The sky was the cleanest blue Cypriana had ever seen.
Like the world was pretending nothing ugly existed.
She hovered above an empty stretch of field outside town, the grass far below her swaying in the wind.
Matt floated beside her, grinning like this was the greatest thing that had ever happened.
And maybe it was.
Maybe it should've been.
Matt tilted in the air, laughing.
"Okay, you're getting way better."
Cypriana forced a smile.
"I guess."
Matt noticed immediately.
"You're not even listening."
Cypriana blinked.
"I am."
Matt's eyes narrowed playfully.
"Nope. Your brain is somewhere else."
Cypriana's stomach tightened.
She looked down at the world beneath them.
Tiny houses.
Tiny lives.
Tiny problems.
But Andrew's house didn't feel tiny.
It felt like a black hole.
Matt's voice softened.
"You're thinking about him."
Cypriana didn't answer.
Matt exhaled through his nose.
"Cypri…"
She finally looked at him.
"It's hard not to."
Matt's jaw clenched.
"He told you to stay away."
"He told me a lot of things," she murmured.
Matt drifted closer.
"He doesn't want you involved."
Cypriana's voice cracked slightly.
"Or he doesn't think he deserves anyone involved."
Matt's expression sharpened.
"That's not your responsibility."
Cypriana stared at him.
Maybe Matt was right.
Maybe she was just… curious.
Maybe Andrew was just a tragedy she couldn't stop staring at.
Matt reached for her hand.
She let him.
His fingers were warm.
Grounding.
"Come on," he said gently. "Forget about him for a second."
Cypriana nodded.
But her mind didn't listen.
Even up here…
She could still feel the weight of Andrew's eyes.
Across town…
Andrew sat alone in his room.
The curtains were drawn.
The light was dim.
The only bright thing was the red recording dot blinking on his camera.
Andrew held it up, filming himself.
His face looked different lately.
Sharper.
Tired.
His eyes too intense for seventeen.
"This is Andrew Detmer," he spoke quietly into the lens.
His voice sounded flat.
Like narration for someone else's life.
"Day…" he paused. "I don't know. Four? Five?"
He swallowed.
"They're together all the time now."
The camera tilted slightly.
His hand trembled.
"Matt and Cypriana."
He said her name like it tasted strange.
"She doesn't look at me the same."
Andrew's jaw tightened.
He stared into the lens.
"But she looked."
He leaned closer.
"I know she did."
Silence.
Then, quieter—
"I don't think they understand what this is."
His eyes flickered, almost angry.
"This isn't a game."
The camera lowered slowly.
Andrew's voice became almost a whisper.
"It's the only thing I have."
Steve Montgomery was sitting in his car when he sent the text.
His fingers moved fast.
Group Chat — "Flying Freaks"
Steve: yo meet behind the school after last period
Steve: all of you
Steve: no excuses
Matt: why
Steve: because you guys are acting WEIRD
Cypriana stared at her phone.
A second later—
Andrew read it.
No response.
Just the screen glowing in the dark.
The back of the school building smelled like concrete and cigarettes.
The sun was lowering, casting everything in gold.
Steve stood with his arms crossed, tapping his foot like an impatient parent.
Matt arrived first, Cypriana beside him.
Of course.
Steve's eyes narrowed dramatically.
"Oh look."
Matt sighed.
"Don't start."
Steve spread his arms.
"No, no. This is adorable. You two are basically attached now."
Cypriana rolled her eyes.
"Steve…"
Steve leaned closer.
"I'm serious. Ever since Hole Night, you've been all…"
He made a gagging noise.
"Couple-y."
Matt's jaw clenched.
"What's your point?"
Steve's grin faded slightly.
"My point is… where's Andrew?"
Cypriana's stomach tightened.
As if summoned—
Andrew appeared from around the corner.
Hood up.
Hands in pockets.
Distant.
He stopped a few feet away, not joining the circle.
Steve's face softened for half a second.
Then he forced brightness again.
"Okay. Great. Everyone's here."
No one spoke.
The air felt wrong.
Steve exhaled loudly.
"Oh my god, fine. I'll say it."
Matt's eyes narrowed.
Steve pointed between them.
"You guys are acting different."
Cypriana blinked.
"What?"
Steve's voice sharpened.
"Like we're not… us anymore."
Matt scoffed.
"We're the same."
"No," Steve said quickly. "No, you're not."
He gestured at Andrew.
"He doesn't talk."
He gestured at Cypriana.
"She looks like she's about to cry every five seconds."
He gestured at Matt.
"And you're acting like her personal bodyguard."
Matt's jaw clenched harder.
Cypriana whispered, "Steve…"
Steve's voice cracked with frustration.
"We got powers."
His eyes flashed.
"This was supposed to be fun."
Silence.
Andrew's voice cut through it, quiet and sharp.
"It is fun."
Steve blinked.
Andrew stared at him.
"For you."
Steve scoffed. "What does that mean?"
Andrew's gaze flickered away.
Nothing.
Steve threw up his hands.
"Okay! Fine. New plan."
Matt groaned.
"Oh god."
Steve's grin returned, forced brighter.
"We make today fun again."
Cypriana frowned.
"How?"
Steve's eyes gleamed.
"Pranks."
Matt blinked.
"What?"
Steve spread his arms like a magician.
"Come on. Little harmless stuff. Mess with people. Freak them out."
Cypriana hesitated.
"Steve…"
Steve rushed on.
"We can do it without anyone knowing it's us."
Matt frowned.
"That sounds stupid."
Steve's grin sharpened.
"No, it sounds legendary."
Andrew's eyes lifted slightly.
Interested.
Steve noticed.
"Ohhh," he said softly. "Andrew likes it."
Matt's voice was cautious.
"As long as it's harmless."
Steve saluted.
"Harmless. Scout's honor."
Cypriana didn't like the way Andrew was looking now.
Like something had woken up.
The first prank was small.
A guy walking down the hall.
Steve lifted his hand subtly.
The guy's backpack zipper slid open by itself.
Books spilled everywhere.
The guy cursed.
Everyone laughed.
Steve laughed loudest.
Matt shook his head, smiling despite himself.
Cypriana felt uneasy.
Andrew watched.
Quiet.
Then another.
A teacher's coffee cup trembled.
Spilled all over her desk.
Steve snorted.
"This is amazing."
Matt muttered, "Okay, okay, chill."
Cypriana glanced at Andrew.
He wasn't laughing.
He was… focused.
Then—
A football player shoved past a smaller kid near the lockers.
Hard.
The smaller kid stumbled.
No one cared.
Except Andrew.
Andrew's gaze sharpened.
His hand lifted slightly.
Cypriana's stomach dropped.
The football player's locker door slammed shut violently.
BANG.
The hallway froze.
The football player whipped around.
"What the hell?!"
Steve's grin faltered.
Matt stiffened.
Cypriana whispered, "Andrew…"
Andrew's eyes were dark.
The football player stepped forward angrily.
"Who did that?"
Andrew's jaw clenched.
His hand twitched again.
The lockers rattled.
RATTLE.
Steve's voice turned nervous.
"Okay… okay, that's enough—"
Matt stepped forward sharply.
"Andrew. Stop."
Andrew's breathing was heavier now.
His eyes flickered.
"It's just a prank," Steve said quickly, trying to laugh.
But Andrew didn't laugh.
His voice was low.
"He deserved it."
Cypriana's chest tightened.
Because that wasn't fun.
That wasn't a joke.
That was something else.
Something sharp.
Something real.
And for the first time…
Cypriana saw how easily the game could turn into punishment.