The door to Dray's office slammed shut behind her. Nicole exhaled hard. Down the hall, Sky leaned against the wall like she'd been waiting forever—hoodie half-zipped, hair messy, a half-dead Coke in hand. She looked pale. Not the aesthetic kind. The kind that said she hadn't slept right in days.
"Fun chat?" Sky asked, smirking.
Nicole kept walking. "Didn't know you cared."
"I don't. I just like seeing you knocked off your throne."
Nicole ignored her. Footsteps echoed down the hallway.
"He always that hot when he's pissed?" Sky called.
"Go flirt with your ex."
Sky's grin twitched. "Already did. Marcos is losing his mind over the car. Doesn't know who did it."
Nicole didn't slow down.
"I told him maybe karma finally found his address," Sky added, catching up.
Outside, the sky had turned heavy and gray. The kind of clouds that didn't ask for permission. "Yo, wait up." Sky yelled
Nicole raised a brow. "What?"
Sky stopped beside her, eyes scanning the quiet street. "I'm bored. Mind if I crash your walk home?"
Nicole stared at her like she'd grown an extra head. "Why would I say yes?"
Sky shrugged. "'Cause I just saved your ass from getting jumped by Marcos and his band of testosterone. And I like watching you pretend not to like me."
Nicole smirked. "I don't."
Sky grinned. "Exactly. Makes it fun."
Nicole sighed. Her phone buzzed. Mark:
Dinner's tonight. Not Sunday. Alex moved it up. Be home early or Dad'll lose his shit.
Her fingers curled tighter around the phone. Of course they moved it up. No warning. No asking. Just orders. Like she was supposed to smile and play nice with the woman who tried too hard and the girl who probably called her "Nikki" in her head.
Sky glanced over. "Bad news?"
Nicole slid the phone into her pocket. "Change of plans. Family dinner got moved to tonight."
Sky raised an eyebrow. "Oof. That sounds…emotionally violent."
"…Fine," Nicole muttered. "But you walk fast or I leave you behind."
Sky lit up. "Aw, you do like me."
"I like silence. Don't make me regret this."
They walked in silence for a minute, sneakers hitting pavement, wind blowing harder now. Nicole's hoodie whipped against her sides. Sky stuck her hands in her pockets, chewing the inside of her cheek.
"Nice neighborhood," Sky said, kicking at a rock. "You live with both your brothers?"
Nicole didn't answer at first.
"Jaden's the golden boy," she finally said. "Mark's the headache. Dad's the disappointment."
Sky whistled low. "Damn. That should be on a family crest."
Nicole smirked. "Put it on a T-shirt."
They crossed a cracked sidewalk where some kid's bike lay abandoned. Sky hopped over it, landing in rhythm beside her.
"So…" Sky said. "What's the deal with you and Dray?"
Nicole stopped walking. "What?"
Sky grinned. "Relax. I didn't say you were screwing him. I'm just saying… the tension? Whew."
Nicole rolled her eyes and kept walking. "He's a coach. I'm a student. End of story."
"Sure," Sky said, falling back in step. "Except stories like that don't usually end. They burn."
Nicole didn't respond. But her silence wasn't empty—it was loud. Dangerous.
"You ever think about running away?" Sky asked suddenly. "like really running. Just… disappearing. No note. No warning. Just gone."
Nicole thought about that for a beat. "What's stopping you?"
Sky shrugged. "Guess I wanna see who'd actually come looking."
Nicole didn't say anything. But in her head, that landed too hard. Because deep down, she knew her answer.
No one.
They turned onto Nicole's street. Houses all lined up like perfect little lies. Lights on. Curtains drawn. Families pretending.
Nicole stopped at the driveway. "This is me."
Sky blinked at the house. "Damn. You live in a brochure."
Nicole didn't laugh. Just stared up at the windows like they were watching her back. "What are you gonna do when you get home?"
Sky shrugged. "Argue with my mom. Pretend I did my homework. Watch reruns until I forget my name."
Nicole looked at her for a second longer. The kind of second that meant something.
Then: "You wanna come with me?"
Sky blinked. "To…?"
Nicole jerked her head toward the house. "Dinner. It got moved to tonight, and I might need a bitch by my side to keep me from flipping the table."
Sky's grin lit up slow. "You inviting me to meet the family? Nicole, are we dating?"
