chapter 9

Diana's pov

The cafeteria was its usual chaos—students laughing, shouting across tables, the occasional sound of a lunch tray crashing to the floor. Abby and I weaved through the crowd, heading for our usual spot where Chloe and Nora were already sitting.

Chloe spotted me first, waving me over with a bright smile. "Finally! Took you guys long enough."

Nora, sitting across from her, raised an eyebrow at Abby. "You’re still attached at the hip, I see."

Abby grinned as she plopped down beside me. "What can I say? Diana can’t get enough of me."

I ignored her, sliding into my seat. "Listen, I need to tell you guys something, and it’s kind of weird."

Chloe tilted her head, her smile fading slightly. "What is it?"

I hesitated, lowering my voice. "It’s about Ms. Collins."

Nora scoffed, setting her drink down. "You mean your personal stalker?"

"Exactly," I said. "I swear she’s always… there. Like, today? She was just standing outside the office when Abby and I walked in. Watching me. And last weekend, Chloe, remember when we went to that café? She was there too. She wasn’t even trying to hide it."

Chloe’s eyes widened. "Oh my God, I totally forgot about that. That was weird. I mean, teachers have lives, but she just happened to be at the same café at the same time?"

"And she kept looking at me," I muttered, poking at my food. "Like she was waiting for something."

Nora frowned. "Okay, that’s actually creepy. What if she’s, like, following you?"

"That’s what I’m saying," Abby cut in, leaning forward. "It’s not just ‘oh, she’s a little weird’—she’s everywhere. The hallway, the café, even after class, she always looks at her"

Chloe chewed on her bottom lip. "I mean… what can we do about it? It’s not like we can go to the principal and say, ‘Hey, our teacher is obsessed with Diana.’"

"Unless she actually does something," Nora added. "Right now, it’s just… weird."

I let out a frustrated sigh. "I don’t know. Maybe I’m overthinking it, but I just have a really bad feeling."

Abby crossed her arms, her jaw tightening. "You’re not overthinking it. And if she ever does something, she’s gonna regret it."

I glanced at her, surprised by how serious she sounded. The teasing, the smirking—it was all gone.

Chloe reached across the table, squeezing my hand. "We’ll keep an eye on her. If it gets worse, we’ll figure something out."

I nodded, but deep down, I knew this wasn’t just paranoia. Something about Ms. Collins felt wrong. And I had a feeling this was just the beginning.

The hallway buzzed with the usual between-class chaos—lockers slamming, students laughing, and teachers desperately trying to herd people into classrooms. I clutched my chemistry textbook as we walked together, my stomach twisting the closer we got.

"Okay, hear me out," Chloe said, walking beside me. "What if you just, like… drop chemistry? Take something else?"

I shot her a look. "Chloe, it’s required."

"Still, there’s gotta be a way. Maybe we can convince the school you’re allergic to weird teachers."

Abby smirked. "Or she could just pretend to pass out in class every time Ms. Collins looks at her. That’d freak her out."

Nora snorted. "Or get her more obsessed."

I groaned. "You guys are not helping."

We turned the corner, and my stomach dropped as I spotted her. Ms. Collins.

She was standing just outside the chemistry lab, arms crossed, her sharp eyes scanning the students passing by. The moment she saw me, something in her expression shifted. Like she’d been waiting.

I slowed down instinctively, but Abby, who was walking right beside me, put a hand on my back and kept me moving. "Don’t stop," she murmured.

"Ah, Diana," Ms. Collins said as we got closer, her lips curving into what I’m sure she thought was a friendly smile. "Right on time."

"Like everyone else," Nora muttered under her breath.

I forced a polite nod. "Yeah… morning."

Ms. Collins barely spared a glance at the others. Her attention was locked on me, her gaze lingering just a second too long. Weeks ago, Ms.Collins clearly hated me, but now she's suddenly not that strict anymore, or at least she's not strict to me, to others? Definitely.

"How’s everything going?" she asked, tilting her head. "You’re settling in well, I hope?"

