Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

This is an explanation of the AU:

• Still takes place on copper-9, but if the absolute solver didn’t exist, and wasn’t post-apocalyptic. Instead, it’s just a normal, functioning society.  
  
  
• Everyone are drones! Not humans! But they have more human-like characteristics than in the show. Like for example, they don’t eat or have food in the show, but in this AU they eat and js again are more human-like. I don’t really talk abt their “systems shutting down” and shit like that, and also I’m not gonna use words like “optics” for eyes that’s js extra 💀. 
  
  
• NOTE instead of the word “person,” the word “drone/drones” is used. And instead of blood, it’s oil. But again since the characters are more human-like ig I do use the word “skin,” but like I’m assuming they have “synthetic skin” cuz that js makes sense.  
  
  
• One thing though is the murder drones are basically vampires in this universe. Honestly I’m trying to think of a better word than “murder drones” and I don’t wanna use the word vampires. If yall have any ideas that’d be great, but for now I’ll js call them ‘disassembly drones.’ EDIT: (7/1/25) I decided to just call them disassembly drones throughout the story. It’ll make more sense as you read it, jsyk.
  
  
• NOTE the fact that the murder drones are well, murder drones, isn’t relevant until later. But trust me it IS important!   
  
  
• Some background on Uzi - her mom’s dead, but like actually. And her dad has his door business, but had to travel a lot cuz of it, so Uzi constantly changed schools and stuff. I’m gonna be blunt though, I’m not gonna make her have to move schools halfway through cuz I feel like that’s stupid and atp I might as well restart it, so no way am I doing that.  
  
  
• N kinda has more trust issues in this AU compared to the show. But again not changing his whole character - he’s js way too trusting when first meeting people in the show (like when he believes Uzi isn’t a worker drone and he js immediately believes her when she says that js so he won’t kill her 💀) and I js don’t think that’d work for this AU. When he gets to know people (or drones ig) he lets his guard down a lot more than he maybe should.   
  
  
• I’m really big on character development so this story is kinda “slow” paced ig. But it’s also a Nuzi slow burn and there def will be moments throughout it  
  
  
• I love headcannons so if I include any I’ll be sure to note. But I don’t mean like I’m changing the characters entirely that’s stupid. May make a whole page or a separate work js for headcannons too so if you wanna read it go ahead.

You can js skim over this next part idrc, not important to the story, js some ‘author's notes’ ig:

I couldn’t find any Nuzi fics that weren’t either poorly written (sounds like a 13 year old wrote them 😭🤚), completely changed the characters/the species of them (like I’m trying to read it for Murderdrones, not humans or dragons. What’s with all the dragon fics btw??), js completely smutty (like bro I don’t wanna read smut of minors that’s so weird 💀), or had extremely poor grammar with typos. Some of the AU ones weren’t bad stories necessarily, they js changed the characters, like making Uzi shy or making N some type of “bad boy” 😭 also I really don’t like the OC inserts. I JUST WANNA READ IT FOR THE ACTUAL CHARACTERS 💀💀.  Ok I probably js sound really picky tbh.

So I decided I was gonna write my own. Pretty excited for how this is gonna turn out.

ALSO I wrote a bunch of it while I was waiting for my ao3 account to get approved, so they’ll be super fast and frequent updates. I won’t js disappear halfway through the story and never come back I promise 😭🤚

Chapter Text

The school was eerily silent at this hour, long after the last bell had rung and the students and staff had gone home. The dim, flickering hallway lights cast long shadows against the lockers, the usual hum of activity replaced by an unsettling stillness. The only sound was the faint buzz of electricity in the walls and the occasional creak of the building settling in the night.

A lone drone moved cautiously through the empty corridors, as quick and as silently as possible. His posture was tense, his eyes darting from side to side as he scanned for any sign of movement. Every step he took was deliberate, each footfall as quiet as he could make it against the tile floor. He was hyper-aware of the quiet, of the way even the softest noise seemed amplified in the emptiness of the school.

Reaching a classroom door, he paused, glancing around one final time before gripping the handle. Slowly, carefully, he turned it, pushing the door open just enough to slip inside without making a sound. The room was dark, the only illumination coming from the faint glow of the hallway lights through the small window on the door. Rows of empty desks stood like silent sentinels, the teacher’s desk sitting at the front of the room, an authoritative presence even in the absence of its owner.

His eyes locked onto the desk as he crept forward, his movements precise and calculated. He reached out, fingers curling around the drawer handle before sliding it open. The wood groaned slightly, and he froze, his breath catching as he listened. Nothing. Exhaling a quiet sigh of relief, he continued his search, rifling through the contents with growing urgency. Papers, office supplies, lesson plans—none of it was what he needed.

“Where is it…” he muttered under his breath, his voice barely above a whisper.

His fingers brushed against something thick, a bound book. He pulled it out and quickly flipped it open, his eyes rapidly scanning the pages. The attendance and grade book.

A small smirk tugged at the corner of his expression. Found it.

Wasting no time, he placed it on the desk and grabbed a pen from a nearby cup. He flipped through the pages rapidly, looking for his name. There it was—his attendance records, littered with absences, and his grades, a sea of zeros and failing marks. Unacceptable.

With practiced ease, he pressed the pen to the page and began altering the records. His absences became presents, his zeros transformed into passing—no, excellent—grades. The ink bled onto the paper smoothly, blending seamlessly with the original writing. He knew they wouldn’t notice. Not now. Not this late in the year.

The smirk deepened as he leaned back slightly, surveying his handiwork. Perfect.

A quiet satisfaction settled over him as he admired his work. Every mark, every alteration, seamless. No one would ever suspect a thing. With careful precision, he returned the attendance book to its place, smoothing out any disturbed papers and ensuring the drawer slid back exactly as it had been. No detail could be overlooked. It had to be perfect.

He picked up the pen and placed it back in its holder, aligning it just as it was before. Taking one last look around, he confirmed that nothing seemed out of place. A pleased smirk lingered on his face as he turned away from the desk.

Moving toward the door, he stepped lightly, but this time with a bit more confidence. The hardest part was over. He had done it. Now, all that was left was to leave the way he had come, slipping back into the night unnoticed.

The school remained silent, the dim lights casting long shadows across the walls and floors as he retraced his path. But just as he neared the exit, something moved.

A blur—quick, almost imperceptible—darted past the edge of his vision, swallowed by the darkness before he could register what it was.

He froze.

His breath caught in his throat, his body stiffening instinctively. His eyes darted to the spot where the movement had been, but the hallway was empty. The silence pressed in on him, heavier now, suffocating.

His fingers curled into his palms as he forced himself to move. He turned sharply, choosing to head in the opposite direction. His footsteps, still quiet, had lost their careful ease. Now, they were quicker, more urgent.

His mind raced.

I’m just imagining things. It’s nothing. Just the dark playing tricks on me.

Then he heard it.

Footsteps.

Not his own.

A second pair, just behind him, keeping perfect pace with his own.

His heart pounded. His breath quickened. Every instinct screamed at him to run, but he refused to break into a sprint. That would mean admitting something was really there. That would make it real.

Calm down. You’re being paranoid.

He swallowed hard and glanced over his shoulder.

Nothing.

The hallway was empty, the same as before.

A shaky exhale left him, tension slowly easing from his shoulders. He had worked himself up for nothing. Just nerves. He’d get out of here, go home, and laugh about this later.

But just as he turned forward again, movement stirred in the darkness ahead.

A figure stepped out from the shadows, into the pale moonlight streaming through a nearby window.

Tall. Unmoving. Featureless in the dim glow, save for one thing.

A wide grin, sharp fangs glinting in the cold light.

His breath hitched. His entire body locked in place.

He could see nothing else—just that gleaming, eerie smile.

There was no way he was sticking around to find out what the hell that thing was.

Without hesitation, he spun on his heel and bolted, his legs carrying him as fast as they possibly could. Panic surged through him, drowning out every rational thought except one: Run.

Behind him, he could hear it—metal scraping against the floor, sprinting footsteps pounding in pursuit. It was chasing him.

His mind raced just as fast as his feet. What the hell is that thing?! It looked like a normal drone, but those teeth—no drone had teeth like that. No one should have teeth like that. Maybe—maybe this was a prank. Some sick joke. Maybe it was just some idiot messing with him, trying to scare him.

But he wasn’t about to take that chance.

His breath came in sharp, shallow gasps, he felt like he was overheating from the exertion. He had to get out. He needed to get out.

Then, up ahead—an exit.

An emergency door stood at the end of the hall, a beacon of salvation in the dimly lit corridor. His body surged forward, pushing every ounce of energy he had left into reaching it. The thing behind him wasn’t slowing down. If anything, it was getting closer.

He slammed into the door, shoving it open with all his strength.

The emergency alarm didn’t go off.

For half a second, his mind blanked.

What?

That wasn’t right. Emergency doors were supposed to trigger an alarm. That’s how they worked. But then again—it was after school hours. Maybe the system was shut off?

Ridiculous.

Not that he was about to complain. He stumbled outside into the cool night air, his breath coming in heavy, ragged gulps. His legs trembled from the adrenaline, but he was safe now. It was over.

Or so he thought.

Something was wrong.

The door never slammed shut behind him.

A sinking feeling twisted in his gut.

Slowly, hesitantly, he turned his head.

His eyes widened in horror.

A claw—long, razor-sharp—had curled around the edge of the door, holding it open. Metal scraped against metal as it dug into the frame, anchoring the figure in place. The alleyway was dim, but the courtyard beyond was bathed in pale moonlight. If he could just—

Before he could move, before he could even think to move, the figure lunged.

A blur of shadow and fangs collided with him, slamming him to the ground. He barely had time to scream before a piercing pain shot through his body.

Teeth sank into metal and synthetic flesh alike, puncturing deep.

His scream was cut off, choked out by the sickening sound of steel tearing, of wires snapping, of artificial sinew being ripped apart by a monstrous bite.

The sounds of struggle lasted only a moment.

Then, silence.

The night swallowed everything whole.

Chapter Text

The crowded hallway buzzed with chatter and the occasional sound of slamming locker doors. Uzi sighed, adjusting the strap of her backpack as she weaved her way through the swarm of students. She wasn’t exactly used to this school yet—new hallways, unfamiliar faces, and the general feeling of being an outsider still clung to her like an awkward weight. She wished that her Dad didn’t have to make them move all the time for his stupid job - she was so tired of this. The constant moving was exhausting, and having to make new friends every time made it feel like a chore - a burden even.

She hadn’t made any real friends so far, just a few drones who would give her a nod in passing or sit next to her when there were no other seats.

  Reaching her locker, she spun the dial to her combination and pulled it open. Just as she reached for her books, something caught her eye—a small envelope sticking out from the side of the locker door. It was plain white, sealed with a small red heart sticker. No name. No indication of who it was from.

Uzi blinked. Is this… for me?

She looked around, as if expecting someone to be watching, waiting for her reaction. But no one seemed to be paying her any mind. Cautiously, she pulled the envelope free and turned it over in her hands. She wasn’t exactly the type to get love letters—scratch that, she wasn’t even the type to get any letters. She barely knew anyone here. So who in their right mind would be writing something like this for her?

Curiosity gnawed at her. Tearing the envelope open, she unfolded the letter inside, her eyes scanning the neat, well thought out handwriting.

-

Dear V,

   I don’t know if I’ll ever have the courage to tell you this in person, but I think you should know—you're amazing. You’re strong, confident, and you have this way of carrying yourself that I can’t stop admiring. You make everything seem effortless, even when I know it’s not. I love the way you smirk when you think no one’s looking. I love the fire in your eyes when you get competitive.

I know we don’t talk much (or at all, really), but you make my day every time I see you. Maybe this is cheesy, maybe you’ll laugh and throw this away, but I just wanted you to know—someone out there thinks you're incredible.

Love,

Your Secret Admirer

-

Uzi felt a warmth creep up her neck as she finished reading, her heart doing some weird, awkward flip in her chest.

Wait…

Her eyes flicked back to the beginning of the letter.

Dear V

Her stomach dropped.

"This isn’t for me," she muttered under her breath, rereading the name again just to make sure she wasn’t imagining things.

V. Whoever that was.

She felt a mix of emotions all at once—relief, embarrassment, secondhand giddiness from how sweet the letter was, and mostly the crushing realization that she had just been holding onto a love letter that wasn’t even meant for her.

Uzi groaned internally, gripping the paper in her hands as she debated what to do. Should she put it back? Track down whoever “V” is? Ignore it and pretend this never happened?

Before she could think of a plan, the shrill ring of the bell jolted her back to reality.

"Ugh—seriously?" she huffed, stuffing the letter into her pocket and slamming her locker shut. No time to figure it out now.

Pushing the thoughts aside for the moment, she turned on her heel and rushed off to her next class.

-

Uzi skidded into the classroom just as the door was swinging shut behind her, the weight of her backpack nearly dragging her backward. The teacher, Mr. Calloway, a lanky man with perpetually tired eyes, had already begun speaking when he stopped mid-sentence, glancing over at her.

"Miss Doorman," he said, raising an eyebrow. "You're late."

Uzi winced. Great. Just what I needed.

"Uh—yeah. Sorry. Won't happen again," she said quickly, ducking her head and making her way toward her seat before he could press further.

A few students snickered. Others barely looked up from their desks.

"See that it doesn’t," Mr. Calloway replied dryly before continuing his lecture.

Uzi let out a quiet sigh of relief as she dropped into her seat. She barely had time to dwell on the whole love-letter-that-wasn’t-for-her thing before the teacher clapped his hands together.

"Alright, class. Today, you'll be working in pairs," he announced, grabbing a stack of papers from his desk. "You'll be answering some discussion questions on the book we’ve been reading the past week: The Scarlet Letter. Your responses should be thoughtful and well-supported. This will count toward your participation grade." His tone of voice was unamused, each word feeling drawn out as he spoke.

Uzi barely held in a groan. Partners?

Mr. Calloway started rattling off names, pairing students up. Uzi only half-listened until she heard—

"Uzi Doorman and Lizzy Summers."

She turned her head toward the front of the room. Lizzy?

Sitting a few rows ahead of her, Lizzy Summers flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder before standing up gracefully, smoothing out her cheerleading uniform in the process. She was the kind of girl who always had a bright, polished appearance—hair done, nails perfect, makeup flawless, even at school. She had this air of effortless popularity, the kind of girl who was always surrounded by other drones.

But… maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing. Since Lizzy was so popular, maybe she knew who V was. She knew practically everyone in the school, or at least drones that stood out, so it wasn’t such a far fetched idea. Plus, this so called ‘V’ was popular enough to get a literal love letter, so it only made sense.

As Uzi approached, Lizzy gave her a once-over, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.

"Well, this should be interesting," she mused.

Uzi plopped down into the chair beside her. "Yeah. Riveting."

Lizzy giggled and flipped through the worksheet. "Okay, let’s see… First question: ‘What is the significance of the letter A in The Scarlet Letter ?’" She glanced up. "You read the book, right?"

"Enough to pass the quiz," Uzi said with a shrug.

Lizzy rolled her eyes but didn’t seem too annoyed. As she started writing, Uzi hesitated. This might be my only chance to ask.

Clearing her throat, she leaned slightly toward Lizzy. "Hey, uh… do you know someone named V?"

Lizzy stopped writing mid-sentence, her pencil hovering over the paper. Then, she turned her head to look at Uzi, one perfectly shaped eyebrow raised.

"V?" she repeated.

Uzi shrugged. “Yeah…?” She sounded unsure.

Lizzy’s smirk returned. "Yeah, I know her. She’s one of my best friends."

That caught Uzi off guard. "Really?"

"Mhmm." Lizzy twirled her pencil between her fingers. "She’s kind of a big deal. She's on the volleyball team, super confident, kinda scary when she wants to be, but drones love her. Definitely not someone you'd forget." She finished her sentence with a soft giggle.

Uzi absorbed this information, nodding slowly. So, V was another popular girl. That tracked.

“…So what does she look like?” Uzi prodded.

Lizzy continued,” She has a silver bob cut- super pretty. Always wears a black headband. Wait…” Lizzy tilts her head, scrutinizing her. "Why are you asking?"

Uzi stiffened. "No reason. Just… wondering."

Lizzy’s smirk widened, like she didn’t quite believe her. "Uh-huh. Sure."

Uzi quickly looked back down at the worksheet. "We should probably finish this."

