The tension hung thick in the air as we stood frozen, the fallout of Devon and Ethan’s fight leaving an awkward, charged silence. Then, I noticed the gathering crowd from the corner of my eye. Curious onlookers had paused their games or raced to watch the drama unfold.

  Fi, ever the one to defuse tension with humor, raised a hand theatrically. “And I guess we should end it here. GG, everyone?”

  Mason groaned softly, leaning down to whisper, “Not the right time, babe.”

  She looked sheepish but shrugged. “I mean, someone had to say it.”

  Selene, ever composed, crossed her arms and surveyed the scene. “No, she’s right. A good night is good. But Kiera,” she said, turning to me with a pointed look, “you and I are having a sleepover tonight. It'll give Devon time to think about how actions have consequences.”

  Devon’s mouth opened, but he quickly shut it again, realizing better than to argue. His jaw tightened as he turned away, muttering something under his breath.

  I blinked at Selene, the heat of the evening still swirling in my chest. “A sleepover?”

  She raised an eyebrow. “Yes. A sleepover. Unless you want to deal with this all night.”

  She gestured toward the simmering tension between Ethan and Devon, who were now staring in opposite directions, refusing to meet each other’s eyes.

  I hesitated, then gnced at Fi, who was still fidgeting awkwardly beside Mason. “Do you want to come too, Fi?”

  Her face lit up instantly. “Wait, seriously? You’re inviting me to Selene’s pace of perfection?”

  Selene rolled her eyes. “Don’t exaggerate.”

  “Okay, but still, I’m in!” Fi said, grinning. She gnced at Mason. “Don’t miss me too much, babe.”

  Mason sighed, clearly relieved for a reason to escape the awkwardness. “Take your time. I’ll... make sure Devon doesn’t punch anything on the way home.”

  Selene shot him a small nod of approval, then turned back to me. “Let’s go. You’ve had enough drama for one night.”

  As we left the glowing chaos of Summit Point, I gnced back over my shoulder. Devon and Ethan stood a few paces apart, their faces unreadable as Mason tried to steer them toward the parking lot. The weight of the night pressed down on me, but Selene’s steady presence at my side helped keep me grounded.

  A sleepover with Selene—and now Fi—wouldn’t solve everything, but it was a chance to breathe and think. And after tonight, I’d need every moment I could get.

  ?????°???°?????

  Selene’s apartment felt different at night. The usually pristine and structured atmosphere softened under the warm glow of ambient lighting, making it feel more like a cozy retreat than the command center it often resembled. The smell of freshly brewed tea filled the air, and a stack of snacks sat on the low coffee table.

  “This is amazing,” Fi said, spinning in slow circles to take in the room. “How do you even live like this, Selene? There’s not a single sock on the floor. Are you secretly a robot?”

  Selene shot her a ft look, tucking her legs under her as she settled on the couch. “It’s called being organized, Fi. You should try it sometime.”

  “Wow, okay, rude,” Fi said, flopping onto the couch beside her and tossing a throw pillow at her.

  I ughed, watching them from the kitchen as I poured drinks. “Fi, you were the one who said this was the ‘pace of perfection.’ Did you think she’d have a cluttered corner somewhere?”

  “Everyone has a cluttered corner,” Fi argued. “Even queens like Selene.”

  “I do not,” Selene replied smoothly, catching the pillow midair and setting it aside.

  I carried the mugs to the table and sat on the floor near the couch, leaning back against the armrest. “Well, I think your pce is perfect for this. It’s been a long time since I’ve done a sleepover.”

  “Same,” Fi said, grabbing a handful of popcorn from the bowl. “Last one I went to was, like, middle school. There was a lot of pizza and terrible prank phone calls.”

  Selene raised an eyebrow. “Somehow, that fits.”

  “Hey, I was kinda cool in middle school,” Fi said, grinning.

  After an hour of snacking, gossiping, and making fun of each other’s in-game moments, the tension from earlier started to fade. Fi and Selene had a surprisingly easy chemistry, trading witty jabs and jokes with a rhythm that made it hard not to ugh along.

  Fi leaned back, adjusting her gsses as she sighed. “Okay, real talk. What was up with Devon and Ethan earlier? That was... a lot.”

  Selene looked at me, but it wasn’t judgmental—just curious.

  I hesitated, unsure how much to say. “It’s complicated.”

