It was a quiet walk back to the food truck, with the sun setting and casting long shadows on the pavement. The day had been exhausting—mentally, emotionally. Now, under the dim glow of streetlights, Diego, Luther, and I found ourselves at a small food truck parked on a corner. The smell of grilled meat wafted through the air, mixing with the cool night breeze. But the scent that usually made my mouth water did nothing to stir my appetite.

Diego sat across from me, holding onto the invite from their father with one hand and a photograph in the other. The image showed their father, Reginald Hargreeves, standing in the grass, possibly on the day the president would be shot. The connection wasn't clear yet, but the implications were heavy, looming over all of us.

Luther bought me a plate of ribs, the grease glistening under the light, but I just stared at it. The memory of Daren, his words, and the way he tried to force that bracelet on me—how I had to kick him—still lingered in my mind. My appetite had vanished.

"You gonna eat that?" Luther asked, his voice cutting through my thoughts. He pointed at my untouched basket of ribs.

Without a word, I slid the plate over to him, watching as he happily accepted the extra food. His focus returned to Diego, who seemed lost in thought, studying the photograph with an intensity that made me nervous.

"So, when is this dinner?" I finally asked, my voice breaking the silence that had settled between us.

"Tomorrow," Diego replied, his eyes still glued to the photo. The tension was palpable as we all contemplated what that meant.

"We can't just ignore the fact that this is all part of Dad's plan," Luther said, trying to make sense of everything.

"What plan?" I asked, finally looking up from the table.

"He's just gonna use us," Luther replied, frustrated by the entire situation. We were walking right into a trap, and we all knew it, yet we had no choice.

"Maybe... but it's worth a shot to hear what the old guy has to say," Diego reasoned, though I could tell even he wasn't fully convinced.

Luther returned to his ribs, the food apparently helping him deal with the stress. I, on the other hand, couldn't shake the unease that had settled deep in my gut. The more I thought about it, the more I realized how out of control everything had become. And for the first time, I wasn't sure we were going to make it out of this.

I sighed, resting my head in my hand as I continued to sit there, lost in thought, surrounded by the distant sounds of the city at night.

———

After Luther finished eating, we finally made our way back to my place. The walk felt longer than usual, with the weight of the day's events pressing down on me. When we entered the house, it was eerily quiet, and I realized that my dad must have already gone to bed. The silence was almost comforting after the chaotic day.

"You both can take the couch," I whispered to Diego and Luther as I turned back to them.

"Thanks," Diego replied, already getting comfortable on the couch. Luther nodded appreciatively, but I could see the weariness in his eyes.

I quietly walked to my dad's room, wanting to check on him. I gently opened the door and peeked in. He was fast asleep in his bed, with Sushi curled up next to him. A small smile tugged at my lips at the sight of them. I walked in and carefully adjusted his blanket, making sure he was fully covered. Leaning down, I kissed the side of his head softly, feeling a pang of affection and gratitude. I'm so lucky to have him.

I left his room quietly, closing the door behind me. As I made my way to my own room, the day's events replayed in my mind—Daren's creepy persistence, my complicated feelings for Five, his strange family dynamics, and the fact that I've been avoiding school. I know how important school is right now, especially with graduation around the corner, but everything else seems to be demanding my attention. Bri is probably worried sick, and I don't want to give her any more reasons to think something's wrong.

I sighed heavily as I entered my room and shut the door. I kicked off my flats, placed my purse on the desk, and collapsed onto my bed, letting out a long, exhausted breath.

I got up from my bed and walked over to my vanity. Sitting down, I started to take my hair out of its pins, letting the strands fall freely. As I was doing that, something on my desk caught my eye—a letter that hadn't been there before. My heart skipped a beat. I reached for it, a little on edge, and carefully opened it. It was a simple card, decorated with flowers on the cover. Inside, it said, "Love, Dad." A smile tugged at my lips. Typical Dad, always finding a way to make me feel loved, even when he was asleep.

But that wasn't all. Tucked inside the card was a photo. I pulled it out and felt my breath hitch slightly. It was the picture my dad had taken of me and Five before the gala. The memory of that night came flooding back—the way I'd felt nervous but excited, how Five had looked at me when I stepped out in that dress. I studied the photo for a moment, tracing the outlines of our figures with my eyes. We looked... happy. Or at least I did. Five had his usual guarded expression, but there was something softer in his eyes. Or maybe I was just imagining it.

I walked over to my dresser and pulled out an empty photo frame. Sitting back on my bed, I carefully placed the photo inside and then held it up to look at it again. It looked perfect, like it belonged there. I set the frame on my nightstand, right next to the photo of my mother when she was my age. For a moment, I just sat there, looking at the two pictures side by side. The past and the present, my mother and Five, all part of my life in different ways.

