AN: Give me a powerstone boost. And hope they don't take it down again. I was at top 10 last night.ššš And now zero rank.
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[Morning] [Sunday]
Jack woke up early.
Sunlight filtered through the curtains in soft bands, cutting across the ceiling and reminding him that he was alive and this wasn't any dream. Still, he touched the place where he was shot and sighed. He lay on the bed for a moment before getting out.
After breakfast, he went through his morning routine without rushing. He showered, dressed comfortably, and then stood in front of the mirror for a moment before grabbing his notes.
By late morning, he was seated at his desk, practicing lines for the voice recording scheduled for the next day. He focused on tone, pacing, and clarity, replaying problem sections until they felt natural.
When he finally stopped, he didn't feel any strain in his voice, which he took as a good sign.
After that, he changed into workout clothes and headed downstairs to the home gym. He jogged on the treadmill at an easy pace, letting his thoughts drift while his body worked. Haley crossed his mind more than once, which he did not fight. But the memories related to Dakota were kinda hazy even for him. The run cleared his head, and a little cardio was always good for the body.
By the time he stepped off, he was hungry.
After lunch, he showered again, changed into clean clothes, and checked the time.
2 PM.
He grabbed his phone, wallet, and backpack, making sure he had everything he needed for studying.Ā
He left.
Jack rode his electric bike through residential streets. The afternoon air was cool. The ride was smooth, giving him just enough time to rehearse polite greetings in his head and remind himself not to overthink things.Ā
...
[Dunphy House]
Haley stood in front of her bedroom mirror, adjusting the hem of her top for the third time.
She had gone with casual clothes... a blue t-shirt and shorts. Light makeup, nothing dramatic, just enough to look beautiful and confident. She checked her reflection one last time, brushed her hair over one shoulder, then nodded to herself.
"Okay," she muttered. "This is fine. Totally normal. We are just going to study Math. No pressure."
Downstairs...
Luke was sitting at the kitchen counter, spinning on the stool while watching Phil do his tricks with a deck of cards. Claire was at the dining table, sorting mail and marking a small wall calendar.
"And then," Phil said cheerfully, holding up a card, "if you misdirect the eye just enough, they never notice the switch."
He flicked his wrist. The card vanished.
Luke clapped slowly. "Wow. That was almost as cool as the time I lost Haley's and found it in the fridge."
Phil smiled proudly. "Magic is about timing, Luke. And confidence."
Luke said casually, "Oh, by the way. Haley invited her boyfriend over today."
Claire froze.
The envelope in her hand bent slightly.
"Her what?" she asked, very calmly.
Phil stopped mid shuffle. "Boyfriend?"
Luke nodded, completely unfazed. "Yeah. He is coming to study or something. I do not know. They say that a lot when it is not true."
Claire slowly turned her head toward Phil.
Phil blinked. "You hear that, honey? Haley's boyfriend is coming today."
Claire's lips pressed together into a tight smile. "I heard it. I just wanted to make sure I heard it."
Phil brightened immediately. "That is great. I love this. A boyfriend. Our little girl is growing up."
"Yes," Claire said. "That is the problem."
Phil waved a hand. "No, no. This is good. Maybe he can help her study and she might even go to college. Who knows? Maybe this is a sign."
Luke smirked. "He is also famous."
Claire snapped her head back to Luke. "What do you mean by famous?"
"I think he is on TV," Luke said as he took another spin. "Or movies. Or commercials. I am not sure. Alex says he's rich."
Claire inhaled sharply.
At that exact moment, footsteps sounded on the stairs.
Haley paused halfway down when she heard them talking.
"ā¦rich and famous..."
She continued down slowly, eyes narrowing as she took in the scene. Claire was standing rigid by the table. Phil was holding a deck of cards like a magician caught in a crime. Luke was grinning as if he had just dropped a grenade and stepped back.
Haley walked into the living room. "Why are you all standing like that?"
Claire turned to her immediately, smile switching on too fast to be natural. "Hi, sweetie. You lookā¦ nice. You've put on makeup, I see."
"Thank you," Haley said with a smile. She just couldn't help herself when someone praised her. But she quickly shook it off. "What's going on?"
Phil cleared his throat. "So. Funny story."
Claire cut him off, eyes never leaving Haley. "Luke told us you invited your boyfriend over today."
Haley groaned. "Oh my god, Luke. What is wrong with you?"
"What?" Luke said. "You did."
Haley sighed and looked at her mom. "He is not my boyfriend."
Claire raised an eyebrow. "That was very fast."
"He is a friend," Haley said. "We are studying."
"Since when do you study?" Luke asked.
Phil smiled. "Studying. Love that."
Claire crossed her arms. "So, who is this boy? Luke said he's famous or something."
Haley hesitated for half a second.
"Jack Preston," she replied with a sigh.
"Doesn't ring a bell," Claire said, shaking her head.Ā
Phil, however, had gone very still.
