Chapter 32: The Collision (Daniel POV)

Chapter 32: The Collision (Daniel POV)

I stand in the middle of the airport terminal, my arms pinned tight by two security guards. Their hands grip me hard, one on each side, their fingers digging into my sleeves. “Calm down, sir,” the taller one says, his voice low and sharp, his badge glinting under the lights. I don’t listen. My chest heaves, my breath fast and rough, and I twist hard, trying to break free. “Let me go!” I yell, loud, my voice bouncing off the walls. People stare, stepping back, their eyes wide, but I don’t care. I shouted Leo’s name, saw Jake by the gate, and now I’m stuck, fighting these guys while he’s out there somewhere. My heart pounds, heavy and fast, and my legs push against the floor, straining to move.  
The shorter guard tightens his hold, his face close to mine. “Stop moving,” he says, firm, his breath hot on my cheek. I jerk again, my shoulder slamming into him, but he doesn’t budge. “I need to find him!” I shout, my voice cracking, desperate. They pull me back, away from the gate, my boots scraping the tile. My eyes dart everywhere, scanning the crowd, the sea of faces blurring together. He’s here, I know it. I texted him, ran here, parked like an idiot outside, all to stop him from leaving. My throat burns, raw from yelling, and my hands clench, useless in their grip. Then I hear it, faint at first, cutting through the noise. “Daniel!”  
My head snaps up, fast, and I see him. Leo. He’s running toward me, wild-eyed, his hair messy, his boots pounding the floor. Paint’s still on his hands, smudged black and blue, bright against his pale skin. My breath stops, caught in my chest, and my eyes lock on him. He’s real, here, coming for me. “Leo!” I yell back, loud and rough, pulling harder against the guards. They grunt, holding tighter, but I don’t care. He’s close now, shoving through people, his face wet with tears, his voice calling my name again. “Daniel!” It’s him, all of him, the guy I left, the guy I broke, running to me like nothing else matters.  
I twist again, hard, my arm slipping a little in the tall guard’s grip. “Let me go!” I shout, louder, my voice shaking. They pull back, dragging me, but Leo’s almost here, his hands out, reaching. Then he’s on me, crashing into me fast, his body slamming against mine. The guards stumble, surprised, and their grip loosens just enough. My arms break free, and I grab him, tight, my hands clutching his jacket. He’s gripping me too, his fingers digging into my shoulders, his breath hot and fast against my neck. “Leo,” I say, soft now, my voice breaking, my face pressed to his hair. He smells like paint and sweat, sharp and familiar, and my chest hurts, full and tight.  
We hold each other, breathless, the world loud around us. His heart’s pounding, I feel it through his chest, matching mine, fast and wild. “You’re here,” he mutters, his voice shaky, muffled against my shirt. “I’m here,” I say back, my hands sliding to his back, pulling him closer. My eyes sting, wet and hot, and I blink fast, tears spilling over. I almost lost him, let him go, but he’s here now, in my arms, real and solid. The guards step back, unsure, their hands still out, watching us. People whisper, staring, but it’s just noise, fading away. It’s him and me, crashed together, holding on like we’ll never let go.  
Then a voice cuts through, loud and angry. “Leo!” It’s Jake, storming up behind him, his face red, his boots heavy on the floor. He’s close, fast, his duffel bag swinging in his hand. “What the hell are you doing?” he yells, grabbing Leo’s arm, pulling hard. Leo stumbles, his grip on me slipping a little, and I tighten mine, keeping him close. “Let go,” I snap at Jake, my voice rough, stepping between them. Jake glares at me, his eyes hard, and yanks again. “No,” he says, loud. “He’s coming with me. You’ve done enough.” Leo’s caught, his arm stretched between us, his breath fast and shaky.  
“Jake, stop,” Leo says, his voice weak but firm, pulling back toward me. Jake doesn’t let go, his hand tight on Leo’s sleeve. “You’re leaving,” he says, his tone sharp, furious. “You chose this, Leo. New York. Away from him.” He points at me, his finger shaking, his face twisted. “He’s killing you!” My stomach drops, cold and heavy, but I don’t let go, my hands steady on Leo’s shoulders. “I’m not,” I say, low, my eyes on Jake. “I need him.” Jake laughs, short and bitter, and steps closer, towering over us. “You need him? Look at him! He’s a wreck because of you!”  
Leo pulls free from Jake, sudden and sharp, his arm slipping out of his grip. He steps back, closer to me, his hands still on my arms. “Stop it,” he says, loud now, his voice shaking but clear. Jake freezes, staring, and the guards shift, watching us close. Leo turns to me, slow, his eyes wet, wild, locked on mine. My breath catches, waiting, my heart pounding loud in my ears. “Leo,” Jake says, softer now, stepping forward. “Choose. Me or him. Right now.” His voice cracks, desperate, and he grabs Leo’s shoulder, pulling again. Leo shakes him off, his hands tightening on me, and looks back at Jake, then at me.  
“I’m staying,” he says, his voice steady, staring into my eyes. The words hit me, hard and warm, and my chest loosens, a rush of air filling my lungs. “Leo,” Jake says, loud, furious, stepping closer, but Leo doesn’t move, his grip firm on me. “I’m staying,” he repeats, softer, just for me, his eyes bright with tears. My hands slide to his face, holding him, my thumbs brushing his cheeks, wet and rough with stubble. “Okay,” I whisper, my voice breaking, pulling him close again. Jake steps back, his face dark, his hands clenched. “You’re making a mistake,” he says, low, turning away, but Leo doesn’t look at him. He’s with me, here, choosing me.  
The guards move in again, slower now, one talking into a radio on his shoulder. “Backup to Gate 12,” he says, his voice calm, his eyes on us. “Situation escalating.” I don’t let go, my arms around Leo, his breath warm against my neck. He’s shaking, but he’s here, and that’s all I need.