Leo’s calm presence had been a comfort. He never pushed her, never made her feel rushed or pressured. But Riven… Riven’s intensity had shaken her. It was impossible to ignore the passion he exuded, even when he was silent. And yet, she knew that his walls were so high, it made it impossible for anyone to get close enough to truly understand him.

She was torn between the steady, reassuring comfort of Leo, and the unpredictable, raw attraction she felt towards Riven.

Aria had decided that the only way to truly sort through her emotions was to distance herself from both of them for a little while. It wasn’t easy every glance, every interaction felt like a silent question, but she needed the space. She needed to stop pretending like she had it all figured out.

It was late one evening when Aria found herself in the practice room, alone. The agency was quiet, with only a few lingering sounds of footsteps echoing through the hallways. She wasn’t sure what brought her here, maybe the loneliness, maybe the silence that only the practice room could offer.

As she sat on the floor, trying to clear her mind, she heard the door creak open behind her. She looked up, startled, and saw Leo standing there. His eyes met hers, a mixture of concern and patience in his gaze.

"Hey," he said softly, his voice barely louder than a whisper. "I thought I might find you here."

Aria stood up slowly, feeling the tension in her chest. "I just needed some time alone," she said quietly, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

Leo nodded, understanding. He didn’t push further. "I get it. I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

Aria hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to express what was swirling inside her. She wasn’t sure what she was looking for  answers, reassurance, maybe even an escape from the mess of her own emotions.

"Leo," she said after a pause, her voice fragile. "I don’t know what to do anymore. I’m lost."

Leo stepped forward, closing the distance between them. His hand gently cupped her cheek, his touch warm and comforting. "It’s okay to feel lost. We all do sometimes."

Aria closed her eyes at his touch, her heart aching. He was so easy to talk to, so easy to be with. But her heart still felt conflicted.

"I’m not sure if I’m ready to choose," she whispered, her eyes opening to meet his. "I don’t want to hurt anyone."

Leo’s expression softened, his thumb brushing over her cheek. "You don’t have to choose right now, Aria. I just want you to be happy. Whatever that looks like, I’ll be here for you."

The words were a balm for her aching heart. Leo was so different from Riven in this moment...gentle, patient, understanding. He was offering her the space she needed, no pressure, no demands.

Before she could say anything more, the sound of footsteps interrupted their moment. Aria tensed, instinctively stepping away from Leo. She looked up, and her breath caught in her throat when she saw Riven standing in the doorway, his expression unreadable.

Leo looked over his shoulder, his face still calm, but there was a flicker of tension between them. "Riven," Leo greeted him with a neutral tone.

Riven’s eyes shifted between Leo and Aria, his gaze intense. "I didn’t mean to interrupt," he said coolly, though there was a slight edge to his voice.

Aria stood still, feeling the weight of both their gazes on her. She had been avoiding Riven for days, and now that he was here, she realized how much she had been running from the truth. The tension between them was palpable, but she didn’t know how to address it.

Riven’s eyes narrowed slightly as he stepped closer, but his gaze never left Aria. "You’ve been avoiding me," he said bluntly, his voice low and firm. "Are you avoiding your feelings too?"

Aria’s heart skipped a beat, her breath hitching in her throat. She wasn’t sure how to respond, or if she even could.

Leo, sensing the growing tension, took a step back, his voice calm but firm. "Aria needs space, Riven. She’s not ready to deal with all of this yet."

Riven’s expression darkened slightly at Leo’s words, but he didn’t look away from Aria. "I’m not asking her to choose, Leo. I just want her to stop running." His voice softened, almost pleading. "I’m not going anywhere, Aria. You don’t have to be afraid of what this means."

Aria swallowed, her emotions raw. She wasn’t sure what was happening anymore, but she knew that her feelings for both of them were far from simple. She felt as if she were standing at the edge of something huge, something that could change everything.

"I’m not running," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "But I don’t know how to fix this."

Riven’s eyes softened ever so slightly, though his face remained unreadable. "Then let’s figure it out together."

The words hung in the air, heavy and charged with possibility. Aria felt her heart race as she stood between them...Leo, who had always been steady and safe, and Riven, who pulled her in with an intensity that made her heart ache.

For the first time, she realized that the decision she was avoiding wasn’t just about them. It was about her too. She needed to figure out who she was and what she truly wanted, not just for them, but for herself.

But for now, the answer was still unclear. And that uncertainty lingered between them like a storm waiting to break.