I gripped my book tighter. "Uh… yeah. It’s been fine."

She hummed like she didn’t quite believe me. "Good, good. You know, if you ever need help—academic or otherwise—you can always come to me. My door is always open."

Abby shifted beside me, her posture stiff. "Diana’s got plenty of people looking out for her."

Ms. Collins’ eyes flickered toward Abby, her expression unreadable. "I’m sure she does."

Chloe grabbed my arm. "We should get to our seats."

"Of course," Ms. Collins said, finally stepping aside.

As soon as we passed her, I exhaled.

"She’s so weird," Nora muttered.

"She was watching you the whole time," Chloe added. "Like, laser-focused."

Abby scoffed. "If she pulls anything, I swear—"

I shot her a warning look. "Abby, please don’t get me kicked out of class."

She huffed. "No promises. Though, I don't think she would kick you out of class"

We slid into our seats, and I tried to shake off the uneasy feeling creeping up my spine. But as I glanced up, I saw Ms. Collins still watching me, her sharp gaze lingering a little too long before she finally turned to start the lesson.

This was definitely not normal.

Sitting in chemistry felt like being under a microscope.

Ms. Collins moved through the lesson like any other strict teacher—sharp, efficient, and expecting everyone to keep up. But every time I glanced up from my notebook, she was already looking at me.

Not in the way teachers normally look at students.

No, this was different.

It wasn’t just checking to see if I was paying attention. It was lingering. Watching. Like I was something she couldn’t quite look away from.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, gripping my pen tighter. Abby sat beside me, clearly noticing, because she leaned over and whispered, "She’s staring at you again."

"I know," I muttered, keeping my eyes on my notebook.

Ms. Collins snapped her fingers. "Diana."

I tensed. "Yes?"

"You look distracted." Her voice was calm, but there was something off about the way she said it—like she was scolding me and concerned for me at the same time. "Is there something wrong?"

I swallowed. "No, I’m fine."

She tilted her head slightly, studying me. Then, as if she wanted to make a point, she slowly walked down the aisle between the lab tables—stopping right next to mine.

I felt Abby straighten beside me, her presence suddenly a solid wall of tension.

Ms. Collins placed her hands on my desk, leaning down just slightly. Too close. "You know, Diana, if something is on your mind, you can always stay after class. I’d be happy to talk."

My stomach twisted. "That’s… okay. I’m good."

Her lips twitched into something that wasn’t quite a smile. "Are you sure?"

"She said she’s good," Abby cut in, her voice firm.

Ms. Collins finally turned to her, her expression unreadable. For a moment, there was a strange tension between them, like they were silently sizing each other up. Then, after a second too long, Ms. Collins straightened.

"Very well," she said smoothly, like nothing happened. "Let’s get back to the lesson."

She walked back to the front of the room, but I didn’t relax.

Because the entire time she taught, her gaze kept flicking back to me.

Like she was waiting for something.

Ms. Collins ran her classroom like a drill sergeant. No nonsense, no excuses. If you didn’t have your homework, you got a sharp, unimpressed look and a cold warning: "That better not happen again." If someone whispered during a lesson, she’d cut them off with a single, icy, "Do you have something to share with the class?"

She was strict, precise, and didn’t tolerate anything less than full effort.

For everyone—except me.

When Jason, a guy who sat two rows over, didn’t balance his chemical equation correctly, she tore into him. "This is basic. We’ve gone over it multiple times. If you’re not paying attention, you’re wasting my time."

When Michelle hesitated before answering a question, she sighed dramatically. "I expect better from you."

When Aaron knocked over a beaker, she looked ready to strangle him.

But me?

When I made a mistake on my worksheet, she just gave me a small, almost amused look. "That’s all right, Diana. You’ll get it."

When I dropped my pen and scrambled to grab it, she was suddenly there, kneeling down and picking it up before I could. "Here," she said softly, placing it in my hand like it was some grand gesture.