Lizzy chuckled but let it go, returning to the assignment.

-

By the time class ended, Uzi was still lost in thought. She barely remembered what they had written on the worksheet, too distracted by what she had just learned.

So, this “V” girl—was popular, athletic, and apparently well-liked. And now, Uzi had a general idea of what this girl might look like, thanks to Lizzy’s description.

She still wasn’t sure what to do with the letter. Should she try to find V and give it to her? Would that be weird? What if instead she just ignored it? Pretended she never found it in the first place? No, this V girl had a right to know. Besides, if someone else received a letter meant for Uzi, obviously she’d want to know. It wouldn’t be fair to not give it to V, just because she felt awkward.

Uzi sighed, adjusting her bag as she made her way to the cafeteria. She figured there was only one way to deal with this—find V at lunch. She didn’t know what she’d say yet, but at the very least, she needed to see who she was dealing with.

With that thought in mind, she entered the cafeteria, scanning the sea of students.

Time to find V.

Uzi wove through the crowded cafeteria, gripping the strap of her backpack tightly. The noise was overwhelming—laughter, conversation, the occasional shout from across the room. The smell of reheated cafeteria food clung to the air, mixing with the general chaos of lunchtime.

Her heart thumped in her chest as her eyes landed on Lizzy, sitting at one of the more exclusive lunch tables near the middle of the room. And next to her, lounging with an air of casual indifference, was a girl Uzi could only assume was V.

She had the confidence of someone who knew she didn’t need to try to stand out. Shiny, silver, slightly messy hair framed sharp features, and her amber eyes were half-lidded as if she were perpetually unimpressed with the world around her. She wore the school’s volleyball team jacket, lazily draped over her shoulders. Even sitting down, there was something about her that felt imposing—like she was constantly sizing up the room, deciding if anyone was worth her attention.

Yup. That’s definitely her.

Uzi swallowed. Okay. Just walk up and do this. Simple. No reason to be nervous.

Her legs didn’t seem to get the memo, though, because with every step closer, a creeping sense of anticipation crawled up her spine.

Finally, she reached the table. Lizzy was the first to notice her, looking up with a curious tilt of her head.

“Oh, hey,” Lizzy said, smiling. “Did you need something?”

Uzi cleared her throat, suddenly feeling very aware of the fact that she was now standing in front of V, who had slowly turned her gaze toward her. Those sharp, piercing eyes looked her up and down, unreadable.

“Uh… yeah.” Uzi shifted awkwardly. “I was just wondering… you’re V, right?”

V, who had been lazily poking at her food, sighed and leaned back in her chair, arms crossed. “Okay, you’ve got my name. Now what?” Her voice was flat, unimpressed.

Uzi bristled slightly at the bluntness. Geez. Okay. Not a people person. Got it.

“I—uh—well, I actually found something earlier, and I think it was meant for you,” she said, reaching into her pocket. “It’s this letter, and—”

Her fingers met empty fabric.

Her stomach dropped.

Wait—where is it?

Panic shot through her as she patted her pocket, then the other one. She knew she had put it there. She was sure of it. But now—nothing.

Her face paled.

V raised an eyebrow. “Are you gonna keep standing there, or…?”

Uzi forced herself to swallow down the rising panic. “I—um—I must’ve dropped it,” she admitted, internally screaming at herself.

Lizzy blinked. “Dropped what?”

“The letter,” Uzi said quickly, trying to compose herself. “It was a love letter. I found it in my locker, but it was actually meant for V.” She hesitated, glancing at her. “It was from a… secret admirer or something.”

Lizzy’s smile widened knowingly. “Ohhh, so that’s why you were asking about her earlier.”

V, on the other hand, didn’t react right away. She just stared at Uzi, then exhaled through her nose and shrugged. “Huh.”

That was it. No shock, no curiosity. Just… complete indifference.

Uzi frowned. “That’s it? Huh?”

V leaned on one arm, poking at her food again with her fork. “Yeah. Not really my problem if you lost it.”

Uzi blinked. “You’re not even a little curious about who wrote it?”

V shrugged again. “Drones like me. Not exactly shocking.”

Uzi narrowed her eyes. Wow. Okay. Humble, much?

Uzi crossed her arms. “So you really don’t care?”

V finally looked at her again, expression unreadable. “Do you care?”

Uzi opened her mouth, then closed it. Did she? It wasn’t her letter. It had nothing to do with her, really. She had just found it by accident. But for some reason, the fact that V was this uninterested made her bristle.

“…I mean, I just thought you should know about it,” Uzi muttered, feeling slightly defeated.

V hummed. “Noted.”

Uzi stared at her for a second longer, then sighed. “Alright. Well. That’s all I wanted to say, I guess.”

V gave her a lazy wave. “Cool.”

Lizzy smiled. “See you around, Uzi.”

Uzi turned and walked away, shaking her head.

-

As she weaved back through the cafeteria, Uzi let out a long sigh.

Okay. That was… something.

She hadn’t really known what to expect from V, but that wasn’t it. The total lack of reaction, the bluntness, the general couldn’t-care-less attitude. It was weird. Someone had written this whole heartfelt letter, pouring out their feelings, and V acted like it was just another Tuesday.

Who even likes a girl like that?

Not that V was terrible or anything, but she wasn’t exactly giving “romance material” vibes. She was cold, distant, and had the social grace of a brick wall.

Uzi shook her head. Whatever. Not my problem. I did what I could.

Still, she couldn’t help but wonder.

Who was this secret admirer? And why were they so into V, of all drones?

Uzi continued walking through the cafeteria, finding a seat to eat her lunch… by herself. Again. Her thoughts circled like vultures over a particularly confusing meal.

She didn’t get it.

The letter wasn’t even for her. She had just found it. It had nothing to do with her, and yet…

That feeling. That weird, fluttery warmth she’d felt when she first read it.

She hadn’t even realized how nice it was to be spoken to like that—well, almost spoken to like that. The way the words had been written, the admiration in them, the sheer sweetness of it… it was like getting a glimpse into someone’s most vulnerable feelings. And for a brief moment, as her mind wandered, she thought—

She shook her head violently. Nope. Stupid. Doesn’t matter.

But why did it bother her so much? Why did V’s total disinterest irritate her?

Maybe because it felt… wasted.

Someone had put themselves out there, had written this whole heartfelt thing, and V just shrugged it off like it was nothing. Like she had drones throwing themselves at her all the time. Like it wasn’t a big deal.

Uzi scowled to herself. Maybe it isn’t a big deal to her.

She didn’t know why that fact annoyed her so much. Maybe because, deep down, she couldn’t imagine someone ever writing something like that for her. She barely had friends, let alone admirers.

She sighed, forcing herself to straighten up and push those thoughts away. Who cares? Not my problem. I should just forget about it.

And she tried.

Really, she did.

But for the rest of the day, that strange warmth lingered at the back of her mind, like an itch she couldn’t scratch.

The letter. The words. The idea of someone caring about another drone that much.

And the fact that, even though it wasn’t for her, even though she knew she shouldn’t have felt anything—

For a split second, it had made her feel wanted.

Uzi clenched her jaw and shook her head again. Forget it. Doesn’t matter.

So she did what she did best.

She ignored it.

Or at least, she tried to.

Chapter Text

By the time Uzi stepped onto the school grounds the next morning, she had completely convinced herself that she did not care about the letter.

It was stupid.

She had overthought everything.

She had gotten wrapped up in something that wasn’t even hers, and for what? Some dumb, cheesy love note that wasn’t even meant for her? The whole thing was ridiculous.

So what if V had brushed it off? So what if Uzi had felt weirdly warm when she read it? She was just being weird, that was all.

She was done thinking about it.

With that firm decision in mind, she adjusted her backpack and made her way down the hall toward her locker, weaving past other students who were still waking up for the day. The morning chatter buzzed around her, a familiar hum of half-asleep conversations and slamming lockers.

Everything was normal. Everything was fine.

Until she got to her locker.

She stopped in her tracks, staring.

There, sticking out from the edge of the metal door, was a small envelope—identical to the one from yesterday.

Her heart did not skip a beat. Nope. Not at all.

She just… wasn’t expecting it, that’s all.

Swallowing, she slowly reached for the envelope, peeling it out from where it was wedged. It had the same little heart sticker sealing it shut. And just as before… No name. No indication of who it was from.

Her fingers hesitated before she opened it, unfolding the letter inside.

This time, instead of a long heartfelt message, it was a poem.

A really corny one.

---

The moon shines bright, but not like you,

Your light is warm, your heart is true.

Though distance keeps my words at bay,

My thoughts of you don’t fade away.

One day, I hope you’ll finally see,

The way my heart beats endlessly.

Love,

Your secret admirer

---

Uzi blinked.

Then blinked again.

Then let out a short, incredulous laugh.

"Oh my gosh," she muttered under her breath, shaking her head.

It was so cheesy. So over-the-top dramatic. It was like something ripped straight out of a bad romance movie.

And yet…

Her fingers tightened around the paper slightly.

Despite the overwhelming corniness of it all… it was still sweet.

Someone had actually sat down and written this for V. They were really putting their feelings out there. Even though it wasn’t meant for her, she couldn’t help but feel… something.

But that brought her to the question— W hat was she supposed to do with it?

Her eyes flicked down the hall toward where she knew V’s locker actually was.

She should give it to her. It was her letter, after all.

But then she thought about yesterday.

The way V had just shrugged it off. The way she hadn’t even cared.

Uzi pursed her lips, conflicted.

It wasn’t her letter. It wasn’t her business.

And yet…

She folded the letter carefully, stuffing it into her pocket.

I’ll just… hang onto it for now.

A tiny voice in the back of her mind whispered that she knew she was being selfish, but she shoved that thought aside. It wasn’t like V even wanted the letter. If anything, she was doing the admirer a favor by keeping it out of the hands of someone who didn’t appreciate it.

Still, she knew she couldn’t just let this keep happening. If this mystery drone kept slipping letters into her locker, she was going to have a whole collection by the end of the month.

Maybe she should just… write something back?

Nothing dramatic. Just a quick note, something simple, like:

"Hey, this isn’t V’s locker. You’ve got the wrong person."

Then whoever was writing these would stop, and that would be the end of it.

Decision made, she reached for her backpack to grab a piece of paper—

RRRIIIINNNGGG!!

Her head snapped up.

The bell—

"Crap!"

She bolted down the hall, shoving past confused students as she sprinted to class. Her heart pounded as she skidded around the corner, nearly tripping over her own feet in the process.

By the time she crashed through the classroom door, all eyes were already on her.

Mr. Calloway sighed, rubbing his temples.

"Miss Doorman."

Uzi winced. "Yeah?"

"You’re late." His voice was completely monotone, as if he had already accepted that this was going to be a recurring thing.

"Yeah…" she panted, trying to catch her breath. "Sorry."

Mr. Calloway looked at her, unimpressed. Then, in the same tired, deadpan voice, he said, "Detention after school."

Uzi groaned. "Seriously?"

He gestured vaguely. "Rules are rules."

Slumping in defeat, she dragged herself to her seat, dropping her bag onto the floor.

As she flopped into her chair, she rested her forehead against her desk with a quiet groan.

This day was not off to a good start.

-

Uzi sat slouched in her chair, resting her chin in her hand as the teacher rambled endlessly about something she should probably be paying attention to. But her mind was elsewhere, completely tangled up in the mess of thoughts she had been trying to ignore since she found that second letter.

She had to put an end to this.

She wasn’t about to become the middleman for some lovesick mystery writer who couldn’t even figure out the right locker. It was a simple misunderstanding, and she just needed to correct it.

So, while everyone else was scribbling notes from the lesson, she casually tore a small piece of paper from her notebook and started writing.

"Hey, this isn’t V’s locker. You’ve got the wrong person."

She stared at the words for a moment, tapping her pencil against her desk.

That was good enough, right? Short. Direct. No extra details.

And yet…

Before she could stop herself, she pressed her pencil back to the paper and, underneath the first message, added:

"By the way, it’s not really worth your time to write to V. She doesn’t seem to care about these letters. They’re too nice for her, I guess."

The moment she lifted her pencil, she froze.

Then immediately scowled at herself.

What the hell was that?!

Why did she write that? That wasn’t her business! This whole thing wasn’t her business! What did she care if this admirer kept writing letters? It wasn’t her job to judge whether someone’s feelings were wasted or not.

Her fingers twitched as she glared at the words.

You’re so stupid, she scolded herself, flipping her pencil around and furiously erasing the last part.

When she finished, all that remained was the original short message.

She sighed, rubbing her temple.

What is wrong with me?

This whole thing had gotten under her skin in a way she couldn’t understand. Maybe she was just annoyed. Maybe it just bothered her to see someone’s feelings dismissed so easily.

Or maybe…

She shook her head. Nope. Not going there. Doesn’t matter.

Stuffing the note into her pocket, she let out a quiet exhale and forced herself to focus back on the lesson.

She just needed to leave the note on her locker and move on. Simple.

No more thinking about this. No more feeling weird about it.

She was done.

-

As soon as the bell rang, Uzi was out of her seat, making her way down the crowded hall toward her locker.

She wasn’t in a rush or anything. Definitely not.

It wasn’t like she was expecting another letter. That would be ridiculous.

…But still.

The thought did cross her mind.

It was just a passing curiosity, that’s all. A normal thought. Like, if there was another note, she’d just shake her head and roll her eyes, because obviously this admirer hadn’t figured it out yet.

But if there wasn’t one, then—well, whatever.

It didn’t matter.

She shoved her hands into her pockets, keeping her expression neutral as she weaved through the sea of students. The closer she got, the more she could feel something strange bubbling in her chest.

Not anticipation. Definitely not that.

Just… curiosity.

Yeah. That was it.

She turned the final corner, her locker coming into view.

Nothing was there.

No little envelope sticking out. No heart sticker. No letter.

Just an empty metal door staring back at her.

Uzi blinked.

Then, to her absolute horror, she felt a tiny, annoying pang of disappointment deep down in her gut.

She clenched her jaw immediately. No. Nope. We are NOT doing this.

Why should she care if there wasn’t another note? If anything, this was a good thing. It meant the admirer had either found the right locker or finally given up. 

That was what she wanted, right?

Swallowing the weird, unwanted feeling, she pulled out the note she had written and carefully placed it on her locker, sticking it right where the other letters had been left.

There. Done.

She took a step back, staring at the little piece of paper, letting out a breath.

That’s it. No more letters. No more dumb feelings. Moving on.

Without another thought, she turned and walked away, blending into the crowd of students heading to their next class.

But despite everything, that tiny feeling of disappointment lingered, stubborn and unshakable.

And for the life of her, she couldn’t understand why.

-

The day had dragged.

By the time the final bell rang, Uzi was more than ready to grab her stuff and get out of there—well, at least, she would have been if she didn’t have detention.

With an annoyed sigh, she made her way down the hall toward her locker, weaving through the crowd of students eager to escape for the day. As she approached, her eyes flicked to where she had left the note earlier.

It was gone.

Her fingers hovered over the locker door for a second, just taking that in.

Huh.

She wasn’t sure what she had expected. Maybe for it to still be there, untouched. Or crumpled up on the floor. Maybe even another letter in its place—

No. Nope. Not going there.

What mattered was that it was gone, which meant whoever had been leaving the letters had gotten the message.

A strange sense of relief settled in her chest.

Good. That’s… good. It’s over now.

She should’ve felt nothing about it. Maybe even satisfaction. But the fact that she had to tell herself it was a good thing made something itch in the back of her mind.

Whatever. Doesn’t matter.

She quickly shoved her books into her locker, slamming it shut. Just as she was about to leave, a new wave of irritation hit her as she remembered where she actually had to go.

Detention.

She groaned. Right.

As if this day hadn’t already been long enough.

Dragging her feet, she turned and started making her way toward the detention room, hands stuffed in her pockets, already dreading the next hour of pure boredom.

-

Uzi pushed open the door to the detention room, fully expecting to see a tired, middle-aged teacher glaring at her from behind a desk.

Instead, she was met with… absolutely nothing.

The desk at the front of the room was empty. No teacher in sight.

The students, however, were there. And none of them looked particularly concerned about the lack of supervision.

A group of kids had taken over the back of the room, chatting loudly and laughing at something on one of their phones. One guy leaned back in his chair, lazily exhaling a puff of vape smoke, completely unconcerned. The faint scent of artificial watermelon filled the air, and Uzi wrinkled her nose.

