Jake smirked at me like he'd just solved a puzzle no one else could crack. Then he tapped my shoulder—too casually for my liking.
"Next time, come with me."
I blinked.
Seriously?
This is the same guy who ran like his shoes were on fire, and now he's giving instructions?
Ethan stepped in immediately, face serious.
"This is getting out of hand. They targeted your sister. We need to be careful. She can't get hurt."
His tone was calm. Too calm. Like danger was just another topic on his schedule.
Jake raised an eyebrow, then looked at me.
"Since my crew here cares so much about you, you're not going home alone. Not today. Not ever. You're coming with me, Ethan, Liam, or Mark."
"…What?"
That hit like a truck.
A very intentional truck.
I sighed. "Can I just have five minutes of peace? Please?"
They laughed.
Of course they did.
Even Ethan, barely, cracked a smirk.
I frowned. "What? Am I entertainment now?"
"You should be," Liam said, grinning.
I laughed anyway. Because honestly? I was losing.
Ethan leaned back. "We can't stop. We're already in it."
That ended the discussion.
Mark glanced at me. "Don't worry. We've got you."
Jake started walking like this was some classified mission. Liam followed like it was a game.
And me?
Apparently the main target.
I ended up in the car between Mark and Ethan.
"So… where exactly are we going?" I asked.
Mark stared out the window like the sky owed him answers.
Ethan looked half asleep already.
Liam casually handed me a candy.
"Here. For you."
I took it. "Thanks."
Gone in one bite.
Jake cleared his throat. Serious mode again.
"Ayana. Stay with us until this is over. Until you're safe."
He drove like it was nothing. Like chaos didn't exist.
I sighed. "Perfect. My favorite kind of life."
I leaned back.
Ethan looked too quiet. Too still.
Mark too focused on nothing.
I didn't even think.
I just rested my head on Ethan's shoulder.
Instant reaction.
He flinched.
Looked down at me like I'd broken a rule.
His hand lifted—then stopped.
He froze.
Mark didn't even turn. "Stop staring. She'll wake up and ruin your life."
"I'm not staring," Ethan muttered.
Silence.
I slept anyway.
Jake's voice cut through later.
"Ethan… what's going on with you? You've been off since the school change."
Liam jumped in. "Yeah. No more training. No more anything."
Mark added, "And you skipped math. I was better than you, by the way."
Jake smirked slightly.
Ethan shrugged. "It's nothing."
Mark leaned back. "Should I move her or let her continue using you as furniture?"
Ethan didn't answer.
Just silence again.
Later.
"They are so annoying, Nena. I swear I'm going insane."
Nena sighed over the phone. "You call me every day about R4."
"It's R4," I snapped.
"If they're that bad, avoid them."
"Wow. Genius advice. Why didn't I think of disappearing from reality?"
A pause.
Then her voice dropped.
"…Ayana. Go outside."
I frowned. "Why do you sound like a horror movie narrator?"
"Just go."
I went.
And froze.
"Nena?"
She was there.
Real.
In my yard.
My brain lagged.
Then I ran.
"HOLY—YOU'RE REAL."
She laughed as I hugged her hard. "Surprise."
"You could've warned me!"
"Then it wouldn't be fun."
Inside.
"This is my room. Small. Functional. Barely surviving," I said.
Nena looked around. "It's actually cute."
"Careful," I warned.
She smiled. "So this is where the R4 chaos happens?"
I groaned. "Don't remind me."
She leaned in. "I want to meet them."
"No."
"Now I really want to meet them."
I dropped onto the bed. "My life is a mistake."
Nena grinned. "No. Your life is just… loud."
I stared at the ceiling.
"…Yeah. Loud."