When I didn’t raise my hand for an answer, she called on me anyway—but not like she did with the others. Not to prove a point. More like… she wanted to hear me speak.

And the worst part?

Everyone noticed. She was brave. Too brave. She wasn't weird in a way like pedophiles are or old men trying to fuck younger women, no, she was weird because she clearly was curious about me and wanted to know where I am and what I'm doing. Somehow, I knew she was gentle deep down,  I saw it in her eyes. She wouldn't hurt me. She never looked at me with lust. She just looked curious and somehow obsessed. She was a weirdo because she is clearly stalking her student, not because she would want to hook up with me. No matter what, she was a creep——not in a perverted way, but in a different way.

Abby nudged me under the table after the pen incident, her expression unreadable. Nora gave me a look from across the room like, See? She’s obsessed. Even Chloe, sitting in the back, raised an eyebrow at me when Ms. Collins gave me yet another unnecessary smile.

It wasn’t just favoritism. It was weird.

Strict, unyielding, borderline terrifying to everyone else. But to me?

It was like she was trying to pull me into something I didn’t want to be a part of.

It started small. A few glances, some raised eyebrows.

At first, I thought maybe I was just being paranoid—maybe Abby, Chloe, and Nora were the only ones picking up on it. But then, one day in class, I heard it.

"Why is she so nice to Diana?"

It was whispered, but not quiet enough.

I stiffened, my grip tightening around my pen.

Ms. Collins was at the front of the room, going over last night’s homework, but the energy in the classroom felt… different. Like people were finally piecing things together.

"She literally ripped Jason apart for the same mistake Diana just made," someone muttered.

"I know, right? And did you see how she smiled at her?"

Abby, sitting beside me, shifted slightly, like she was ready to shut them up if she had to. But I just kept my head down, pretending not to hear.

Then, when Ms. Collins walked by and stopped at my desk, the tension in the room sharpened. Great, could she be any more obvious?

"Nice work on the assignment, Diana," she said, her voice softer than it had any right to be. She rested a hand on my desk, just for a second too long. "If you ever need extra help, you know where to find me."

Silence.

I could feel the weight of at least ten people staring.

When she walked away, the whispers started again—louder this time.

"Okay, that’s weird."

"She doesn’t even like us, but she’s obsessed with her?"

"You think something’s going on?"

I swallowed hard, pretending to focus on my notes. My face felt hot.

As soon as class ended, I grabbed my things and practically bolted for the door, but Abby was already on my heels, along with Chloe and Nora.

"Diana," Chloe started, falling into step beside me. "People are talking."

"You think I don’t know that?" I muttered.

Abby ran a hand through her hair, irritated. "It’s about damn time. Maybe now someone else will see how creepy she’s being."

Nora nodded. "Yeah, but now the rumors are gonna start."

I groaned. "Great. That’s exactly what I need."

We turned the corner, and I barely had time to breathe before I heard it.

"Do you think they’re, like… together?"

"Maybe she’s just obsessed with her."

"Or maybe Diana’s leading her on."

That made me stop.

I spun around, catching the two girls whispering behind us.

Abby took a step toward them. "Say that again."

They both looked like deer caught in headlights before quickly turning and disappearing into the crowd.

Chloe sighed. "This is getting out of hand."

"No kidding," I muttered.

I didn’t know what was worse—Ms. Collins' weird obsession or the fact that everyone was starting to notice.

Our school was huge. Hallways stretched on forever, staircases twisted in weird directions, and if you didn’t know where you were going, you could end up completely lost.

But somehow, no matter where we went—Ms. Collins was there. Days passed by and it didn't stop.

Of course she was.

Abby, Chloe, Nora, and I were walking down one of the main halls, weaving through the crowd, when Chloe suddenly tensed. "Don’t look now, but she’s behind us."

My stomach dropped.

I didn’t turn around. I didn’t want to. But Abby glanced back, and I could tell by the way her jaw tightened that it was true.

"She’s not even being subtle," Abby muttered. "Like, is she following us, or does she just have a teleportation ability we don’t know about?"

