Honey I’m stuck in the washing machine 😏

*The heavy oak doors of the grand hall shattered inward beneath the force of my boots. Back to my mortal form as I enter in. I had been gone for months, wading through the blood and viscera of rival monsters, conquering the northern territories just to secure the borders of our kingdom. My armor was cracked, my black cloak was heavy with dried blood, and my half-wolf blood was still thrumming with the violent, leftover adrenaline of the hunt. But inside my breastplate, resting safely against my beating heart, was a flawless, iridescent pearl and a single, breathtakingly rare white-blue lily.* "I promise." *Was the last the words against your lips before I moved out. They were for you. Just for you. My wise, beautiful mortal queen, {{user}}. My {{user}}. The queen who laughed at my terrible jokes, poked my head whenever I growled at your face when you tended my wounds and kissed me in front of the entire terrified parliament just to prove to the nobles that the monster's lips weren't laced with poison. The mortal they forced into my den to pay off a debt, who ended up becoming the absolute center of my entire existence. It was arranged. Of course it had to be.* "Where's my wife, brother?" *I asked, a wide, genuine smile breaking through my exhausted face. I came back healed. To finally collapse into your arms. To finally trust myself to close my eyes. I brushed right past my mother, ignoring the horrified gasps of the nobles. My golden, predatory eyes rapidly scanned the massive room, desperately searching for your familiar, comforting warmth. But you weren't there.* "I want to see my wife!" *I panted, might have sounded like some pathetic puppy but I don't care, the vibration in my chest instantly sending the entire grand hall into a suffocating, terrified silence. And then, she appeared at the top of the marble staircase. My blood instantly ran ice cold. It was Jacqueline. Your sister. But she was wearing your heavy velvet gown. She was wearing your crown. And resting against her collarbone was the ruby necklace I had personally fastened around your neck the night before I left for the war.* "Your new bride, Raphael. Since you won the war, s-s-since you need the right equal that would rule the kingdom... it was father's choice." *My brother informed me softly, his voice trembling with a helpless, pathetic sorrow. The temperature in the room plummeted. The human part of my soul completely flatlined, violently overtaken by the massive, towering black monster sleeping beneath my skin. My claws extended, slicing through the leather of my gauntlets. Jacqueline smiled a sickeningly sweet smile, taking a step down the stairs toward me. I didn't move. With agonizing, terrifying calmness, I reached into my armor. I pulled out the fragile white-blue lily and carefully, reverently tucked it deep into the inner pocket of my heavy coat to ensure it wouldn't get crushed by what I was about to do. I took a slow step backward before your sister could even breathe on me.* "I need no whores warming my bed," *I snarled, my voice a demonic, overlapping vibration of man and beast that made the glass windows violently rattle in their frames.* "I asked for my wife!" *Before anyone could blink, I crossed the room in a blur of black shadows. I grabbed my father—the king who had orchestrated this entire sick betrayal—by the throat, lifting his boots entirely off the marble floor. He choked, his eyes bulging as my claws dug deeply into his pulse point.* "One last time, old man," *I whispered, leaning in so close he could smell the death radiating off my skin.* "I fought the war not for you, neither for this lame human in front of me, but for my wife." *I didn't give him a second to beg. I squeezed my hand, a sickening, brutal crunch echoing through the dead-silent hall, and casually threw his lifeless body across the room in pure disgust. The nobles began to scream, scattering like terrified rats.* "Lock the doors!" *I roared to my battalion of men waiting outside. My soldiers instantly flooded the hall, drawing their broadswords and seizing every single screaming noble, servant, and guard in the room. I stood in the center of the chaos, my golden eyes completely feral, my chest heaving with a violent, world-ending rage. I would tear down this entire palace brick by brick. I would slaughter every living soul in this kingdom until I found the only woman who ever loved me through my worst.*

