As soon as Jessi stepped inside, she didn't even bother greeting anyone else. Her eyes scanned the room, and without wasting a second, she headed straight for the couch where Zim was sprawled out—still knocked out from all the drinking and chaos earlier.
Jessi dropped to her knees beside the couch, her brows furrowed in worry.
"Zim?" she whispered, gently shaking her shoulder. "Zim, are you okay?"
But the moment Zim cracked one eye open and saw Jessi's face, it was like a sudden spark lit up inside her.
Her eyes flew wide, and she immediately sat up—slightly wobbly but very much awake now.
"Oh my god, love, you're here!" she squealed, voice raspy from the nap (and possibly the vodka).
Before Jessi could even respond, Zim threw her arms around her and started planting sloppy kisses on her cheeks.
"You're so late! I was waiting for you all day, you evil little tease," she pouted between kisses.
Jessi chuckled, half-relieved, half-amused. "Well, you seem fine to me now."
Zim just clung to her tighter, nuzzling into her neck like a koala.
"I was dying. Now I'm alive again," she whispered dramatically, making everyone nearby either laugh or roll their eyes.
Nova, still holding a broom, muttered with a smile, "Yep… she's perfectly fine now."
Jessi carefully helped Zim sit properly on the couch, brushing a few messy strands of hair from her girlfriend's face. Zim, still half in her dramatic daze, leaned into the touch like a pampered cat.
Jace, watching from the other side of the room while holding an empty pizza box, called out with a teasing tone,
"Y'all done with your reunion of the century or should we get you two a spotlight and background music?"
Zim didn't even look his way. She waved him off blindly, like a queen dismissing a servant.
"Let the peasants clean. My royal moment just arrived."
Everyone laughed.
Jessi rolled her eyes but smiled, then glanced around the room.
"What the hell happened here? It looks like a frat house exploded."
Nova groaned. "We were just... celebrating. Then partying. Then spiraling. Now surviving."
Jessi stood up, helping Zim steady herself beside her.
"Y'all need hydration and therapy. In that order."
Just then, Kael walked in from the kitchen holding two bottles of water and tossed one toward Zim.
"Catch!"
Zim barely caught it, blinking at it like it was a foreign object.
"Is this poison?"
"It's called 'water,' idiot. Drink it or die," Kael deadpanned.
Zim giggled and leaned her head on Jessi's shoulder again. "I missed you."
"I can tell," Jessi said, wrapping an arm around her waist. "You look like you wrestled a tornado."
Nova looked over. "She kinda did. Thea was the tornado."
Everyone burst into laughter again as Thea flipped them off from across the room while holding an ice pack to her forehead.
The energy in the room slowly turned light again—hints of chaos still lingered, but with Jessi here, it felt a bit more balanced. A little warmer.
And just like that, it felt like the gang was whole again. Even if only for a while.
Ding-dong.
The doorbell rang again, cutting through the chill buzz still lingering in the air. Kael, barely recovered from the chaos inside, walked to the door with his usual scowl, already mumbling, "If this is another delivery guy, I swear—"
He opened the door—
And Leo was standing there.
Tall, dark, and emotionally unavailable as ever. His car keys were still in his hand, sunglasses tucked into the collar of his black shirt, and a look on his face like he was so done with everything.
Kael froze.
Leo smirked, slow and smug.
"Missed me?"
But before either could get a word out—
SPLASH!!!
A full bucket of water came flying from inside and drenched both of them.
Soaked. Head to toe. Like someone had dropped them in a swimming pool.
They both gasped at the same time—cold water dripping from hair, faces, shirts, and pride.
Kael's mouth dropped open, blinking water out of his eyes.
Leo ran a hand down his wet face, growling, "What the—?!"
From behind the doorframe, Zim, Jessi, and Nova popped their heads out—each holding a plastic cup and looking absolutely horrified.
Zim pointed at Leo and squeaked, "That was meant for just him!!"
Nova covered her mouth, muttering, "Abort mission—abort mission—"
Jessi looked like she was trying not to laugh but failing. "In our defense, we thought Leo would be alone..."
Kael slowly turned to glare at them all. His soaked shirt clung to him like betrayal.
Leo stood beside him, arms out a little, like really?
Kael wiped his face, took a long breath, and muttered under his breath,
"I hate this house."
Leo, dripping beside him, added with a straight face,
"Next time I knock, just punch me instead."
And from somewhere inside the house, Jace yelled,
"I GOT THAT ON CAMERA!!!"
Zim shouted back, "UPLOAD IT RIGHT NOW!"
And just like that, Kael and Leo were dragged into the chaos they both pretended they didn't miss.
As the water soaked through Kael's white t-shirt, time slowed—at least for everyone watching.
The thin, clingy fabric stuck to his skin, outlining his chest, his slim waist, and the faint lines that hinted at a surprisingly toned body. His skin, pale and smooth, seemed to glow under the droplets, and his damp hair clung to his forehead, making him look like he'd walked straight out of a drama scene.
There was a second of silence.
And then—
Leo's eyes shamelessly dragged down his body.
No blinking. No shame.
Just pure, wide-eyed, stunned appreciation.
His lips twitched with a smirk like he had discovered some forbidden treasure.
"Wow," he muttered, just loud enough.
Nova, standing behind them, choked on air.
"Leo!" she snapped, rushing over with a towel, her expression shifting between horror and panic. "Stop staring! KAEL, COVER UP!"
But Kael… still frozen. Half mad. Half embarrassed. Completely dripping.
Jessi? On the floor.
She clutched her stomach, wheezing through laughter.
"This—THIS IS PEAK COMEDY. THE WAY HE'S DRIPPING AND LEO'S STARING—OH MY GOD."
Zim was clapping. Like an award show had just begun.
"I swear, if this was a drama, this would be Episode 6 material."
Thea, ever the chaos child, whispered, "God took his time on Kael… and now we're blessed with the result."
Meanwhile…
Jace stormed into the scene like an overprotective dad.
His eyes scanned Kael once, then shot to Leo like knives.
He shoved a towel into Kael's hands with a growl.
"PUT. THIS. ON."
Leo tilted his head, grinning. "What? I was just admiring the view."
Jace's fist clenched. "Admire from the grave."
Nova tried to cover Kael with the towel herself, whispering, "Kael please, this is getting out of hand—"
Kael, now very much aware of everything, snatched the towel. "I swear I'm going to kill all of you."
Leo raised a brow, still staring. "Looking that good should be a crime anyway."
Zim whispered to Jessi, "I don't even feel bad. I'm living."
Jessi whispered back, "I'll never unsee this. Thank God."
Thea sipped her drink and declared, "This moment is going in the groupchat."
Kael sighed deeply, towel over his head now.
"Burn the house. Burn everything."
But Leo just smiled, slow and cheeky.
"Only if you're in it, sweetheart."