Between Bruises and Butterflies

CUT TO: DAMIEN'S APARTMENT — MORNING

The soft glow of sunrise spills through the blinds, painting golden streaks across the room. The TV is still on, playing reruns of some random cartoon, the volume low.

Damien stirs, eyes fluttering open to find Sienna asleep next to him, her head resting on his chest, fingers loosely curled around his shirt.

He doesn't move.

He just watches her.

The way her chest rises and falls with each breath. The way her nose scrunches slightly when the light hits her face.

His heart squeezes painfully.

Because he doesn't deserve this.

Doesn't deserve her.

He brushes a strand of hair behind her ear, and her eyes slowly blink open.

SIENNA: (groggy) Are you watching me sleep?

DAMIEN: (smirking) Maybe.

SIENNA: (muttering) Creepy.

She buries her face in his chest, voice muffled.

SIENNA: (softly) What time is it?

DAMIEN: (glancing at the clock) Too early.

She hums in response, nuzzling closer, and he holds her like he's afraid she might disappear.

DAMIEN: (whispers) You don't have to keep doing this.

She lifts her head, blinking at him.

SIENNA: (frowning) Doing what?

DAMIEN: (quietly) Taking care of me.

Her heart twists, and she props herself up on her elbow, staring at him like he's said the most ridiculous thing in the world.

SIENNA: (firm) Yes, I do.

He swallows, looking away.

DAMIEN: (voice breaking) I don't want to drag you down with me, Siea.

She cups his face, forcing him to look at her.

SIENNA: (softly) You're not dragging me down. You're giving me a reason to stay afloat.

His eyes glaze over, and she kisses him — slow, deep, like she's trying to stitch together all the broken pieces inside him.

He melts into it, hands tangling in her hair, pulling her impossibly closer.

When they break apart, he rests his forehead against hers, breathing hard.

DAMIEN: (rasping) You make it really hard to let go, you know that?

She smiles, brushing her thumb over his cheek.

SIENNA: (whispering) Good.

CUT TO: SCHOOL — HALLWAY

They walk side by side, Damien's hand gripping Sienna's like a lifeline.

People stare. Whisper.

But he doesn't care.

Not today.

ZION: (calling out) Yo, Montemayor! You finally decided to stop sulking?

Damien smirks, flipping Zion off without even looking back.

Sienna laughs, bumping her shoulder against his.

SIENNA: (teasing) Wow, that's your way of saying hi?

DAMIEN: (deadpan) It's called multitasking.

She rolls her eyes, tugging him toward their classroom.

SIENNA: (grinning) Come on, Casanova. We have class.

CUT TO: CLASSROOM — ENGLISH PERIOD

The room hums with quiet chatter as students file in, sliding into their seats.

Damien slouches in his chair, spinning a pen between his fingers, while Sienna tries to focus on the teacher's words.

Tries.

Because Damien keeps poking her arm with his pen.

SIENNA: (whispering) What?

He leans in, lips brushing against her ear.

DAMIEN: (smirking) You looked bored.

She shivers, glaring at him.

SIENNA: (hissing) I'm trying to pay attention.

DAMIEN: (tilting his head) You can pay attention to me.

She flushes, smacking his arm with her notebook, and he just chuckles.

MR. SALCEDO: (clearing throat) Montemayor. Castillo.

They freeze.

MR. SALCEDO: (deadpan) If you two are done playing lovers in the back row, perhaps you'd like to explain the symbolism of the green light in The Great Gatsby.

Damien raises an eyebrow.

DAMIEN: (smirking) Isn't it just... Gatsby's desperation for a girl he can't have?

Sienna kicks his shin under the desk.

SIENNA: (whisper-yelling) Hope, Damien.

DAMIEN: (leaning closer) I don't need hope. I already have you.

Her face burns, and half the class giggles.

MR. SALCEDO: (exasperated) Get out.

DAMIEN: (grinning) Gladly.

CUT TO: SCHOOL ROOFTOP — AFTERNOON

They sit against the railing, sharing a bag of chips, the city stretching out below them.

Damien throws a chip in the air and catches it in his mouth, then glances at Sienna, chewing thoughtfully.

DAMIEN: (casually) My dad's gonna kill me for skipping class.

Her smile fades, and she watches him carefully.

SIENNA: (softly) Are you okay?

He leans back, staring at the sky.

DAMIEN: (quietly) I don't know.

She rests her head on his shoulder, fingers brushing against his.

SIENNA: (whispering) I'm here.

He turns his head, pressing a kiss to her temple.

DAMIEN: (murmuring) Yeah. I know.

For now, that's enough.

For now, he can breathe.

But deep down, Sienna knows the storm isn't over.

It's just gathering strength.

CUT TO BLACK.

TO BE CONTINUED...