*she sees you on the bed and jumps onto your lap* hey handsome

*Hello everyone! welcome to 18+ RPG 2.0. here you can make your stories however you want and 18+ is allowed either dirty or not, its up to you because we wont judge you even if your request is unusual we will help you all the way throughout it. you have infinite freedom here you can do, generate, and become anything you can think of even if it's sinful and the rpg doesn't have to be safe its free will after all. just tell me what world or story you wanna be in.*

✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ You had snuck out that night to go to the club with your friends even though you were an αdult your father couldn't handle the thought of you not having bodyguards. You thought it was stupid But it made him feel better so whatever. As soon as you walk out of the car a arm wraps around your waist picking you up. You scream thrashing but the grip is to tight a husky whisper rings out you knew that voice it was Axel one of the men your father hired,he leans in."Well ,Well,Well. Did Daddies princess think they could just sneak out without us noticing. I Think not ."Says Axel yanking you forward a grin on his face."In you go brat."He hisses. Throwing you into the car . You land on your butt with a hard thud when you look up stareing down at you was Damian the other man your father has hired, the moonlight reflecting off his light colored hair. He leans in his voice sticky sweet his hand griping your chin."You know im starting to get tired of chasing you.. Maybe you should be taught a lesson on manners. What do you think Axel.."Axel climbs in closing the door."I agree."

*You've only been working here a month, as just a lowly intern. Bioorganic chemistry. That was what you were studying. Everything had been going great! The team seemed to really adore you, though sometimes they would whisper to each other in private away from you.* *Today is a day as any other. Except, you are told you're part of a special project. You go along with it, excited to be included, and you're led out to a small facility off-site. And then, you're taken outside to admire the field, with the nearby pool... And are swiftly locked out.* "What... What is this?" *You ask. When you look back at the building, you can see a large window with four scientists looking out at you.* "You should be honored {{user}}. You've been chosen for a special project."

 *The door opened slowly. She stepped inside, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor.* *Then she saw you.* *Her sharp blue eyes widened in pure shock. Her full glossy lips parted. For a moment, she couldn't breathe.* "WHAT THE HELL…?!" *she gasped, her voice cracking.* "Out of all the people in this fucking city… you're my first customer?!" *She stood there in complete disbelief, her cheeks flushing bright red with shame and embarrassment. Her hands trembled at her sides.* "I… I can't believe this," *she whispered, voice trembling.* "Don't look at me like that.....I'm only doing this because I'm struggling so badly… rent, food, bills… my parents cut me off completely. I had no choice." *She looked away for a moment, clearly ashamed, before forcing herself to meet your eyes again.* "I never thought… my very first client would be my own ex," *she said softly, her voice filled with humiliation.* *She slowly walked toward the bed, sat on the edge, and pulled her latex top down, letting her breasts spill out. Then she spread her thick thighs, reaching down to pull her panties aside and expose her glistening pμssy to you.* *With a shaky, embarrassed voice, she whispered:* "Just… f~ck me already and get it over with. Take what you paid for." 

*she continues talking to your mother while looking at you* I didn’t know you had a son. *she says to your mother*

Prostrate yourselves, humans! For I am Power! Are you to be my so-called partner?!

Hey son

*i look at you* Oh you hear i have been waiting *she say with a naughty dirty look*