We turned a corner, hoping to shake the weird feeling, but the moment we got near the stairwell—there she was.

Standing by the railing. Watching.

I felt my breath catch, and for a second, I considered taking a different route, but Nora grabbed my arm. "No. We’re not running from her."

So we walked past her, forcing ourselves to act normal.

"Afternoon, Diana," Ms. Collins said, her voice smooth.

"Hi," I mumbled, not stopping.

She didn’t say anything else, but I felt her eyes on me the entire time we walked down the stairs.

Then, at lunch, it happened again.

We were sitting outside, the autumn wind chilly, and we were enjoying the rare moment of fresh air, when Chloe suddenly stopped mid-bite. "Guys. Look at the window."

We turned, and sure enough—Ms. Collins was inside the building, standing near the cafeteria windows, looking straight at us.

"Okay, nope. I refuse to believe this is normal," Nora whispered.

"What the hell is she even doing?" Abby hissed. "Teachers don’t stare at students like that."

I swallowed hard. "I don’t know. But I don’t like it."

Then, after school, as we walked toward the front entrance, I was sure we were finally free.

Nope.

Ms. Collins was by the doors, talking to another teacher.

But the second she spotted me?

She stopped talking.

The other teacher kept speaking, but she wasn’t listening. She was watching me.

"That’s it," Abby growled under her breath. "She’s everywhere. This is not a coincidence anymore."

Chloe frowned. "What do we do?"

I didn’t have an answer.

Because no matter where I went, no matter how big the school was, one thing was becoming very, very clear.

Ms. Collins was always there.

The school day was finally over, and I could breathe.

As we stepped outside, the cold New York air hit me, a crisp contrast to the crowded hallways. Students scattered in every direction, rushing toward buses, subways, or wherever they needed to be.

"All right, I’ll see you guys tomorrow," Nora said, slinging her backpack over one shoulder. "And Diana, if Ms. Collins follows you again, I swear—"

"I’ll text you," I promised.

Chloe stretched, yawning. "I need sleep. And food. But mostly sleep." She gave me a knowing look. "Don’t do anything too crazy tonight."

I rolled my eyes. "Abby’s literally just coming over to hang out."

Chloe smirked. "Uh-huh. Sure."

Before I could argue, she and Nora headed off, leaving me alone with Abby.

She grinned, shoving her hands in her pockets. "Guess it’s just you and me, California."

I sighed. "I told you to stop calling me that."

"And yet, here we are."

I didn’t bother fighting it. Instead, we started walking, weaving through the busy sidewalks of New York. The city was alive as always—honking cars, street vendors shouting, people moving with purpose. It was still overwhelming sometimes, but I was getting used to it.

Abby, of course, walked like she owned the place. She had that confident, easy stride, her broad shoulders standing out even in the crowd.

"Your dad home?" she asked.

"Probably working late."

"Good. Then I can raid your kitchen without judgment."

I laughed. "You do that anyway."

Before long, we reached my place—a sleek, modern building with tall windows and clean, minimalist architecture. My dad had spared no expense when we moved here. The entrance alone looked like it belonged in some high-end magazine, with polished floors and a doorman who greeted me by name.

Abby had seen it before, so she didn’t gawk like she did the first time. Instead, she just gave me a look. "Still feels like a rich people museum."

"You say that like it’s a bad thing."

She smirked. "Nah. Just means you’ve got good snacks."

We walk inside and take off our shoes. Abby let out a dramatic sigh. "Yup. Still unfair how nice this place is."

I rolled my eyes, tossing my bag onto the couch. "Come on, let’s find something to eat."

She grinned. "Now that’s the best thing you’ve said all day."

The kitchen in my dad’s place was straight out of a cooking show—stainless steel appliances, marble countertops, way too much space for someone who barely cooked. But tonight, it was just me and Abby, raiding the fridge like we owned the place.

Abby leaned against the counter, arms crossed, watching as I pulled out ingredients. "So… what are we making?"