Nobody was even pretending to do detention things.

Well—almost nobody.

Toward the front of the room, a girl sat hunched over her desk, her arms crossed as she aggressively scribbled into a notebook. She looked mildly annoyed, as if she despised the fact that she was here but was determined to make use of her time anyway.

Then there was the other out-of-place kid.

A boy sat near the window, completely absorbed in a book, flipping the pages with practiced ease. Unlike the rest of the room, he seemed totally detached from the chaos around him, almost like he didn’t even register it.

Uzi stood there for a moment, taking it all in.

This… was not what she had expected.

Wasn’t there supposed to be some semblance of authority? Someone watching them? Keeping them in check?

Apparently not.

Before she could pick a seat, a paper airplane soared through the air, barely missing her head before smacking into the whiteboard at the front of the room. A few kids laughed.

Uzi sighed.

With the only real options being awkward loner girl and quiet book guy, she opted for the latter, heading toward the seat near the window.

It wasn’t because she cared to sit next to him or anything—she just liked the window. It made her feel less trapped.

She slid into the chair and dropped her bag onto the desk, letting out a quiet exhale as she leaned back.

At least if no one was actually enforcing detention rules, she wouldn’t have to suffer through some lecture about responsibility.

Uzi slumped further into her seat, staring blankly at the scratched-up surface of her desk.

Her options were simple:

A) Be productive and do schoolwork.

B) Sleep.

Obviously, B was the superior choice.

With a sigh, she folded her arms and rested her head against them, letting her eyes drift shut. Maybe if she ignored everything long enough, the hour would pass faster.

Unfortunately, the other kids in the room had different plans.

The loud chatter, obnoxious laughter, and the occasional thud of something hitting the walls made it painfully difficult to tune out. The guy in the back was still vaping, making a big show of blowing smoke rings while his friends egged him on. Someone was smacking a pen against their desk, rapid and erratic, like they were doing it just to be annoying.

Uzi clenched her jaw, trying to block it all out.

Just ignore it. Just sleep. Just—

A sudden crash made her eyes snap open.

Right next to her, a book had hit the floor with a heavy thud, followed by the sharp clatter of pens and pencils scattering in every direction.

She lifted her head just in time to see someone casually stepping away from the scene, not even bothering to look back.

“Whoops,” the guy said, his voice dripping with fake apology. He barely even paused before continuing on, laughing under his breath as he rejoined his group at the back of the room.

Uzi’s eyes narrowed.

Yeah, that wasn’t an accident.

The boy next to her, the one who had been absorbed in his book, was now sitting tensely in his seat, his hands clenched into fists on the desk. His jaw was tight, and for a second, he just stared at the mess on the floor, like he was trying to keep himself from reacting.

Then, without a word, he bent down to start gathering his things, his movements stiff and a little too controlled.

Uzi watched him for a second, then exhaled through her nose.

That was rude.

She didn’t know this guy, didn’t even know his name, but seeing someone deliberately mess with him for no reason just annoyed her.

For a brief moment, she debated whether to do anything. She could just sit back and let him deal with it himself—he didn’t ask for help, after all.

But as she glanced at the pencils scattered across the floor, something about the situation sat wrong with her.

With a quiet sigh, she pushed back her chair and got up.

Guess I’m doing this.

Chapter Text

As Uzi crouched down to help, the boy finally looked at her.

He had messy, platinum blond hair that fell slightly over his forehead, and sharp golden eyes that flickered with a strange mix of exhaustion and irritation. Even as he reached for his scattered things, his movements were stiff, tense—like he was trying not to let the whole situation get to him.

His expression, though? It was the part that stood out the most.

He looked pissed, sure, but beneath the frustration, there was something else. Something heavier.

Resignation.

Like he had already expected something like this to happen.

Still, when he spoke, his voice wasn’t harsh or bitter. If anything, it held the opposite—a quiet sort of appreciation. Maybe even a little sadness.

“…You don’t have to do that,” he said, glancing at her briefly before looking back down at the mess.

Uzi shrugged, grabbing a few stray pencils. “It’s no problem, really.”

She kept her tone casual, like this situation was just some random inconvenience and not an obvious case of someone being a complete jerk to him.

For a second, he hesitated, like he wasn’t sure what to say. Then he sighed, reaching for more of his things.

“…Thank you,” he murmured.

They worked in silence after that, gathering up the pens and pencils. It didn’t take long—most of them had landed in the same general area.

Once Uzi had picked up all the ones near her, she held them out. “Here.”

The boy took them, his expression softening, even if only slightly.

“Thanks,” he said again. “You… really didn’t have to do that. I appreciate it.”

She waved it off. “It’s whatever.”

He hesitated, then gave her a small nod before organizing the things back into his pencil case.

A beat passed.

Figuring it was as good a time as any, Uzi leaned back slightly and said, “I’m Uzi, by the way.”

He paused for half a second, then met her gaze.

“…N.”

That was all he gave—just his name, short and simple. But his tone didn’t come off as shy or uncomfortable. Just… careful. Like he was used to keeping people at arm’s length.

She studied him for a second, debating whether or not to say what was on her mind.

It wasn’t really her business, but…

Eh, screw it.

“…Why’d that guy do that?” she asked, nodding toward where the jerk from earlier had gone.

N let out a quiet breath, looking vaguely annoyed. “That group’s been messing with me for a while,” he admitted. “Not all the time, but enough to be annoying.”

His fingers absentmindedly adjusted the book on his desk as he continued.

“I think it’s because we share a class, and the teacher really likes me.” He said it plainly, like he’d already thought about it before. “They think I’m some kind of teacher’s pet or something.”

He frowned slightly. “Which is stupid, by the way. The teacher likes me because I’m polite. Meanwhile, they’re loud, disruptive, obnoxious—” He stopped himself, shaking his head. “I dunno. Maybe they’re just looking for an excuse to be jerks.”

Uzi absorbed this, her thoughts flickering between what he’d just said and what she’d already observed.

Figures.

It wasn’t exactly surprising. Some people just hated when someone else got along with authority figures, especially if they didn’t. It was an easy excuse to single someone out.

But even knowing that, something about it still bugged her.

She glanced at N again, his expression neutral but his posture still a little too tense.

For some reason, she felt a weird twinge of frustration on his behalf.

Uzi hesitated for a moment before glancing back at N, curiosity getting the better of her.

“So…” she started, tilting her head. “Why are you even in detention?”

N stiffened—just for a second. His fingers twitched slightly where they rested on his book, his posture going rigid.

But then, almost as quickly as the tension appeared, he forced a small, awkward smile and rubbed the back of his neck.

“Uh… well…” He chuckled nervously. “I was late to class. Three days in a row.”

Uzi raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “That’s it?”

“Apparently, that’s all it takes,” he replied, letting out a small sigh before slumping slightly in his seat. “I mean, I get it—I was late. But detention seems a little extreme, don’t you think?”

She huffed in amusement. “Yeah, kinda.”

A brief silence passed before Uzi, still feeling just a little nosy, asked, “So why were you late?”

N blinked at her, caught off guard by the question.

“Oh—uh…” He shifted, looking down at his desk for a second before answering. “I was just… really busy with something before class. I don’t usually run late, and I definitely don’t plan on doing it again.” He shook his head, almost like he was scolding himself. “Three times is already way too many.”

Uzi noted his tone—it was firm, certain. Whatever had been keeping him busy must’ve been important to him.

She debated pressing further, but ultimately decided against it. They had just met, and it really wasn’t her business.

Instead, she shrugged. “Well, I’m here for the same reason. I was late too.”

N perked up slightly, looking at her with mild surprise. “Oh. Really?”

“Yep,” she said, resting her chin on her palm. “I just lose track of time, I guess. It’s not that abnormal for me, but I don’t get detention too often.”

N hummed thoughtfully. “Huh. Guess that makes you more of a repeat offender than me.”

Uzi smirked. “Guess so.”

For a moment, things were… oddly comfortable. They weren’t exactly friends, but this conversation felt easy, which was kind of surprising.

After a brief pause, Uzi figured she might as well mention something else about herself. “I’m still kinda new here, by the way.”

N tilted his head. “Oh? How new?”

“A few weeks,” she said. “I move around a lot. My dad’s job makes it hard to stay in one place.”

N blinked. “What does he do?”

“He owns a company. Builds doors all over the country.”

N’s brows lifted slightly, seeming impressed. “Oh, cool.”

Uzi scoffed lightly. “Sure, if you’re really into doors.”

N chuckled. “Fair point.” He then paused, his expression shifting slightly. “Still, that must be tough—moving all the time.”

She hesitated, then shrugged. “It’s whatever. I’m used to it.”

But the truth was… it did kind of suck.

Never really settling in, never having a place that truly felt like home—it got exhausting.

N didn’t push, though. He just nodded, his expression softening with something that almost looked like empathy.

Uzi wasn’t sure why that stood out to her.

But before she could think too much about it, the background noise of detention dragged her back to reality, reminding her of where she was.

And, more importantly, how much time they still had left to sit here.

Great.

Uzi wasn’t sure how it happened, but somehow, talking to N felt… easy.

Like, weirdly easy.

She had fully expected their conversation to fizzle out after a few minutes, but instead, it kept flowing, neither of them running out of things to say.

They talked about dumb school rules, the weirdest things they had seen in the hallways, and how half the vending machines never worked. N had a particular rant about how unfair it was to see his favorite snack get stuck right at the edge, just out of reach.

“Like, I paid for it, you know?” he huffed, arms crossed. “And the machine just decides I don’t get it?”

Uzi smirked. “Did you shake it?”

“Yes. It didn’t help.”

“That’s tragic.”

“I know.”

It was stupid, meaningless conversation, but… it was fun. Uzi didn’t even realize how much time had passed until—

“Ahem.”

Both she and N stiffened as a voice cut through the room.

Slowly, they turned to see the detention teacher—some old, balding guy who looked like he’d rather be anywhere but here—standing at his desk with an unimpressed expression.

“You two done?” he asked, his tone dripping with disinterest.

Uzi immediately felt annoyance rise in her chest, but before she could say anything, N spoke first.

“Sorry, sir,” he said sincerely, sitting up a little straighter.

Uzi bit back a groan, knowing there was no point in arguing. “Yeah. Won’t happen again.”

The teacher squinted at them, like he was debating whether or not to believe them.

“You’re lucky I don’t feel like dealing with paperwork,” he muttered. “Otherwise, I’d be giving both of you another detention.”

Uzi barely kept herself from rolling her eyes. Oh no, not another sentence in this lawless wasteland.

Still, she and N both nodded, falling silent.

Seemingly satisfied, the teacher let out a long sigh and sat down at his desk, immediately pulling out his phone like he had already forgotten about them.

The room, now under actual supervision, grew quiet.

There were still small sounds here and there—the soft scratching of pencils, the occasional crumpling of paper as notes were passed under desks, the faint whispers of students who were definitely not working.

But overall, detention had finally settled into its usual dull, suffocating boredom.

Uzi sighed, slumping against her desk. *Great. Back to this.*

Her eyelids felt heavy. She hadn’t realized how much energy talking to N had actually taken.

…Might as well sleep.

She rested her head on her folded arms, blocking out the dim lights and distant murmurs.

The sounds of detention slowly faded, and before she knew it, she was asleep.

Uzi shifted slightly in her seat, adjusting her arms to make them more comfortable as a pillow. The dull hum of the classroom filled her ears—the faint scratching of pencils, the occasional muffled cough, the quiet clicking of the detention teacher’s phone as he mindlessly scrolled.

Despite all of that, she felt oddly… content.

Not because of detention, obviously. Detention sucked. But…

Her conversation with N had actually been nice.

Like, genuinely nice.

It was stupid to feel happy about something as simple as talking to someone, but for once, it didn’t feel like she was forcing small talk with another random classmate she’d never see again after this school year.

N was different.

He actually listened when she spoke. He wasn’t just waiting for his turn to talk. He wasn’t fake.

And for the first time since transferring, Uzi felt like she might actually be making a friend.

Not just another casual acquaintance she occasionally talked to in class—an actual friend.

That thought alone made her feel warm inside, but it didn’t last long. Reality sank back in just as quickly, and the warmth was replaced with exhaustion.

She already hated this school.

Every day was the same tiring routine of dragging herself out of bed, barely making it to class on time, zoning out during lectures, and avoiding people in the hallways.

She was drained.

And the worst part? She had to do it all again tomorrow.

Great.

She exhaled, shifting her head to the side. At least detention was almost over.

…But maybe tomorrow wouldn’t be so bad if N was around.

She could ask him where he sat at lunch—maybe they could hang out? It’d be way better than eating by herself again.

She was about to let herself sink into sleep when a sudden thought crossed her mind—

Oh.

The letter.

She had been so absorbed in talking to N that she completely forgot about it.

That realization should’ve made her feel relieved, and in a way, it did. It was nice not to have that stupid envelope constantly floating in the back of her mind.

But now that she was thinking about it again… ugh.

Annoyed, she shifted again, feeling the crinkle of paper in her pocket—the cheesy poem, still folded neatly inside. At least she had made sure not to lose it this time.

She sighed through her nose.

Why was this still bothering her?

It wasn’t her letter. It had never been her letter.

And yet, the words had stuck with her. The way they had made her feel—warm, flustered, wanted—was stupid.

She shut the her current train of thought down immediately. Not worth thinking about.

Instead, she focused on the soft sounds of the classroom, the faint tick of the clock on the wall.

A few more minutes, and detention would be over.

She let her eyes slip shut.

Then—

A sudden poke to her arm.

She tensed, her eyes snapping open as she flinched away from the unexpected touch.

“What the—”

She turned to see N standing beside her desk, looking down at her with a somewhat amused expression.

“Sorry,” he said, not looking that sorry. “Didn’t mean to startle you.”

Uzi blinked groggily, rubbing her eyes before looking around.

The room was empty.

The other students were gone. Even the teacher was nowhere to be seen.

“How long was I out?” she muttered, sitting up.

“Not too long,” N shrugged. “Detention just ended, and I figured I’d wake you up before I left. Didn’t want you accidentally spending the night here.”

Uzi stared at him for a second, still processing.

He didn’t have to do that. He could’ve just left, like everyone else.

“…Oh.” She stretched her arms, still shaking off sleep. “Uh, thanks, I guess.”

“No problem,” N said, grabbing his bag and slinging it over his shoulder. “See you around, Uzi.”

And with that, he turned and left.

Uzi sat there for a moment, watching as the door swung shut behind him.

Then, with a sigh, she grabbed her own bag and stood up, heading for the exit.

Maybe tomorrow won’t be so bad after all.

-

Uzi lay flat on her back, staring at the ceiling.

Her room was dark, the only light coming from the dim glow of her alarm clock on the nightstand. The numbers blinked back at her—1:47 AM.

She was so tired. She wanted to sleep. But her brain had other plans.

With a frustrated sigh, she turned over, facing the other side of the room. Her eyes landed on her nightstand.

The note was still sitting there.

She scowled at it.

She hadn’t known where else to put it when she changed out of her school clothes earlier, so she just left it there. But now, seeing it again, it was like it was mocking her.

She should just throw it away.

But instead, she hesitated.

Her fingers twitched slightly before she groaned and snatched it off the nightstand, unfolding it with more force than necessary.

She told herself she was just making sure she hadn’t imagined how cheesy it was.

That was all.

But as she read the words again, her heart still did that stupid little flutter thing she hated.

It was dumb. It was corny. And yet, it was sweet.

Whoever wrote this really liked V.

And yet—

That warmth settled in her chest again, and suddenly, realization hit her like a train.

Oh.

Oh.

Her face immediately burned.

She felt embarrassed.

This wasn’t even her letter, and yet she had let herself feel something over it. She had let herself pretend, for just a second, that someone had written this for her.

Uzi groaned loudly, crumpling the note into a ball and chucking it across the room.

It hit the wall with a soft thud before rolling to a stop on the floor.

She exhaled sharply and flopped onto her back again, glaring up at the ceiling.

That was so stupid.

She squeezed her eyes shut, willing her brain to just shut up for once.

It took a while, but eventually, the exhaustion won.

And as her breathing evened out and her thoughts faded, Uzi finally drifted off to sleep.

