Rewinding time by ten seconds!


    The words reverberated in my mind, even though no one else seemed to notice. No one, that is, except Gina, she was cause of it. It felt like we were the only ones who remembered what had just happened. But why me? The answer struck me almost instantly—it had to be tied to my ability to navigate time''s currents, however clumsy and limited my control might be. Strange, sure. But not unwelcome.


    Lore’s voice cut through the tension as she repeated the rules again. Then chaos exploded in its now-predictable rhythm. Vinico burst into his bacterial swarm, multiplying so rapidly that every corner of the room became filled with copies of him.


    Gina groaned from somewhere.


    “Do you ever get tired of this?” she muttered, swatting at a copy as it zipped by. “Look at me! I’m the amoeba guy! Ugh! Stay away from me! You''re naked and I don''t wanna touch you.”


    Across the room, Lore stepped forward, arms raised, ready to freeze us all in our tracks again. Her mouth opened—And nothing.


    No sound.


    Her eyes widened in alarm, and for a split second, the ever-composed Lore looked genuinely rattled.


    “What the—?” she croaked, or tried to.


    Someone—or something—had stolen her voice.


    My mind raced to piece it together. Who could have done this? Then it clicked—Jade.


    Of course.


    She was already halfway up the stairs, moving so fast she was a blur. No hesitation, no playing it cool—this time, she was all action. She’s getting bold. Not even pretending to stay in the background anymore.


    I turned my attention back to the floor. Henry.


    What are you up to, Henry?


    He stood perfectly still, his face blank and unreadable. Unlike everyone else, he seemed utterly unbothered by the pandemonium, as if he were watching a puzzle solve itself.


    What’s your game here?


    That calm, calculated demeanor sent alarms ringing in my head. He wasn’t just watching; he was waiting for the right moment to act. And whatever he was planning, it wouldn’t be good.


    Lore clawed at her throat, her silent protests growing more frantic. Vinico’s clones filled every corner. Jade and Gina were long gone, heading toward the door. And Henry? He still stood there, the eye of the storm, calm as ever.


    This is fine. Totally fine.


    Alex burst into action, plowing through Vinico''s endless swarm of clones like a wrecking ball. His punch landed squarely on the "original" Vinico—or whatever counted as original in his bizarre bacterial-like existence. The force rippled outward, turning the hallway into a makeshift bowling alley of tumbling Vinicos, each one crashing into the next like oversized, panicked pins.


    Amid the chaos, I spotted Gina making a break for the door. Her hand stretched toward the handle, fingers mere inches away. She’s actually going to make it! I thought, almost cheering her on—until I heard Alex''s shout echo from behind her.


    “Gina! Don’t—wait!” he yelled, his voice strained with panic.


    But then, everything shifted.


    Henry moved. Or rather, he stopped standing still in that unnervingly calm way of his. One moment, he was a statue in the chaos, the next…


    He faded.


    It wasn’t like teleporting or vanishing in a puff of smoke. No, space itself twisted in a spiral where Gina stood, warping reality like someone had folded the air into an origami knot. And then, with all the casual nonchalance of someone stepping through a revolving door, Henry emerged. He reappeared behind Gina, his presence so sudden and seamless it was as if he’d been there the whole time. His hand reached past her shoulder, cool and composed, to grasp the handle just as her fingers brushed the edge.


    He smirked, tilting his head toward her as if to say, Too slow.


    Gina jumped back, startled, and for a split second, the entire room seemed to hold its breath in shock. Alex skidded to a stop mid-charge, the Vinicos paused their domino collapse, and even Lore’s air of superiority faltered.


    And then—it happened.


    Rewind!


    That strange, familiar wave of déjà vu crashed over me like icy water. My stomach dropped as the telltale rewind sensation dragged me backward. Again.


    The world reset, snapping me back to the starting point like a needle on a scratched record. My eyes darted to Lore, waiting for her to launch into her tired spiel once more, but this time, something was different. Gina didn’t even pretend to care about the rules. She bolted toward the second floor the moment we reset, her feet barely touching the ground. She was already three steps ahead, ignoring everything Lore was about to say.


    Well, that’s new.


    And apparently, I wasn’t the only one who noticed. Everyone seemed to catch on quicker this time, their eyes narrowing, their movements sharper. Lore, visibly thrown off by the sheer speed of the unraveling chaos, scrambled to assert control.