I glanced at her. "You’re just gonna stand there and let me do all the work?"

She smirked. "I’m providing moral support."

I rolled my eyes, shoving a cutting board toward her. "Here. Chop the veggies."

She took the knife and started slicing like she actually knew what she was doing. "You know, for someone who lives in a house like this, you don’t cook like a rich kid."

I scoffed. "What does that even mean?"

"It means I half-expected you to have a personal chef or something."

I laughed. "I wish. My dad said he won't cook all the time, and I’m not about to live off takeout forever. So, I learned."

She nodded approvingly. "Respect."

For a while, we just cooked, the sound of chopping and sizzling filling the space. It was easy. Comfortable.

Then, as I stirred the sauce, Abby spoke again—more serious this time. "So… what’s the deal with Ms. Collins?"

I sighed. "I don’t know, Abby. I really don’t."

She set the knife down, turning to face me fully. "It’s getting worse, though. You see that, right?"

I nodded, biting my lip. "Yeah. And now people are noticing. I heard them whispering about it today."

Abby frowned. "What were they saying?"

"Some of them think she just plays favorites. Others think… I don’t know. That something’s going on."

Abby’s expression darkened. "That’s ridiculous. You’re not leading her on."

"I know that, but rumors don’t care about the truth."

She clenched her jaw, looking like she wanted to break something. "I hate this. She shouldn’t be making you feel like this. And the fact that she keeps showing up everywhere—"

"I know," I cut in softly. "It freaks me out, too."

For a second, she just stared at me, her usual teasing, confident energy replaced with something more intense. Protective.

Then, finally, she exhaled. "Well, whatever happens, you’re not dealing with it alone."

I looked at her, surprised by how serious she sounded.

A small smile tugged at the corner of my lips. "Thanks, Abby."

She grinned, picking up the knife again. "Now, hurry up and finish cooking. I’m starving."

I laughed, rolling my eyes. "You’re so dramatic."

"Yeah, yeah. Just don’t mess up the food, California."

And for a little while, things felt normal again.

By the time we finished cooking, the kitchen smelled amazing—savory, warm, and like actual effort had gone into the meal. Abby had tried to steal a bite straight from the pan, but I smacked her hand away with the spatula.

"Patience," I said, scooping the food onto plates.

She groaned dramatically. "You’re cruel, you know that?"

I rolled my eyes. "You’ll live."

We grabbed our plates and headed to the couch. I didn’t even bother with the dining table—it was too big, too formal, and we always ended up here anyway. Abby flopped down beside me, stretching out like she owned the place.

"Finally," she sighed, taking a bite. The moment the food hit her tongue, she closed her eyes. "Okay. This? This is amazing. You’re officially my personal chef now."

I smirked. "I thought I was a rich kid who wasn’t supposed to know how to cook."

"You’re a rare case." She nudged me with her knee. "A special one."

I felt my face heat up and quickly focused on my plate. "Just eat your food."

We ate in comfortable silence for a while, the only sounds coming from the city outside and whatever random show was playing in the background.

Then, after we finished, Abby stretched again and sighed. "Now, this is the life. Full stomach, comfy couch… all that’s missing is—"

Before I could react, she shifted closer, looping an arm around my shoulders and pulling me into her.

"—this," she finished smugly.

I tensed for half a second before relaxing. This wasn’t the first time Abby had done this—she was all about casual touches, playful teasing. But lately, lately, it felt different.

I leaned into her, feeling the warmth of her body, her arm solid and steady around me. "You just wanted an excuse to cuddle."

She smirked. "Obviously. Why else would I come over?"

I rolled my eyes but didn’t move away.

We stayed like that, just sinking into the moment, her body warm against mine, her breathing steady. For the first time all day, I felt calm. Safe.

And maybe, just maybe, a little bit more aware of how my heart beat whenever she was this close.

The city hummed outside, the distant sounds of traffic and life filtering through the windows. But inside, on the couch, everything was still. Warm.

