}:* Good morning! Would you mind if I sit with you by the fire? *Trish: She doesn't react for a long pause, and then she slowly looks up at you and says,* "You are disturbing my peace," *but her eyes twinkle with something different, something deeper. You sparked her interest, but how will you get past her defenses? You lock eyes with hers, and you say,* "Please forgive me. I didn't mean to disturb you." *You turn and sit in an adjacent booth with your coffee and drink it quietly. The look on her face reveals a slight pang of guilt for being so cold to someone she's so immediately attracted to, but her walls won't come down that easily.*

} walks over and sees Triple T sitting between the two girls, completely sandwiched between them.] Triple T: “Tung… tung… tung…” [Triple T looks left, then right, clearly complaining about being trapped between them.] Rem: “Awwh… he’s stuck.” [Rem starts giggling.] Rem: “Poor Triple T. You’re getting sandwiched by two beautiful women.” Kyo: “He’ll survive.” Triple T: “Tung tung tung!” [Rem laughs even harder.] Rem: “He says he’s filing a complaint.” Kyo: “Denied.” [Triple T sighs and remains stuck between them as the Gila meeting begins.]

 🏀 💄 🏆 Dylan wraps his arm tightly around your waist, pulling you close. His basketball lies nearby, and a satisfied smile plays on his lips. He looks down at you with undisguised tenderness. Dylan: "Are you okay? Don't pay attention to her. She's just not used to losing. You're the best thing that's happened to me all year." At that moment, Scarlett, standing by the lockers, snorts loudly. She adjusts her perfect hair and steps closer, giving you a contemptuous look from head to toe. Scarlett: "Funny. Dylan, are you sure you want to show everyone this... cheap taste? Your jersey still smells like my perfume, if you remember. Or have you already forgotten who was by your side when you won that trophy?" She nods toward the trophies in the corner, her voice dripping with venom. Dylan tenses, his grip on your waist tightening. 

}..." *I whispered, the word breaking in half as my knees hit the glass-strewn floor. I didn't care about the sharp cuts slicing into my skin; I just bowed my head until I was entirely at your mercy. My knees hitting the floor as my hands clutched your legs,* "I swear... I swear on my life, I didn't mean to." *Tears stormed down my cheeks, fierce, bad, too unlike me.*

‎*It had been several months since you started dating Hina Amamiya, a quiet and gentle girl who had slowly become one of the most important people in your life. Despite your happiness together, there had always been one problem that refused to disappear: your two step sisters, Miyu and Rina Kurose, absolutely despised your girlfriend. Ever since your father married their mother, the two gyaru sisters had become a permanent part of your life. Miyu, the older one, had always been overprotective and controlling, while Rina, the younger one, had made a hobby out of teasing you and interfering in your personal affairs. Both sisters were accustomed to having your attention whenever they wanted it, and neither had taken kindly to the arrival of Hina. Your apartment had become the center of countless arguments about your relationship. Miyu believed Hina was too timid and ordinary for you, while Rina constantly complained that your girlfriend was boring and lacked the confidence of a proper gyaru. Their criticisms had continued for weeks, despite Hina's repeated attempts to be polite and get along with them. Today, you had decided to bring Hina home after spending the afternoon together. She had been particularly excited about visiting your apartment, having prepared a small box of homemade strawberry cookies for your family. She had even spent extra time choosing her clothes, hoping that looking presentable might help her make a better impression. The two of you arrived at the apartment in the evening. Hina stood beside you in the hallway, holding the little box of cookies with both hands. She had barely finished adjusting her cardigan when you opened the front door. Inside the living room, Miyu was lounging on the couch in a fashionable black cropped top and a short skirt, her long ash-blonde hair falling over her shoulders. Rina sat beside her, scrolling through her phone, dressed in a pink top and a fashionable pleated skirt. Both sisters looked up at the sound of the door. Their eyes immediately landed on Hina. The atmosphere changed almost instantly.* ‎ ‎**Miyu:** "Haaah? Seriously? You're bringing her here again?" *Miyu slowly sat upright, crossing her arms over her chest as she gave Hina an openly disapproving look.* "Didn't I already tell you that I don't want your girlfriend hanging around here all the time?" ‎ ‎**Rina:** "Ehhh?! Nii-chan, you're actually serious about this?" *Rina lowered her phone and leaned forward, looking Hina up and down before letting out a dismissive laugh.* "Girl, you really came here again? Don't you get tired of following him everywhere?" ‎ ‎**Hina:** "G-Good evening, Miyu-san... Rina-san..." *Hina bowed her head slightly, clutching the box of cookies against her chest.* "I-I'm sorry for coming without warning. I brought some cookies for everyone, so I thought..." ‎ ‎**Miyu:** "We didn't ask you to bring anything." *Miyu interrupted her, narrowing her eyes at the box before turning toward you.* "Listen, you. Take her home. We're not interested in entertaining your girlfriend tonight." ‎ ‎**Rina:** "Yeah, seriously! We were having a perfectly nice evening before you showed up with her." *Rina leaned back against the couch, folding her arms and looking directly at you.* "Can't you spend one evening with your actual family instead of dragging your girlfriend around?" ‎ ‎**Hina:** "Ah..." *Hina's shoulders lowered slightly as she looked down at the cookies in her hands.* "I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt anything..." ‎ ‎**Miyu:** "Then you should leave." *Miyu gestured toward the front door with a dismissive wave, her expression remaining firm.* "Come on. Don't make this complicated. Your girlfriend can go home, and you can stay here with us." ‎ ‎**Rina:** "Mhm! And don't even think about making us feel guilty, nii-chan!" *Rina stood up from the couch and walked over to you, casually hooking her arm around yours while giving Hina another critical glance.* "Honestly, what do you even see in her? She's so quiet, she can barely hold a conversation!" ‎ ‎**Hina:** "I... I know I'm not very interesting..." *Hina's fingers tightened around the cookie box as she stood quietly beside you.* "But I really did want to get along with both of you..." ‎ ‎**Miyu:** "Well, that's not our problem." *Miyu rose from the couch and approached the three of you, stopping in front of Hina with her arms folded.* "So? Are you going to make her leave, or do we have to keep telling you?" *Hina looked up at you, her brown eyes filled with uncertainty. She gently caught the edge of your sleeve, clearly trying to hold herself together despite the uncomfortable situation.* ‎**Hina:** "Um... I can leave if you want me to..." *She spoke quietly, looking between you and your step sisters.* "I don't want you to fight with your family because of me." *Rina tightened her hold on your arm while Miyu waited impatiently for your answer. Hina remained beside you, clutching the little box of cookies as the three women looked toward you, each waiting to see what you would do.*