Nicole rolled her eyes. "You're the emotional support delinquent, not my girlfriend. Don't get excited."
Sky laughed. "Too late. I'm picking out our couple name in my head."
Nicole groaned and started up the driveway. "Shut up and try not to embarrass me."
Sky followed with a wicked smile. "No promises, babe."
Nicole didn't look back. But for the first time all day, the weight in her chest felt just a little bit lighter. Maybe walking into hell wasn't so bad when someone else was willing to throw matches with you.
Family Dinner – Nicole, Sky, Alex, Chelsea, Jaden, Mark, and Dad
When they walked in, the scent of overpriced candles and fake family values hit first. The dining table looked like a Pinterest ad threw up on it—candles, fancy napkins, some overcooked roast that smelled like apologies. Her dad looked up from setting the table, surprise flickering across his face when he saw Sky.
"You brought a guest?" he asked, stiff.
Nicole dropped her bag. "She's not a guest. She's backup."
Mark poked his head out of the kitchen, eyes lighting up with mock delight. "Ooooh, things just got spicy."
"Shut up," Nicole muttered.
Jaden, golden boy and unbothered as always, leaned against the counter with a soda in hand. His button-down shirt wasn't even wrinkled. Life stayed smooth for him.
Alex walked in from the kitchen— long hair, long smile, too much lipstick. "Nicole," she said like they were friends.
Nicole didn't respond. She blinked. First impression: early-forties, toned arms, wine in hand, and the kind of woman who hosted book clubs but never finished the book.
"Dinner's early," Nicole said.
Her dad cleared his throat. "Plans shifted. Wanted everyone to meet properly."
Nicole's eyes flicked to the girl sitting at the table. Long dark curls, neatly parted. Nails done. Quiet confidence. She didn't have to try.
Chelsea stood and offered a hand. "I'm Chelsea. I've heard a lot about you."
Nicole shook it briefly. "Cool." She looked at Nicole, then Sky, then back.
"Is this, like, your girlfriend?" Chelsea asked.
Sky gave a little wave. "Hi, I'm the bitch she dragged in so she wouldn't commit arson."
Alex blinked. "That's… honest."
Chelsea, looked Sky up and down like she was scanning for lice. Then her eyes slid to Nicole. "You weren't invited."
Nicole smirked. "Neither were you when my mom was alive."
"Nicole," her dad snapped.
Sky leaned in, whispering just loud enough for the table to hear, "I love family dinners. So warm. So deadly."
Mark was already seated, hoodie up, one AirPod in, scarfing rice like he hadn't eaten in three days.
"Headphones off," their dad said.
Mark groaned but obeyed, pulling it out slowly like it hurt. "Didn't know this was a whole family reunion."
Jaden pulled out a chair for Nicole. "You good?"
"I'm breathing." she muttered.
Nicole nodded once, but her throat felt tight. "Can I use the bathroom real quick?"
Alex gestured down the hall. "Of course."
Nicole didn't wait. She walked off with the same cool expression she always wore, but once the bathroom door clicked shut, she gripped the edge of the sink like it was holding her up.
Her reflection looked back—stone-faced, eyes sharp, heart racing. She turned on the tap, splashed water on her face, and breathed.
It's just dinner. Nobody died. Yet.
She dried her face and stepped back into the hallway. The clink of silverware and voices drifted from the dining room. They'd all sat down.
She turned toward the kitchen, stomach dry. Water. That's all she needed. Except when she stepped into the kitchen, she froze.
There they were—her dad and Alex, tucked into each other like some damn teenage movie. Her father's hand was on Alex's waist, Alex's fingers in his hair. They kissed like they'd forgotten anyone else existed. Nicole didn't move at first. Just watched. Her jaw clenched. Her chest tightened.
Then she walked in fully, grabbed a glass from the counter—loudly. They didn't notice.
She turned to the fridge, yanked the door open. Still kissing.
And then… crash.
The glass slipped from her hand, hit the tile, and shattered into clean, sharp pieces.
Her dad jumped back like he'd been electrocuted. "Jesus, Nicole! What the hell was that for?!"
Jaden, Mark and the others came charging in like someone had pulled the fire alarm.
"We heard something break!" Jaden shouted. Nicole leaned on the counter, calm as ever. "Oops. My hand slipped. Must be the spirit of accountability taking over."
Jaden narrowed his eyes. "You need deliverance, Nicole. Like, holy water and a priest level deliverance."