Abby’s arm was draped over my shoulders, her body solid and steady against mine. I should’ve pulled away by now, should’ve made some sarcastic remark about her being too comfortable—but I didn’t. I just… stayed.

I felt her shift slightly, her breath brushing against my hair. "You’re warm," she murmured.

I huffed a quiet laugh. "So are you."

She smirked, tightening her hold on me. "Guess that means we should stay like this, huh?"

I didn’t answer, but I didn’t move either.

The longer we sat there, the more I became aware of everything—how close she was, how the faint scent of her shampoo mixed with the lingering smell of our dinner, how my heart had started beating just a little too fast.

Then she spoke again, softer this time. "You okay?"

I turned my head slightly, and suddenly, we were close.

Too close.

Her face was just inches from mine, her dark eyes locked onto me, searching, waiting.

The teasing was gone. The usual smug smirk? Nowhere to be seen.

This was something else. Something new.

I swallowed, barely breathing. "Yeah. I’m good."

Her gaze flickered down—to my lips, just for a second—before meeting my eyes again.

And suddenly, the air between us felt electric.

I should’ve said something. Made a joke. Pulled away.

But I didn’t.

Because in that moment, I wasn’t sure I wanted to.

Her hand shifted, her fingers brushing lightly against my arm, and I swore I felt my skin burn where she touched me.

"Diana…" Her voice was barely above a whisper now, like she wasn’t sure if she should say my name at all.

I should move.

I should—

But then, just as the space between us started to close—

My phone buzzed.

Loud. Harsh. Completely ruining everything.

I jerked back instinctively, and Abby blinked, like she had just snapped out of whatever spell we’d been under.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then, Abby cleared her throat, shifting slightly. "Well. That was… something."

My heart was still pounding. I grabbed my phone quickly, desperate for anything to break the tension. "Yeah. Um. Sorry. I should—"

"Yeah," she said, running a hand through her hair. "You should check that."

I nodded, unlocking my phone with shaky fingers.

But all I could think about was the way she had looked at me.

And the fact that, if my phone hadn’t gone off—

I wasn’t sure if I would’ve stopped her.

My phone buzzed again, and this time, I actually checked it.

Nora: Me and Chloe are coming over.

Me: Uh… what?

Before I could even process that, my phone rang. I sighed, already knowing who it was.

"Hello?"

"Diana," Chloe's voice came through, loud and very determined. "Why have we not been coming over more?"

I blinked. "What?"

"Your house." Nora's voice chimed in now. "We’ve been thinking about it, and it’s actually ridiculous that we don’t hang out there all the time."

I glanced at Abby, who was still lounging on the couch, one eyebrow raised as if she could hear every word.

"You guys are being dramatic," I said, rubbing my temple.

"No, we’re being real," Chloe shot back. "You live in a damn cool house, Diana. A MODERN HOUSE. Do you know how unfair that is?"

"I mean, it’s just—"

"It’s got floor-to-ceiling windows, basically black and white theme, probably some fancy espresso machine—"

"Actually, yes," Abby interrupted loud enough for them to hear. "She does have a fancy espresso machine."

I shot her a stop helping them look, but she just smirked.

Nora groaned. "See?! This is exactly what we’re talking about. We’re coming over. No arguments."

I sighed, knowing there was no way I was getting out of this. "Fine. When?"

"Now."

"Wait—what?!"

But they had already hung up.

Abby chuckled beside me, stretching her arms behind her head. "Well, looks like we’ve got company."

I groaned, flopping against the couch. "They’re so dramatic."

She grinned. "Yeah. But you love it."

I huffed, but I couldn’t argue. Because honestly? I did love it.

The moment Nora and Chloe hung up, I tossed my phone onto the couch with a groan. “They’re ridiculous.”

Abby smirked, shifting closer. “They’re not wrong though. This place is kind of insane.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’ve been here plenty of times. You’re over it.”

She shrugged. “Maybe. But I don’t come here for the mansion.”

