Swellview High is loud.
Too loud.
Christina walks through the hallway like she owns it—hoodie up, attitude on.
Henry walks beside her.
Trying to act normal.
Failing.
Jasper trails behind.
"…So are we ignoring the fact you two are basically dating now or—"
Henry snaps—
"WE ARE NOT—"
Christina casually cuts in—
"We kissed."
Henry freezes.
Jasper gasps like he just witnessed history.
"I KNEW IT."
Charlotte groans.
"Please stop talking."
Henry rubs his face.
"…This is my nightmare."
Christina smirks.
"You love it."
Henry mutters—
"I really don't."
But his ears are red.
Then—
A voice cuts through the hallway.
"Henry?"
Everything stops.
Henry's blood runs cold.
Slowly—
He turns.
Standing at the end of the hallway…
Is Bianca.
Confident.
Perfect.
Very much his ex.
Henry whispers—
"…Oh no."
Christina looks between them.
"…Who's that."
Jasper whispers dramatically—
"THE EX."
Charlotte facepalms.
"Of course."
Bianca walks closer.
Eyes locked on Henry.
"…Wow."
She smiles.
"Long time."
Henry laughs awkwardly.
"Yeah… yeah, it's been—time."
Bianca glances at Christina.
Then back at Henry.
"…You didn't tell me you moved on."
Christina raises an eyebrow.
"Oh, we're doing this?"
Henry panics.
"No—no—we're not—"
Bianca steps closer.
"…So you're with her?"
Christina answers before Henry can.
"Yeah."
Henry chokes.
"WHAT—"
Christina grabs his arm.
Smiling sweetly.
Bianca's smile tightens.
"…Interesting."
Henry whispers harshly—
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING."
Christina whispers back—
"Winning."
Henry:
"I DIDN'T AGREE TO THIS."
Christina:
"Too late."
Bianca studies them.
Then steps closer to Henry.
Lower voice.
"…You always liked complicated, huh?"
Christina cuts in—
"He upgraded."
Bianca's eyes flash.
"Oh, I can tell."
Tension.
Thick.
Sharp.
Charlotte mutters—
"…This is gonna end badly."
Then Piper appears.
"…Oh my god."
Piper looks between Bianca and Christina.
"…This is better than Netflix."
Henry groans.
"WHY ARE YOU HERE."
Piper holds up her notebook.
"Research."
Christina smirks.
"I like her."
Bianca crosses her arms.
"…So what's your deal?"
Christina tilts her head.
"What's yours?"
Bianca steps closer.
"…I used to date him."
Christina shrugs.
"And now you don't."
Bianca's voice sharpens.
"…You think you're better than me?"
Christina smiles.
"I don't think. I know."
Jasper chokes.
"OH MY GOD."
Henry:
"STOP ENCOURAGING THIS."
Bianca turns to Henry.
"…You're just gonna let her talk like that?"
Henry looks between them.
Then—
"…Yeah."
Bianca's expression drops slightly.
"…Wow."
Christina glances at Henry.
Surprised.
Then smirks.
"…Good answer."
Henry mutters—
"I'm surviving, not choosing sides."
Bianca steps back.
"…You've changed."
Henry shrugs.
"…Yeah."
Bianca looks at Christina one last time.
"…Good luck with him."
Christina smirks.
"I won't need it."
Bianca walks away.
But the tension stays.
Then—
Henry turns to Christina.
"…Why did you do that."
Christina shrugs.
"…She was annoying."
Henry steps closer.
"No."
His voice is quieter now.
"…You were jealous."
Christina freezes.
"…No I wasn't."
Henry raises an eyebrow.
"…You literally claimed me."
Christina looks away.
"…Shut up."
Henry smiles slightly.
"…You like me."
Christina glares.
"Don't push it."
But her voice is softer now.
Later — Man Cave
The mood is different.
Heavy.
Christina sits on the couch.
Quiet.
Ray stands nearby.
Watching her.
He finally speaks.
"…We need to talk."
Christina doesn't look up.
"…About what."
Ray exhales.
"…Everything."
She stiffens.
"…Now?"
Ray nods.
"…Now."
The room quiets.
Even Jasper shuts up.
Ray sits across from her.
"…When you were five…"
Christina's hands tighten.
"…Don't."
Ray continues anyway.
"There was a mission."
His voice is steady—but barely.
"A group targeted me."
Christina looks up slowly.
"…Like now."
Ray nods.
"…Worse."
He swallows.
"They couldn't hurt me."
So they went for you."
Silence.
Christina's breathing slows.
"…You let them take me."
Ray shakes his head immediately.
"I didn't know until it was too late."
Her voice cracks—
"…You didn't come."
Ray's voice breaks.
"I did."
The room stills.
Christina blinks.
"…What."
Ray looks at her.
Eyes filled with something raw.
"I searched for you."
Christina's chest tightens.
"For years."
Schwoz nods quietly.
"…He never stopped."
Ray continues—
"I found leads. Trails. Nothing stuck."
His voice drops.
"…Until you showed up here."
Christina's eyes shine.
"…So you just… gave up."
Ray shakes his head.
"…No."
He leans forward.
"I survived."
The words hit hard.
Christina's voice is barely there.
"…That's not the same."
Ray nods slowly.
"…I know."
Silence stretches.
Then—
Christina whispers—
"…Why didn't you tell me."
Ray answers honestly.
"…Because I thought you'd hate me."
Christina laughs quietly.
"…I do."
Ray flinches.
But doesn't look away.
"…I know."
She looks at him.
Really looks.
"…But I also…"
She stops.
Struggling.
"…I don't know."
Ray nods.
"…That's okay."
For once—
No yelling.
No chaos.
Just truth.
Across Town
The villain watches.
Bianca stands beside them.
Smiling slightly.
"…He still cares about her."
The villain nods.
"…Good."
Bianca crosses her arms.
"…So when do we strike."
The villain smiles.
"…Soon."