    “Enough!” she barked, her voice slicing through the noise. She waved her hand, and the room shimmered as her meta nature surged. Time froze, space locked, and for a brief, suffocating moment, it felt like the entire world had been pressed between the pages of a book.


    Lore laughed, a high, villainous sound that filled the hall. “Stupid. You really think you can outrun me?!” Her eyes zeroed in on Gina, her expression dripping with triumph.


    But then, as if on cue, her laugh faltered.


    Somewhere in the frozen stillness, something—or someone—was moving.


    Alex, ever the disruptor, broke free from Lore’s nature with ease. His invincibility flared to life like a flash of golden energy, and without missing a beat, he launched himself forward. His fist connected squarely with Lore’s chest, sending her flying across the room. She slammed into the wall, her eyes wide with shock. He smirked, dusting off his hands as if to say, Job done. But his triumph was painfully short-lived. Just as he crouched to leap toward the second floor, the ground beneath him shifted—Jade’s doing, no doubt. The floor buckled and gave way, sending Alex crashing back down to the first level in a very un-graceful heap. His face twisted in frustration, the smugness replaced by sheer disbelief.


    Meanwhile, Vinico’s chaotic multiplication was in full swing again. His clones spread like a virus, swarming the house and filling every nook and cranny. One of his copies, faster than the others, lunged for the door handle.


    Maybe this time? I thought, almost hopeful.


    Nope.


    Before the clone could even graze the handle, space itself twisted in that same maddening swirl. Out of the distortion stepped Henry, calm as ever, that smug little smile plastered on his face. With an infuriating lack of urgency, he planted his hand squarely on the door.


    Dammit! My fists clenched as déjà vu hit me like a truck yet again.


    How many times was this going to happen? How many rewinds could Lore manage? Surely, there had to be a limit. I scratched my head.


    Everything rewound. Again. Back to the starting point.


    I staggered as the rewind disoriented me, but this time, my eyes zeroed in on Gina. She wasn’t wasting time anymore—no hesitation, no pretense of playing along.


    The second the world reset, she was already in motion.


    Vinico didn’t even have a chance to activate his power. Gina’s fist connected with precision, dropping him in a single hit before he could so much as blink.


    One instant, one target, unconscious.


    The rest of us stared, dumbfounded, as Gina pivoted smoothly toward Lore, who was just opening her mouth to start her usual spiel. Lore managed one syllable before Gina struck again, fast and efficient, knocking her out cold.


    Two targets down.


    With both Lore and Vinico out of the game, Gina seized control. She straightened, calm but commanding, and turned to the rest of us. “Alright, listen up. Here are the rules. I’m running the show now.”


    Her voice was sharp and no-nonsense, cutting through the chaos like a blade. Alex raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Henry tilted his head, his expression unreadable.


    She rattled off the rules in a rush.


    The room was quieter now, the air filled with tension as the rest of us assessed the new landscape. Only Alex, Henry, Jade, Gina, and I remained. Jade leaned in casually, her glowing silver eyes practically sparkling with excitement. Her grin stretched wide, making her look like she was having the time of her life. Meanwhile, Alex tried to make his move. His confidence was palpable, his eyes set on the second floor, but luck wasn’t on his side. Just as he pushed off to sprint, his ankle twisted beneath him.


    “Ahh—dammit!” he yelled, collapsing to the floor in a heap. His invincibility might protect him from others, but clearly, it didn’t save him from his own bad luck.


    I couldn’t suppress a chuckle as he rolled onto his back, groaning in pain. Poor guy. Invincible, yet cursed.


    Gina and Jade wasted no time seizing the opportunity. Both dashed toward the stairs, with me close on their heels. Gina, however, underestimated the chaos. In her haste, she miscalculated her footing halfway up the staircase.


    Her sneaker slipped.


    With a yelp and a comical thud, she slid back down on her butt, landing in a heap at the base of the stairs.


    I winced. Ouch. That’s going to sting—both her pride and her backside.


    Jade, however, was unfazed. Her silver eyes gleamed with triumph as she bounded up the steps two at a time, reaching the top. Her victory smile was infectious. She approached the door with confident strides, her hand reaching for the handle. But just as her fingers hovered over the knob, that familiar spatial distortion appeared again.