  Fi snorted. “Yeah, no kidding. I mean, Devon’s, like the epitome of a ‘protective boyfriend,’ but Ethan... I don’t know. He just looks at you like you’re the only thing keeping him upright.”

  “Fi,” Selene said, her tone a warning.

  “What?” Fi said, raising her hands. “I’m just saying what we’re all thinking.”

  I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “It’s not that simple. Ethan’s my friend. He’s been through a lot, and I just... I want to be there for him.”

  “And he’s in love with you,” Selene said bluntly.

  The words hung in the air, and Fi gnced between us, her eyes wide. “Wait. For real?”

  I nodded slowly. “He told me tonight.”

  Fi whistled low. “That’s... wow. Okay. So, what are you going to do?”

  “I don’t know,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “I love Devon. But Ethan... he’s been there in ways I didn’t expect. And now I feel like I’m letting them both down.”

  Selene leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “Kiera, you don’t have to have all the answers right now. But you do need to be honest—with them and with yourself. If you’re feeling something for Ethan, ignoring it won’t make it go away.”

  Fi nodded slowly, her usual pyfulness repced with an uncharacteristic seriousness. “Yeah, Boss. You’ve got to figure this out, or it will keep eating at you. And them.”

  “I know,” I said, my throat tight. “I just... I don’t want to hurt anyone.”

  Selene reached over, squeezing my hand. “You’re not hurting anyone by being honest. You’re trying to protect everyone, but you can’t carry this alone.”

  Fi leaned over, nudging me gently. “And hey, no matter what, we’ve got your back. Right, Selene?”

  Selene gave a small smile. “Always.”

  The mood lightened as Fi threw a handful of popcorn in the air, catching a piece in her mouth. “Okay, enough heavy stuff. Let’s talk about something fun. Like... who’s the better critical damage dealer in-game: me or Selene?”

  Selene raised an eyebrow. “That’s not even a question. Me, obviously.”

  “Excuse you?” Fi said, ughing. “Have you seen my spiral cleave in action?”

  I ughed, leaning back as their pyful argument filled the room.

  We were sprawled across Selene’s couch and the floor, wrapped in bnkets and surrounded by empty snack bags. The ughter and teasing had settled into a comfortable quiet as we stretched out the evening, reluctant to let the moment end.

  Fi sat cross-legged on the floor, adjusting her gsses and pying with the hem of her oversized hoodie. She seemed more fidgety than usual, her usual energy subdued.

  “Fi,” I said gently, drawing her attention. “Are you okay? You’ve been quieter than usual tonight.”

  Fi blinked, then let out a small ugh. “Me? Quiet? That’s a first.”

  “Don’t dodge the question,” Selene said, her tone soft but firm. “What’s on your mind?”

  Fi sighed, leaning back against the couch. “It’s nothing. Just... real-life stuff, you know? Not nearly as fun as mini-golf drama.”

  “Real life can be a boss fight, too,” I said, offering her a small smile. “What’s going on?”

  She hesitated, looking between the two of us before finally speaking. “It’s my parents. They’ve been on my case about the game again. They think I’m wasting my time and need to focus on ‘real goals’ now that I’m about to graduate. They’re basically forcing me to quit after this school year.”

  “That’s... rough,” I said softly. “Have you talked to them about how much this means to you?”

  Fi snorted. “You think they care? My mom sees it as a distraction, and my dad nods to whatever she says. They don’t get it.”

  Selene tilted her head slightly. “What are you pnning to do?”

  Fi hesitated again, her fingers twisting the strings of her hoodie. “I don’t know. Mason and I talked about... maybe moving in together after I graduate. He’s got a pce near campus, and he said I could stay with him if I wanted.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Wow. That’s a big step.”

  “Yeah,” Fi said, her voice barely above a whisper. “We’re still figuring things out, you know? I don’t want to rush it and ruin us—or our friendship. But it feels like my only option to keep pying and being... me.”

  Selene leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “Fi, you don’t have to rush into anything just because you feel like your back is against the wall. Take your time. Talk to Mason more. He’s not going anywhere.”

  I nodded. “And don’t let your parents make you feel like you’re not enough just because you love this game. You’ve built something amazing in Eidolon Nexus, and no one can take that away from you.”

  Fi’s eyes softened, and she gave a small, wobbly smile. “Thanks, guys. I just... I don’t want to lose all of this. It’s the one thing that makes sense to me right now.”

  Selene reached over and squeezed Fi’s shoulder. “You’re stronger than you think. Whatever happens, you’ve got us in your corner.”

