Aiden woke to the weight of Jessica draped across him, her chest rising and falling steadily. One arm was slung lazily over his torso, and for a moment, he froze, caught between amusement and panic. Carefully, he shifted, making sure not to wake her, and eased out from under her before heading upstairs.
Steve was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, looking half-asleep. "Morning," he muttered.
"Morning," Aiden replied quietly. He hesitated, then asked, "Hey… uh, whose van was parked in the driveway last night? Orange one."
Steve blinked, frowning. "Oh… that? Tyler's, I think. Wait… did something happen?" His brow furrowed.
Aiden rubbed the back of his neck. "You didn't hear anything?"
Steve shook his head slowly.
"I mean… I had to break up a party in the woods during my shift. Screaming, running through trees, tents getting ripped… sounded like chaos. Figured it was just some random kid. But… wait. You're telling me that's connected?"
Aiden nodded. "Yeah. Tyler's van ended up in the driveway, and… well, that's kind of when everything ended."
Steve's expression shifted from confusion to realization. He smirked.
"Ah. That explains it. Wow… okay. I get it now. Definitely a story for later." He shook his head and chuckled. "Anyway… I'll leave it alone." With that, he gave Aiden a knowing nod and headed back upstairs.
Soon, the rest of the group came up, still marveling at Aiden's house. Connor ran a hand along the railing, Lauren stared out the window, and Angela was snapping pictures on her phone. Tyler, meanwhile, was hovering near the kitchen, eyeing the orange juice suspiciously.
"Still can't believe you live here, man," Connor muttered, glancing around the high ceilings and polished counters.
"Yeah, seriously," Lauren added. "This place is insane. I feel like we should be paying rent just to breathe in here."
Tyler raised his mug, sniffing suspiciously. "Wait… are you serving mimosas at six in the morning? Classy, Pierce."
Aiden smirked. "Relax, it's just orange juice. You think I'd waste champagne on you?"
The table broke into laughter, Tyler groaning while Mike nearly choked on his eggs. The tension from the night before eased a little, softened by the warmth of breakfast and Aiden's unexpected humor.
Angela checked her watch. "I've got church. Tyler, can you give me a ride?"
"Yeah, no problem," Tyler replied, heading for the door.
Jessica smiled immediately. "I'll go with you." Connor and Lauren lagged behind, content to explore a little longer.
Before leaving, everyone thanked Aiden. "Seriously, thanks for everything," Angela said warmly.
Ben, now back in his own clothes, approached. "Hey… sorry for being a jerk yesterday and before."
Aiden said calmly, looking Ben in the eyes. "Yeah, and you know it now, soo"
Ben shifted uncomfortably but didn't argue.
"I hope you remember our talk," Aiden continued, his tone firm. Ben nodded quietly, acknowledging the words without protest.
Later, Jessica appeared at his side, leaning casually against the railing. "I had a lot of fun last night," she said, her eyes sparkling. "It was… kind of perfect."
Aiden swallowed, forcing a small smile. "Yeah… it was fun."
She nudged him playfully with her shoulder. "So, are we doing this again? Just the two of us?"
He hesitated, looking away. "Maybe… I don't want to feel like last night again," he admitted quietly.
She tilted her head, amusement and curiosity on her face. "Too much?"
"Not too much," he said slowly. "Just… a lot, you know?"
She laughed softly. "Yeah, I get it. Still, it was nice."
A honk from the driveway made them both glance toward the black-and-blue van. Tyler's impatient grin appeared at the window.
Jessica sighed, rolling her eyes. "Guess that's my cue." She leaned up and pressed a quick kiss to Aiden's cheek. "See you soon," she whispered.
"Yeah… see you," he replied, voice quieter than he expected.
She gave a teasing wink and slipped into the van, Tyler already behind the wheel. As it drove off, Aiden stayed on the porch, staring after her, caught between relief and something he wasn't ready to name.
Shaking his head, he muttered under his breath, "Yeah… this is going to get complicated."
[Hours Later…]
The church was quiet except for the soft hum of the organ as the congregation settled into the pews. Angela and Jessica took their seats near the front, whispering to each other as the pastor stepped up to the pulpit. His robes swished lightly with each step, and his hands rested on the edge of the wood.
"Good morning," he began, his voice warm and steady. "Today, I want to talk about the ways God guides us, even in times when we feel lost or uncertain. Life is full of challenges, distractions, and fear, but faith gives us the courage to face them. When we act with honesty, with kindness, and with love, we align ourselves with God's plan."
He paused, scanning the congregation. "Sometimes, the path is clear, and sometimes it is shrouded in darkness. But remember this: the light is always there, even if we cannot see it at first. And in moments of fear… in moments of chaos… it is our faith, our community, and our moral compass that lead us forward."