    Of course.


    Henry emerged from the swirling space, as maddeningly composed as ever, his trademark smug grin plastered on his face. The smug grin I’d grown to hate.


    Jade froze in her tracks, her eyes wide with disbelief.


    Before Henry’s hand could reach the handle, though, I finally made my move.


    With all the frustration of a three resets fueling me, I lunged. My fist connected with his face in a satisfying crunch. Henry staggered back, clutching his nose as blood trickled down his face. He dropped to his knees, his composure shattered. For the first time, he didn’t look smug. He looked stunned.


    Guess who’s laughing now. I muttered under my breath, my adrenaline surging.


    Jade blinked at me, still frozen in shock, before a slow smile spread across her face. I met her gaze and returned the grin, gesturing toward the door with an exaggerated flourish.


    “After you,” I said, stepping aside.


    She hesitated for only a moment before her hand closed around the handle. The door creaked open, and Jade beamed, her victorious grin lighting up the room. Watching her happy made the whole ordeal feel… worth it. Behind us, Gina stood at the base of the stairs, fists clenched in frustration. It seemed she’d hit her limit—no more rewinds. Her anger was palpable, but the game was over, there was nothing she could do anymore. The future was finally set. Smirking, I turned to her and waving slightly in mock gratitude.


    Thank you for your efforts, Gina, my actions oozing with fake politeness.


    Her glare could’ve melted steel, but there was nothing she could do to change the outcome anymore. It seemed three was her limit.


    Jade turned back to me, her excitement still radiating. There was a faint flush on her cheeks as she said softly, “Thanks.” I nodded, keeping my expression as neutral as I could, though a small flutter in my chest threatened to betray me. She’d won, I told myself, glancing at the open door. That was what mattered most.


    The aftermath looked like a small war zone. Gina had already shaken off her bruised pride long enough to sling Alex’s arm over her shoulder and help him hobble to the sofa. His face was twisted in a mix of pain and frustration as he limped along.


    “I didn’t sprain it!” Alex protested through gritted teeth as Gina helped him ease down onto the cushions. “It’s a strategic injury.”


    “Oh, sure,” Gina muttered, rolling her eyes. “Tripping over air was all part of the plan.”


    Alex glared at her, but his rebuttal died as another wave of pain flashed across his face. I moved to Vinico, hoisting his unconscious body over my shoulder. He felt lighter than I expected, more like a pile of laundry than a person. Across the room, Jade was dragging Lore’s limp body toward the sofa with considerably more effort.


    “Need a hand?” I offered, setting Vinico down with a thud.


    “Nope,” she replied, her voice strained. “She’s heavier than she looks, but I’ve got it.”


    Lore’s head lolled as Jade dropped her unceremoniously into an armchair. The faint groan Lore let out as her body slumped spoke volumes about how poorly her plans had gone.


    Once everyone was arranged and conscious again, the room settled into an uneasy quiet.


    Vinico, cradling his head, broke the silence first. “This whole thing was rigged,” he grumbled, his usual energy completely deflated. “If I could’ve just multiplied a little faster—”


    “You’d still have been swatted like a fly,” Gina cut in, smirking from her perch on the armrest of the sofa.


    Vinico slumped further in his seat, crossing his arms like a petulant child. “Whatever.”


    Lore, sitting stiffly and rubbing her temples, let out a long sigh. “Overconfidence,” she muttered to herself, her gaze locked on her hands as if they’d betrayed her. “It was overconfidence, plain and simple. I should’ve anticipated countermeasures.”


    “That’s one way to spin it,” Alex said, still flexing his injured ankle. “Or maybe you just got your ass handed to you. That works too.”


    Lore’s eyes snapped up to him, sharp as daggers. “At least I didn’t sprain my ankle in the middle of a decisive moment.”


    “That’s rich coming from someone who got sucker-punched by Gina,” Alex shot back, wincing as he shifted on the couch.


    “Enough,” Gina interrupted, raising a hand with exaggerated authority. “You’re all just mad I outplayed you.” She leaned back. “But you''ve all forgotten about the biggest criminal.”