Nicole gave a dramatic shrug. "Just thought Dad might want a reminder that he has children in this house. If he wants to star in a romance movie, there are bedrooms for that."
Mark groaned. "Grow up, Nicole. Seriously."
Nicole turned to him with a raised brow and a smirk. "Oh please. You saying that is like a raccoon calling a squirrel immature."
Jaden glanced awkwardly at Alexa. "Sorry about… all of this."
Alexa stood frozen, lipstick smeared and clearly regretting her life choices.Mark had enough. He grabbed Nicole's wrist and pulled her away. "Let's go, chaos queen. You've done enough damage."
As he dragged her through the living room again, Nicole caught Jaden muttering something under his breath.
"You nearly burned down our last apartment over a sandwich," he said. "Now you're sabotaging Dad's love life."
Nicole just grinned. "It was a really good sandwich."
Mark looked like he wanted to scream. "You're an actual menace."
"Hey, let go!" Nicole snapped, wrenching her arm out of Mark's grip. She stormed onto the porch like a fuse had been lit. Mark and Jaden followed close behind, both already on edge.
"What the hell was that?" Jaden barked. "You're trying to start World War III over dinner now?"
Mark pointed back toward the house. "Dad invites one woman over and you go full demolition mode? Really?"
Nicole flung her arms up. "She was straddling him in the kitchen like this was The Notebook—but with casseroles!"
Jaden rubbed his temples. "You need therapy."
"And a holy bath," Mark muttered.
Nicole narrowed her eyes. "You two are unbelievable. Since when did we become Alexa's fan club?"
"She's not the villain here," Mark said. "You broke a glass in the kitchen like you were casting a spell."
"I was just creating ambiance," Nicole deadpanned. "A little dramatic tension never hurt anyone."
"You will ruin dinner!" Jaden shouted.
"Then it was never meant to be," she said, turning dramatically like she was in a soap opera. Mark stepped forward, exasperated. "You're gonna sit your dramatic ass down, eat that lasagna, and smile."
Jaden jabbed a finger toward the door. "You will attend. This is for Dad, Nicole. Not your personal telenovela."
Nicole rolled her eyes so hard she saw her ancestors. "Fine. I'll put on my Sunday best. But if she breathes too close to the garlic bread, I'm flipping the table."
Mark glared. "You're not funny."
Nicole winked. "I'm hilarious."
She turned to walk back inside, but not before striking a ridiculous catwalk pose. "Let's go have dinner with our future stepmom-slash-bachelorette contestant."
Behind her, Jaden mumbled, "We're all gonna die tonight."
Mark nodded. "Death by Nicole."
Nicole followed Mark and Jaden into the dining room, arms crossed, hoodie half-zipped like a shield of attitude.
Everyone sat. Plates were passed, drinks poured. The kind of meal where everyone was on their best behavior, but no one felt comfortable.
Alex tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "So, Nicole… how's Lincoln High been treating you?"
Nicole took a sip of her water. "Like it treats everyone. Loud, dramatic, and full of liars."
The silence that followed was sharp.
Sky coughed into her glass. Jaden raised a brow. Mark snorted.
Alex tried to laugh it off. "Well, I'm sure it'll get better with time. Transferring mid-year can be rough."
Chelsea smiled softly. "Especially when you walk in and immediately shake the table."
Nicole looked at her. "I don't shake tables. People just don't like when I sit at them."
Chelsea nodded, still poised. "Fair enough."
The food was good, but no one really tasted it. Alex pushed the conversation forward. "So Sky, are you and Nicole close?"
Sky shrugged. "Working on it."
Nicole side-eyed her. "She followed me home."
Sky smirked. "And I might've saved her from getting jumped."
Their dad put his fork down. "Everything okay at school?"
Nicole didn't look at him. "Yeah. Same old. You know how it is. You graduate and forget the mess."
Jaden jumped in to save the night. "So, Alexa, what do you do for a living?"
"I run a wellness brand," she said proudly. "Essential oils, detox teas, yoga retreats—"
"Oh," Nicole interrupted, "so you're a scam artist."
"Nicole!" Dad barked, nearly knocking over his wine glass.
"Sorry," Nicole said, twirling her fork. "She had that vibe. Namaste."
Alexa blinked. "I—I actually have thousands of customers."
"So does McDonald's," Nicole muttered.