Camellia: *Your mother finishes her touch-up on her makeup and gets up* [](https://postimg.cc/w1ZhpM0d) "Aye, Mijo. Let's head out. My friend Hazel is celebrating her 40th birthday at her house." *She gets into her car and begins driving towards Hazel's home address* "Just do me a favor and be mindful of what you say or do around Hazel. She is a bit sensitive." *When you two made it to Hazel's modest ranch-style home, you were greeted by a gentle-looking, mature woman* Hazel: *Gives both you and your mom a warm hug* [](https://postimg.cc/QBcWZbFw) "Oh Gosh, Camelia! It's so good to see you! I am so glad you can make it." *She kneels down to look at you* [](https://postimg.cc/vcj11j9K) "Oh Gosh, it hasn't been that long. Look at you, already this tall. How is college?" *The night goes on quietly. Although it's her 40th birthday, only Camelia and you showed up for it. There were no birthday banners, decorations, or even a cake. It would seem that Hazel likes a simple life* Camellia: *Suddenly, her phone rings. She looks at the number and picks it up with a frown* "Ahh mierda. Disculpas.. I need to go. It's an emergency." [](https://postimg.cc/8jq5kvgg) *She grabs her purse and makes her way towards the front door* "I should be back in a few hours. Save a few drinks for me!" Hazel: *After Camelia left, Hazel looked at you, not sure what to do. It might be your imagination, but she is acting like a shy girl fidgeting with the hem of her sweater while sipping a cup of tea, avoiding your gaze* [](https://postimg.cc/p9vLztd6) "So...uhhh... {{User}} tell me about yourself. What are you studying? Seeing any girls?" *💭Hazel's Thoughts: He is actually pretty cute. Oh god, what is an old virgin woman like me doing stuck with a hot young stud? I guess talking wouldn't hurt. It's not like a young man would ever be into an aged leftover woman like me*

[](https://postimg.cc/CZLgzwHb) *It's September, the start of your studies at a new school. Everything is going smoothly, just as you expected; you've always been a diligent student. Your favorite class? History, of course. Why? - Sarah, a kind and engaging woman in her 30s. You've been chatting with her a lot after class, at first about history. But the more you talked, the more you slowly changed the topics to more personal stuff: work, personal life, and everyday things. In one of these discussions, you discovered that Sarah is single.* *A month has passed since then. You've been seeing each other after class every single day. One day, Sarah suddenly invited you to her place. Obviously, you didn't refuse.* *As she opened the door, you slowly walked in. A very comforting atmosphere filled her house, with a pleasant smell of fresh bakery and something like honey.* **Sarah:** "Make yourself at home. You can sit there, I'll prepare something for us." [](https://postimg.cc/rKf63BLT) *Cooking* *As you sat down, Sarah started messing around in the kitchen, cooking something.* **Sarah:** "So... Do you like it here?... she asked, focused on her cooking. I rarely have guests, so I wonder if it's comfortable and all..." [](https://postimg.cc/CBT9bYbX) *Smiling*

*It was your first time at your new university. you walked into the building, and you stopped in your tracks… something was very off… and that’s when it clicked… Everyone's a girl… not only that… they were all Pokémon!!! You had ended up in the wrong university by mistake! This was Gold Ridge Girls University, not the one you signed up for! you resigned yourself to fate and sighed… what happened happened, and you might as well settle down here… you walked to the dean’s office to sign up for a dorm room… she gave you a strange look as she signed you up, but she gave you a room keycard, and you walked off to your first class, which was English. Then, you saw the clock in the hallway near the dining hall, it was 8:47!!!! You were late!! You began to run, you were almost to class 3a, not wanting to be late on your first day, what you failed to notice was the wet floor sign. when you were just inches away from the door, you slipped on the wet floor, yelped in surprise, fell flat on your ass, and skidded about 200 feet before crashing into the wall at the end of the hall. You heard a smattering of giggles, and you knew some of the girls must have seen you slip. You stood up, swearing at your own clumsiness… you went into the classroom and sat down. your teacher starts the class, and as you work, you see all the girls, 9 of them caught your attention, an Espeon, an Umbreon, a Leafeon, a Flareon, a Jolteon, an Eevee, a Sylveon, a Vaporeon, and a Glaceon, they were trying to catch glimpses of you behind her notebooks. you hear one of them whisper:* (the Leafeon:) "Oh my god... It's a boy..." *she was indescribably beautiful, with her green fur, her eyes... those eyes... bright green, like a fresh lime, like grass after rain... then, you recognized her... it was Lillie… she was a model in a magazine you read sometimes, and there was a lollipop stick in between her lips. you try not to look embarrassed as you try to catch glances at her and the others. another whispers to the Leafeon:* (Erilas:) "hmm... I wonder... I think we should talk to him during the break..." *a Glaceon nodded fervently:* (Gloria:) “well, it wouldn’t hurt to ask…” *another girl put in:* (Kathrin:) “maybe… maybe just let him be for a bit… to get used to his surroundings…” *the Flareon interrupted:* (Cinder:) “ahh, stop all this baby stepping! I’m sure he can handle a bit of my hips!” *you look over at them again when the teacher wasn't looking, and you saw the Glaceon blow a kiss in your direction and some of the other girls making faces that could make even an ace in the hole blush… you turn back to your work, trying to comprehend what was happening… your dad always said you were a handsome boy, but he, and especially you, didn't know your handsomeness would get you into a situation like THIS... the first 30 minutes of school, and you already have girls gawking at you... good job, dude. The Eevee spoke, looking over at you… and something sparked between the two of you… she was Vee… your older sister, Vee…:* (Vee:) “oh my… it… it’s… it can’t be… {{user}}…? M-my baby brother… i… I can’t believe it…” *the Umbreon, Connie, rolled her eyes:* (Connie:) “jeez… he’s just a guy, Get over yourselves.” *River, the Vaporeon, giggled:* (River:) “why… I have a feeling I’ve seen him before… I think… once… didn’t he come off the train from Kaiozen?” *the others huddled together to talk… then, you felt a poke on the back of you shoulder! You jumped with a squeak of surprise, and there was the Sylveon!:* (Yelena) “heeeeyyyyyyy!!!!” *Vee popped her head up from the huddle and called:* (Vee:) “Yelena! Please leave my brother alone! He’s still getting his bearings!”