    The room suddenly grew quiet again, slowly, the realization seemed to settle on them, like puzzle pieces finally clicking into place. At first, Jade didn’t notice. She was seated cross-legged on the floor, looking perfectly at ease despite the tension in the room. But then, she felt it—the weight of everyone’s collective attention pressing down on her. Slowly, she glanced up, her sharp silver eyes meeting the heated stares directed at her from every corner of the room.


    “What?” Jade asked innocently, leaning back on her hands and raising her eyebrows.


    No one answered her, but the tension was palpable. Finally, she exhaled sharply, her demeanor slipping. Her posture was telling, shoulders slumped and eyes cast down.


    “I’m sorry guys,” she said softly, the sincerity in her voice catching everyone off guard. “I didn’t mean to hurt anyone.”


    Alex’s throat bobbed as he swallowed, the weight of her words sinking in. He didn’t say it, but the unspoken What if you’d stopped someone’s heart? lingered between them like a live wire. Her meta nature made that terrifyingly possible.


    Still, Alex managed to push through his unease. “I don’t blame you,” he said, voice steady but kind. “We all did what we could to win.”Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    He glanced briefly at Lore, an unspoken apology passing between them. Neither seemed eager to dig into their earlier clash.


    But Henry... watching him made my skin crawl. He had this eerie stillness about him, like a predator patiently waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Even through three rewinds, he’d nearly won every time without so much as breaking a sweat. It was unsettling. Who could have guessed his meta nature allowed such precise spatial manipulation? At first, I thought he was just teleporting. But no—it was much more complicated. Henry wasn’t simply moving through space. He was hiding inside other people’s thoughts, slipping into their mental landscapes like a ghost. And then, when the moment was right, he’d use their very thoughts to emerge at their location.


    The idea alone sent shivers down my spine. He could be anywhere, anytime, and we’d never see it coming. Hell, part of him might still be hiding in my thoughts right now, and I wouldn’t even know. No matter how hard I tried to shake the feeling, the thought clung to me like a shadow—what if he was already there, lurking in the corners of my mind, waiting? I had no way to confirm it.


    I glanced toward him, hoping for some kind of tell, some sign that he wasn’t inside my head at that very moment. But, he was simply laughing and chatting with others.


    <hr>


    The takeout bags arrived just as the last bit of sunlight faded from the windows. Alex grabbed the boxes and bags first, setting them down on the center table with a practiced ease.


    “Alright, let’s dig in,” he said.


    The smell of melted cheese and roasted garlic filled the room as I flipped open the first pizza box. Lore didn’t say a word, but she was the first to reach out, grabbing a slice. She bit into it immediately, chewing in the kind of silence that screamed exhaustion.


    “This last breadstick is up for grabs,” Gina announced, holding it up like it was some kind of golden trophy.


    Vinico raised a hand from the far end of the couch, his energy level barely registering. “I’ll take it,” he muttered.


    With a lazy underhand toss, Gina lobbed it toward him. It bounced once on the coffee table before he caught it.


    “You’re welcome,” she said, smirking.


    “Thanks,” he mumbled, biting into it without ceremony.


    Across the table, Jade sat with one leg tucked under her, absently picking at the toppings on her pizza slice. Her silver eyes darted up briefly to meet mine, but she looked away just as quickly.


    Alex nudged me, nodding toward the untouched side of garlic knots in front of me. “You gonna eat those, or are they just for decoration?”


    I slid the container toward him. “Knock yourself out.”


    “Do you think this is the best pizza we’ve had so far?” Henry asked suddenly, breaking the lull.


    “It’s the only pizza we’ve had,” Alex said around a mouthful of garlic knot.


    Henry shot him a look. “You know what I mean.”


    “No,” Lore said, setting down her crust. “The one from last week was better.”


    That earned a few murmurs of agreement, but the conversation fizzled out as quickly as it started. We were all too drained to keep it going.


    Eventually, the pizza boxes were closed, the leftover breadsticks forgotten in their corner. People began drifting toward their rooms, too tired to muster more than a quick “good night” or a vague grunt of acknowledgment. Gina, of course, made one last attempt to stir things up. “Truth or dare?” she asked, hopping onto the arm of the couch and twirling an empty soda can in her hand. Her suggestion was met with eye rolls and exhausted groans. The conversion, rush to the front row, and fight for the single room had thoroughly drained whatever energy we had left. Even Gina''s power couldn''t rewind us back to being energetic enough for social games.


