I was peacefully minding my business.
Snacks in hand.
Life almost calm for once.
Crunch.
Sip.
Exist.
—
BANG.
The front door flew open like someone kicked it with emotional intent.
Luca and I both jumped.
"WHAT—" I choked on air.
And then—
Nena walked in.
She looked like a storm that lost patience halfway through forming.
Short black hair slightly messy, swaying as she moved like it had attitude of its own.
Oversized white shirt, sleeves rolled up like she was ready to fight someone's entire bloodline, black cargo pants, sneakers scuffed like she had already attempted violence and reconsidered.
She didn't say hi.
Didn't blink.
Just walked in—
and dropped onto the couch.
Hard.
Like the couch personally owed her an apology.
I slowly turned.
"…What happened."
She stared at the ceiling.
"That girl."
I blinked.
"…What girl."
She sat up immediately, pointing at absolutely nothing.
"That girl in our class. The BIG one."
Luca straightened."…Define big."
"Big energy. Big problem. Big attitude."
"That is not helpful," he said.
I leaned forward.
"What did she do."
Nena took a deep breath like she was about to present a legal case.
"She was talking to Jake."
I blinked.
"…Okay?"
"And I didn't like it."
Silence.
I narrowed my eyes.
"…Continue."
Nena pointed dramatically.
"She kept smiling at him. Laughing. Talking like—like she knows him."
Luca blinked."…He does know her. They're in the same class."
Nena ignored him.
"And then—" she leaned forward, voice lowering, "she touched his arm."
I gasped.
Fake.
But supportive.
"Disrespectful."
"EXTREMELY," Nena snapped.
"And then?" I asked, fully invested now.
Nena's eyes narrowed.
"I pushed her."
Luca froze.
"You WHAT?"
"I pushed her," she repeated calmly.
"You can't just push people—"
"She was being mean," Nena said.
"How?" Luca asked.
"She existed near Jake aggressively."
I nodded immediately."Valid reason."
Luca turned to me slowly.
"You are making this worse."
"I am supporting my best friend."
Nena crossed her arms.
"I was being nice at first."
"You pushed her," Luca repeated.
"I said excuse me in my head."
"That does not count!"
I leaned closer to Nena.
"So what happened after you pushed her?"
"She looked at me."
"…And?"
"She looked at me."
"…That's it?"
"She looked at me wrong."
I nodded seriously."Yeah, that's a fight."
Luca made a noise like he was losing faith in humanity.
"Why didn't you just fight her properly then?" I asked.
Nena dusted her shirt like she was in a movie.
"Good girls don't fight."
I stared at her.
"…You pushed her."
"That was a warning."
Luca took a deep breath.
"Okay. Listen. Violence is not the solution."
I turned to him.
"Sometimes it is."
He pointed at me."No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
Nena raised her hand slightly."I like hers."
"Of course you do," Luca said, exhausted.
Nena suddenly stood up.
"I have a plan."
I immediately sat up straighter.
"…Oh no. I like this already."
Luca shook his head."I don't."
Nena pointed like she was announcing a mission.
"Every Saturday, she goes to that restaurant."
I blinked."…Which one."
"The fancy one. Glass walls. People act like they're better than you."
"…That's half the restaurants," Luca muttered.
"We will find her there," Nena continued.
"And then?" I asked, already smiling.
She smiled back.
"We deal with it."
Silence.
Luca stood up immediately.
"Absolutely not."
I leaned back.
"Absolutely yes."
He turned to me.
"Why are you encouraging this??"
I shrugged.
"Character development."
Nena grabbed her bag like she was ready to start a war.
"Tomorrow."
Luca blinked.
"Tomorrow??"
"Yes."
"That is too soon to commit crimes."
"It's not a crime, it's a conversation."
"You push people during conversations."
Luca ran a hand through his hair.
"…Fine."
We both looked at him.
He sighed.
"I'm only coming to make things right."
I smirked slowly.
"Oh, you're coming."
He pointed at me."Do not twist this."
"Too late."
"Tomorrow is going to be long," he added.
I tilted my head, still smiling.
"…I'm looking forward to it."
He rolled his eyes so hard I was surprised he could still see.
Nena nodded like everything was now perfectly organized.
"Good. It's settled."
