Ashlyn sat on the worn couch in the group’s hideout, trying to patch the rip in her sleeve — anything to ignore Aiden’s look from across the room. He’d been staring for a while now, arms crossed, eyebrows raised in that I know something way that made her nervous.

“What,” she finally said flatly.

Aiden smirked. “Nothing.”

“Uh-huh. You’re staring.”

“I’m observing,” he corrected, voice sing-song. “You’ve been fidgety every time you walk in the room lately.”

Ashlyn went still for a second before snapping the thread off her sleeve. “You’re imagining things.”

“Oh really?” He leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “Because when you laughed earlier, you nearly dropped your drink.”

Ashlyn flushed. “I did not—”

“And you tripped over your own bag trying to hand them a book yesterday.”

“That was one time!”

Aiden grinned wider. “Ash, come on.” He started softly, “You like them.”

She rolled her eyes hard enough to hurt. “I don’t.”

He just stared.

“...Maybe a little,” she muttered under her breath.

“I knew it!” Aiden jumped up, nearly knocking over the coffee table. “This is great. Fantastic. I’m finally getting you out of your emotionally-stunted era.”

Ashlyn groaned, burying her face in her hands. “Please don’t do whatever you’re about to do.”

But he was already scheming — she could see it in his grin. “You two never get a moment alone. I’m gonna fix that.”

“No. No fixing anything.”

“Too late.”

Aiden marched toward the hallway where you were talking to Taylor, and Ashlyn’s stomach dropped. “Aiden, don’t you dare—”

“Hey, you!” he called cheerfully. “Can I borrow you for a sec?”

Ashlyn scrambled after him, panic spiking. “Aiden— I swear if you—”

He opened the small supply closet door, gesturing inside with mock seriousness. “Hey, there’s something weird in here, come check it out.”

The second you stepped close enough, Aiden shoved both of them inside — Ashlyn stumbling backward and catching herself against the wall — and slammed the door.

“Aiden!” Ashlyn shouted, pounding on it.

From the other side came his laugh. “You’re not coming out until I hear something that sounds like progress!”

“What does that even mean?!” she yelled.

“You know what it means!”

Ashlyn groaned, dragging a hand down her face. “I’m going to murder him.”

The light above flickered faintly, and Ashlyn sighed, trying to calm her racing heart. “Great. Just great.”

Behind her, you shifted slightly in the dim light — unaware of just how red Ashlyn’s face had gotten.