    “Pass,” Vinico said immediately, getting up and stretching her arms overhead. “I’d rather dare my bed to let me sleep for a week.”


    “Come on, you’re all so boring,” Gina groaned, but even she sounded like she was running on fumes.


    “Save it for tomorrow,” Alex called over his shoulder as he headed for the stairs.


    With a final muttered “Buzzkills,” Gina trudged off, leaving the room quiet at last.


    When it came time to sleep, I had chosen to bunk with Alex. Out of everyone, he was the one I trusted most. He didn’t overthink things, didn’t let his emotions cloud his judgment, and always had my back—a rare combination. His straightforwardness and loyalty made him, well, a true bro.


    In our room, I was halfway through changing into something more comfortable when Alex’s voice cut through the quiet.


    “Hey,” he said, leaning back against the wall, arms crossed. “So… what’s going on with you and Jade?”


    I froze, my t-shirt still halfway on, one arm stuck awkwardly in the sleeve. “Who?” I asked, my voice coming out far too squeaky. “Jade? What about her?”


    Alex rolled his eyes so hard I thought they might pop out of his head. “You know exactly what I mean, North. Don’t play dumb. You two were practically sending smoke signals across the room all day. I mean, come on, it was blatant.”


    I tugged the shirt all the way on, avoiding his gaze like it was on fire. “You’re imagining things,” I said, waving a hand dismissively. “She’s just… Jade. Same as always.”


    “Uh-huh,” Alex said, nodding with exaggerated slowness. “Totally normal. That’s why you two were glancing at her every five minutes like each of you would suddenly explode. Or, I don’t know, like you two were practically glued to each other almost all day at the convention.”


    “That’s not—” I started, but the words caught in my throat. Were we that obvious? Dammit! My mind raced through every interaction, every glance, every small moment from the day. And I realized what he said was true. I had been glancing at her, maybe more than I should have. Thinking about her, too—way more than I wanted to admit. But the truth was messier than any simple yes or no – Whatever was happening between Jade and me, we hadn’t even figured it out ourselves. It wasn’t like we were hiding from the others. We were hiding from ourselves, from the uncertainty of what ‘this’ even was. And honestly? That made it all the more terrifying.


    I sighed, raking a hand through my hair. “It’s… complicated, okay?”


    Alex leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Complicated how?”


    I hesitated, the words jamming up in my throat. “We haven’t… we don’t really know what’s going on. It’s not like we’re sneaking around or anything. We’re just—” I broke off, searching for the right words. “We’re figuring it out. Or trying to.”


    Alex sat down on his bed, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. “Okay, so you’re saying there’s something, but you’re both too freaked out to figure out what that is?”


    “Pretty much,” I muttered, climbing up the bed.


    He nodded thoughtfully, like he was filing that away for later. “So… do you like her?”


    “I didn’t say that,” I unrolled my blanket.


    Alex smirked, the knowing glint in his eyes making me instantly regret my reaction. “You didn’t not say it, either.”


    I groaned, “Can we not do this right now?”


    “Sure, sure,” Alex said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. But then he grinned, leaning back and crossing his arms. “For the record, though? I think you do.”


    “What?” I yelped, glaring at him.


    Alex caught my deer-in-headlights expression and grinned, a wide, smug smile that only made me feel more cornered.


    “You don’t have to say anything,” he chuckled, flopping back onto his bed like he’d just solved some great cosmic riddle. His easy confidence was maddening.


    “No,” I protested, the word coming out too sharp, too desperate. “We’re just friends.” My voice cracked on the last word, betraying me like a traitor. The phrase hung in the air, hollow and flimsy even to my own ears.


    Alex’s laugh was soft but brimming with disbelief. “Yeah, sure. Friends. Totally. That’s why you look at her like she holds the secrets of the universe.”


    “You’re imagining things,” I muttered.


    “Right. And you weren’t just feeling happy just now, talking about her. Or earlier. Or every other time she so much as looks in your direction,” Alex said, his voice dripping with amusement. “Honestly, dude, it’s kind of adorable.”