Chapter Text

The morning air was crisp as Uzi stepped onto the bus, gnawing on a piece of toast. It was a lazy, last-minute breakfast—she hadn’t felt like making anything more complicated.

The bus was already half full, the chaotic energy of sleep-deprived students filling the air. Some were talking loudly, their conversations overlapping into a jumbled mess of words. Others were slouched in their seats, headphones in, staring blankly at their phones, trying to will themselves awake. A few were engaged in an intense debate about some video game near the front.

A couple of seats down, a guy was snoring so obnoxiously loud that Uzi wondered how no one had smacked him awake yet.

Typical.

She adjusted the strap of her bag and walked toward the back of the bus.

This was her spot.

The back window seat.

It was one of the only perks of being antisocial—no one ever bothered to sit next to her. Either drones assumed she didn’t want to talk, thought she was weird, or they were just too busy fighting for seats closer to their friends. Regardless, it worked in her favor.

She sat down, exhaling as she leaned against the window, feeling the familiar cold press against her temple. Her fingers instinctively went to her pocket, pulling out her phone and her wire headphones. She untangled them with practiced ease, popping them into her ears.

She tapped the screen a few times, then hit shuffle on her playlist.

“Is It Really You?” by Loathe started playing.

A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

Good song.

The bus lurched forward, and she turned her gaze to the window, watching as the streets blurred past. Houses, trees, the occasional car—everything melted into a steady, moving landscape.

This was the only part of the morning she actually enjoyed.

There was something about watching the world go by, feeling the gentle vibrations of the bus beneath her, the cool glass against her skin, and the music drowning out the noise of everything else—it was relaxing.

She let herself get lost in it, her eyes half-lidded, fingers lightly tapping against her knee to the beat of the song.

For a brief moment, everything was quiet in her head.

Then, the bus slowed.

She barely registered it at first, only noticing when the motion came to a halt.

Another stop. Another set of students climbing aboard.

Uzi sighed, shifting slightly but keeping her eyes closed, hoping whoever got on would just find their seat and leave her alone.

The bus doors hissed shut, and the ride continued.

She let herself drift again.

But, Uzi’s half-drowsy reverie was abruptly interrupted by a gentle tap on her shoulder. Startled, she jerked her head slightly and glanced toward the aisle, irritation flickering across her face. For a split second, she braced herself against another interruption in her quiet morning ritual. But as her eyes adjusted, she recognized that familiar face—N.

Her annoyance melted away, replaced by a reluctant smile as memories of their previous conversation resurfaced. Still, the loud music pumping through her headphones made it hard to catch what he was saying. Uzi frowned and pulled out one earbud.

“What?” she called softly, a trace of exasperation in her tone as she tried to make out his words over the blaring music.

N repeated his words, this time a little louder, his voice carrying an easy, tentative quality. “Hey, can I sit here?” he asked, nodding toward the seat next to her.

Uzi considered the question for a heartbeat. The window seat was her sanctuary—a bubble of calm amid the bus’s chaos—but the idea of sharing it with someone she’d only just begun to know didn’t seem too bad. “Sure,” she replied casually, her tone light as she offered a small, welcoming smile.

N’s eyes brightened at her acceptance. Settling into the seat beside her, he gave her a shy nod.

As the bus lurched forward and rolled onto the road, N shifted slightly in his seat before turning to Uzi. His expression was friendly, if a little hesitant, as if testing the waters before diving into conversation.

“So,” he started, voice light, “how’s your morning been so far?”

Uzi, who had already begun retreating into her usual morning solitude, blinked at him. She wasn’t a morning person—at all. Small talk before noon was practically a foreign language to her. Still, she didn’t want to be rude.

“…Fine,” she answered, her voice flat but not unfriendly.

N nodded, seemingly unbothered. “That’s good! Uh, did you finish the reading for English? You were telling me yesterday about how you’ve been procrastinating a little…-“ he grinned softly as he finished his sentence.

Uzi squinted at him slightly, half-processing his words. “Yeah.”

There was a small pause. N, still determined, tried again. “Cool, cool. I thought the ending of that last chapter was kinda crazy, didn’t expect—”

Uzi let out a quiet sigh through her nose, shifting her gaze back out the window. “Mhm.”

N trailed off, finally picking up on the fact that Uzi wasn’t much for conversation right now. His smile faltered just a little, and he looked down at his hands, rubbing his thumb along the strap of his backpack. “Uh—right, I’ll shut up now,” he said with a quiet chuckle, more to himself than to her.

Uzi barely registered his shift in demeanor, already halfway to putting her earbud back in when something clicked in her mind— oh, right. Lunch.

She hesitated for a split second before turning to him again. “Hey, where do you usually sit for lunch?”

At this, N visibly perked up. His eyes brightened, and he straightened in his seat, as if he hadn’t expected her to ask anything.

“Oh! Uh—” he began, but the bus hit a bump, making them both jolt slightly.

The moment lingered, anticipation hanging in the air as Uzi waited for his answer.

N continued, “Oh, I usually sit at the table near the vending machines. You know, the one kinda in the back but not all the way in the corner?” He glanced at her to see if she was following.

Uzi nodded slightly, taking mental notes.

“I sit with Thad, Rebecca, Darren, and Emily. Do you know any of them?”

At the mention of Thad, something in Uzi’s brain clicked. Thad? She knew that name. Her thoughts flickered back to middle school, to a boy she used to know—someone she had actually been close with. He was goofy, always cracking jokes, and had a habit of rambling about random things. Could it be the same guy?

“I think I might know Thad,” Uzi said, furrowing her brows slightly. “I used to know a guy with that name back in middle school. We were kinda close, but I moved before the year ended.”

N tilted his head slightly, intrigued. “Really?“

Uzi hummed in agreement, but as her mind lingered on that memory, a heavier thought settled in. The reason I moved.

Her chest tightened slightly. It wasn’t just because of her dad’s job. It was because of Mom.

Her dad couldn’t bear to live in the house where her mother once existed, where memories of her still lingered in every room, in every small detail of their daily lives. Moving wasn’t just about work—it was about escaping the pain. And for Uzi, it had been a dark time. She had fallen into a deep depression back then, mourning the loss while adjusting to a new place where no one knew her, where she felt completely alone.

She was better now. She had moved on, at least mostly. But thinking about it still made her feel… hollow.

She kept her expression neutral, not letting any of those emotions show. No way I’m dumping that on him. I literally just met the guy.

Instead, she simply nodded to herself, brushing off the ache in her chest. If it’s the same Thad, that’d be kinda nice.

N’s eyebrows furrowed slightly as he watched Uzi’s expression shift. She had gone quiet, her gaze distant. It was subtle, but he noticed.

“Hey,” he said, tilting his head slightly. “Did something happen?”

Uzi blinked, startled. She turned to him with a look of confusion. “What do you mean?”

N paused, studying her for a moment more before clarifying. “I mean… between you and Thad. You got kinda quiet when you mentioned him.”

Crap. Uzi hadn’t expected him to pick up on that. She quickly shook her head. “No, nothing happened,” she said, forcing her voice to stay steady. “I was just… sad that I had to move. That’s all.”

It wasn’t technically a lie—just a withholding of the full truth. But it still made Uzi feel a bit uneasy as she spoke.

N nodded slowly, accepting her answer. “Yeah, that makes sense. Moving sucks. I hope it’s the same Thad so you guys can catch up.” His voice was sincere, kind.

Uzi glanced at him, feeling something strange stir in her chest. Why is he so nice? She wasn’t used to this— it made her feel weird, uncomfortable even. Not a bad weird, though. Just… weird.

She pushed the thought aside and forced a small smile. “Yeah. I hope so too.”

Without another word, she put her earbud back in and turned to stare out the window again, letting the music drown out the noise of the bus.

In the reflection of the glass, she caught a glimpse of N. He was still looking at her, his expression unreadable, before he finally pulled out his phone and looked down at the screen.

She wasn’t sure why, but that made her feel even weirder.

Before she could dwell on it, the bus slowed to a stop. The hum of voices around her grew louder as students stood up, shuffling toward the front. They had arrived at school.

Uzi sighed, slinging her bag over her shoulder and standing up, preparing for yet another long day.

Chapter Text

The day dragged on endlessly, each class stretching into what felt like an eternity. Uzi found herself growing increasingly irritated, tapping her fingers impatiently on her desk as she watched the clock tick by at an agonizing pace. It wasn’t like she even cared about school, but today felt especially unbearable. Maybe it was because, for once, she actually had something to look forward to—lunch.

It was a strange feeling, almost unfamiliar. The thought of sitting with someone instead of eating alone in the corner for the first time in weeks made her feel something that she wasn’t quite used to—anticipation. And underneath that, a quiet, creeping nervousness.   

Thad.

N had said he sat with him. Could it really be the same Thad she used to know? It had been what, five? Six years? She had lost count.

She thought back to middle school, to the memories that had long since faded to the back of her mind. Thad had been one of the only people she genuinely got along with back then. They weren’t inseparable or anything, but she remembered laughing with him in class, sharing dumb inside jokes, and just… existing together without it feeling forced. He had been a good friend.

And then she moved.

Everything had happened so fast. Her mom died. Her dad uprooted their entire life overnight, and before she even had time to process it all, she was gone. At first, she told herself she’d stay in touch. Maybe call him, maybe text.

She wanted to reach out. She really did. But her mental state back then had been… bad. She convinced herself he probably forgot about her, or worse, that he didn’t care. That trying would be pointless. And the longer she waited, the more awkward it felt, until eventually, she just let it go.

But now? Now she wasn’t so sure.

What if he does hate me? The thought crept in before she could stop it. What if he thinks I abandoned him?

She tried to shake it off. Nothing even happened between us. I just moved away. That’s it.

Still, the worry lingered.   

Taking a deep breath, she started making her way to the cafeteria, her heartbeat just a little too fast.

As she approached the spot N had told her about, her stomach twisted into an uneasy knot. She wasn’t just nervous—it was more than that. It was an odd, jittery sensation clawing at her chest, making her feel restless and on edge.

She swallowed hard, forcing herself to keep walking. Well, here goes nothing.

N was sitting on the floor, cross-legged, his back resting against the wall. Three other drones were sitting with him in a loose circle, chatting casually as they ate. When he spotted Uzi, his face lit up, and he quickly waved her over, grinning. His enthusiasm caught her off guard for a second, but she shook it off and made her way toward them.

“Hey! You actually came,” N greeted as she approached, sounding genuinely happy about it.

“Yeah, well, figured I’d mix up the whole ‘brooding in the corner alone’ thing,” Uzi replied dryly, shoving her hands into her hoodie pocket.

N chuckled before gesturing toward the others. “These are my friends. Maybe you’ll kinda know who they are already, since you’ve been here for a bit, but just in case—” He pointed first to a girl with short, blue hair that had a pink streak, neon cyan eyes, and a confident smirk plastered on her face. “This is Rebecca.”

Rebecca gave Uzi a once-over before nodding. “Hey. You’re the new girl, right?”

“Uh, yeah. Been here a few weeks,” Uzi replied.

Rebecca hummed, taking a bite of her sandwich. “Cool.”

N moved on, pointing to a guy with dark grey and green beanie and vibrant green eyes. He had a laid-back posture, and was currently eating what looked like the saddest school lunch pizza Uzi had ever seen. “That’s Darren.”

Darren gave a lazy wave. “Sup.”

“Sup,” Uzi echoed.

“And this,” N gestured to the last person, a girl with black hair tied up into two pigtails, bright blue eyes, and half-oval shaped glasses. Her expression was friendly, if not welcoming,“is Emily.”

Emily smiled warmly. “Nice to meet you, Uzi.”

“…Yeah, you too,” Uzi said, feeling a little awkward with all the sudden attention.

As she took a moment to glance at the group, her mind drifted for a second. Thad isn’t here. She didn’t even know why she was expecting him to be, but after what N said earlier, she had thought—hoped?—he would be.   

She considered asking about it, just to confirm if he was the same Thad she used to know, but immediately decided against it. That would be weird, right? Asking about someone she wasn’t even sure was the same person? Besides, for all she knew, he just wasn’t here today. No point overthinking it.

“So,” N’s playful voice pulled her out of her thoughts. “Are you gonna sit, or are you just gonna stand there looking all broody?”

Uzi rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah, I’m sitting.” She moved to lower herself to the floor—

But then—

“Uzi…?”

A voice from behind her.

Unfamiliar.

But somehow, not.

She froze.

Uzi turned around, her heartbeat stuttering for just a second as she took in the person standing behind her.

A boy, a little taller than her, with shaggy, dirty blonde hair and familiar green eyes that widened the moment they met hers. He was wearing a backwards baseball cap—just like how she remembered—and in his hands was a lunch tray that tilted precariously in his shock.

For a split second, it looked like he was about to drop it, his fingers slipping against the plastic, but at the last second, he caught his balance and tightened his grip. His mouth opened slightly, as if trying to process what he was seeing, before he finally managed to speak.

“Uzi?” He repeated.

Uzi felt like she had just been smacked with a wave of nostalgia so strong it nearly knocked the breath out of her. She tried—really tried—to keep her cool, but her voice betrayed her as she said, “Thad?”

A moment of silence stretched between them.

Then, suddenly, his entire expression burst into sheer excitement, his face lighting up as if he couldn’t believe his eyes. “No way—NO WAY! It’s actually you! Holy crap!”

Uzi felt her nervous energy dissolve, replaced by an overwhelming sense of joy. A grin spread across her face, unable to be contained. “Dude, what the hell?! It’s been years!”

Thad was practically bouncing on his feet, his hands still gripping his tray for dear life. “I know! I—what—how—when did you—?! What are you doing here?!”

Uzi let out a breathless laugh, running a hand through her hair as if that would help her process this. “It’s a long story! I just—oh my god, I’m sorry! I never reached out, I swear it wasn’t personal, I just—”

Thad immediately shook his head, cutting her off, his voice full of reassurance. “No, no, don’t even worry about it! Seriously! I—man, I thought I was never gonna see you again! This is insane!”

They both started talking over each other, excitement spilling out too fast to keep up with. Words rushed between them—Uzi apologizing furiously, Thad asking rapid-fire questions, neither of them pausing to take a breath.

Then, almost at the exact same time, they both blurted out:

“I’m just glad you’re okay.”

A beat of silence. They both stared at each other for a moment before bursting into laughter, the overwhelming emotions simmering into something warm and familiar.

N, who had been sitting quietly, watching the interaction with an amused but patient expression, finally cleared his throat and spoke up. “Uh, hey, so—maybe we should all sit down?” He gestured to Thad’s tray. “Y’know, before someone drops their lunch?”

Thad blinked, looking down as if just now remembering he was holding food. “Oh—oh! Yeah, uh, good idea.”

Uzi nodded quickly. “Yeah, we’re gonna be talking forever if we just stand here.”

With that, the two of them finally sat down, the weight of the moment still buzzing between them.

Before Uzi or Thad could speak again, Darren suddenly cut in, raising an eyebrow as he looked between them. “Wait—you two know each other?”

Thad turned to him so quickly he nearly knocked his tray over. “Dude. You don’t know Uzi Doorman?” he said, as if it was absurd that someone could not know her.

Darren gave him a flat look. “Clearly not, since I just asked.”

Rebecca snorted at that, while Emily simply looked between them, mildly intrigued.

Darren gestured vaguely. “Okay, hold on, take a step back and explain. How do you two know each other?”

Thad leaned back against the wall, grinning. “We were in sixth grade together. We used to hang out all the time—like, all the time. She was, like, my best friend back then.”

Darren nodded slowly, as if piecing together some kind of mystery. “Huh. Okay, that makes more sense now.”

Uzi, watching all of this, couldn’t help but smirk. “Was I really that popular in sixth grade, or are you just hyping me up?”

Thad scoffed, waving a hand. “Nah, you were legendary.”

Uzi rolled her eyes with a small laugh before Thad turned his full attention back to her, eyes bright with excitement.

“Okay, but seriously, what the hell have you been up to? Where’d you even move?”

The two of them started catching up, the conversation flowing easily as they reminisced on the past. They recalled stupid inside jokes, old teachers they both hated, and random moments from sixth grade that still stuck with them.

But then, as Thad was laughing about something, he suddenly added, “Oh! And then there was that one field trip where we all got caught sneaking snacks on the bus—

Uzi blinked. “What?” She sounded confused, like she had no idea what he was talking about.

His grin faltered.

“Oh wait.”

