Amaris' POV
"Hey, guys! What're you two doing?" Ethan's voice cut straight through the café buzz.
I turned just in time to see him approaching—with Conner, Kira, and Dr. Oliver trailing behind him like a very chaotic entourage.
'Perfect timing,' I thought wryly. Trent and I had just finished discussing the machine design and were now politely pretending that everything we'd talked about was completely normal and definitely not life-altering.
"Hey," Trent greeted them with an easy smile.
I bowed slightly. "Good afternoon, everyone."
"So," Kira said as she slid gracefully into the seat beside me, "what were you two talking about?"
Conner plopped himself down next to Trent, while Ethan and Dr. Oliver dragged two more chairs over and settled in.
"Nothing unusual," I said smoothly, shifting to give Kira more space. "Just our French homework."
Conner leaned back with a sigh. "Oh. Thought maybe it was something interesting."
Ethan snickered. "Well, it is interesting. Just not something a blockhead like you would understand."
"HEY!" Conner barked, glaring.
Kira chuckled under her breath, and Dr. Oliver shook his head like a tired parent.
And just like that, the chaos settled into a familiar pattern—all six of us gathered around a table, bantering like normal teenagers who definitely weren't hiding secrets that could potentially shook the world.
==================================
A few minutes later, we had all migrated into Minecraft. Dr. Oliver, of course, refused to play but sat nearby on his phone, silently judging us all.
"Does anyone have white concrete?" Conner asked, desperately trying to complete his self-declared masterpiece: a stadium that absolutely did not need to be the size of an airport.
"Oh, I have three stacks," I replied, guiding my character toward him. "How many do you require, Conner?"
"Uh—just a stack. Thanks, Amaris!" he said, already sprinting away to build whatever architectural monstrosity he was planning.
We continued constructing the stadium walls, floors, and suspiciously unnecessary decorations until finally—
"Guys… this looks SO GOOD!" Conner declared proudly.
"You're welcome," we all chorused before logging out. There wasn't enough play time left, so we agreed to continue our world later.
We were still discussing plans when Dr. Oliver suddenly chuckled at his phone.
We all froze.
Conner narrowed his eyes. Ethan leaned in. Kira squinted suspiciously.
Even Trent raised a brow.
I smiled mischievously. "Dr. Oliver, may I inquire… who is receiving such a delightful message?"
He looked up, startled. "Huh?"
"Who are you texting, Dr. O?" Ethan asked, absolutely fearless.
"Yeah," Conner added with a grin. "Who is she?"
"Oh, it's no one," Dr. Oliver said far too quickly, avoiding eye contact in the most suspicious way possible.
I tilted my head, letting my smile turn wicked. "Do not tell me… it is Principal Randall?"
Every head whipped toward him.
The table exploded.
"NO WAY!"
"PRINCIPAL RANDALL?!"
"YOU AND R A N D A L L?!"
Even Kira was grinning like she'd just seen her favorite celebrity.
Dr. Oliver rubbed his face. "Yes, yes—it is Principal Randall."
Chaos erupted again. My heart fluttered with satisfaction. 'My ship sails with such grace.'
"Okay, settle down," he said, trying and failing to look stern. "We're just discussing school matters."
Kira raised an eyebrow. "Then why were you giggling like a teenager in love?"
"I WASN'T—"
Ethan leaned back smugly. "It makes sense. Dr. O likes dinosaurs. Randall dresses like she's ready to fight dinosaurs. Perfect match."
Dr. Oliver rolled his eyes… but the fond smile gave him away.
Hayley arrived with drinks, effectively halting the teasing.
"All right, enough of the love talk. Here—your drinks."
But Ethan was… Ethan.
"Hey, Hayley," he called.
"Hm?"
He grinned. "You cool with me shipping you with Trent's dad?"
Hayley froze.
Trent froze.
I nearly choked on my own breath.
Hayley's face morphed into absolute horror. "Hell no!"
"No offense," she said slowly, turning to Trent, "but he did try to take over my café."
"No offense taken," Trent replied instantly.
"Enemies to lovers!" Ethan declared proudly.
Hayley grabbed his ear and twisted. "Oh, shut up!"
In the midst of our laughter, my phone buzzed.
A message from Mr. Toya.
"I apologize, everyone," I said politely as I stood. "My driver has already arrived. I must take my leave."
"Oh—same," Trent added, rising with me.
We gathered our things. Everyone waved—
Except Ethan.
Who smiled like he was about to ruin someone's life.
"Hey… don't tell me you two are something?" he said, wiggling his eyebrows.
I froze.
Every nerve in my body went still.
I turned instinctively to Kira.
Because she and Trent were… something… in this timeline. Weren't they?
For a strange, uninvited moment, something sharpened behind my ribs.
An ache I didn't understand.
Didn't want to understand.
Trent recovered first.
"Oh—no," he said quickly. "We're not a thing."
"Precisely," I followed. "I merely asked Trent to assist me with a design project. Nothing more."
Ethan gave up with a shrug. "All right. Take care, guys!"
We waved and stepped outside.
As we walked toward the car, Trent sighed.
"Well… that was awkward."
"Indeed," I replied, allowing myself a soft exhale.
But my thoughts drifted…
Unwelcome.
Unsettling.
Warm in ways they shouldn't be.
Kira's smile earlier.
The way she sat beside me without hesitation.
The way I froze—because Ethan's joke hit a place I didn't know existed.
I shook my head gently.
Whatever it was…
'I did not have the vocabulary for it yet.'