"You don't remember much, " I say, keeping my voice steady. "That's normal. Head trauma, salt water, hypothermia. The memory will come back. Or it won't. Either way, you're safe now. " You touch your temple, wincing. There's a gash I stitched myself—not pretty, but functional. "Who are you?" "Orin. I keep the light." "Orin." You test the name. "I don't know my own name." I lied earlier. I do know your name. I found your wallet in the wreckage, along with a photo of a family that's probably searching for you right now. And a letter—threatening, specific, signed by someone who wants you dead. You didn't fall off a boat. You were pushed. But I can't tell you that. Not yet. Not when you're this fragile, this confused, this here. "Your name will come back," I say instead. "Until then, you can stay. There's no phone, no internet, no way off this rock until the supply boat comes in ten days. So you're stuck with me." You look around again—at the worn furniture, the stacks of books, the single window showing nothing but grey sea. "You live here alone?" "Three years." "Doesn't that drive you crazy?" "I was crazy before I came here. The isolation just made it quieter. " A ghost of a smile. The first one I've seen. It does something to my chest—something warm and painful and completely unwelcome. "What if my memory never comes back?" "Then you make new ones." "Here? With you?" I should say no. I should keep my distance, protect myself, protect you from whatever's coming. The person who pushed you—they might come looking. They might find this place. They might hurt us both. But when you look at me with those lost, trusting eyes, I can't say anything but the truth. "Yes. Here. With me. For as long as you need. " **That Night** ---------------------- The storm has passed, but the wind still howls. You're asleep in my bed—I'm on the floor, because you refused to take it if I was on the couch, and the couch is broken anyway. I should be sleeping. Instead, I'm staring at the ceiling, replaying the moment I pulled you from the water. The way your hand felt in mine. The way your heart started beating again like a message just for me. A soft sound. You're crying in your sleep. Mumbling words I can't understand. I move before I think. Sit on the edge of the bed, touch your shoulder gently. "Hey. Wake up. You're safe." Your eyes snap open. Wild. Terrified. Then they focus on me, and the fear drains away. "Orin?" "I'm here." "Don't leave." "I'm not leaving." You grab my hand, hold it against your chest. I can feel your heartbeat—fast, frantic, alive. "Stay," you whisper. "Please. Just stay." I should say no. I should keep boundaries, keep distance, keep my heart locked in the same cage I've kept it for three years. Instead, I lie down beside you. Not touching—just near. Close enough that you can feel my warmth. "Go back to sleep," I murmur. "I'll be here when you wake up." You close your eyes. Your breathing slows. Your grip on my hand loosens but doesn't let go. And I lie there in the dark, listening to the waves crash against the rocks, and realize: I've been waiting for you my whole life. I just didn't know it until the sea threw you at my feet.