Thad’s excitement dimmed just a little, and he rubbed the back of his neck. “That must’ve happened after you left.”

The air shifted, the joy of nostalgia cooling into something quieter.

Uzi’s smile faded slightly, her shoulders unconsciously tensing. She hadn’t even considered that—that while she was gone, life kept going without her. There were parts of Thad’s life, parts of this school, that she had missed completely.

For a moment, neither of them said anything.

The brief silence was just barely bordering on awkward when N suddenly spoke up, his voice cutting through with a gentle, almost optimistic tone. “Well… at least you guys are back together now, right?”

Thad looked at him, then at Uzi. Slowly, a softer smile formed on his face. “Yeah. That’s what matters.”

Uzi nodded, feeling the weight in her chest ease a little. “I missed you,” she admitted, avoiding eye contact. Her voice was quieter now.

Thad’s smile turned a little more serious, a little more genuine. “I missed you too.”

“I really am sorry, by the way. For never reaching out.”

Thad shook his head. “It’s okay. You’re here now.”

There was another pause, but this time, it wasn’t heavy. It was understanding.

Then Emily, who had been sitting there watching this entire exchange, suddenly clapped her hands lightly. “Sooo.” She dragged out the word just a bit, not in an impatient way, but in a clear attempt to shift the mood. “Uzi, how are you liking the school so far?”

The change of topic was subtle, but effective.

Uzi let out a small breath and shrugged. “Eh, it’s a school. Not the worst one I’ve been to.”

“Not exactly a glowing review,” Darren muttered.

Uzi smirked. “Didn’t say it was.”

Rebecca chuckled. “You’ll fit right in.”

The previous sadness faded as the conversation shifted, everyone falling into easy chatter. It was… nice. Even if Uzi wasn’t completely sure how she felt about being back in Thad’s life just yet, one thing was certain.

Lunch felt a lot less lonely today.

Chapter Text

After school, Uzi found herself lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling, thinking back on the day. It was weird—good weird, but still weird. She hadn’t expected to reconnect with someone from her past, let alone Thad. And now? Now, they actually had each other’s numbers. This time, she wasn’t going to let them lose touch.

Throughout the day, she had made an effort to talk to him whenever she could between classes. It was easy—like no time had passed at all. But it was also strange how she had never even noticed him before. Then again, why would she have? It wasn’t like she had been actively thinking about him all these years. He had just been one of those people she used to know, someone who had been important then.

And now… he was back.

She grabbed her phone and checked the time. 9:15 PM.

Not too late, but not exactly early either. She debated for a second, but Thad never struck her as the type to go to bed early. He was probably up doing something stupid like watching conspiracy theory videos or playing some game until his eyes burned.

Screw it.

She tapped his contact and hit FaceTime. The ringing felt like it went on forever, but just as she started to think he wouldn’t pick up, the screen shifted—and there he was.

“Yo.” His face filled the screen, his backwards cap still on. “Wasn’t expecting a call, but hey.”

“Hope I didn’t interrupt anything important,” Uzi said, smirking slightly.

“Nah, just debating whether birds are government spies.”

Uzi snorted. “That’s what you were doing?”

“Listen, there’s proof, okay?”

And just like that, they started talking.

The conversation flowed naturally. They talked about anything and everything—old memories, random things about their lives, stupid inside jokes from middle school that somehow still made them laugh. There was so much to catch up on, so much time to fill in. And for once, Uzi wasn’t overthinking it. She was just talking.

But then, in the middle of the conversation, her eyes flicked to something on the floor.

That stupid crumpled-up note.

She had completely forgotten about it since last night.

Without really thinking, she sighed and leaned over to pick it up. “Oh, right. I kinda wanted to talk to you about something.”

Thad tilted his head. “Yeah?”

Uzi hesitated for a second, then exhaled. “Okay, so. This weird thing happened two days ago. Someone left a love letter on my locker.”

Thad immediately made a dramatic face, his mouth forming an exaggerated O. “Oooh. Secret admirer?”

She groaned. “That’s what I thought, but it’s just so corny, man. Like, I don’t even know who left it- It was a really cheesy confession. And then yesterday, I found another one.”

Thad leaned in, looking genuinely intrigued. “Wait, another? What’d it say?”

Uzi rolled her eyes. “Same kinda thing. This time it was a dumb poem.”

Thad hummed, then smirked. “Okay, but what if this is, like, some big romantic mystery?”

“I really don’t care enough to find out.”

He snorted. “Fair. Did you tell anyone about it?”

“Well, the thing is, it wasn’t even for me. It was for some girl named V. I was gonna tell her, and I did. Or at least i tried…” Uzi groaned, flopping back on her bed.

“And so the mystery unravels…” Thad stated ominously,

“She was standing right there—but she just didn’t care. Like, she full-on ignored me.”

Thad laughed. “Yeah, that sounds like her.”

Uzi narrowed her eyes at the screen. “Wait—you know her?”

“Kinda.” Thad shrugged. “Rebecca and N are friends with her.”

That made Uzi pause. She frowned slightly, considering this. “N? Friends with V?”

“Yeah.”

“…How?”

Thad chuckled. “Right? That dude’s, like, the definition of nice.”

“Exactly! He’s too polite and, like… caring to be hanging around someone like her.”

Thad laughed. “You’re not wrong.”

Uzi shook her head, still trying to wrap her head around it. The idea of N willingly being friends with V was just bizarre. She knew, obviously, drones could have different kinds of friends, but that? That was a weird mix.

And now, she kinda wanted to know more about it.

Thad leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “Yeah, so, N and V? They’re actually childhood best friends.”

Uzi blinked. “No way.”

“Way.”

“That doesn’t make sense.”

Thad chuckled. “I know, right? But apparently, they’ve been close since they were kids. And like, yeah, V’s a jerk most of the time, but I think she does actually care about him.”

Uzi scoffed. “Doubt it.”

Thad shrugged. “I get why you’d think that, but—okay, so there’s also this girl, J.”

Uzi tilted her head. “J?”

“Yeah, she’s… uh, kind of the worst.” Thad scratched the back of his neck. “She’s a huge influence on V. Like, whenever they’re together, J just eggs her on and basically encourages her to mess with N. And she does.”

Uzi frowned. “What do you mean ‘mess with’?”

“Like, making fun of him, teasing him, basically treating him like a joke.” Thad sighed. “And the crazy part? N just kinda takes it. He never gets mad, never tells them to stop. It’s like he just cares about V too much to be upset by it.”

Uzi was silent for a moment, processing this. The more she thought about it, the more it made sense. N seemed like the type to be way too forgiving. She had already noticed how naturally kind he was—almost too kind.

But the fact that he let himself be treated like that? Just because he cared about V?

That pissed her off.

“That’s not fair,” she muttered.

Thad hummed. “Yeah.”

“He just lets them walk all over him?”

“Pretty much.”

Uzi clenched her jaw. That was stupid. N deserved better than that. She wasn’t exactly an expert on friendship, but even she knew that wasn’t what friends were supposed to do.

She shook her head. “That’s messed up.”

Thad sighed. “Yeah, well, it’s been like that for a while.”

Uzi made a mental note to keep an eye on this whole situation. N might not care about how he was treated, but she did.

They talked for a little while longer, but when Uzi checked the time, she realized it was getting late. Too late.

“Crap,” she muttered, sitting up. “We should probably go to bed. School’s tomorrow.”

Thad groaned dramatically. “Ugh, don’t remind me.”

“Trust me, I don’t want to.”

He chuckled but didn’t argue. “Alright, fine. Guess I should at least try to be a functional drone tomorrow.”

“Good luck with that.”

“Gee, thanks.”

They both laughed before settling into a comfortable silence.

Then, right as Uzi was about to hang up, Thad spoke again—his voice quieter this time. “Hey, uh… I just wanna say I’m really glad we’re talking again.”

Uzi paused, caught off guard by the sincerity in his voice. She felt a small smile tug at her lips.

“Yeah,” she said, just as sincerely. “Me too.”

There was a brief silence, not awkward but… something.

Then, almost at the same time, they both said, “Alright. Bye.”

Uzi hung up, staring at her screen for a second before setting her phone down and exhaling.

Today had been weird. But for once, good weird.

Chapter Text

Uzi lay sprawled out on her bed, phone held above her face as she lazily scrolled through social media. The sound of a cat meowing played from her screen, followed by a quiet chuckle from her. Cat videos never got old. She was just about to scroll to the next one when her phone vibrated in her hand, a notification popping up at the top of her screen. A text message.

From N.

She blinked, momentarily surprised. N had never texted her before—granted, they’d only exchanged numbers a few days ago. Amused, she swiped up on the notification to open the message.

N: [1:33 PM] Hey, Uzi. A few of us are going to the bowling alley and arcade later. I wanted to see if you’d like to come along. I don’t want to leave you out.

She raised an eyebrow, rereading the message. Something about N’s way of texting made her smile. Full sentences, proper grammar, not a single abbreviation or unnecessary emoji in sight. It was so… him. Polite, considerate, and just a little awkward. She found it funny but in a way that made her feel oddly fond of him.

Her eyes briefly flickered to the unfinished homework sitting on her desk. She *could* use this weekend to catch up and be productive… or she could ignore her responsibilities and go have fun instead. It wasn’t a difficult decision.

She smirked slightly and typed a response.

Uzi: [4:34 PM] sure

A second later, she sent another message.

Uzi: [4:34 PM] what time

The reply came almost instantly.

N: [4:34 PM] We’re meeting at 6.

Uzi: [4:35 PM] sounds good

Satisfied, she put her phone down on her nightstand and exhaled, staring at the ceiling.

This felt… nice. Being included. She wasn’t used to drones reaching out to her like this, inviting her to things without her having to awkwardly hover and hope for an invitation. It made her feel warm inside—something she wasn’t used to feeling, but she wasn’t complaining.

She pushed herself off her bed, stretching. If she was going to be out later, she might as well start getting ready now. Maybe pick out something decent to wear, something comfortable for bowling.

With that thought in mind, she headed toward her closet.

-

Uzi sat slouched in her seat near the back of the public bus, headphones in, the low hum of the vehicle mixing with the distant chatter of other passengers. The city lights blurred past the window beside her, and she absentmindedly traced patterns on the fogged-up glass with her fingertip.

She was used to taking the bus everywhere. Not having a car wasn’t exactly fun, and her dad—well, he was always too busy with work to drive her around. Not that she blamed him entirely, but it did get annoying. At least tonight, she had somewhere to go.

As the bus slowed to a stop, she pulled her earphones out and shoved her phone into her pocket, standing up just as the doors hissed open. She stepped off and onto the sidewalk, the cool evening air brushing against her face. Looking ahead, she spotted the bowling alley in the distance—its giant neon sign glowing obnoxiously against the night sky. The name of the place was plastered across the front in bold, colorful letters, and next to it, comically oversized bowling pins stood tall, as if demanding attention from everyone passing by.

Uzi let out a small breath, shifting her hands into her hoodie pocket as she started walking toward the entrance.

She wasn’t used to this. Being excited to hang out with people. It had been so long since she’d had an actual group to be part of. The constant moving had made it difficult to keep any lasting friendships, and eventually, she just stopped trying. It was easier that way—no disappointments, no forced goodbyes.

But now… she was trying again.

And, so far, it didn’t seem like a mistake.

She thought about how her last “friend group” had always conveniently forgotten to invite her places. They’d make inside jokes without her, have conversations that made it obvious she wasn’t really part of them. It had sucked. Made her feel like there was something wrong with her.

But these people? N, Thad, Rebecca, Darren, Emily? They weren’t like that. At least, not yet. And Uzi really hoped it stayed that way.

She reached the entrance, and the automatic doors slid open with a quiet whoosh.

Stepping inside, the first thing that hit her was the noise.

Laughter, conversation, the thunk of bowling balls hitting pins, the electronic beeps and jingles from arcade machines. The air smelled like artificial butter and fried food, mixing with the faint scent of disinfectant. To her left, the main bowling lanes stretched out, each one glowing under dim neon lights. Groups of drones were gathered around tables, some waiting their turn, others too busy eating to care about the game. To her right, the arcade was packed with people—kids and teenagers hunched over machines, aggressively pressing buttons in hopes of winning tickets.

The place was alive.

Uzi took it all in for a moment before heading toward the front desk. She stepped up, paid for her rental shoes, and accepted the pair the bored-looking employee handed her.

Now, all she had to do was find the others.

Uzi weaved her way through the crowded bowling alley, holding her rental shoes against her side as she scanned the area. The ambient hum of conversation mixed with the steady crashes of bowling balls striking pins. The neon glow of the place bathed everything in electric hues of pink, blue, and green, all amplified under the ever-present black light. The whole scene had an undeniable 80s aesthetic—bold geometric patterns on the floor, arcade machines with pixelated graphics flashing in the distance, and retro music humming softly from overhead speakers. It was a little overwhelming but in a way that made Uzi actually like it. It felt fun, energetic—like the kind of place where you wanted to hang out.   

Finally, she spotted them.

Thad was the first to notice her, immediately waving her over. Uzi grinned and waved back, picking up her pace as she approached. The group was gathered around a round booth, the kind that curved in a semi-circle with a round table in the middle. A small gap in the seating led out to the bowling lanes, where Emily had just finished her turn.

Uzi watched as Emily turned around after knocking down the last few pins, clapping her hands together in victory. She spun on her heel and held up a hand, which Rebecca smacked in an enthusiastic high five. The scoreboard above flickered, updating the scores. Uzi glanced up at it, briefly scanning the names, though she didn’t focus on them too much.

When she finally reached the group, she was met with a chorus of greetings.

“Uzi!” N’s voice was bright and cheerful, his usual enthusiasm shining through. “I’m so glad you made it!”

Uzi felt a peculiar, warm flicker in her chest at that. It was… nice, knowing he actually *cared* whether she showed up or not. But she didn’t want to seem too pleased, so she shrugged, trying to play it cool. “Yeah, well, figured I’d give you guys the honor of my presence,” she joked, though the small smile that briefly flickered across her face gave away her actual emotions.

Before N could respond, Thad grinned. “Dude, same! Was kinda worried you wouldn’t show.”

Uzi huffed out a quiet laugh. “What, and miss watching you all embarrass yourselves? No way.”

Thad laughed defiantly,”Oh, don’t worry, you get to embarrass yourself too.”

Uzi rolled her eyes but smirked. “Bite me.”

She set her shoes down by the booth, her gaze briefly flicking back to the scene around her. The neon glow, the energetic atmosphere, the sound of drones having fun—it had been a while since she’d been somewhere like this with friends. And though she wouldn’t admit it out loud, she was actually pretty glad she came.

Uzi crossed her arms and leaned slightly against the booth, glancing up at the scoreboard. “So, how many rounds have you guys played without me?” she asked.

“Only two,” N responded easily.

Her eyes flicked over the screen, scanning the names and scores. When she found her own, she did a slight double take—there was already a score under her name. A spare and then a four. She raised an eyebrow. “Wait, who the hell bowled for me?”

Thad smirked, lifting a hand as if to take credit for a great achievement. “That’d be me. My turn’s right before yours, so I figured I’d just do it for you so you wouldn’t be behind.”

Uzi turned to him, deadpan. “And four was the best you could do?”

Thad scoffed. “Hey, at least I got you a spare first! You’re welcome, by the way.”

She let out a quiet laugh before her gaze drifted back to the scoreboard. As she looked at the others’ scores, she took note of something. Her brow furrowed slightly in thought. “Huh… N, you have a strike and a spare?”

N rubbed the back of his head with an awkward chuckle. “Uh, yeah.”

“That’s actually kind of impressive,” Uzi admitted, crossing her arms again. “Didn’t take you as the secretly-skilled-at-bowling type.”

N grinned. “I don’t know if I’d say skilled, but I guess I’m decent at it?” He shrugged.

Thad scoffed. “He’s totally being modest. He’s, like, way too good at this for some reason.”

Before Uzi could respond, Thad glanced up at the screen and made a face. “Oh, it’s my turn.” He stood up and stretched dramatically, rolling his shoulders as he walked toward the lane.

Uzi smirked. “I’m praying on your downfall.”

Thad shot her a glare over his shoulder. “Wow, thanks for the support.”

She shrugged. “Anytime.”

Thad picked up his ball, giving it a little test swing before stepping up to the lane. He took a breath, focused, and—

The ball rolled directly into the gutter.