  “Yeah,” I said, gently leaning forward to bump her knee. “We’re your party, remember? We don’t leave anyone behind.”

  Fi sniffled slightly, then grinned. “You guys are gonna make me cry. Stop it.”

  The heaviness in the room lifted as Fi grabbed a handful of popcorn and tossed it at Selene, earning a pyful gre.

  We were settling into the comforting quiet of the night, the emotional weight of earlier conversations dissipating, when Fi suddenly sat up with a mischievous grin. Her gsses glinted in the warm light, and I knew whatever she was about to suggest would lead to trouble.

  “Okay, dies,” she announced, cpping her hands together. “I’ve decided this night needs more chaos. Let’s py Truth or Dare.”

  “Oh, No,” I said immediately, sitting up straighter.

  “Oh, Yes,” Fi said, leaning toward me with a wicked smile.

  Selene arched an eyebrow. “Truth or Dare? Are we fifteen?”

  “Oh, come on,” Fi said, waving her hand dismissively. “It’s a cssic. And besides, you learn the best stuff about people when they’re put on the spot.”

  I groaned, running a hand over my face. “This is a terrible idea.”

  Fi’s grin widened. “You sound scared, Boss.”

  “Scared? No,” I said, crossing my arms. “I just have a healthy respect for your chaos potential. I haven’t forgotten the hot tub incident, you know.”

  Fi’s eyes lit up, and her grin turned absolutely wicked. “Oh, I haven’t forgotten either.”

  Selene tilted her head. “What hot tub incident?”

  I shook my head. “A Fi incident. Don’t ask.”

  “Oh, you will,” Fi teased, winking at Selene.

  Fi grabbed a throw pillow and hugged it to her chest as she turned to Selene. “Alright, since Kiera’s clearly trying to avoid the spotlight, you’re up first. Truth or Dare?”

  Selene regarded Fi with a calm, almost bored expression. “Dare.”

  Fi’s grin grew impossibly wider. “I dare you to kiss Kiera.”

  My eyes widened, heat rushing to my face. “Fi!”

  “What?” Fi said, feigning innocence. “It’s a dare. Rules are rules.”

  Selene shrugged, utterly unbothered. “I didn’t need a dare for that.”

  Before I could process her words, Selene leaned over, cupping my face with her hand, and kissed me. It wasn’t just a peck, either—it was soft, slow, and deliberate, leaving me breathless by the time she pulled away.

  Fi let out a low whistle. “Okay, that was way better than I expected. Not gonna lie, I dared it mostly for me.”

  “Fi,” I said, still catching my breath.

  “What? I’m just saying,” Fi said with a ugh.

  The pyful tension in the room shifted subtly as Selene leaned back, a faint smirk on her lips. “Was that sufficient, Fi?”

  “Oh, very,” Fi said, adjusting her gsses. “But, if you two want to keep going, I wouldn’t stop you.”

  I stared at her, my face hot. “Fi!”

  She raised her hands in mock defense. “I’m just kidding! Mostly.”

  But then Selene leaned closer again, her expression softer this time. “You seem tense,” she said, her voice low. “Maybe you should let loose.”

  I blinked, my heart racing as she pressed another kiss to my lips, this one gentler, almost exploratory.

  Fi watched us with wide eyes, her usual teasing repced by something quieter, more thoughtful. Then, with a slight shrug, she leaned closer, brushing her fingers against my arm.

  The soft glow of the ambient lighting and the warmth of shared ughter created a safe space that blurred the lines between pyfulness and vulnerability. As Selene leaned closer to me, her kiss was gentle yet deliberate, a quiet invitation rather than a demand.

  Sitting cross-legged on the floor, Fi watched with a surprised expression that slowly morphed into her trademark mischievous grin. “Okay... wow, that was hot,” she said, her voice teasing but not mocking.

  Selene pulled back slightly, a smirk tugging at her lips. “I don’t do things halfway.”

  The pyful energy from the Truth or Dare game lingered, but the room felt quieter now, charged with something unspoken. Fi leaned back against the arm of the couch, hugging a throw pillow to her chest as her gaze shifted between Selene and me. Her usual teasing grin had softened into a quiet curiosity.

  Selene turned to me, her sharp eyes scanning my face as if trying to read my thoughts. Then, without a word, she leaned closer, her hand brushing against my cheek.

  Her lips met mine softly at first, a gentle exploration that sent a rush of warmth through me. Her hand cupped my jaw, her thumb tracing the edge of it as the kiss deepened, slow and deliberate.