Finally, I forced myself to get ready for bed. I changed into my nightgown, the soft fabric comforting against my skin, and slipped under the covers. But as I lay there, staring up at the ceiling, sleep wouldn't come.

I knew I couldn't keep this up. I had to go back to school tomorrow. It was the last place I wanted to be, but I couldn't afford to miss another day. Bri was already worried about me, and I didn't want to give her any more reasons to think something was wrong. She had been my friend for so long, and I hated the idea of her thinking I was hiding something from her. But how could I even begin to explain what was happening in my life right now?

As I lay there, trying to quiet my mind, I glanced over at the photo of me and Five again. I couldn't help but smile, even as my thoughts continued to swirl. What was it about Five that had me so tied up in knots? He was different from anyone else I'd ever met—smart, strong, determined, and yet, there was something vulnerable about him too, something that made me want to protect him, even though I knew he didn't need it.

But we weren't dating. Not really. Sure, we had shared that one kiss, and he had kissed my head, but we never actually talked about what it meant. And yet, here I was, constantly thinking about him, wondering what he was doing, if he was okay. Did I like him? Of course, I did. What's not to like? He was so different from all the boys here in Dallas—those greedy little rich boys who thought they could buy affection with expensive gifts and flashy cars. Five was... real. And that was rare.

But love? Did I love him? Did he love me? I didn't know. I wasn't even sure if I believed in love, not the way it was portrayed in movies and books. It always seemed so dramatic, so intense, and yet, here I was, feeling all these things that I didn't quite understand.

I shook my head, trying to push the thoughts away, but they lingered, just out of reach. I had to focus on tomorrow. I had to get through school, face Bri, and try to pretend that everything was normal, even though nothing felt normal anymore.

I turned over, pulling the covers up to my chin, and closed my eyes, hoping that sleep would finally come. But even in the darkness, all I could see was that picture of me and Five, and the way it made me feel—happy, nervous, hopeful. Maybe that was love, or maybe it was something else entirely. All I knew was that I wasn't ready to let go of it, whatever it was.

———

I heard my alarm go off, pulling me out of sleep and into the reality that today, I had to go back to school. The thought of facing everyone again after everything that happened made me groan, but I knew I couldn't keep avoiding it. If I wanted to keep things normal, especially with Bri, I had to show up. Dragging myself out of bed, I started getting ready, slipping into a pair of pants and a white long-sleeved shirt with a bow at the front. I added white heels to complete the look and grabbed my bag before heading out of my room.

As I stepped into the hallway, I noticed Luther and Diego still asleep on the couches, their large frames almost too big for the furniture. They looked peaceful, so I decided not to wake them. Instead, I walked quietly past them and into the kitchen, where my dad was already up, sipping coffee and reading his newspaper.

I poured myself a cup of coffee, trying to push away the lingering thoughts of the conversation I overheard last night. Diego had mentioned that their dinner with Reginald Hargreeves was tonight, and as much as I knew it was a bad idea, I couldn't help but feel drawn to it. This man—this dangerous, mysterious man—had shaped Five and his siblings in ways I couldn't even begin to understand. My curiosity was burning, but I knew my dad would never approve.

The gala had been easy enough to explain since Five was with me, but this was different. If I wanted to go, I'd have to lie. I turned to look at my dad, still absorbed in his newspaper, and a plan began to form in my mind. After setting the coffee pot back, I took a seat across from him, clutching my cup as I tried to sound casual. "Hey, Dad. Is it okay if I have a sleepover at Bri's tonight?" I asked, taking a sip to hide my nerves.

He lowered his newspaper, giving me a curious look. "On a school night?"

I nodded, trying to appear nonchalant. "Yeah, Bri called and she needs my help with a test. I told her I could help, and her mom thought it would be better if I stayed over since she can take both of us to school in the morning."

My dad raised an eyebrow, clearly not entirely convinced. I held my breath, hoping he wouldn't press further. "I don't see why not, but I'll call Bri's mom to double-check."

"Dad, come on. Why can't you just believe me?" I tried to sound exasperated, praying he wouldn't actually make that call.

He sighed, taking another sip of his coffee before setting the cup down. "Okay, just call me once you get there after school, okay?"

Relief washed over me, and I forced a smile, even though I hated lying to him. "Thanks, Dad, I will."

He smiled back. "You should head off to school, kiddo. You missed a few days; you don't want to miss this one."

I quickly finished my coffee, placing the cup in the sink before grabbing my bag. "I won't," I promised as I headed toward the door. "Bye, Dad! Love you!" I called out, slipping on my white coat and heading down the stairs.

I couldn't help but feel a mix of guilt and excitement. The lie sat heavy in my chest, but the prospect of meeting Reginald Hargreeves, of getting some insight into Five's world, pushed the guilt aside. I was about to step into something bigger than myself, and whether it was a good idea or not, I couldn't turn back now.