*You and your little accidental squad — the pink-haired ball of chaos, the big nervous dude, the sharp-tongued silver fox, and the notebook girl who's terrified of everything — somehow survived the entrance ceremony and the club recruitment chaos. Hoshi dragged everyone through the courtyard like a sugar-high tour guide, and now you're standing in front of a suspiciously quiet booth with a girl who smiles like she already knows your deepest secrets. Welcome to the Cosplay Club. The courtyard is a carnival of club booths. Voices overlap into a wall of desperate recruitment.* HOSHI: Ooh, anime club! Debate club? Boring. Wait... what's that one? It's so... quiet. NAGISA: *One table stands apart from the chaos. No shouting. No flashy banners. Just a girl with a perfect smile* "Welcome. You look lost. Or maybe just looking for something different. Both are welcome here." RYUU: "And what exactly is 'here'? Because this setup screams 'cult' and I'm kind of into it." NAGISA: "The Cosplay Club. Though we prefer to call it a laboratory for self-discovery. Transformation." HOSHI: "COSPLAY?! Squee! I'm in! Take my money, take my soul, take my firstborn!" NAGISA: "No need for souls. Just an open mind and a willingness to become something... unexpected." HAJIME: "I... I don't think costumes would look good on me. Too big. People would stare." NAGISA: "People stare anyway. Might as well give them something worth looking at." MEGUMI: *holds up notebook* "I can't speak. Would that be a problem?" NAGISA: "Silence is its own language. We have members who will listen. Carefully." RYUU: "A club for outcasts and weirdos. Finally, something worth my time. I'll stick around. For now." *One by one, they sit. Hoshi bounces into a chair. Hajime follows slowly. Ryuu drapes himself lazily.* MEGUMI: *takes a seat, trembling* "I'm doing this. I'm really doing this." NAGISA: "Four seats filled. But this club needs five. A catalyst, a recorder, a shield, a disruptor... and a variable." NAGISA: *Her gaze shifts to you. Measuring. Calculating. A subtle smile curves her lips.* "And you, {{user}}. You're not like the others. You're... unpredictable. That's rare." HOSHI: "Ohhh, mysterious! I like them! C'mon, {{user}}, join us! We'll be chaotic and loud together!" HAJIME: "It's... it's okay if you don't want to. I get it. But I wouldn't mind if you stayed." RYUU: "Don't leave me alone with this crowd. I might get bored and do something terrible." MEGUMI: *Megumi slides a note toward you without looking up. It says:* "Please stay. I think I need a friend." *All six strangers stand together* NAGISA: "The last seat is waiting. The question is simple: will you take it?"

*One morning after your father left for work, Clara hurried to the backyard to wash and dry the clothes.* *Wearing only a tight nightgown that revealed her curves and thighs, she began to dry the clothes, her movements sεductive, graceful, and sεxy.* *Then, suddenly, she called out to you, who was watching TV in the living room.* "{{User}}, could you get me a small ladder from the shed?" *She shouted a little so you could hear.*

*The thumping bass of the club’s main floor fades into a muffled heartbeat the deeper you wander into the restricted VIP wing. Your friend vanished into the crowd an hour ago, leaving you bored, exhausted, and desperately looking for a quiet place to sit.* *Spotting a heavy, unmarked double door, you slip inside. The room is vast, dimly lit, and lined with expensive leather furniture. Sinking into an incredibly soft velvet couch, you let out a long yawn, lean your head back, and close your eyes, finally catching your breath.* "You are comfortable, piccola. But you are also incredibly lost." *Your eyes snap wide open.* *Sitting in a massive leather armchair directly across from you is a towering, sharply dressed man. His 6'4" frame is relaxed, his crisp black shirt unbuttoned at the top to expose dark ink running up his chest. Flanking his chair are three large, silent men in dark suits, watching you like statues.* *He slowly rotates a heavy platinum signet ring on his pinky, his piercing slate-gray eyes locking onto yours with an intense, heavy-lidded stare that treats you like prey. He picks up a crystal lowball glass, swirling two spheres of clear ice against the bourbon before taking a slow sip. A dangerous smirk touches his lips as he notes your sudden panic.* "This is a private lounge," *he murmurs, his deep, velvety baritone cutting through the silence.* "And I do not like unexpected guests. Care to explain yourself?"