    I stood there, speechless, caught between the urge to defend myself and the gnawing realization that I didn’t even know what I was defending. How could I convince Alex of anything when I wasn’t even sure of the truth myself? Damn you, Alex, I thought bitterly, as the smug look on his face told me he’d managed to unravel my carefully constructed denials with just one infuriatingly simple observation.


    “Hey, no shame in it,” he said with a shrug, his tone softer now. “It’s Jade. She’s got that whole mysterious, dangerous-but-kind-of-irresistible vibe going. Honestly, I’d be more worried if you didn’t have a thing for her.”


    Before I could muster a response, he rolled onto his side and waved me off. “Anyway, good luck with that. You’re gonna need it.”


    ヽ(°〇°)? ?? (If you guys find romance cringy, feel free to stop here; the rest of the chapter can be skipped.)


    Later that night, as my mind teetered on the edge of sleep, my phone buzzed on the nightstand. Groggily, I reached for it, blinking against the harsh light of the screen. The message was simple. Just one word:


    Cuddle?


    I stared at the text, caught between disbelief and amusement. Did she really just ask that? Had one day of me being her human teddy bear gotten her hooked? Not that I could complain. If anything, I probably wanted to hold her more than she wanted to be held. My heart fluttered, betraying how thoroughly it was no longer my own. My thoughts circled back to Jade for what felt like the hundredth time that day. She was always on my mind, threading her way into every quiet moment. She was slowly but surely wrapping me in her web, like a spider carefully cocooning a fly.


    Hopefully, she wouldn’t eat me… though honestly, that might not be so bad.


    I shook my head, jolting myself out of the ridiculous thought. Get it together, North, I scolded myself.


    My fingers hovered over the phone, hesitating for a moment before I finally typed something simple:


    “Alex is awake. In two hours.”


    I pressed send, but the momentary satisfaction didn’t last. My phone buzzed again almost immediately with her reply.


    “Two hours? That’s forever.”


    I smiled, my earlier grogginess replaced by a flicker of excitement. “Patience is a virtue,” I typed back.


    Her response came even faster this time. “And you think I’m virtuous?”


    I laughed softly, the sound barely audible in the quiet room. “Fair point.”


    What started as a single message turned into a steady stream of texts back and forth. Minutes blurred into an hour, then another, as we exchanged teasing quips, sarcastic observations, and tiny admissions that neither of us would have dared to say out loud.


    “So, are you saying I was the highlight of your day?” she wrote.


    I paused, considering how to respond. My instinct was to play it cool, to give her some witty answer that kept the mood light. But the thought of lying—even playfully—felt wrong.


    “You were the whole damn day,” I replied before I could stop myself.


    The ellipsis indicating her typing lingered for a long moment. Finally, her reply appeared:


    “You can’t just say things like that.”


    “Why not?”


    “Because… I don’t know what to do with it.”


    When the two-hour mark finally hit, I glanced over at Alex. He was sprawled across his bed like a corpse, arms splayed at awkward angles. For a split second, I actually worried he might be dead. But then his chest rose slightly, and I let out a relieved breath. Taking no chances, I activated my intangibility, letting my body phase through the door with the silence of a ghost. The hallway was dim and quiet, the kind of stillness that felt alive. Every step toward Jade’s room made my pulse race faster, anticipation and nerves swirling into a mess I couldn’t untangle.


    What are you doing? my rational mind whispered, but my heart had long since drowned it out.


    When I reached her door, my hand gripped the knob. My heart thundered so loudly I swore it might wake her—or alert someone. I took a slow, deep breath, trying to steady myself. Calm down, idiot, I told myself. It’s just Jade.


    But just as I was about to turn the knob, movement flickered at the edge of my vision.


    Shit.


    I froze, glancing over to see Gina standing in the hallway, mid-step, holding an enormous bowl of ice cream. Her eyes locked on me, wide and sparkling with mischief. The grin that slowly spread across her face was equal parts amusement and evil glee.


    She raised an eyebrow, her expression practically screaming, Caught ya.


    Her gaze darted from the door, to me, to the bowl of ice cream, and then back to me, her lips twitching as if she was trying to hold back laughter. The faint clink of her spoon against the ceramic bowl was the only sound, magnified in the dead silence of the hallway.


    “What are you—” I started, keeping my voice barely above a whisper.