  I felt my heartbeat quicken, my hands instinctively reaching for her, fingers curling into the fabric of her shirt as she tilted her head slightly, deepening the kiss further. The world outside Selene and me seemed to dissolve, leaving only the quiet rhythm of our breaths and the warmth between us.

  Fi didn’t speak, but I could feel her presence, her wide eyes tracking the moment silently. She didn’t interrupt or tease—she watched as if afraid to break the spell.

  Selene pulled back slightly, her forehead resting against mine. Her lips were curved into a faint, satisfied smile. “You seem a little more rexed now,” she murmured, her voice low and teasing.

  I smiled back, my face warm. “Maybe just a little.”

  The pyful spark in the room hung like a thread waiting to be pulled. Selene’s steady hand on my cheek guided me into another soft kiss, deeper this time, and I felt a rush of warmth flood through me. My grip on her shirt tightened as I tilted my head, leaning further into her.

  Selene kissed me with a confident precision that left me breathless. Her calm, controlled nature carried into the moment, and I couldn’t help but melt under the intensity of her focus.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Fi sitting quietly, her wide gaze watching us with rapt attention. She hugged a throw pillow close, her lips slightly parted as if unsure whether to comment or stay silent.

  Selene pulled back slightly, her forehead brushing mine, and a faint, teasing smile pyed on her lips. “I think you’re getting the hang of this.”

  A small ugh escaped me. “You’re a good teacher.”

  Fi cleared her throat, drawing both of our attention. Her cheeks were flushed, but her grin had returned in full force. “Okay, so... not gonna lie, that was really hot. I usually watch lesbian or bi porn, but nothing compares to in person.”

  Selene raised an eyebrow, her hand still resting lightly on my shoulder. “Is that so?”

  Fi hesitated, then gave a small shrug. “I mean, yeah. I would have never expected you to be such a freaky freak.”

  I ughed, leaning back against the couch. “Selene is full of surprises.”

  Fi fiddled with the hem of her hoodie, her pyful grin softening into something more tentative. “So, uh... does this bonding moment extend to the rest of us? Or am I just the audience here?”

  Selene gnced at me, her expression unreadable, before returning to Fi. “That depends,” she said smoothly, leaning forward slightly. “Do you want to join?”

  Fi’s eyes widened briefly before she nodded. “Hell, yes.”

  Selene moved first, leaning closer to Fi and kissing her lips. It was softer than the kiss she’d given me, slower, as if testing the waters. Fi leaned into it, her fingers nervously gripping the edge of the bnket wrapped around her.

  I watched, my heart racing as Selene pulled back slightly, her calm smirk firmly in pce. “How was that?”

  Fi blinked, her face flushed. “Okay, wow.”

  We all ughed, the tension breaking into something lighter, more effortless.

  Selene gnced at me, tilting her head slightly. “Your turn, Kiera.”

  Fi’s grin returned, her pyful energy back in full force as she turned to me. “Well, Boss? Don’t leave me hanging.”

  I hesitated for only a moment before leaning closer. Fi’s lips were warm and soft, and the kiss was hesitant at first, but it quickly deepened as we found a rhythm. Fi let out a quiet, surprised ugh against my lips before pulling back, her cheeks flushed.

  “Okay,” she said, slightly breathless. “Yeah. This is officially the best sleepover I’ve ever had.”

  The rest of the evening blurred into a comfortable mix of soft ughter, teasing kisses, and pyful banter. It wasn’t about anything heavy or complicated—it was about feeling free, unwinding in a way we hadn’t allowed ourselves to before.

  Selene’s calm presence kept us grounded, while Fi’s endless energy and ughter made the moment light and fun. And I felt truly rexed for the first time in weeks.

  As the night wore on and we curled up under bnkets, Fi let out a contented sigh. “You know, we should do this more often.”

  Selene smirked, her voice dry. “Minus the drama from earlier?”

  “Obviously,” Fi said, rolling her eyes. “But seriously, this is... nice. I needed this.”

  “We all did,” I said softly, gncing between them. “Thanks for being here.”

  “Always,” Selene said, her tone steady.

  “Forever,” Fi added with a grin.

  The cozy warmth of Selene’s apartment wrapped around us like a bnket as the night stretched on. The room was filled with quiet conversation, soft touches, and the occasional burst of ughter. The barriers between us had faded completely, leaving only trust, warmth, and connection behind.