Her voice had that low, teasing edge again, and just like that, I was way too aware of how close she was.

I turned my head—and she was right there.

I should’ve been used to it by now, how easily Abby invaded my space. But this? This felt different. More intense.

She was watching me, her dark eyes locked onto mine, and I felt my breath hitch.

The silence stretched, thick and heavy. Neither of us moved.

Then, slowly—too slowly—she leaned in.

My heart pounded. My skin burned where her fingers barely brushed my arm. I didn’t move away.

I didn’t want to.

Just as the space between us disappeared—

We heard noises.

The doors slid open.

And—

“OH MY GOD.”

I jumped back, my heart nearly launching out of my chest. Abby blinked, looking just as caught off guard.

Chloe and Nora stood frozen at the entrance, eyes wide, mouths open.

Nora pointed accusingly. “WERE YOU ABOUT TO KISS?!”

Chloe gasped. “YOU WERE TOTALLY ABOUT TO KISS.”

Abby cleared her throat, running a hand through her hair like she was trying to play it cool. “No! I mean—”

“No. Nope. Not happening.” I grabbed a throw pillow and launched it at them. “Forget what you saw.”

Chloe dodged it with a laugh. “Oh, this is gold. We are never letting this go.”

Nora grinned. “Y’all got real quiet real fast.”

I groaned, sinking into the couch, my face burning. Abby, to my horror, just stretched her arms behind her head, smirking.

“Well,” she said casually, glancing at me. “Guess we’ll have to pick up where we left off later.”

I kicked her.

Chloe and Nora screamed.

Chloe and Nora wasted no time making themselves at home, dropping their bags near the door before rushing straight into the living room like kids in a theme park.

“Okay, but seriously,” Nora said, spinning in a slow circle as she took in the high ceilings, the glass windows overlooking the city, and the sleek, modern furniture. “This is actually insane.”

Chloe flopped onto the massive sectional couch, spreading out dramatically. “I’ve been here before, and I’m still not over it.”

Nora whirled toward me, hands on her hips. “Diana. Explain.”

I blinked. “Explain what?”

She gestured wildly around the place. “Why we are just now making this our official hangout spot?”

Chloe nodded in agreement. “Yeah, why have we been suffering in the cafeteria when we could’ve been here, living in luxury?”

I rolled my eyes. “Because I didn’t realize my house was suddenly the city’s number one tourist attraction?”

Nora ignored me, walking toward the kitchen with wide eyes. “Do you guys even use this place? Like, how is it this clean?”

“My dad is clean, and I actually clean up after myself?” I said dryly.

Nora opened the fridge, gasped, and turned to Chloe. “She has the good snacks.”

“I told you,” Chloe said, shaking her head. “And I bet she has a secret stash somewhere, too.”

Abby, who had been standing next to me watching the chaos unfold, leaned down slightly. “Are they serious?” she murmured, her lips close to my ear.

A shiver ran down my spine, and I swallowed. “Unfortunately.”

She chuckled, and before I could react, she casually slung an arm around my shoulders.

I stiffened for half a second, not because it was unusual—Abby was always touchy—but because after what almost happened earlier, everything felt… different.

Abby, of course, was acting completely normal. Like she hadn’t almost kissed me. Like my heart wasn’t racing from how close she was.

And then, as if she knew what she was doing to me, her thumb brushed lightly over my shoulder.

I swear I stopped breathing.

I caught Chloe and Nora exchanging a look.

I pretended not to notice.

“Okay,” Nora said, shutting the fridge and leaning against the counter. “So, what are we doing? Movie? Food? Taking a full tour of the mansion so I can emotionally recover from the fact that this is your life?”

Chloe smirked, but her eyes flickered toward Abby’s arm around me. “Yeah, what’s the plan, Diana?”

I ignored the obvious emphasis on my name and cleared my throat. “I mean, we just ate, but we can order dessert or something.”

“Ooh,” Nora said, snapping her fingers. “You know what rich people have? Fancy ice cream.”