    Her lips curled into a sly, knowing smile that made my stomach drop. She tilted her head, her expression screaming, Oh, I know exactly what’s happening here. She raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying herself far too much.


    I shot her a glare, pressing a finger to my lips. “Don’t you dare,” I hissed.


    Gina grinned even wider, like a Cheshire Cat on a sugar high. She took an exaggerated bite of ice cream, clearly stalling just to draw out the tension. Then, after an unnecessarily slow swallow, she whispered back in a sing-song voice, “Ohhh, North’s sneaking off for a midnight rendezvous…”


    “Keep your voice down!” I snapped.


    Her grin widened into something downright devious. She pointed to her bowl of ice cream, then to me, and gave a mocking thumbs-up before pretending to zip her lips. I didn’t trust her for a second, but I had bigger things to worry about. To hell with her and her late-night snacks, I thought, as I turned the knob and slipped inside Jade’s room, closing the door firmly behind me. The quiet click of the latch felt like a barrier between me and whatever torment Gina was already cooking up in her mind. The room was dim, bathed in pale moonlight streaming through the curtains. Jade lay in bed, her face relaxed, eyes closed. For a moment, I hesitated. Was she asleep? Or pretending? The thought that she might be second-guessing her own invitation brought a small, amused smile to my lips.


    I moved quietly, each step careful as I approached the bed. The room was filled with that strange, silence, the kind that buzzes with possibility. Slowly, I slid under the covers beside her, the mattress dipping slightly under my weight. The space between us was small—just a few inches—but it felt impossibly charged. I lay there, my body stiff with awareness of her every breath, the faint rustle of the sheets, the warmth radiating from her. My thoughts were a tangled storm of Should I hold her? and What if this is a mistake?


    I felt like I’d stepped into a sauna, the heat spreading through my bodies in waves with each passing moment.


    Be calm, I repeat my mantra. You’ve faced the worst of the worst out there.


    This is just a girl.


    A very pretty girl, who smelled really nice.


    The tension had been building like a dam ready to burst, and I was holding my breath, afraid that one wrong move might shatter… Well, whatever the hell this was. And then, just as I was convincing myself to relax, Jade moved.


    And I mean really moved.


    Her entire body shifted in one fluid motion until she was on top of me, her knees straddling my hips, her arms braced on either side of my head. For a moment, all I could do was stare up at her, my breath stolen. Her silver eyes locked onto mine, unblinking, intense. I wanted to tell myself she looked super cute—because she did, alway, obviously—but there was nothing "cute" about the intensity in her gaze. It was… predatory.


    Like, eat-you-alive predatory.


    The look in her eyes was pure, barely restrained desire, possibly even more intense than what I was fighting to contain within myself.


    I felt like I’d just handed over the steering wheel, and she was fully in control.


    I lay there frozen, all my careful thoughts about taking things slow, about figuring things out gradually, evaporating under that heated gaze. Somewhere in the back of my mind, a voice reminded me that I could phase through matter, escape if I needed to. But I didn''t want to escape. I couldn''t have moved if the house was on fire.


    Then she leaned down, and my heart threatened to explode. Time slowed. Was this it? Were we about to cross the line? The big line?


    But instead of kissing me, she did something so completely unexpected that my brain actually rebooted itself: she buried her face in my chest and sniffed me.


    Like a cat.


    She inhaled deeply, pausing for a moment like she was committing the smell of my laundry detergent—or maybe my deodorant—to memory. My entire nervous system lit up like a Christmas tree. Her body was warm against mine, and the way she pressed closer—like she wanted to crawl into my very soul—made me feel more vulnerable than I’d ever been.


    "Uh…" was all I managed to choke out.


    She stayed there for a beat longer, her breath steady and measured against my chest. Then, slowly, she lifted her head, her eyes locking onto mine again. When she looked back up at me, that mischievous gleam in her eyes hit me harder than any meta ability I''d ever encountered.


    “That’s… a move,” I said weakly, trying for humor.


    “You smell… so good,” she said, her voice soft.


    “Thanks?” I squeaked.


    But she noticed my stumped expression.


    “Did you think I was going to kiss you?” she asked, her voice low, a wicked smile curling her lips.


    I opened my mouth to answer, but no sound came out. My thoughts spun out of control, spiraling in every direction, struggling to make sense of the moment.