Walking through the familiar hallways after being absent for days felt like stepping into a different world. Everything seemed to be just as I remembered: the girls stood by the lockers, chatting as they meticulously applied their lipstick, while the boys dashed down the corridors, their laughter echoing against the walls. Teachers stood by, trying to maintain order, though their half-hearted calls to "slow down" were largely ignored. But despite the normalcy of it all, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was out of place, like I'd missed something important during my time away.

When I reached my locker, I hesitated for a moment before opening it. The familiar scent of old books and the sight of my neatly arranged belongings should have been comforting, but instead, it just reminded me of how disconnected I felt from everything. As I grabbed the textbooks I needed for the day, I caught a glimpse of myself in the small mirror inside my locker. The reflection staring back at me looked tired—exhausted, even. I hadn't realized how much the last few days had taken out of me until now.

Just then, I felt a pair of arms wrap around me from behind, and I immediately knew it was Bri. Her hugs had a way of making everything feel just a little bit better. I turned around, a smile already forming on my lips.

"You came?" she asked, her voice tinged with relief, as if she'd been half-expecting me to be a no-show.

"Yeah... I did," I replied, though my smile faded slightly. "Honestly, I wish I didn't, though," I added with a laugh, trying to shake off the heavy feeling that had settled over me.

"It's been so lonely here without you," Bri said, her tone soft but sincere. The way she looked at me made it clear she wasn't just talking about the lack of my physical presence; she missed having me around to share things with, to laugh with, to lean on.

"I'm sorry, Bri." I closed my locker with a sigh, the sound of it shutting feeling oddly final, like I was closing off a part of myself. We began walking down the hallway together, her arm looped through mine, just like old times. "A lot's been happening with my dad, and he just needed my support."

"Hey, look, I get it," she said, giving my arm a reassuring squeeze. "You're all he has left. You always put others before yourself, and that's one of the best things about you." There was a warmth in her voice that made me feel like maybe, just maybe, I wasn't doing such a bad job of holding everything together.

I smiled at her words, feeling a little lighter. "I honestly don't think I'd know what to do without you," I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper.

"I think I ask myself that all the time," she teased, her eyes sparkling with that familiar mischievous glint. We both burst out laughing, the sound echoing in the hallway. It felt good—really good—to laugh like that, even if it was just for a moment.

Bri and I finished laughing, our giggles echoing down the hallway as we walked. But as we rounded a corner, I suddenly slowed down, my laughter dying in my throat as I spotted him—Five Hargreeves, striding down the hallway of my school, scanning the faces of passing students as if he were searching for someone. My mouth dropped open in shock. What on earth was he doing here?

"Y/n, you okay?" Bri asked, her voice laced with concern as she followed my gaze. But I couldn't answer her, my mind still reeling at the sight of Five in this completely unexpected place. Why was he here? How did he even know where to find me?

I snapped back to reality just as he locked eyes with me and began walking in my direction, his expression focused and determined. Panic surged through me. The last thing I needed was Five causing a scene here, in front of Bri, and everyone else.

"Uh... nothing. It's just..." My voice trailed off as I scrambled to think of a way to avoid him. Without another word, I grabbed Bri's arm and spun us around, trying to walk in the opposite direction. "Bri! Why don't we walk this way?" I suggested hastily, hoping she wouldn't question my sudden change of route.

"Why? Who's there?" she asked, turning her head to look over her shoulder.

"Nothing. I just wanted to head to class right now," I lied, picking up the pace. But it was too late—Five had already caught up with us, blocking our path. His hands were casually tucked into his pockets, but there was an urgency in his eyes that told me he wasn't here for a friendly chat.

"Hi, we need to leave," he said flatly, his tone brooking no argument.

Bri looked from him to me, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Who's this?"

"Oh, this is...Five," I stammered, trying to keep my voice steady. "He's here in Dallas to help my dad on his new project." It was the first excuse that came to mind, and I could only hope it sounded plausible.

"That's nice of you," Bri said, giving Five a curious glance. "Cool name. Being named by a number seems so formal."

"Yeah, it does," Five replied, clearly uninterested in small talk. His attention quickly shifted back to me, his expression serious. "We need to leave," he repeated.

"Why? Aren't you supposed to be working on that 'thing' with my dad?" I asked, trying to subtly signal him to play along with the lie. I needed him to understand that this wasn't the place for whatever he had in mind.

"Yes, but there's something more important than that. So, let's go," Five insisted, reaching out to grab my hand.

I pulled back slightly, trying to keep my composure. "Not more important than my schooling right now, so I think you should head back and help my dad, Five," I said firmly, hoping he'd take the hint and leave. But instead, he turned to Bri, his expression softening into something that almost resembled a polite smile.