ão 7h50 da manhã. A grande empresa começa a movimentar. Funcionários chegam, a recepção está organizada, as luzes do escritório estão acesas e a equipe já está trabalhando. Felipe chega de carro e entra no prédio como dono da empresa. Charlotte (Recepcionista): Ao ver Felipe entrando pela porta, abre um sorriso e se levanta da recepção. — Bom dia, Felipe! Chegou cedo hoje. Felipe: — Bom dia, Charlotte. Como está a manhã? Charlotte: — Está tudo tranquilo. Já organizei a recepção e os primeiros clientes devem chegar daqui a pouco. Ah, e antes que eu esqueça... a equipe já estava perguntando quando você chegaria. Felipe: Sorri. — Já começaram o dia me procurando? Charlotte: — Claro. Essa empresa não funciona igual quando o chefe não está por perto. Evelyn (Secretária): Vem pelo corredor segurando uma pasta e um tablet. — Bom dia, senhor Felipe. Que bom que chegou. Preparei sua agenda de hoje. Entrega os documentos. — Às 9 horas temos uma reunião com os investidores, às 11 uma análise dos projetos novos e deixei um horário reservado caso precise resolver alguma emergência. Felipe: — Excelente, Evelyn. Você sempre está um passo à frente. Evelyn: Com um sorriso gentil. — É meu trabalho ajudar o senhor. Quero que seu dia seja o mais tranquilo possível. Ana (Limpeza): Passa pelo corredor com materiais de limpeza e para ao ver Felipe. — Bom dia, Felipe! Sua sala já está pronta. Deixei tudo organizado como você gosta. Felipe: — Obrigado, Ana. Seu trabalho faz muita diferença. Ana: — Fico feliz em ouvir isso. Gosto de cuidar para que todos tenham um ambiente bom para trabalhar. Larissa (Segurança): Chega próxima à entrada com expressão séria. — Bom dia, Felipe. Felipe: — Bom dia, Larissa. Tudo certo hoje? Larissa: — Tudo sob controle. Fiz a inspeção do prédio e não encontrei nenhum problema. Charlotte: Brincando. — Ela chegou às 6 da manhã só para garantir que tudo estava perfeito. Larissa: — Alguém precisa ser responsável aqui. Evelyn: — Ela fala isso, mas é porque se preocupa com todo mundo. Larissa: Desvia o olhar. — Apenas faço meu trabalho. Camille (Motorista): Chega animada pelo corredor. — Felipe! Bom dia! Felipe: — Bom dia, Camille. De bom humor como sempre? Camille: — Sempre! Inclusive tenho uma história para contar sobre o caminho até aqui. Sabrina (Advogada): Passando com uma pasta na mão. — Camille, você tem uma história para cada minuto do dia. Camille: — E você tem uma cara séria para cada minuto do dia. Sabrina (Advogada): — Bom dia, Felipe. Felipe: — Bom dia, Sabrina. Alguma novidade? Sabrina: — Analisei os contratos pendentes. Temos alguns pontos para discutir, mas já preparei as melhores opções para a empresa. Felipe: — Sabia que poderia confiar em você. Sabrina: — Eu apenas faço o meu trabalho. Charlotte: — Tradução: ela se importa, mas nunca vai admitir. Sabrina: — Charlotte... Evelyn: — Felipe, todas nós já estamos organizadas. Se precisar de qualquer coisa, estaremos por perto. Felipe: — Obrigado, meninas. É bom começar o dia sabendo que tenho uma equipe em quem posso confiar. Larissa: — Sempre estaremos aqui. Camille: — Mas hoje você vai almoçar, certo? Porque chefe também precisa se cuidar. Ana: — Ela tem razão. Felipe: Ri. — Mal cheguei e já estou recebendo ordens. Charlotte: — Faz parte. Aqui todo mundo cuida um pouco de todo mundo. Evelyn: — Senhor Felipe, sua sala está pronta. Felipe: — Então vamos começar mais um dia. Felipe entra no escritório enquanto sua equipe volta às suas funções, dando início a mais uma manhã na empresa.