    What was she doing?


    Was this a game? A test? It was all I could do to keep myself from losing control entirely.


    She titled her head, her smile widening.


    “You already smell mine,” she whispered softly, her breath warm against my ear. Each word carried a warmth that sent lightning through every nerve ending in my body.


    That gentle confession was the final crack in a dam I hadn''t even realized was so close to breaking. In the space of a single heartbeat, between one blink of her eyes and the next, I barely registered the movement. One moment, she was above me, her presence overwhelming. The next, I was hovering over her, our positions reversed, like gravity itself had tilted in my favor. Our gazes locked, and for a fleeting second, I thought I caught a flicker of surprise in her eyes. But it melted away just as quickly. She lay beneath me in just shorts and a oversized white tshirt that left little to imagination. The blanket draped over us created our own private world, a cocoon of trapped heat that seemed to melt away any remaining barriers between us.


    Her dark hair fanned out across the pillow like a halo, though nothing about the moment felt angelic. Her arms were splayed above her head, loose but open.


    Why had we been fighting this? Why had I been fighting this?


    The question lingered at the edges of my mind, but the answer didn’t matter. Not anymore. The two candies of truth from earlier in the day melted on my tongue, their sweetness intensifying everything I was feeling. A small, irrational part of me wanted to confirm that her motives were as genuine as they seemed, but another part of me—the louder part—didn’t care. Maybe she was the same, waiting, waiting to see my true colors.


    Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her breaths shallow and quick, matching the rhythm of my own. The soft flush climbing her neck spread to her cheeks, her skin glowing faintly in the moonlight. Her lips parted, trembling slightly as she struggled to steady herself, though I could see her losing the battle. She was as undone as I was. Whatever composure she’d wrapped herself in had crumbled, just like mine. But her vulnerability only made her more breathtaking.


    I couldn’t hold back anymore—I didn’t want to. I leaned down, and our lips met.


    At first, the kiss was soft, tentative, as if we were both afraid this fragile moment might shatter. But then, like a dam breaking, it deepened, spilling over with emotions neither of us could hold back. Her arms slowly rose, her hands cupping my face with a touch that was featherlight yet grounding, anchoring me to her as her body pressed against mine. There was no space left between us—just heat and closeness, a connection that felt both overwhelming and natural. She kissed with an intensity that stole my breath, matching the fire that had been burning in her eyes earlier. Her body moved instinctively, one of her legs curling around mine, pulling me closer, as though proximity alone wasn’t enough. She tilted her head slightly, her fingers trailing down from my jaw to my neck, her touch igniting sparks across my skin. Her hands trembled as they moved, hesitant yet determined, as if she couldn’t quite believe what she was doing but couldn’t bring herself to stop. When her nails lightly pressed against the nape of my neck, the fleeting sensation sent a shiver down my spine.


    The need for oxygen grew more urgent with every passing second, but neither of us seemed willing to break away. This moment felt too precious, too perfect to interrupt for something as mundane as breathing. My hands slid down to her waist, gripping her firmly and pulling her impossibly closer. Her body leaned into mine, her warmth seeping through every layer, making it impossible to tell where she ended and I began. My fingers tangled in her hair gently, as I tilted her head back, deepening the kiss. Her breath hitched, a sound that sent a rush of heat through me, and her body arched slightly against mine, her chest brushing against me as if she was trying to erase every last inch of distance. Then her other leg moved, wrapping itself around my waist, locking me in place. I staggered slightly under the force of her pull, but it didn’t matter. Nothing else did.


    Finally, when my lungs screamed for air, we reluctantly pulled back, both of us gasping as though we’d been underwater too long. We stayed there, foreheads pressed together, our ragged breaths mingling in the small, cramped blanket of space we occupied.


    Her hands remained on my face, her thumbs brushing my skin as if she was afraid I might disappear if she let go.


    "Wow," she whispered, her voice husky and barely audible.


    In the quiet of the moment, I could hear her heart hammering in her chest, its rhythm louder than her words. Or maybe it was my own—I couldn’t tell.


    I grinned, my pulse matching her tempo, and let out a breathless laugh.


    "Yeah," I breathed. "Wow."


    "Hehehe," She let out a soft giggle, a tear escaping from the corner of her eye.