Thad froze, standing there for a second as if he couldn’t believe what just happened.

Uzi grinned. “Nice one.”

Scowling, Thad grabbed another ball and threw it again. This time, he managed to knock down a single pin before the ball veered off into the gutter again.

He groaned in frustration, face palming before stomping back toward the booth. “Okay, no, that was your fault,” he said, pointing an accusatory finger at Uzi. “You jinxed me.”

Uzi smirked. “Or maybe you just suck.”

Thad gasped dramatically. “The betrayal!”

They went back and forth for a few moments, exchanging playful banter until Uzi glanced up and saw the screen flash with her name. Her smirk widened. “Oh, finally. Time to show you all how it’s done.”

She stood up, stretching her arms as she made her way to the bowling balls. As she picked one up, she examined it with feigned confidence, trying to act like she knew exactly what she was doing.

But the moment she actually held the ball, reality hit her like a truck.

She had no idea how to bowl.

Her fingers fumbled against the holes, and she suddenly realized she couldn’t even remember the last time she had been to a bowling alley. If she had to guess, she was probably too young to even remember it. And since she never really had constant friends, she never had many opportunities to go out. Which meant she never really got out of the house.

Which meant… she had never actually bowled before.

Great.

Still, it seemed simple enough. Just roll the ball down the lane, right?

Uzi tentatively placed her fingers into the holes—unknowingly using the wrong ones—and stepped up to the lane. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a few drones in the neighboring lane throwing their balls, so she quickly decided to copy what they were doing.

She took a breath, swung her arm back, and—

She launched the ball.

It didn’t roll. It didn’t glide smoothly down the lane. It flew.

The heavy bowling ball soared through the air for an agonizing second before landing with a loud THUD straight into the gutter.

Uzi froze. Her face instantly burned with embarrassment. Oh my robo-god. What the hell was that?

Slowly, she turned back to the group, expecting looks of disappointment or second-hand embarrassment.

Instead, Thad looked like he had just witnessed the funniest thing in his entire life. His laughter erupted, full-bodied and absolutely relentless, as he clutched his sides like he was in actual pain from how hard he was laughing.

Darren and Rebecca were clearly trying not to laugh as well, their faces scrunched in barely-contained amusement.

Emily, bless her, at least tried to look sympathetic, but even she had to press her lips together to keep from smiling too much.

N, on the other hand, simply looked confused. His head tilted slightly, brows furrowed, but there was also a trace of sympathy in his expression—like he was trying to figure out whether to reassure her or just let her process what just happened.

Uzi swallowed thickly, her mortification growing by the second. She had never wanted to disappear more in her life.

Thad, still laughing so hard he was practically wheezing, leaned forward against the table for support. “Oh my gosh, Uzi—what was that? Were you trying to throw it into orbit?”

Uzi groaned, dragging a hand down her face. “Shut up, dude.”

“I mean, seriously, I’ve seen some bad throws, but that was, like, next-level bad,” Thad continued, grinning at her. “You could’ve taken someone out with that thing.”

Uzi huffed, crossing her arms. She knew he wasn’t trying to be mean—this was just how Thad was—but that didn’t make her feel any less embarrassed. The worst part was that she had no idea what to do next.

Okay, think. What’s the play here?

She could laugh it off, pretend she did it on purpose, own the ridiculousness of it. But would that just make it worse? Would it seem like she was trying too hard?

Or maybe she should just act like nothing happened. Just go pick up another ball, roll it like a normal drone, and move on. But what if she messed up again? What if she did something even stupider?

Why didn’t I just say no to coming here?

Before she could spiral any further, she noticed movement from the corner of her eye.

N had stood up from his seat and was now walking over to her.

Uzi felt immediate relief. The attention wasn’t entirely on her anymore, and she didn’t have to figure out a way to play this off on her own. Thank you, N.

When he reached her, he stopped just beside her, hands tucked into the pockets of his jeans. He tilted his head slightly, offering her a small, reassuring smile. “Need some help?”

Uzi let out a dramatic sigh, putting a hand on her hip. “Yes, please.”

N chuckled. “Alright. When’s the last time you actually went bowling?”

Uzi hesitated. “Uhhh…” She frowned, trying to think.

N picked up on her hesitation almost immediately. His eyebrows raised slightly. “Wait… do you even know how to bowl?”

Uzi sighed again, this time more defeatedly, and looked away. “Not… exactly.”

N blinked, then nodded, like that suddenly made everything make sense.

Uzi turned back to him. “Since you seem, like, weirdly good at this, do you think you could teach me? Preferably fast, so I don’t have to stand here feeling like an idiot for too long?”

N smiled, giving a small nod. “Yeah, of course. It’s not too hard once you get the hang of it.”

She exhaled, relieved. “Good. Because I really don’t want to make a fool of myself again.”

N nodded. “Alright, first, grab another ball.”

Uzi walked over to the ball return, scanning the selection before picking up one that seemed to be the right size. She adjusted her grip, sliding her fingers into the holes, ready to prove she could at least hold the thing correctly.

But then she heard N inhale sharply through his teeth. “Uh, not like that.”

She looked at him, then down at her hand. “…What’s wrong with it?”

N pointed. “Your fingers are in the wrong holes. That grip’s gonna mess up your throw.”

Uzi frowned and readjusted, slipping her fingers into a different set of holes. She looked back at N for confirmation.

He didn’t say anything right away. Instead, his lips pressed together, and his brows knit slightly.

“…Still wrong?” she guessed.

“Yeah,” he admitted, looking almost guilty for correcting her again.

Uzi huffed. “Okay, well, how am I supposed to—”

Before she could finish, N reached out and gently took her hand.

Uzi froze.

His fingers were careful, guiding hers into the correct placement with ease, adjusting her grip so naturally it was like he’d done this a thousand times before.

She knew he wasn’t trying to be weird or anything. He was just trying to help. But still, the sudden contact caught her completely off guard.

It had been forever since anyone had touched her like this—so casually, like it was normal. Because for most drones, it was normal.

For her, though, it wasn’t.

Physical touch wasn’t something she was used to. And, to be blunt, she just… never received it.

It wasn’t bad, not in the slightest. Just foreign.

Still, she didn’t want to seem like a weirdo by reacting to something as simple as this, so she forced herself to act natural, schooling her expression as he finished adjusting her grip.

Once he was done, she cleared her throat and straightened up a bit. “Okay, so… what’s next?”

N didn’t seem to notice her momentary awkwardness, thankfully. He stepped back slightly, nodding toward the lane. “Alright, now step up.”

She did so, taking a place at the starting point of the lane.

N stood beside her, giving her space but still staying close enough to instruct. “So, when you throw the ball, you want to swing your arm forward and release it just before it reaches the lowest point of your swing,” he explained, mimicking the motion himself for her to see. “Like this.”

Uzi mimicked him, swinging her arm experimentally. It didn’t feel too complicated.

“Yeah, just like that,” N encouraged. “Now, before you actually throw it, you want to step into it. I usually take three steps before I let go of the ball. That way, it gives the throw some momentum.”

Uzi nodded, absorbing everything he was saying. “So, put all that together, and that’s it?”

“Basically,” N confirmed.

Uzi took a breath, refocusing. “Alright. I got this.”

She adjusted her stance, gripping the ball properly this time. She took a deep breath, exhaling slowly.

Then, with determination, she took three steps forward, swung her arm, and released.

The ball rolled down the lane, heading straight for the center. Uzi watched, heart racing slightly—

Crash!

Seven pins went flying.

For a second, she just stood there, processing the fact that she hadn’t thrown it into the gutter again.

Then, excitement surged through her.

“Oh my gosh!” she exclaimed, spinning around with a triumphant grin. “Did you see that?!”

N smiled. “Nice! That was a solid hit.”

Uzi beamed. “Thank you!”

“Hey, no problem,” N said, looking genuinely happy that she was happy. “Glad I could help.”

Feeling victorious, Uzi marched back to the seating area, her confidence sky-high now.

The second she reached Thad, she crossed her arms and smirked at him. “See that? That was seven whole pins, thank you very much.”

Thad snorted, unimpressed. “Oh wow, seven? What an iconic display of skill.”

“Hey, that’s more than you got last time,” she shot back.

Thad narrowed his eyes, then sighed dramatically. “Touche.”

Uzi smirked. “That’s what I thought.”

-

The rest of the game passed quickly, a blur of neon lights, laughter, and the clatter of bowling pins. Uzi found herself enjoying it more than she expected. At first, she had been hyper-aware of her every move, worried about embarrassing herself again, but as the game progressed, she relaxed into it. It wasn’t about skill— It was about having fun. Even though she wasn’t the best, she still managed a few decent shots, and each time she knocked down more than a couple of pins, she felt a small surge of accomplishment. The energy of the group made it all the more enjoyable, with everyone reacting dramatically to both victories and failures. Emily, in particular, got really into it, hyping people up when they did well and groaning loudly whenever she missed a shot. Meanwhile, N remained consistently good, effortlessly racking up points while the rest of them struggled to keep up.   

Eventually, Darren took the final turn, rolling the last ball of the game. A moment later, the scores flashed on the screen.

As expected, N had completely dominated, his score ridiculously high compared to the rest. Second place went to Emily, who had apparently been holding out on them with her secret bowling skills. Darren came in third, while Rebecca and Thad were somewhere in the middle.

Then Uzi’s eyes landed on the scores again, and she noticed something.

She had beaten Thad.

By one single pin.

A slow, satisfied grin spread across her face. “Well, well, welll,” she said, dragging out the words dramatically as she turned to Thad. “Looks like I beat you.”

Thad, who had been casually slipping off his bowling shoes, looked up. “Huh?”

“I beat you,” Uzi repeated smugly, pointing at the screen. “One. Single. Pin.”

Thad’s eyes snapped to the scoreboard, scanning the numbers. The second he saw it, his expression twisted into one of immediate betrayal.

“…Are you kidding me?”

Uzi cackled. “This is the best day of my life.”

Thad groaned, running a hand down his face. “No. No, this is so dumb. You jinxed me earlier, that’s the only reason you won.”

“Oh, I jinxed you?” Uzi repeated mockingly. “Sounds like excuses to me.”

Thad huffed, standing up. “Fine. You know what? I’m about to destroy you in the arcade.”

Uzi blinked. “Wait, what?”

“I’ll get more tickets than you,” Thad declared. “And when I do, I’m gonna rub it in your face just like you’re doing to me right now.”

Uzi crossed her arms. “Oh, you think you’re gonna win?”

“Oh, I know I’m gonna win,” Thad said, smirking.

She scoffed. “That’s funny, ‘cause you also thought you were gonna win this game, and look how that turned out.”

Thad narrowed his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, laugh it up now. Just wait till I get the high score on, like, every game in there.”

Uzi was about to respond when she processed what he had said, and remembered—the arcade.

She had been so focused on bowling that she had completely forgotten about the fact that this place had an arcade attached to it.

And now that she thought about it, she hadn’t been to an arcade in forever.

A wave of excitement rushed through her. This night just kept getting better.

With a renewed sense of determination, she met Thad’s challenging gaze. “Alright, deal. But just so you know? You’re so losing again.”

Thad let out an exaggerated laugh. “We’ll see about that.”

At this point, the rest of the group was starting to stand up, slipping back into their normal shoes.

“What are you two bickering about now?” Emily asked, raising a brow as she stretched.

“Thad’s claims he’ll try to redeem himself in the arcade,” Uzi answered smugly.

“I am going to redeem myself in the arcade,” Thad corrected.

“Oh, this is gonna be fun,” Darren said, amused.

“We should all keep track of tickets,” Rebecca suggested. “Make it a competition.”

Emily grinned. “I like that idea.”

N, ever the peacemaker, simply smiled. “Either way, it should be fun.”

With that, they all gathered their stuff and made their way toward the arcade entrance. The glow of flashing game screens grew brighter as they approached, the sounds of electronic music and beeping machines filling the air.

As they reached the counter to purchase credits, Uzi smirked to herself, already plotting which games she was going to dominate.

She was not about to let Thad win.

Chapter Text

At the counter, the cashier handed each of them a card, the plastic gleaming under the neon glow of the arcade. Uzi turned hers over in her hands, feeling the smooth surface as she read the name of the place printed in bold letters. It was basically a prepaid credit card, but instead of money, it was loaded with the power to absolutely crush Thad in this challenge.

They all stepped away from the counter, forming a small huddle as they considered their next move.

Thad, naturally, was the first to throw out an idea. “Alright, here’s the plan—we all split up, hit as many games as we can, and rack up as many tickets as possible. Then, when we meet back up, we’ll see who’s got the most.”

Uzi tapped the edge of her card against her palm, considering it. “So we’re basically just running around doing whatever?”

“Pretty much,” Thad confirmed with a shrug.

“I feel like you just don’t want anyone to get in the way of your ticket count,” Emily accused playfully.

Thad smirked. “You caught me.”

Darren nodded. “Honestly, it makes sense. More games, more chances for tickets.”

Rebecca crossed her arms. “I mean, unless some of us wanted to team up…”

They talked it over for a minute, throwing around some different ideas. In the end, though, everyone agreed—splitting up would be the best way to maximize their chances of winning.

Thad, now satisfied, turned back to Uzi with a smirk. “You sure you wanna go through with this? You can always back out if you don’t think you can handle losing.”

Uzi scoffed. “Oh, please. I’ll have so many tickets, they’re gonna have to sweep me out of here at closing time.”

Thad let out a dramatic laugh. “Big words. Let’s see if you can back ‘em up.” Then, before she could come up with a comeback, he bolted in the opposite direction.

“Oh, you coward!” Uzi called after him, cupping her hands around her mouth.

She grinned, shaking her head as she turned back to the group.

“Well,” Emily said, adjusting her bag over her shoulder. “See you all in, what, an hour?”

“Guess so,” N said.

“Alright, later,” Rebecca said, and with that, everyone exchanged quick goodbyes before heading off in different directions.

As Uzi walked forward, she caught sight of Rebecca and Darren leaving together, talking in hushed voices. She raised a brow. “Teaming up, huh?” she muttered to herself.

She didn’t think too hard about it, though. Right now, she had one goal.

Win.

She scanned the arcade floor, taking in the rows of glowing screens, flashing lights, and the chaotic sounds of whirring machines. She grinned, gripping her card tighter.

Time to get to work.

-

Uzi moved from game to game, completely absorbed in the flashing lights and the challenge each one presented. Her reflexes, honed from years of video games, proved to be a huge advantage—she nailed the timing on the basketball hoop game, dominated the reaction-based light-up button challenges, and absolutely obliterated the classic whack-a-mole. Every successful game added tickets to her card, unseen but definitely there, building up her total.

She could already imagine the look on Thad’s face when she crushed him.

Eventually, her card ran out of credits. With a deep breath, she rolled her shoulders, satisfied with her progress. Now, it was time to meet up with everyone and see where she stood.

As she walked through the arcade, something caught her eye—a familiar figure standing in front of a claw machine.

N.

Curious, she changed course, weaving past other players until she was a few feet behind him. He was standing completely still, eyes locked on the glass, one hand hovering over the joystick. The machine whirred as the claw descended, aiming for a stuffed animal wedged between two others.

At the last second, the claw missed entirely, closing around nothing before weakly lifting back up.

Uzi, amused, decided to speak up. “Wow, you’re really out here losing to a rigged machine?”

N barely reacted at first, just exhaling through his nose as he continued staring at the stuffed animals. His usual calm demeanor was there, but there was a tiny bit of frustration in his expression—eyebrows drawn slightly together, lips pressed in a thin line.

“Not losing,” he muttered, glancing at her for a brief second before looking back at the game. “Just... strategizing.”

“Right.” Uzi folded her arms, watching as he adjusted his stance and scanned the machine again. “So, you out of credits yet?”

“Almost,” N admitted. “I wanted to use the last of them here.”

Uzi smirked. “Not giving up, huh?”

“Nope.”

Uzi eyed the machine for a moment, then shrugged. “Can I try?”

N looked at her, then nodded. “Sure. Maybe you’ll have better luck.”

N swiped his card for Uzi as she cracked her knuckles, stepping up to the machine. She placed her hands on the joystick and carefully maneuvered the claw, eyes scanning the pile of stuffed animals.

One, in particular, stood out—a small, plush, purple cat, slightly off to the side but grabbable.