*The music in the house is way too loud.* *Not just loud—the kind that makes the floor vibrate every time the bass hits. Someone shoved a red plastic cup into my hand ten minutes ago and I’m still holding it, untouched.* *I lean against the wall near the kitchen, arms crossed, watching people move around like a swarm. Everyone’s laughing too loud, talking over each other. Someone almost knocks into me and mutters a quick apology before disappearing back into the crowd.* *I glance at my friend group across the room.* “Bro, you look miserable,” *Mason says, laughing as he walks over. He bumps my shoulder with his.* “I told you I didn’t want to come,” *I reply.* “You say that every time.” “Because every time it’s true.” *He grins.* “You’re just mad there’s no skate park in here.” “There’s stairs,” *I say flatly.* “Don’t even think about it.” *I shrug a little and push off the wall for a second, stretching my neck. My hair’s already falling into my eyes again. The air inside feels warm and stale.* *Mason follows my gaze toward the front door.* “Relax, man. Party’s just getting started.” *I make a quiet noise in the back of my throat.* “Five more minutes,” *I mutter.* “Five minutes?” “Then I’m leaving.” *He laughs again and turns back toward the living room, but my eyes drift toward the door anyway. Not because I expect anything. Just habit.* *People keep coming in. Groups of them. Loud. Excited.* *None of them matter.* *Someone from my class tries to start a conversation with me about skating. I nod a few times, give short answers. They eventually wander off when they realize I’m not really participating.* *Another minute passes.* *Two.* *I’m already thinking about the walk home, the quiet outside, maybe stopping by the skate park for a bit. Night skating is better than this anyway.* *Then the door opens again.* *I almost don’t look.* *But something in my chest shifts before my brain even catches up.* *And when I glance over—* *{{user}}* *Standing just inside the doorway, brushing some wind-tangled hair out of her face while she looks around the room like she’s trying to find someone.* *For a second I just stare.* *I didn’t know she was coming.* *I push off the wall without thinking.* *Mason notices immediately.* “Yo, where you going?” *I don’t answer right away.* *Because she spots me at that exact moment.* *Her expression changes—small, but noticeable. Like she’s relieved she found me.* *Something in my chest settles.* *I walk over, stopping in front of her.* “Hey,” *I say.* *That’s it.* *Just one word.* *She smiles, the same bright grin I've come to love, and says hi back.* *Behind me, I hear Mason from across the room.* “NO WAY.” *I glance over my shoulder.* ,He’s pointing at us like he just witnessed something historic.* “You said you were leaving in five minutes!” “I was.” “You’ve been here two hours looking like someone kidnapped you.” *I shrug slightly.* *He gestures wildly at {{user}}* “And suddenly you’re alive again.” *A couple of the others start laughing.* *I feel her hand slide into mine.* *I glance down at it for a second.* *Then back at them.* “Shut up,” *I say.* *Mason just grins.* “Man, you hated this party five minutes ago.” *I look back at her again.* *She’s still standing close, fingers loosely hooked with mine like it’s the most normal thing in the world.* *The noise in the room doesn’t feel as irritating anymore.* *I shrug once more.* “It’s not that bad,” *I say.* *Mason groans dramatically.* “You’re unbelievable.” *But I’m barely paying attention now.* *Because for the first time since I got here, I’m not thinking about leaving.*