Morning comes softer than expected.
Lyrelle is the first awake. She sits cross-legged on the bed, scrolling without reading, sunlight brushing her face. Summer groans beside her, face buried in a pillow.
"Why is morning so loud," Summer mutters.
Kyra sits on the floor, braiding and unbraiding a strand of hair nervously. Kaida leans against the wall, arms folded, watching them all like she's memorizing something.
For a moment, it feels familiar.
Summer finally lifts her head. "Remember when Saph used to wake us up by screaming fake emergencies."
Lyrelle snorts. "She once yelled 'fire' because her phone fell."
Kyra smiles before she realizes she is. It fades slowly.
"She'd be mad we're up early," Summer adds. "She hated mornings."
Kaida says nothing. But her jaw tightens.
Lyrelle reaches out, lacing her fingers with Kyra's. Summer scoots closer without thinking. Kaida joins them last, sitting on the edge of the bed, knees touching theirs.
Four girls. One space missing.
None of them say it.
Outside, a car horn honks.
Summer perks up immediately. "That better be Zyren."
Prince's voice floats up from outside. "You guys ready or what?"
The girls grab their bags, energy shifting.
Downstairs, the boys wait by two cars. Prince leans casually against the hood, eyes lighting up the moment Lyrelle steps outside. He pulls her in without hesitation, kissing her temple first, then her lips, slow and deliberate.
Summer doesn't even pretend to resist when Zyren grabs her waist and dips her slightly before kissing her. She laughs into it, pushing his chest afterward.
"Disgusting," she says. "Do it again."
Jake opens Kyra's door for her, brushing a kiss against her forehead before she even sits. She lingers for a second, fingers curling in his jacket.
Thorian squeezes Kaida's hand briefly. Quiet. Grounding.
The cars pull off.
Music plays. Windows down. Almost normal.
Almost.
They stop briefly at a crosswalk near the school.
That's when Jason bumps into someone.
Hard.
"Fawk— I'm sorry," he blurts automatically.
The girl laughs. Not awkward. Easy. "Wow. Same. We clearly weren't concentrating."
She has dark hair, sharp eyes, and a smile that lingers just a second too long.
"I'm Jason," he says, still smiling.
"Aurora," she replies. "Nice crash-meeting you."
They laugh.
It's warm. Too warm.
From the car, Summer squints. "Why is he smiling like that."
Zyren leans forward. "Who's that."
Lyrelle frowns. "Do we know her?"
Kyra tilts her head. "She's pretty."
Kaida's eyes narrow slightly. Observing.
Jason and Aurora talk for a few more seconds, laughing again before parting ways. She walks backward for a step, pointing at him playfully. He shakes his head, still smiling.
Summer leans out the window. "Jason, who is that weird girl."
Jason blinks. "Weird?"
Aurora waves at them cheerfully as she walks away.
Summer waves back exaggeratedly. "Hiiii, random menace."
Zyren laughs. "You're terrible."
"She started it," Summer says defensively.
Ryan mutters from the back, "That was not a normal laugh."
Prince glances at Jason. "You good?"
Jason nods quickly. "Yeah. Just… random."
But his eyes follow Aurora a second longer than they should.
Lyrelle catches it.
So does Kaida.
At school, they split up at the gate.
Summer grabs Zyren's hoodie, pulling him down for one last kiss. "Don't miss me too much."
He smirks. "I'll try. No promises."
Prince brushes Lyrelle's thumb with his. "Later."
She smiles. "Later."
Jake waits until Kyra's eyes meet his before letting go of her hand. She nods. Still shaky. Still here.
As they walk away, Kaida's phone buzzes softly in her bag.
She doesn't check it.
But somewhere, the Shadow Game watches the laughter, the kisses, the new heat forming.
It watches the empty space where Saph should be.
And it counts.