We were barely ten minutes into our chaos therapy when the door creaked open.
Everyone turned.
In walked one of the junior reporters from the school's gossip blog, holding a notepad and a phone like she was ready to start a war.
"Hey," she chirped, fake-sweet. "Quick question—any comments on the hallway assault that just happened outside the cafeteria?"
Thea stood up so fast her chair scraped the floor.
"Assault?" she said, voice calm but deadly. "Oh, honey. I just spilled my drink."
Nova grinned darkly. "And she happened to be under it."
The reporter didn't budge. "So you're admitting it?"
"Admitting she's got great aim?" Zim offered. "Sure."
Leo sighed and stood up, walking toward the reporter slowly, arms folded. "Listen, Casey," he said, using her name like a knife. "You didn't see anything. And if you did, you forgot. Got it?"
Casey shifted uncomfortably. "That's not how journalism works—"
"No," Nova cut in, eyes locked. "That's how we work."
Casey turned pale and backed out of the room with a nervous smile. "O-okay. Got it. Have a nice day."
The door clicked shut.
Silence.
Then Jace whistled. "Damn. We are terrifying."
"I live for it," Thea said, cracking her knuckles.
"Now," Leo said, spinning back toward me, "where were we? Oh, right—you still haven't told me why you always sit between Nova and Thea like a goddamn royal. You think I'm gonna bite?"
I blinked. "You've literally threatened to."
"Only with love," he teased.
Nova fake-gagged.
I narrowed my eyes. "Maybe I just don't like your face."
Leo leaned in closer. "That's a lie. You love this face."
My leg accidentally (on purpose) kicked his under the table.
He winced. "Abuse. There's witnesses."
Zim raised her drink. "Cheers to it."
Then, out of nowhere, Jace went quiet.
Like too quiet.
I noticed it first. He was staring at the floor, hands fidgeting with the sleeve of his jacket—a rare sight for someone who usually couldn't shut up even if paid to.
He suddenly spoke, voice low but clear, "I never thought… I'd be good with you two." He nodded toward Thea and Leo.
The room went a bit still. Thea blinked, surprised. Leo raised a brow.
Then—of course—Leo smirked like the menace he is. "Ohh… is the prince missing someone?" he said in a sing-song tone.
Everyone froze. Even Zim, mid-chip bite, stopped.
Nova narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean by that?"
Aven: "Leo. What exactly are you implying?"
Leo just leaned back with that smug look. "Nothing. Just... you know. Sometimes silence says more than words."
But Jace didn't let it go on. He scoffed, rolling his eyes. "It doesn't matter."
Then he got up and walked to the window, pretending to be interested in the sky, like we'd forget how weird that moment was.
We didn't.
Thea glanced at me, clearly putting something together. Zim mouthed, "Tea?" and I just nodded slowly.
Yup.
Something was definitely up with Jace.
And we were going to find out. Eventually.
Zim tossed a pillow at Jace. "Bro, what's with the sudden emotional monologue? You dying or something?"
Jace caught it without turning. "Just thinking."
That alone was suspicious.
Thea narrowed her eyes, arms crossed, clearly debating whether to push him more. But Leo beat her to it.
Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on his knees, lips curled in amusement. "Thinking? Since when does Jace think instead of punching someone or flirting with the nearest wall?"
Aven stifled a laugh while Nova just went, "He's been like this since this morning."
Thea tilted her head. "What happened this morning?"
Jace turned slightly, face unreadable. "Nothing that concerns you."
Wrong answer.
Leo raised a brow. "Oof. That's what someone with a secret says."
Zim's eyes lit up. "IS IT A GIRL? OR—wait—is it a guy?!"
Jace groaned. "Can you all just—"
Nova cut in sharply, "If it's serious, we should know. We're your people, Jace."
He sighed heavily, as if fighting with himself. Then, voice low, almost too soft for him, he muttered, " This is the problem which can be solve ?"
And then suddenly he luagh in pain. And winking towards nova he said ," its time to find someone "
Nova groaned and rolled eyes ," shit! This asshole never gonna be serious "
Then he asked to ," hey Aven are you coming are not "
Thea look at Aven with eyes of fire then Aven said , " bro im out of your shit"
Then nova and zim chuckled, and Jace look at leo , " Are you coming? "
Leo look at me and said ," nah man "
Then saying bye he he close the door of club room then Zim was sleeping and Aven thea and leo was playing game and nova and I deep down in books .
Then I realize someone's eyes are staring at me when look so it was leo staring at me .
I looked around the clubroom, eyes scanning the lazy chaos that was my friend group sprawled across beanbags, half-eaten snacks, and discarded shoes. The clock on the wall made my stomach drop.
"Nova," I said, nudging her arm gently, "it's time to go home."
She didn't respond right away. Her nose was still buried in a book, legs tucked up under her, highlighter dangling from her fingers like she was solving the mystery of the universe.
"Nova," I said again, this time poking her side.
She blinked, looked up slowly, clearly just now realizing that time had flown by.
I gave her a flat look. "Let's go home before the janitor locks us inside."
She sighed dramatically, closed her book with a snap, then stood up and clapped her hands like an exhausted mother dealing with unruly kids.
"Alright, listen up, idiots," she called out, voice echoing in the clubroom. "Pack your trash, gather your dignity—if you still have any—and let's go home."
Zim groaned from where she was laying upside-down on the couch. "Why do you sound like my actual mom?"
"Because I basically am," Nova replied. "Now move before I lose custody."
Aven stretched, Jace grumbled, Thea rolled her eyes, and Leo stood beside me, smirking.
"Guess the day's over," he said, and for once, he wasn't flirting—just soft.
I just nodded. For now, the chaos was done. For now.
Then on gate nova said ,"are you going home alone kael?"
I said " yeah cuaze Jace is gone "
Zim said , " kael on your location and if you feel starnge so call any of us "
I nodded in "yes"
I start to walk towards home and then someone's car stop beside me and guess who it is leo
I ignored, and start to walk but then he called my name is turn to him and ask him " what ?"
He folded his arms ,"come in "
" and for what ? Why ? "
He chuckled and said ," my gun "
As I geared the word gun i directly hope in car and drown me home .
We entered in my room and I went to my locker and unlock it and take gun in my hand and hand it to him .
He took it while smiling brightly I noticed his smile is attractive but I shake off the thought .
Then I curious ask him ," how many shady business are you in ?"
He look at me with brows up , " Why you wanna know ?"
"Umm just asked "
He laughed and said ,"Baby girl ...why are you shy just say it you wanna know me . "
I rolled my eyes ," no way ... your so delulu "
He sat on my bed while admiring his gun . And the he suddenly said , " you know i never ever give my gun to any one "
"So what ?" I said with straight face .
He grabbed my wrist and pull me on his lap . I was shocked as hell my heart is on clouds like im going to die in one site my ears are hot but another site fear of being murdered by leo like man i love my life .