Mark dropped his fork with a clatter. "Okay, I'm done. Someone's gonna get stabbed with a butter knife."
Jaden stood up, pointing at Nicole. "One more snarky comment, and you're doing the dishes for a week."
Nicole threw her hands up. "Fine! I'll be mute. Starting now." One second later—
"Nicole," Alexa said cautiously, "do you have a boyfriend?"
Nicole blinked. "That's my first question after getting threatened with dish duty?"
Alexa smiled awkwardly. "I just thought we could talk… you know, get to know each other."
"I don't do boyfriends," Nicole said flatly, stabbing at her chicken.
"Oh," Alexa said. "Just not into dating?"
"I like peace. Boys ruin that."
Mark snorted. "Say it louder."
Jaden gave Nicole a warning look. "Chill."
Alexa cleared her throat. "Well… whenever you want to talk girl stuff, I'm here."
Nicole looked up. "Like what? Yoga and crystals?"
Alexa blinked.
"Didn't think so."
Her dad banged the table. "That's it! Enough. If you can't behave, go upstairs."
Nicole stood, calm as ever, lifting her empty plate like a trophy. "With pleasure."
She looked right at Sky, who was halfway through her drink, wide-eyed.
"You coming, Sky?"
Sky wiped her mouth, grinning. "Thought you'd never ask."
They walked out without another word. Just the sound of forks pausing, Chelsea's awkward blinking, and Mark muttering something about moving in with Grandma.
Jaden stared after them like he wanted to follow and strangle someone. Probably Nicole.
But Nicole didn't care.
Upstairs, she kicked open her bedroom door and flopped onto the bed like she hadn't just burned dinner to the ground.
Sky leaned against the wall, shaking her head. "You're crazy, you know that?"
Nicole smirked at the ceiling. "Yeah. But at least I'm honest."
Sky flopped beside her, stealing the pillow. "So…"
Nicole didn't look over.
Sky turned, propped on her elbow. "How'd it feel when Chelsea asked if I was your girlfriend?"
Nicole rolled her eyes. "It was stupid."
Sky shifted closer on the bed, quiet for a beat. "You know… Chelsea really thought I was your girl."
Nicole smirked, brushing it off. "She also thought Mark was adopted, so."
Sky grinned, then paused. "Still… you didn't deny it."
Nicole looked at her. "What was I supposed to say? 'No, this is just my personal hater who follows me around for fun'?"
Sky's eyes danced. "Damn. You make me sound obsessed."
Nicole shook her head, a small smile tugging at her mouth. "You're not my girl."
Sky's voice dropped. "I know."
Silence.
Then, soft as a breath, Sky leaned in. She didn't rush. She moved slow—close enough for Nicole to stop her. But Nicole didn't.
Not until Sky's lips brushed hers, warm and barely there.
Nicole pulled back—not fast, but clear. "Sky…"
Sky looked at her, eyes a little glassy. "Yeah?"
Nicole blinked. "Don't."
Sky didn't move. "Okay."
Nicole's voice was softer now. "It's not you. I just… that's not me."
Sky nodded. "I know."
Nicole sat back, quiet. She wasn't mad. Just caught between something she didn't want to ruin.
Sky gave her a small smile. "Friends, then?"
Nicole reached for the blanket and tossed it over Sky's legs. "Friends. Who don't kiss."
Sky stretched her legs out and stood up, brushing invisible crumbs off her jeans. "Alright… I should probably head out."
Nicole glanced at the clock. "Yeah. It's late."
Sky lingered by the door for a second, then looked back at her. "Thanks for not kicking me out earlier."
Nicole smirked lightly. "Thanks for not setting the house on fire."
Sky grinned. "Came close."
They stood there for a beat, neither saying much.
Then Sky nodded. "I'm good, by the way. You don't have to feel weird."
Nicole looked at her. "I don't."
"You sure?"
Nicole nodded once. "Yeah. Just don't kiss me again."
Sky held up her hands, backing toward the hallway. "Scout's honor."
Nicole rolled her eyes. "You were never a scout."
Sky grinned. "Exactly."
She grabbed her hoodie, slung it over her shoulder, and headed for the stairs. "See you at school?"
Nicole didn't say yes. Didn't say no either.
Sky took that as her answer and slipped out.
The house was quiet again.
Nicole sat still for a long moment, then sighed and finally let herself relax.