nico's brother West, meanwhile, ran laps around the pool to dry his sunscreen. West said, "Do I really need it this late?"
"Oh, yeah. Six o'clock is prime sunshine," Kalin assured. West loosed a whine but kept running.
Nico said, "D'you think my swimsuit looks nice? Will they like it?"
Pink and yellow stripes decorated the one-piece. Kalin said, "Hell- er. Heck yeah."
The elevator dinged. Nico squealed. Yusei and Crow had remained in their work clothes—lab coat and Blackbird delivery digs, respectively. Nico was enraptured by Akiza's pastel pink dress, and Kalin raised an eyebrow at Jack's white tux.
Each visitor carried bow-adorned presents. The big, white flowers they brought resembled the decoration on Nico's beanie. A rough wind passed over the rooftop, and they held tight to the magnolias.
Nico ran to greet them. She clasped her hands together, tears sparkling at the corners of her eyes. "Th-th-thank you for coming! You didn't even have to bring presents, but you… Thankyouthankyouthankyou!"
Akiza and Crow fawned over Nico's swimsuit while Jack surrounded her cake with their gifts. Yusei, meanwhile, inched towards Kalin. "Thanks for inviting us."
"It was her. What, you think I want you here?"
He laughed. "You're more like yourself these days. It's good."
"Debatable."
"Hey," Yusei said, and the downward shift in tone caused Kalin to tense. Yusei whispered, "Is it true what Jack said? Nico is…"
"She hates getting sympathy. I'm not supposed to tell anyone, but she wanted you all here so badly. I'm sorry to drag you into it. She deserves it, though. The oncologists say it's her last."
"Don't apologize."
Though the command was firm by nature, Yusei's delivery was gentle. Kalin exhaled, and his muscles loosened. "Thanks."
Another harsh wind tore through. Unnatural silence settled. Kalin scanned the rooftop. His heart sank. The gust had thrown Nico's beanie into the pool. Only three scraggly black hairs remained on her scalp. Her eyes gradually widened as she realized she was the unfortunate center of attention.
Kalin moved without thought. He snagged the magnolias and crouched beside her. "Hey. Can you help me with these?"
Her eyes were misty. "B-but I-"
"C'mon." He flashed a cheesy smile. "For me?"
"…Okay."
He twined together two petals each on the magnolias. He and Nico interlocked three flowers each. They conjoined their trios into a six-flower crown. Kalin said, "Birthday Queen, take your kneel."
He christened her with the magnolia circlet. Jack applauded thunderously. The others, having recovered from their shock, joined him. Nico performed elegant curtseys for her subjects. Luna took Nico's hands and fussed over how gorgeous her crown was. Yusei cut the cake, giving her the first slice. Leo and West urged her to open the presents.
After the crisis, Kalin let himself breathe.
A body collided into him. Crow caught him in a tight embrace and whispered, "I'm so glad you're still alive."
A chill lanced through Kalin. No, he shouldn't be glad and nobody should. His eyes went glassy and his throat felt thick. He shut his eyes tight for a moment, two.
He hugged Crow back and said, "I'm glad to be here."
The last sunlight, a stark red, gathered in the white petals crowning Nico. She asked, "Do you think I'll see you guys again?"
Akiza immediately said, "Absolutely. We'll visit whenever you have appointments."
"Wow, Kalin! They actually are your friends!"
For once, there were no dirty or apprehensive looks shot his way. Kalin allowed himself to smile. It was a small and shivering thing, but smile he did.
"Sure are."