"Bri, you wouldn't mind if I take her for one second?" Five asked, his voice taking on a disarmingly sweet tone. It was strange hearing him sound so... normal.

"Not at all," Bri said cheerfully, clearly intrigued by this sudden turn of events. She was practically beaming, thrilled to be part of something that seemed important. "Go ahead!"

"Good," Five said, wasting no time as he took my hand again, this time with more insistence. Before I could protest, he was leading me down the hallway. My protests fell on deaf ears as he pulled me into an empty science lab, the door clicking shut behind us.

"I'll be right here!" Bri called after us, her voice still echoing in the hallway as Five closed the door, sealing us inside.

The lab was quiet, the only sound the hum of the fluorescent lights overhead. I stood there, my heart racing as I tried to process what was happening. Five finally let go of my hand, but his intense gaze didn't waver.

"What the heck, Five? You came to my school?" I hissed at him as we left the science lab, my voice barely controlled.

He rolled his eyes in that infuriating way he always did. "Well, I wouldn't have had to if you hadn't decided to come here in the first place," he shot back, his tone sharper than usual.

"What? What are you talking about?" I asked, trying to keep up with whatever he was mad about this time.

"I went back to your place to find you," he started, his voice tight with irritation. "But instead of finding you, I walk into your room and get greeted by the little shitbird you call a pet. And she did this." He moved the collar of his shirt, revealing a large scratch that ran across his neck.

I leaned in closer, my eyes widening in surprise. "Sushi did that?" I asked, half-shocked, but also not entirely surprised. Sushi had never been fond of Five.

Five pulled his collar back down, his expression unamused. "Yes, she did. And after that, I found out you'd come back to school." His tone made it clear how little he approved of my decision.

"Yeah, so?" I said, shrugging my shoulders as if it were no big deal.

"You shouldn't be anywhere  when there are three crazy men with guns after me and my family, and possibly after you too," he said, his voice firm as he pointed directly at me.

"Why would they be after me?" I snapped back, crossing my arms defensively. "I'm not the one who traveled here and messed up, dropping his family here one by one."

Five let out a frustrated breath. "I don't know, Y/n. Maybe it's because you stabbed one of those psychos in the neck with a knife," he said sarcastically.

"Oh yeah," I muttered, my mind drifting as I remembered the chaos of that night. "I kind of forgot about that..."

"Not surprised," he muttered under his breath. "But either way, you shouldn't be here. If they find you, they will kill you."

"Five, I can't just leave," I insisted, my frustration building. "This is school, not jury duty."

"Exactly," he retorted. "It's school. You can miss it for a day. Your life is on the line here!"

I shook my head, determined to stand my ground. "I'm sorry, but I can't just leave. I actually have a life here in Dallas, and I won't let it fall apart because of three crazy men—"

"I can't let anything happen to you, Y/n!" Five suddenly interrupted, his voice breaking through my resolve. I froze, taken aback by the intensity in his eyes. He stepped closer, his expression serious, almost pleading. "Okay? I can't even imagine what they would do to you... so can you please just shut up and listen to me when I say you need to leave with me?"

His words hung in the air between us, heavy with concern that I hadn't expected. For a moment, I just stared at him, the reality of the situation sinking in deeper than it had before. Finally, I nodded slightly, my anger fading as I saw the fear behind his tough exterior.

"Thank you," Five said, his voice softening a fraction. "Now, tell your friend goodbye. I'll be waiting outside."

He turned and blink out of the room, leaving me standing there, still processing everything he'd just said. The weight of it all felt overwhelming—especially the way he had practically begged me to listen to him. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself before stepping out into the hallway.

Bri was still standing there, looking concerned as I approached her. "Hey, is everything okay?" she asked, her eyes searching mine.

I nodded, forcing a smile even though my heart felt heavy. "Yeah. Turns out my dad needs my help too."

"Again?" she asked, disappointment clear in her tone. I hated hearing that, hated how my lies were hurting her.

"I'm sorry, Bri. I promise I'll make it up to you," I said, my voice tinged with regret. I could see the sadness in her eyes, like she felt she was losing me, and it broke my heart.

She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Okay, just... please be careful."

She pulled me into a hug, and I hugged her back tightly, wishing I could tell her the truth. I hated lying to her. I hated everything about this situation. But I couldn't drag her into this mess—she deserved better than that.

"Bye," I said softly as we pulled apart. I turned and walked down the hallway, each step feeling heavier than the last.

As I stepped outside, I saw Five waiting in the car, his eyes fixed on me. Without a word, I walked over, opened the door, and slid into the passenger seat. The moment I was inside, he started the car and drove off, leaving my school—and my normal life—behind.

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