Angela and Jessica exchanged quiet nods, the words settling over them. The pastor continued, speaking of vigilance, compassion, and the importance of facing trials with courage, all while reminding the congregation of the fragility of life.
As both of their phones vibrated.
Forrest Rangers has now been changed to THE BREAKFAST CLUB…
THE BREAKFAST CLUB:
Tyler: 🍺🌊 Still can't believe Ben fell in the pond… lol
Mike: 😂 Pond champ for life.
Lauren: You reeked, dude. Like swamp water.
Connor: And Aiden just tossed him in. Smooth.
Jessica: That fight tho… Aiden totally owned him. Ben was salty. 😏
Ben: 😤 Not salty… strategic repositioning.
Aiden: Lmao. Strategic, huh? Just remember—anyone planning a rave at my place? Think twice. 🏠⚡
Angela: 😂 Mansion rules.
Jessica: But the cops tho… 😬
Tyler: We ran like idiots. Aiden saved the van. 🙌
Mike: Honestly, legend.
Lauren: Agreed. He drove us out like a pro.
Connor: Still can't believe we got away.
Jessica: Gonna need a shower forever. 🚿
Bella: …Wait. You guys had a rave??
Angela: Yeah, Bella. You missed it.
Jessica: Ben fell in the pond. Cops came. Everyone ran. Aiden drove us to his mansion.
Bella: 😳 Whoa. Mansion??
Aiden: Steve's money, not mine. But yeah.
Lauren: He even made breakfast for everyone. Eggs, toast, coffee—the works.
Connor: It felt like a hotel lobby. 😂
Tyler: Don't forget his little prank. I thought I was drinking a mimosa at 5 a.m.
Jessica: lol. "Relax, just orange juice." He totally had you.
Mike: 5-star service, 10/10. Would rave and breakfast again.
Bella: …Okay, I'm officially jealous now. 😩
(The thread lingers in laughter—until a heavy silence follows the pastor's sermon, shifting the tone.)
The church was packed, sunlight fractured through stained-glass windows in shards of red, blue, and gold. Pastor Weber's voice carried with a gravity that silenced the crowd.
Angela sat near the front with her parents, her hands pressed to her lap, acutely aware that the warnings were coming straight from her father.
"You've heard the news," he began, his tone steady, almost heavy. "In the neighboring counties, lives have been lost. The attacks… brutal, senseless, and closer than we realize. Some say it's animals, others whisper darker things. But I say this: evil has a way of creeping in when we are careless."
His eyes swept over the congregation, lingering on the rows of restless teenagers. They settled for a moment on Angela, his daughter, as if the warning had a sharper edge for the young people before him.
"Do not wander the woods alone. Travel in pairs. Do not tempt the darkness with foolishness, with late-night games or reckless bravado. These warnings are not meant to frighten, but to protect. Especially the young among us, be vigilant. The hour is later than you think."
Angela's chest tightened. Every word landed with weight; this wasn't just a general warning, it was a father's caution, aimed at her and her friends. She could almost feel Aiden's shadow in the pew behind her, though he wasn't there.
Jessica glanced down as her phone buzzed in her hand, the group chat lighting up.
Jessica: …did anyone else catch what Pastor Weber said about the attacks? 😳
Tyler: yeah… in the counties over, but sounds like they're creeping closer
Mike: yikes. dude, maybe last night was way too risky 😅
Lauren: seriously. he said stay out of the woods and travel in pairs. guess he really wants everyone safe
Connor: makes sense… we were just out there dancing like nothing was happening
Aiden: Exactly. keep your eyes open. don't wander off. the woods aren't as harmless as we thought
Angela: He was… serious. and he specifically said young people should be cautious. I think he meant us too.
Ben: hmm. yeah. makes me rethink a lot of what went down last night.
Jessica: honestly, I didn't even think about it while we were running from cops and everything 😅
Mike: yeah, the rave was insane… but maybe we got lucky
Tyler: lucky, or… maybe just reckless 😬
Bella: OMG, I want to make sure I never get caught up in something like that 😳
Aiden: That's the plan. we stay safe. stick together, and don't go poking around the woods.
Angela: agreed. and… maybe some boundaries with late-night adventures, too
Connor: preach. don't want any more "pond incidents" either 😂
Jessica: lol yeah, poor Ben
Ben: not funny… still salty 😒
Aiden: Just remember what the pastor said. The attacks aren't far, and the woods can get… unpredictable.
Lauren: Yeah, sounds like we all need to be more careful.
When the service ended, the congregation stood, singing the final hymn, their voices echoing softly in the sanctuary. Hoping that God would reach them in their time of need.