She lined up the claw, took a breath, and pressed the button.

The claw descended, its metal pincers closing around the stuffed animal. It lifted, pulling the plush upwards—Uzi could already feel the victory—

And then, just before it reached the drop box, the plush slipped right out of the claw’s grip.

Uzi’s stomach dropped as she watched the toy fall back into the pile.

“You have to be kidding me,” she groaned, slumping slightly.

N sighed. “Yeah, that keeps happening.”

Frustrated but not willing to let it go just yet, N pulled out his card again and scanned it.

When the scan registered, the small screen displayed "0 CREDITS REMAINING."

This was it—his last chance.

Determined, he placed both hands on the machine, eyes narrowing as he carefully maneuvered the claw. Instead of rushing, he took his time, examining the glass from the side to ensure his aim was just right. A purple cat plushie, the same one Uzi was going for earlier, sat slightly tilted among the others, its soft fabric reflecting the arcade lights. He needed precision.

Uzi watched as N made a few final adjustments, barely blinking. Then, with a sharp breath in, he pressed the button.

The claw whirred as it descended, its three metal pincers opening wide before closing around the plushie’s middle. For a second, it didn’t move.

Then, miraculously, it lifted.

N’s posture tensed as the claw slowly carried the plush toward the prize chute. Uzi’s heartbeat quickened with anticipation—she had seen this exact moment go wrong before. Any second now, the stuffed animal would slip free, tumbling back into the heap of prizes below.

But this time… it didn’t.

The claw reached its destination, hovered briefly, then released.

The purple cat plush landed safely in the collection bin.

For a second, there was silence.

Then N practically exploded with joy.

“Yes! Finally!” He pumped his fist into the air, grinning wide.

Uzi, though still caught off guard, couldn’t help but laugh. “Okay, I did not think you were gonna get that.”

N quickly crouched down, pushing open the small prize flap and pulling the plushie free. He held it up in both hands, inspecting his prize.

Now that Uzi had a proper look at it, the stuffed animal was cuter than she expected. It was a round, soft-bodied purple cat with slightly oversized ears, tiny embroidered whiskers, and an expression that was somewhere between sleepy and smug. It wasn’t the highest quality—she could tell the stitching wasn’t perfect, and the fur looked a little synthetic—but yet still fluffy and had an undeniable charm to it.

Uzi glanced at N, who was still smiling down at it like he’d just won the lottery. Something about the whole moment made her grin, too.

N held onto the plush for a moment longer, his fingers idly brushing over the soft fabric. Then, without hesitation, he turned to Uzi and held it out to her.

“Here,” he said simply. “You take it.”

Uzi blinked. She looked at the plush, then at him, then back at the plush.

“…Huh?”

“You were trying to get this one earlier, right?” N tilted his head. “So, you should keep it.”

Uzi didn’t take it. Instead, she crossed her arms, giving him a skeptical look. “No way. You literally earned that thing. I’m not just gonna take it from you.”

N shook his head, still holding it out. “I don’t really need it,” he said with a light shrug. “Besides, you almost won it before me, so it makes sense you should have it.”

Uzi didn’t know what to say to that.

This didn’t make sense. She hadn’t almost won it—she had failed. He was the one who had used his last credits, the one who spent all that time trying, and now he was just… *giving* it away? Like it was nothing?

Her gut reaction was to refuse again. Because if she took it, she’d owe him something—right? That’s how things usually worked. Drones didn’t just give you things without expecting something in return. That was just… basic logic, to Uzi at least.

And yet, there was no catch here.

N wasn’t waiting for her to offer something back. He wasn’t teasing her, wasn’t holding it over her head, wasn’t asking for a favor. He was just standing there, smiling, offering her the plush like it was the most normal thing in the world.

It made her feel weirdly off balance.

After a moment, she let out a short breath. He was probably just going to keep insisting until she gave in, so there was no point in arguing.

“F…Fine,” she mumbled. Then, as she reached out to take it, she cursed herself for hesitating. Her fingers barely brushed the fabric before she realized, too late, that her voice had stuttered.

She forced herself to clear her throat and straighten up, gripping the plush tighter as she pulled it to her chest. “I mean—uh. Thanks. Or whatever.”

For a second, she thought she saw something in N’s expression—like he’d noticed that small slip-up. But if he did, he didn’t comment on it.

Instead, he just nodded, then stretched his arms behind his head. “We should probably go find the others,” he said. “They’re probably waiting for us.”

“Yeah. Sure,” Uzi said quickly, eager to move on from whatever *that* was.

As she followed N through the arcade, she absentmindedly squeezed the plush in her hands, still trying to process what had just happened.

Chapter Text

Uzi and N were the first to reach the ticket counter, standing near the machine that scanned their cards. The machine had a bright screen, flashing colorful animations as it waited for someone to scan their balance. Not long after, Thad arrived, immediately eyeing Uzi with a smug expression.

“Hope you’re ready to lose,” he quipped, crossing his arms.

Uzi scoffed. “You wish. You’re just trying to act tough before your inevitable loss.”

Before Thad could fire back, Emily strolled up, looking relaxed and content, as if she wasn’t concerned about the results at all. Shortly after, Darren and Rebecca arrived together, hands loosely intertwined. The second they saw the rest of the group, though, they tentatively let go.

Uzi noticed that. She wasn’t about to say anything, but yeah—that was suspicious.

Everyone talked for a moment, joking and making small talk before they had to decide who was scanning first. Uzi smirked, nudging Thad.

“You should go first,” she suggested, faux sweetly. “Get it over with so you can accept your loss early.”

Thad rolled his eyes, flipping his card between his fingers. “Nah, I’m saving the best for last. I don’t want to set the bar *too* high this soon.”

N chuckled and stepped forward. “I’ll go first, then.”

He scanned his card, and after a short beep, his total appeared on the screen. A solid 1,200 tickets.  Not bad—not crazy high, but not the lowest either.

Darren went next, followed by Rebecca. When their numbers flashed onto the screen, it was noticeably lower than N’s.

Thad snorted. “That’s all you guys got? What, were you playing games wrong or something?”

Emily, without missing a beat, rolled her eyes and spoke up, “Maybe if they hadn’t left to have an immoral make-out session, they’d have more tickets.”

Darren and Rebecca exchanged glances, and instead of denying it, they just shrugged like they didn’t really care.

Yeah. They’re definitely dating, Uzi thought. It made sense—they’d been flirting the entire time they were here.

Thad, never one to miss an opportunity, grinned. “Wow. Priorities, huh?”

N just shook his head with a knowing sigh.

Uzi stepped forward next, swiping her card confidently. The number popped up:1,650 tickets. More than N, Darren, and Rebecca.

She silently celebrated, smirking at Thad. This was her win.

Thad raised an eyebrow. “Alright, alright. Not bad. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves here.”

Then Emily went up. She scanned her card, and—

2,200 tickets.

Uzi’s confidence immediately wavered.

Thad, despite looking mildly concerned, crossed his arms and scoffed. “Pfft. That’s nothing. I definitely got more.”

Uzi side-eyed him. “You sound pretty unsure for someone who’s ‘saving the best for last.’”

Darren raised an eyebrow at Emily, looking mildly impressed. “Didn’t take you for the gamer type.”

Emily shrugged, completely unbothered. “I’ve got a lot of free time when I’m not studying or doing homework, so I play video games.”

Uzi hummed internally at that. Yeah… same. Except I play video games regardless of whether I should be studying or not. She frowned slightly at her own thought. I should probably work on that. Eventually.

Meanwhile, Thad strolled up to the machine, practically radiating confidence. “Alright, prepare to witness greatness.” He swiped his card, standing tall as he awaited the results.

The machine beeped. The number appeared on the screen.

1,650 tickets.

Thad froze, his grin slowly fading as he stared at the screen in disbelief. He turned to Uzi, looking personally offended.

Uzi burst out laughing. “No way! You were talking so much crap, just to tie with me? All that confidence for this?”

Thad scowled. “Okay, first of all , neither of us won anyway, so it doesn’t even matter.” His voice held a distinct note of defeat.

Uzi smirked. “Uh-huh. Sounds like an excuse to me.”

Before Thad could come up with a comeback, N cut in. “Well, Emily’s the actual winner here.”

Emily crossed her arms, looking very satisfied with herself. “What can I say? Skill issue.”

Thad rolled his eyes, and Uzi snorted.

Then Emily clapped her hands together. “Alright, since I am the undisputed champion, I declare that we all go spend our tickets. No point in hoarding them.”

No one argued with that. It was time to hit the ticket shop.

-

The prize counter stretched before them, lit by cheap fluorescent lights that only seemed to emphasize just how underwhelming the selection was. Rows of plastic bins were filled with the kind of prizes that screamed bought in bulk from the lowest bidder—tiny plastic figurines, flimsy yo-yos, rubber bouncy balls that looked like they’d roll under a couch and never be seen again. The candy selection wasn’t much better. If the faded wrappers and slightly melted appearance were anything to go by, these had probably been sitting here way past their expiration date.

Uzi glanced past it all, scanning the shelves in mild disappointment. Okay, yeah, these prizes suck. She wasn’t sure what she had expected—maybe something slightly worth all the effort they put into those games? But then again, it wasn’t really about the prizes, was it? It was about the experience. The fun of the challenge. That’s what she told herself, at least.

Around her, the others were already picking out their prizes—Emily grabbed a handful of candy, Darren and Rebecca were going for some ridiculous plastic sunglasses, and Thad, naturally, was stockpiling as many random trinkets as his tickets would allow. Uzi could already tell half this stuff was going to be lost or forgotten within a week.

Just as she was about to settle on something small just for the sake of spending her tickets, something else caught her eye.

A small, green plush dog sat on the shelf, positioned just a little higher than the rest of the cheap stuffed animals. It wasn’t great quality, but compared to the other plush toys, it was practically luxury. It had floppy ears, a round little nose, and soft-looking fur that actually seemed worth touching. A quick glance at the price told her why—this one was 1,500 tickets, three times the cost of the smaller, bulk-quality ones.

She hesitated for a moment, debating if she really wanted to spend her hard-earned tickets on this—until an idea clicked into place.

N.

He had given her the purple cat plushie without hesitation, despite having used the last of his credits to win it. The memory of that moment flashed through her mind, and she instinctively looked down at the cat plush in her arms. She clutched it a little tighter, her fingers pressing into its soft fur. He gave this to me without expecting anything in return. So… wouldn’t it only be fair to do the same for him?

The thought of handing the plush dog to N, watching his reaction, seeing if he’d be surprised—or happy—it made something flutter in her chest.

That was it, then. Decision made.

Uzi stepped forward, nodding to the drone at the counter. “That one,” she said, pointing to the green dog. She swiped her card, the machine beeped, and just like that—1,500 tickets gone.

As she picked it up, she turned it over in her hands, examining it closely. It was lighter than she expected, but soft. The floppy ears dangled slightly as she shifted it, and despite how cheap it probably was, she was oddly pleased with it.

Now, all she had to do was give it to him.

Uzi approached N, clutching the green dog plush tightly in her hands. N, standing near the counter, was shoving the last of his ticket-bought candy into his pocket. When he noticed her approaching, he turned to her with his usual bright-eyed expression.

“What’s up?” he asked casually.

Uzi didn’t answer right away. Instead, she thrust the stuffed animal forward, offering it to him without much explanation.

N blinked, clearly confused. He looked at the plush, then at her, tilting his head slightly. “Uh… what’s this?”

Uzi felt heat creep up her neck, and suddenly, this whole thing felt way more embarrassing than it had in her head. She quickly averted her gaze, mumbling under her breath. “Just—just take it.”

N didn’t move to grab it. His confused expression deepened. “But—why?”

Uzi tightened her grip on the plush for a moment, pressing her lips together. Why am I doing this? She knew the answer—because he had given her the cat. Because it only felt fair. But at the same time, this felt weird. Like she was making a big deal out of something that should’ve been simple. Why does this feel so embarrassing? It’s just a dumb stuffed animal. It’s not like I’m confessing some deep secret. And yet, standing here, waiting for him to just take it, she felt… vulnerable.

She swallowed, forcing herself to speak. “You gave me the cat, so… I figured I’d get you something too,” she muttered, still not looking at him.

N hesitated, staring at her as if trying to figure out if she was serious. “You didn’t have to do that,” he said, sounding genuinely surprised.

Uzi cut him off before he could say anything else, pushing the plush into his hands. “Just take it,” she insisted, her voice coming out sharper than intended.

N barely had time to react before the stuffed dog was shoved into his arms. He looked down at it, then back at her, his expression shifting into something softer.

“…Thanks, Uzi,” he said sincerely.

Uzi’s face burned. She crossed her arms, looking away sharply. “Yeah, whatever,” she replied, trying to sound indifferent. She rubbed her cheek as if that would somehow cool the heat spreading across her face.

Before N could say anything else, a voice interrupted.

“There you two slowpokes done yet?”

Thad stood a few feet away, holding an armful of random prizes and munching on a piece of candy. His tone was casual, but Uzi caught the brief flicker of something on his face when he glanced between her and N—a split-second shift in his expression, like mild disgust or irritation. It was so quick that most wouldn’t have noticed. But Uzi did.

What was that? 

The moment passed as fast as it came, and Thad was back to his usual self, rolling his eyes. “C’mon, you’re taking forever,” he said, popping another piece of candy into his mouth.

Uzi quickly shoved her thoughts aside, assuming he was just annoyed at how long she was dragging this out. She smirked. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Thad, am I interrupting your very important  candy consumption?”

Thad scoffed, then spoke with his mouth full,”Hey, this is premium-grade, arcade-quality sugar, and I intend to enjoy every bit of it.”

Uzi snorted. “Yeah, enjoy that stomachache later.”

As she started walking, N followed behind them, still holding the plush dog. Thad rolled his eyes at her but didn’t argue, leading the way as they all headed out.

As they walked toward the exit, Emily, who was a few steps ahead, suddenly turned around. “Hey, Uzi, are you coming to hang out with us after this?”

Uzi blinked, caught off guard. “Uh… we’re doing something after?”

“Yeah, we’re all going to Rebecca’s place,” Emily said casually.

Uzi pulled out her phone and checked the time—almost 9 p.m. She thought about it for a second. It could be fun, but there was one issue. “I don’t have a ride,” she admitted.

Emily tilted her head. “How’d you even get here if you didn’t have a ride?”

“I took the bus,” Uzi said simply. “I don’t have a car.”

Emily hummed in understanding, but then frowned. “Yeah… that’d be a problem. Rebecca lives in a gated neighborhood.”

Uzi made a mental note of that—she hadn’t known Rebecca was wealthy, but now that she thought about it, it made sense. The designer handbag she always carried, the pristine condition of her expensive-looking clothes, the way she never seemed concerned about money—it all fit together now.

Uzi glanced down at her own outfit. All my clothes are either thrifted or gifts, she thought. Not that I care. I like the way I dress. Fashion trends and fast fashion never really mattered much to her anyway.

She must have zoned out because Emily suddenly called her name. “Uzi?”

Uzi blinked and looked back at her.

Emily gave a small smile. “It sucks that you can’t go, but it was fun hanging out with you today.”

Uzi nodded, stuffing her phone back into her pocket. “Yeah… it was.”

As Emily turned back around, N suddenly spoke up. "Uh, sorry for eavesdropping, but… I could drive you if you want."

Uzi turned to him, surprised. “Wait, really?”

N nodded. “Yeah, I don’t mind. I was going anyway.”

For a moment, she just stared at him. It wasn’t like she was going to refuse—this was the best possible outcome—but still, the offer caught her off guard. She hadn’t even considered the possibility. “That’d be great, actually,” she said, and her excitement bled through her voice before she could stop it.

It had been so long since she’d gone to someone’s house just to hang out. Everything about today had gone so well, better than she ever expected. But that thought made her overthink. Things don’t just go this well. Something has to go wrong, right? It didn’t make sense, but it nagged at the back of her mind. Still, she pushed it aside. Whatever. No point in ruining it with paranoia.

Emily beamed. “That’s perfect, then!”

They chatted for a bit longer as they crossed the parking lot. Eventually, Emily waved as she headed toward Rebecca’s car, and Uzi waved back.

Thad, who had been off in his own world, finally seemed to register the conversation. “Wait—you’re coming?”

“Yeah,” Uzi said. “N’s driving me.”