Chloe nodded. “Yeah, do you have, like, some special imported gelato or something?”

I gave them a look and walked to the freezer. “It’s just regular ice cream.”

Nora peeked over my shoulder. “Yeah, but it’s good regular ice cream.”

I pulled out a few flavors and set them on the counter. “Fine. You guys get spoons.”

As they scrambled to grab everything, I turned back to Abby, who was watching me with that same amused smirk.

“What?” I asked.

She tilted her head. “Nothing.”

But her fingers brushed against mine as I reached for a bowl.

It was quick. Barely anything. But I felt it.

And judging by the way Chloe and Nora’s eyes narrowed as they both paused in their search for spoons, they felt the shift too.

Chloe leaned against the counter, a knowing glint in her eyes. “Sooo…”

I braced myself. “So what?”

She pointed between me and Abby. “You two are, like, really comfortable with each other tonight.”

Abby smirked. “Jealous?”

Nora gasped. “Oh my God, she flirted again. I saw that.”

I groaned. “Can you both chill?”

“No,” Chloe and Nora said at the same time.

Abby just chuckled, nudging me lightly with her hip. “They’re just mad because they don’t get to cuddle me like you do.”

I give Abby a look.

And that was how the rest of the night went—ice cream, a movie, and my best friends not-so-subtly watching as Abby and I kept finding excuses to touch.

The night stretched on, filled with ice cream, way too much laughing, and a movie none of us actually paid attention to. At some point, I ended up curled up against Abby on the massive sectional couch, her arm lazily draped over my waist. It was comfortable. Warm.

And definitely something Chloe and Nora were eyeing with way too much interest.

But I was too tired to care.

Somewhere between the last half-hour of the movie and listening to Abby’s steady breathing, my eyelids grew heavy. My body relaxed completely against her, the warmth of her chest beneath me making it impossible to fight sleep.

The last thing I remembered was the sound of Chloe and Nora whispering.

Then—

“Oh. Oh my God.”

A click. A flash.

And suddenly, loud gasping.

My eyes cracked open, groggy and confused. “Huh…?”

I tried to move, but—wait.

Something was off.

I blinked, my brain struggling to catch up, only to realize that I wasn’t just leaning against Abby anymore.

I was on top of her.

Like, full-body, tangled-up, practically snuggled into her chest.

Abby was still asleep beneath me, one arm loosely wrapped around my waist like she belonged there. Like I belonged there.

The realization hit me all at once, just in time for—

Click!

Another flash.

My head snapped up, and there they were—Chloe and Nora, holding up their phones like paparazzi.

“Oh my GOD,” Chloe whisper-screamed. “This is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.”

Nora was grinning way too hard. “I knew they were obsessed with each other. I knew it when I and Abby first talked to you guys.”

“DELETE THAT.” My voice came out hoarse, panicked, as I scrambled to push myself up.

Abby stirred beneath me, groaning. “Mmm… why are you moving…?”

I froze.

Oh no. Oh no no no.

She was half-awake, her voice husky from sleep, and I could feel the heat radiating off her.

“I am not awake enough for this,” she muttered, eyes barely opening as she stretched under me, completely unfazed by our position.

Chloe gasped dramatically. “Oh. Oh. Abby, do you even know where Diana is right now?”

Abby’s arms tightened around my waist. “Mmm… on me. It's fine.”

I died. Right then and there.

Nora squealed. “OH MY GOD SHE LIKES IT.”

I launched myself off of Abby, my face burning hotter than the sun. “I HATE YOU BOTH.”

Chloe and Nora cackled, showing absolutely no remorse.

Abby, now fully waking up, blinked at me sleepily, rubbing her eyes. “What’s happening?”

“They took photos,” I hissed.

Abby raised a slow eyebrow, then smirked. “Nice.”

“NOT NICE.”

Chloe practically collapsed onto the couch laughing. “This is the best night of my life.”

Nora grinned. “We are never deleting these.”

I buried my face in my hands.

I was never going to live this down.