The deck of cards slipped slightly in his hands as his eyes unfocused, then widened. His mouth opened a little, then closed again, like his brain was buffering.
"Jack Preston," he said slowly, reverently, as if tasting the name. "As in Jack Preston from Dead Space Rangers?"
Haley blinked. "Uh. Yeah? I think so."
Luke perked up. "Wait, that movie where everyone dies in space?"
Phil snapped his fingers and pointed at Luke, suddenly energized. "Not everyone, but some sacrifices were made that day. That movie. The sci-fi cult classic super hit that made grown adults cry into their popcorn."
Claire frowned. "Phil, what are you talking about?"
Phil turned to her, eyes shining. "Honey, Dead Space Rangers was nominated for Oscar. Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Design. Jack Preston was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor. And he played Orion Vale, the nine-year-old child genius. He was one of the youngest oscar nominated actor."
He got down and was already pacing.
"That kid," Phil continued, voice rising with excitement, "designed a last-minute reroute for the ship's core, piloted a damaged mecha suit, and then sacrificed himself to hold off an entire alien horde so his teammates and the stranded crew could escape."
Luke stared. "He died?"
"In the most heroic way possible," Phil said solemnly. "Alone. In the void of space. In a burning mecha suit. He looked back at the camera and said, 'Someone has to stay.'"
Phil pressed a fist to his chest.
Claire blinked. "Wait. That was him?"
"Yes," Phil said firmly. "That was him."
Claire turned back to Haley. "Your study partner is that kid?"
Haley sighed. "Yeah, okay. I get it, he's famous and all. But he's just coming over to study. So, can we be normal for a change? I don't want him to freak out."
Phil ignored her entirely and turned toward Luke, voice rising. "Luke, grab a pen and paper right now. We are going to get an autograph."
Luke grinned. "Told you he was famous."
"Move," Phil snapped, gently but forcefully steering Luke toward the hallway. "This is not a drill."
Luke took off running.
Phil turned back toward Haley, already smoothing his shirt and fixing his hair in the reflection of the microwave.
"Oh my god," he muttered. "I cannot believe he is coming here. To our house."
Haley's jaw dropped. "Wait. What? Dad, you're exaggerating. That was a movie. It's not real. Mom, say something. He's going to ruin it." She made her usual dramatic gesture as if she were devastated.
Claire narrowed her eyes. "Phil."
"Yes, Honey?"
"You are not asking for an autograph the moment he walks through the door."
Phil froze.
Slowly, his expression shifted.
"Oh," he said softly. "You are right."
Claire relaxed slightly.
Phil snapped his fingers again.
"Because I have something better."
Claire sighed. "Phil."
Phil rushed toward the stairs. "I bought that limited edition Ranger Mecha figurine. The one with the articulated joints and battle damage detailing. There are only twenty of those figurines ever made. If he signs it, that thing will be worth thousands."
Claire followed him with her eyes, horrified. "Phil, stop it."
Crack!
"Son of a...!" Phil yelled as his right leg shot straight through the stair step.
Haley rushed over immediately. "Are you okay?"
Phil gritted his teeth and waved a hand. "I am fine. Just a little stuck." He tried to push himself up, but the leg wouldn't budge.
Claire's eyes narrowed sharply. "Phil, you told me you fixed it."
Phil looked sheepish, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry. I forgot."
Haley groaned and crouched down beside him. "Jack will be here any minute now. We have to get you out before he sees... this..."
Before Phil could answer, the doorbell rang.
"Great timing," Claire muttered. "That must be Jack." She looked at Haley. "Stall him." Then looked at Luke, who had somehow stuck his head between the stair railings.Ā
Everyone looked at Luke.
"How?" Haley asked, stunned. A moment Luke was standing near the hallway, the next, his head was stuck between the railings. It was a disaster.
"Sorry, it just happened," Luke replied while standing on the second step.
"Great," Haley said with a painful chuckle. "Just when I wanted to make a good impression, this happens... My life is ruined."
The doorbell rang again...
"Just a minute," Haley said loudly.
"Haley, sweetheart, look at me," Claire called with a serious expression. "Nothing is ruined. Just tell him you want to go out, maybe take a walk around, or go to a cafe for a few hours... And you can study at evening."
"What if he has a plan for the evening? What if he thinks I just called him to hang out outside to have fun instead of studying? He'll think I'm a liar and then he'll never talk to me," Haley said, holding her head.
"Trust me, go. Everything will be fine," Claire said.
"Okay. I mean, what could possibly go wrong than this..." Haley said as she took a deep breath, fixed her hair, and walked to the door.
Clair sighed and gave Phil and Luke a death glare. "You two stay here and don't make a single sound." She walked down the stairs and quickly moved behind Haley as she opened the door.Ā
Both of them quickly got out and closed the door behind them, before anyone could see what was going on inside.
Outside, Jack stood with his backpack and his bike was parked on the side.
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