"It is NOT settled—" Luca started.
But she was already walking toward the door again.
She paused.
Looked at me.
"You're coming."
"Obviously."
She nodded once—
and left.
The door closed.
Silence.
Luca slowly sat back down.
"…I need peaceful friends."
I grabbed another snack.
"You have us."
He looked at me.
"…Exactly my problem."
I grinned.
"Too late."
--------
I was not planning to talk to him.
That was the plan.
Simple.
Clean.
Emotionally stable.
Avoid Jake. Go home. Rethink my life choices. Maybe fight someone tomorrow.
Very organized.
I stepped outside—
And there he was.
Of course.
Leaning near the gate like he had all the time in the world, phone in hand, completely unaware that he was the center of my current anger issues.
I immediately turned.
Nope.
Not doing this.
"Nena."
I froze.
…Ignore.
Keep walking.
"You're really going to pretend you didn't see me?"
I stopped.
Closed my eyes briefly.
Then turned slowly.
"…What."
He blinked.
"…What kind of greeting is that?"
"The kind you get today."
He straightened a little, frowning.
"Did I do something?"
I stared at him.
"You tell me."
"I genuinely don't know."
"That's the problem."
"…What problem??"
I crossed my arms.
"You were talking to her."
He blinked.
"…Who?"
I squinted.
"Don't play dumb."
"I'm not—who??"
"That girl."
"That narrows it down to literally half the school."
I stepped closer.
"Matty."
He paused.
Then—
"Oh. That sweaty problem?"
I nodded immediately.
"Yes. That one."
Jake looked confused.
"…What about her?"
I stared at him.
"You were laughing."
"…Yeah?"
"She touched your arm."
He blinked again.
"…I think she was just talking?"
I gave him a look.
"A dangerous game."
He scratched the back of his neck.
"…Okay, I feel like I missed a chapter."
"You missed several."
"I didn't know I was in a book."
"You are now."
He sighed.
"Okay, wait. That's actually why I wanted to talk to you."
I paused.
"…Why."
He hesitated.
"Matty invited me to lunch tomorrow."
Silence.
My brain stopped.
"…She did what."
He nodded slowly.
"Yeah… and I was going to ask if it's okay if I go."
I blinked.
"Why are you asking me?"
He shrugged.
"…Because you look like you might fight someone?"
"Correct."
I turned away slightly.
"…Go if you want."
He narrowed his eyes.
"That sounded like a trap."
"It wasn't."
"It sounded like a trap."
I turned back.
"Fine. It's a little bit of a trap."
He sighed.
"Will you come with me?"
I blinked.
"…Why."
"I'll feel better."
I stared at him.
For a second too long.
Then—
"Oh, I'm definitely coming."
He smiled a little.
"…Okay. That sounded intense."
"It is."
He shifted his weight.
"So… where are you going?"
"Home."
"I'll walk you."
"No."
He blinked.
"…No?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I said no."
"That's not a reason."
"It's a complete sentence."
He stepped closer slightly.
"You're still mad."
"I'm not mad."
"You're mad."
"I pushed someone today."
"…You WHAT?"
"She deserved it."
"That does not answer anything."
He sighed.
"Okay. I'm still walking you."
"No, you're not."
"Yes, I am."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
I glared at him.
He grinned.
"Fine," he said casually, pulling out his phone.
"I'll just tell Ayana you refused to let me make sure you got home safely."
I froze.
"You wouldn't."
"Oh, I would."
"She'll take your side."
"Exactly."
I narrowed my eyes.
"You're annoying."
"Thank you."
"…Fine."
He smiled.
Victory.
I hated that.
We started walking.
Side by side.
Quiet for a second.
Then—
"…You really pushed her?" he asked.
I didn't look at him.
"Yes."
"…Why??"
"She touched your arm."
He paused.
Then laughed.
Actually laughed.
I stopped walking.
"…Why are you laughing."
He shook his head, still smiling.
"You're unbelievable."
I crossed my arms.
"I'm right."
"You're insane."
"Also correct."
He looked at me for a second.
Not laughing now.
Just… softer.
"…You didn't have to do that."
I shrugged.
"I wanted to."
We kept walking.
And for some reason—
I didn't feel like avoiding him anymore.