[31 Day's Home]
The living room was barely recognizable. Under the watchful eye of Dylan, who had finally retreated behind the heavy oak doors with a "keep it down" look that was more hopeful than stern, the four of them had constructed a literal blanket palace.
It was a maze of fleece blankets and silk pillows, anchored by heavy encyclopedias. Inside, the air smelled like General Tso's chicken and strawberry gummies. The flickering glow of a laptop screen was the only light, casting long, dancing shadows against the "ceiling" of the fort.
Annie sat cross-legged, tucked between Ellie and Ethan. Since she and Ellie had clicked a month ago, the brown haired girl had become her unofficial shield.
"Okay, ground rules," Ellie announced, her silver tongue sharpening as she pointed a gummy worm at her brother. "Riley, if you use a single 'pickup line' or try that 'my arm is tired' move on Annie, I will personally kick you out of the fort and into the hallway. It's her birthday. Let her breathe."
Riley, who was vibrating with his usual high-octane energy, threw his hands up in mock surrender. "I am hurt. Offended, even! I am a delight. Right, Annie? I'm like a human golden retriever."
Annie offered a small, shy smile. "A golden retriever that talks a lot, Riley."
"See? She likes me!" Riley chirped, reaching for a spring roll. "But seriously, Annie- eighteen. The big one. You feel any different? More... adult? Sophisticated?"
Ethan, who had been uncharacteristically quiet while dismantling a crab rangoon, shifted closer to Annie. His shoulder brushed hers- a steady, grounding presence that made the "newness" of the group feel less overwhelming.
"She's been an adult since she started putting up with us," Ethan muttered, his voice low and raspy. He glanced at Annie, his usual short-tempered edge replaced by something softer. "You don't have to feel any different. It's just a Tuesday with better food."
"Spoken like a true cynic," Ellie teased, though she watched Ethan closely. She was protective, and she knew Ethan's reputation for being stubborn, but she saw the way he guarded Annie's space.
The conversation drifted as they shared a large bag of salt-and-vinegar chips. Because they had only known each other a month, there were still those "getting to know you" silences that felt a bit fragile.
"I like it in here," Annie said softly, breaking a lull. She looked around at the makeshift walls. "It feels... safe. Thanks for coming. I know I haven't been the most 'fun' person lately.
The mention of her mother hung in the air, but it didn't feel heavy- it felt acknowledged.
"Hey," Riley said, his voice actually dropping an octave into sincerity. "We're the 'New Crew.' We don't care about the 'fun' version of you. We like the version that lets us eat junk food in a tent."
"Exactly," Ellie added, nudging Annie's shoulder with her own. "And if Vanessa or Peggy try to ruin the 'birthday glow' tomorrow at school, they have to go through me. And I've been told I'm very annoying when I'm being protective."
Ethan didn't say anything, but he reached out and casually grabbed another napkin for Annie, his hand lingering near hers for just a second too long to be accidental. To anyone else, he looked bored. To Annie, he looked like he was exactly where he wanted to be.
The laptop light flickered as a horror movie played on mute in the background. The "New Crew" was huddled in a tight circle, the air thick with the smell of chocolate and the lighthearted tension of a game that was quickly becoming the highlight of the night.
"Okay, Ethan. Your turn," Riley grinned, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "You've been dodging all night. Truth or dare?"
Ethan leaned back against a pile of pillows, his dark eyes darting to Annie for a split second before settling on Riley. "Truth. Let's get it over with."
Riley rubbed his hands together. "Simple one, then. How old were you when you had your first kiss? And don't lie, I can smell fear."
Ethan's expression didn't change, but his posture went unnaturally still. "Define 'kiss'."
Ellie rolled her eyes, laughing. "Oh, come on! Professional standards? Lip to lip, Ethan. It's not a trick question."
The atmosphere in the fort shifted. Annie felt a sudden chill, her mind flashing back to the cold, dark weight of the lake and the way the air had felt like lead in her lungs. She looked at Ethan, her heart hammering against her ribs.
"Fourteen," Ethan said, his voice dropping into a register that made the twins go quiet. "But I was breathing life back into her."
The silence that followed was heavy. Riley's grin faltered, and Ellie's brow furrowed in confusion. They didn't know about the girl at the lake, they didn't know about the hands that had pushed her or the way the school whispered "suicide attempt" when it was actually a miracle she survived.
"Wait... like, CPR?" Riley asked, his usual bounce dampened by the intensity in Ethan's eyes. "Who was it?"
Ethan didn't look at the twins. He kept his gaze fixed on Annie, a silent communication passing between them- a shared secret of trauma and survival. "I don't say names," Ethan replied firmly, his voice taming as he spoke directly to her. "But she knows who she is."
Annie looked down at her hands, her fingers trembling slightly. She knew. She remembered the taste of lake water and the desperate, frantic warmth of Ethan's mouth against hers, forcing the world back into her lungs when she had been seconds away from slipping under for good.