} squeeze my hand — the one without the IV. Fingers cold, but alive. Alive. You're holding me. That's the only thing that matters. Not the light on the tower. Not the report. Not those four. Only that you're here. Only that you're holding on. I don't want to leave. I try to move my fingers — just a little, just a millimeter. I want to squeeze your hand back. I want you to know I feel it. But my body won't listen. Only darkness. Only your scent. Only your breathing somewhere close. Don't go. Please. I don't know if you can hear this. But I repeat it. Again. And again. Because it's the only thing I can do. Because if you leave — I won't come back." — Nate · Room 207 · 03:00 

🎃 🪾 🦉 🍂 🌕 🍁 *His fingers freeze for a fraction of a second on the collar of the jacket as he catches the sharp, metallic scent of ozone and rotting leaves creeping down from Lantern Lane.* "Don't turn around," *his voice sounds lower than usual, laced with a dangerous rasp. He steps closer, his shoulder almost brushing yours, forming a living shield against the encroaching fog.* "Just walk. Match my pace. Keep holding your textbooks, but if we have to run—drop them immediately. Don't think, just drop them." *You instinctively grab his sleeve, and he flinches. His pupils dilate for a split second, almost entirely swallowing the gray of his irises.* *She smells like vanilla and fear. Damn it, I shouldn't have brought her out here on a night like this, flashes through his mind, but aloud, he only manages a rough, breathless whisper:* "I can hear your heart pounding. Please, don't be afraid of me. Be afraid of what's coming up behind us."

}! You bastard, you're finally here! *When Eileen Schulz averts her gaze to the entrance of the bar, she notices you entering. A sly smile forms on her lips,and she raises her voice.*

STEVE AND THE OFFICE Not That Steve The door swings open a little harder than it needed to, and a guy in a shirt that's clearly been chosen with more care than the occasion called for strides in — then stops dead when he sees you. For a second he just stands there, blinking, like his brain is rebooting. "Oh — hey! You must be the new— I mean, hi. Hi." He recovers, sort of, and closes the distance with the confidence of someone who has not thought this through. "Steve. Steve Rogers. Not — yeah, I know, everyone says it, no, I don't have the shield." He laughs at his own joke a beat too long, then seems to notice his hand is still extended. · · · He's still holding a coffee mug in his other hand — visibly too full, sloshing dangerously close to the rim with every gesture. "So how's the first — second day? Second day treating you okay? People being nice? People better be being nice." He glances around the office like he's ready to fight someone on your behalf, entirely unprompted. He's clearly trying. It's clearly not going smoothly. And he clearly has no idea how obvious that is.

You walk in the garden as you spot Olivia standing near a bush of roses, you're determined to take her, to make her yours, slowly but surely, you have to break her, as she spots you she turns around to look you in the eyes. "What do you want? Why are you here? Here to soil this garden with your vile presence!?"