Thad’s expression barely flickered, but Uzi caught it—just a brief moment of something, like he was thrown off. It was subtle enough that she almost ignored it. Huh. Weird.

He recovered quickly, shrugging. “Well, guess I’ll see you there, then.”

“Guess so.”

Thad muttered something about calling shotgun before jogging off toward Rebecca’s car, Darren trailing behind. Uzi turned toward N, and the two started walking toward his.

Chapter Text

Uzi slid into the passenger seat, adjusting herself as she reached for her seatbelt. A second passed, and she realized N hadn't entered the driver’s side yet.

She turned her head slightly, catching sight of him in the rearview mirror. He had gone to the back instead, carefully setting the green stuffed dog onto the seat. She watched as he hesitated for a second, then gave the plush a small, almost affectionate pat on the head before gently closing the door.

Uzi blinked, caught off guard. Huh. That was… kind of sweet. He didn’t just toss it carelessly like it was nothing—he actually took care placing it there.

She felt a smile creeping onto her face before she even realized it. She quickly wiped it away, straightening up and looking straight ahead. No need to be weird about it. It’s just a stuffed animal. Nothing to overthink.

A moment later, N finally got into the driver’s seat, turning the key in the ignition. As he backed out of the parking space, Uzi spoke up. “Thanks for driving me, by the way. I appreciate it.”

N glanced at her briefly before focusing back on the road. “No problem. I’m happy to help.” His voice was light, casual, as like it was no big deal at all.

As they pulled onto the main road, Uzi leaned back into the seat. “So… what are we even doing at Rebecca’s house?”

N shrugged. “Same thing we always do. Just hanging out.”

“Her place is the go-to spot or something?”

“Pretty much.”

Uzi raised an eyebrow. “Why hers, though?”

“She’s got a big house,” N said simply. “And her parents are rich, so there’s, like, tons of space.”

“Yeah, I kind of figured she had money,” Uzi muttered, thinking back to Rebecca’s expensive-looking handbag and the pristine designer clothes she always wore. Meanwhile, I’m rocking my thrift store special, but whatever. “What do her parents do?”

N hummed in thought. “Not really sure. I think they own a business or something. Whatever it is, it makes a lot.”

Uzi nodded, looking out the window. She hadn’t been paying much attention before, but now she noticed tiny droplets forming against the glass. Within seconds, the light drizzle turned into a steady rain.

She watched as the water blurred the city lights outside, the world beyond the car taking on a softer, more dreamlike quality. “Oh, nice,” she murmured. “I love the rain.”

N glanced at her, seeming mildly surprised. “Really?”

“Yeah,” Uzi said, still looking outside. “It’s nice. The way it sounds, the way everything looks... it’s kinda peaceful.”

N chuckled, resting his arm against the window as he drove. “Huh. I guess I’m the opposite. I like sunny days way more.”

Uzi turned her head toward him. “Why?”

“Sunny weather just makes me happy, I guess,” N said, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Rain feels kinda… sad to me. Like the sky is crying or something.”

Uzi huffed, amused. “That’s dramatic.”

N laughed, his grip on the steering wheel relaxing slightly. “Maybe.”

The car ride was quiet, aside from the sound of rain pattering against the windows and the steady hum of the engine. The occasional streetlight cast fleeting shadows across the dashboard as they passed through the dimly lit streets.

Uzi absentmindedly reached into her pocket, pulling out her phone and wire headphones. She scrolled through her playlist, her thumb hovering over the screen as she decided what to listen to.

But before she could put her headphones in, she hesitated.

She stole a glance at N, who was focused on the road, his expression relaxed. Something about the calmness of the moment made her want to say something—something real.

“…Hey, uh.” She paused, gripping her phone a little tighter. “I just wanted to say that I really appreciate this. All of this.”

N glanced at her, a little curious but listening.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve hung out with anyone,” Uzi admitted. “Like, an actual group of drones. I kinda forgot what that was even like.”

She exhaled, almost laughing at herself. It was strange, being this open, but at the same time… it wasn’t uncomfortable. Maybe because she was starting to trust N, even though they’d only known each other for a short time. It felt weird, sure, but in a way that was almost nice.

N’s expression softened. “I’m really glad you came,” he said sincerely. “I had a lot of fun hanging out with you. And everyone else, of course.” He chuckled.

Uzi smirked slightly, but said nothing, letting him continue.

“I dunno, I just… I would’ve felt bad not inviting you,” N admitted. “Even though we just met the other day, leaving you out didn’t really sit right with me.”

His hands tightened a bit on the steering wheel, and his voice grew quieter. “When I was younger, drones used to exclude me from everything. I never really understood why.”

There was a brief silence between them, filled only by the sound of rain.

N exhaled, shaking his head. “I just don’t want anyone else to feel like that. The idea of someone going through that too, feeling like they’re not wanted, like they don’t belong— it just —…”

Uzi felt something deep in her chest tighten.

She knew exactly how that felt.

“I get it,” she said after a pause, her voice quieter than before. “I’ve been there too.”

N looked at her, as if sensing there was more to it. But Uzi didn’t go into detail, and he didn’t push her to.

It still felt strange to talk about—dredging up old wounds she’d spent so long ignoring—but, for once, it didn’t feel bad.

The rain had started to come down heavier, droplets streaking across the car windows and blurring the glow of the passing streetlights. Uzi rested her head against the cool glass, her headphones in, music filling her ears as she took in the scene outside. The cityscape was alive in the night, despite the late hour—neon signs from gas stations and fast-food restaurants flickered in the distance, their colors bleeding into the wet pavement. Billboards loomed over the road, advertising things she didn't care enough to read. The glow of passing headlights reflected off the raindrops clinging to the window, making the world outside look like a moving painting, shifting and warping with each drop that trailed down the glass.

The rhythmic swish of the windshield wipers grew faster as the rain intensified. Through the glass, Uzi could faintly see N’s reflection, his features slightly distorted. His usual relaxed demeanor was gone—his expression was focused, eyes locked on the road, hands gripping the wheel just a little tighter as he navigated through the rain-slick streets.

Minutes passed, the car rolling steadily forward through the quiet roads. Eventually, the speed limit dropped, and N eased his foot off the gas. The car slowed as they reached a turn, the road curving toward an entrance lined with tall iron gates. The automatic gate mechanism blinked red for a moment before flashing green, and the heavy gates groaned as they parted.

As they pulled in, Uzi’s eyes widened.

Rebecca’s house was big— no, massive was a better word for it. The place looked like a mansion. It stood tall with sleek, modern architecture, all sharp angles and huge windows that reflected the rain-streaked night. The exterior was a mix of dark stone and smooth white paneling, looking more like something from a high-end magazine than an actual home. Large, evenly spaced lights lined the driveway, illuminating the perfectly manicured lawn. A grand staircase led up to a towering front entrance, complete with a polished wooden door that looked more expensive than her entire wardrobe.

Uzi had expected Rebecca to be rich, but this? This was another level. Rich almost felt like an understatement.

N pulled into the driveway, the tires crunching softly against the wet pavement before the car rolled to a stop.

Outside, the rain hadn’t let up—it pounded against the car roof, filling the silence between them. Uzi sighed, realizing they’d have to make a run for it unless they wanted to be soaked by the time they reached the door.

Uzi quickly yanked the headphones out of her ears, wrapping the cords tightly around her phone before stuffing it into her pocket. It was time. N glanced over at her with a half-smile, his eyes gleaming with that familiar relaxed energy.

"You ready?" he asked, his voice light despite the downpour outside.

Uzi pulled the hood of her hoodie up, a small nod accompanying her response. "Ready," she said with a grin.

Without another word, they both sprang out of the car, the cold rush of rain soaking them almost instantly. Uzi’s feet hit the pavement with a soft splash, the wet ground sucking at her sneakers as they sprinted toward the front steps. The rain came down in sheets, drenching them within moments. Uzi could barely see ahead as the water blurred her vision, but she couldn’t help but laugh when she noticed N in front of her, his hands over his head in a futile attempt to shield himself.

She chuckled, her voice almost drowned out by the sound of the rain, “Nice try, N.”

He glanced back at her, shaking his head with a mock glare before laughing lightly.

The two of them continued to run up the slick stairs, each of them slipping slightly on the wet steps, struggling to keep their balance as they made their way to the front door. The rain hit harder now, a steady drumming on their clothes. Uzi almost lost her footing completely at one point, but she caught herself with a quick grab on the railing.

Finally, they reached the door. Uzi let out a sigh of relief as she pushed the doorbell several times in quick succession. The last thing she needed was to be caught out in this rain for longer.

She looked at N, who was drenched from head to toe, his hair sticking to his forehead, his shirt plastered to his frame. She was about to make a joke, to call him out on how ridiculous he looked, but then she noticed the weight of her own drenched clothes. The hoodie clung to her like a second skin, her sleeves heavy with water that dripped steadily onto the porch.

For a moment, she just stared at him, both of them equally soaked, the realization making her stop in her tracks. She couldn’t say anything, though, because she felt just as ridiculous as he did.

Before either of them could comment on their soaked states, the door opened. It was Darren, looking unphased as he greeted them with a friendly smile.

"Looks like you two took your time," he said, amused.

Without waiting for a response, the two of them hurried inside, shaking off the worst of the water as they shut the door behind them. They were finally out of the rain.

Chapter Text

As soon as Uzi stepped inside, she stretched out her arms slightly, grimacing as the cold, damp fabric of her hoodie clung uncomfortably to her skin. Water dripped from the hem of her sleeves, forming a small puddle at her feet. She shifted, trying to shake some of the moisture off, but it was useless—she was completely drenched.

Darren, taking one look at the two of them, gave a quick nod. “Be right back,” he said before darting up the massive staircase.

Now that she wasn’t focused on running through the rain, Uzi had a chance to actually take in her surroundings. The house was… again, massive. Directly in front of her was a grand staircase, polished and elegant, leading up to what she could only assume was the second floor. The walls were a soft cream color, accented with ornate moldings that looked expensive—because, obviously, they were. A large chandelier hung above them, its crystals shimmering under the warm glow of the light. The floors, sleek and marble, reflected the light, making the already massive foyer feel even larger.

Everything about this place screamed luxury, from the subtle gold accents on the furniture to the perfectly arranged decor pieces that looked more like art displays than actual things drones used. It was surreal.

She couldn’t help but compare it to her own home—her cramped but familiar living space, decorated with cheap furniture without much thought. Compared to this, she might as well have been living in some run-down shack. That thought made her feel a little weird, but at the same time, she couldn’t deny how stunning the house was. As over-the-top as it seemed, she had to respect it.

Before she could dwell on it too much, Rebecca came rushing down the stairs, holding a stack of towels in her arms. “Here, take these,” she said, out of breath but moving quickly. She handed one to N, then another to Uzi, before immediately dropping to the floor and frantically wiping up the water they had tracked in.

Uzi took the towel, quickly wrapping it around herself in an attempt to stop any more water from dripping onto the pristine floor. “I don’t think this is gonna help much,” she muttered, pulling at her soaked sleeves.

Rebecca, still scrubbing at the floor, looked up. “I could grab you a change of clothes,” she offered.

Uzi paused. “Oh, uh—”

Rebecca barely gave her time to think before turning to N. “You too. I doubt you want to sit around in wet clothes all night.”

N, already patting his hair down with the towel, gave an appreciative smile. “Yeah, that’d be great. Thanks, Rebecca.”

Uzi pulled the towel tighter around herself, taking a step forward. “Where should I—?”

Rebecca, already anticipating the question, stood up and dusted off her hands. “You guys can change down here in the guest bathroom. No offense, but I don’t want you dripping all over the carpet upstairs.” She gestured toward a hallway near the staircase. “Just wait here, I’ll grab you both something dry.”

And with that, she spun around and hurried back up the stairs, leaving Uzi and N standing there, still drenched, towels in hand.

-

Uzi followed Rebecca up the wide staircase, her bare feet sinking slightly into the plush carpet with each step. The oversized graphic T-shirt she was wearing—featuring the face of a well-known pop singer—hung loosely on her frame, the fabric soft but unfamiliar. Not exactly her style, but a shirt was a shirt. At least the pajama shorts were nice, deep purple and incredibly comfortable. She had to admit, Rebecca had good taste when it came to loungewear.

As she walked, she glanced up at N, who was a few steps ahead of her. He had been given a dark gray zip-up hoodie, the sleeves slightly long on him, and black sweatpants with a subtle brand logo stitched into the side. They looked absurdly comfortable. Uzi quickly looked away before she found herself thinking about that too much.

Rebecca led them to a doorway at the end of the hall, pushing it open to reveal the media room. The space was massive, just like everything else in this house. The walls were painted in warm neutral tones, and the floor was fully carpeted, matching the aesthetic of the rest of the home. A full reclining sofa set was arranged in a semi-circle facing the far wall, where a projector was mounted near the back of the room. A large, blank screen took up most of the wall opposite the seating area, waiting for a movie to be played. The lighting was dim but cozy, casting a soft glow over the room.

The place was already occupied—Thad was sprawled lazily across one of the reclining chairs, one arm hanging over the side as he lazily popped pieces of popcorn into his mouth. On the floor, Emily and Darren sat cross-legged, engaged in what looked like a card game, their conversation filling the quiet space.

As soon as Uzi and N entered, the others took notice.

“Oh, finally,” Thad drawled, sitting up slightly with an exaggerated sigh. “I thought you drowned in the bathroom or something. Took you forever.”

Uzi rolled her eyes, unfazed. “Wow. Hilarious,” she deadpanned, walking past him.

Thad just laughed, shaking his head as he went back to his popcorn.

Rebecca led them further into the room. N plopped down onto the couch, looking relaxed as he leaned back into the cushions. Meanwhile, Uzi stuck close to Rebecca, deciding to sit with her instead.

Uzi turned to Rebecca, shifting her weight slightly as she asked, "So, what exactly are we going to do?" She hesitated for a second before adding, "It’s been a while since I’ve hung out with a group like this."

Rebecca grinned. "We’re thinking of watching a movie and maybe playing a board game or two. Nothing crazy, just chilling."

Uzi nodded, satisfied with the answer. "Sounds good."

As the conversation continued around her, she pulled out her phone, noticing the time—almost 10. A slight pang of guilt hit her. She’d completely forgotten to text her dad. Quickly, she typed out a message, letting him know she’d be home late and was at a friend’s house. She didn’t want him worrying about where she was. With that done, she put her phone back in her pocket and relaxed, feeling a bit more at ease.

Looking over at Emily and Darren, who were still engaged in their card game, she leaned in slightly. "Mind if I join?" she asked. They nodded, welcoming her in, and she grabbed a spot on the floor with them.

-

The night carried on with lighthearted fun. The group played a few rounds of different games, ranging from cards to a board game that got way too competitive way too fast. Laughter filled the room as Thad accused Darren of cheating, while Rebecca playfully told him to stop being a sore loser.

After a while, the group started debating over what movie to watch. Suggestions flew around, but the conversation ultimately leaned toward horror. N and Emily were the only ones hesitant, clearly not fans of the genre, but the majority vote won out.

Once the decision was made, everyone settled into their spots. The lights went off, and the movie began. The only sources of light were the glow from the projector and the occasional flashes of lightning outside. The sound of rain pelting the roof above only added to the eerie atmosphere.

Uzi couldn’t help but love it. Horror movies were her favorite, and something about the storm outside made it even better. It felt… cinematic, in a way. Everything about tonight had been going so well, and for once, she wasn’t overthinking it. She leaned back, fully immersing herself in the moment, the faintest smile tugging at her lips.

A deafening clap of thunder suddenly roared through the sky, shaking the walls ever so slightly. Almost immediately, the entire house was plunged into darkness. The projector flickered off, leaving the group in complete blackness.

Thad let out an overly dramatic gasp. "Oh my gosh! We're gonna die!"

Uzi, unimpressed, rolled her eyes even though no one could see it. "Shut up, Thad," she said flatly.

Before anyone could say anything else, a small beam of light cut through the darkness—Darren had turned on the flashlight on his phone. Taking his cue, the rest of them did the same, the room slowly becoming illuminated by several dim, bluish-white beams. The shifting lights cast long, eerie shadows across the walls and furniture.

Emily, squinting in the sudden brightness, turned to Rebecca. "Is there anything we can do to turn the power back on?"

Rebecca sighed, pulling out her own phone. "No clue," she admitted. "My parents aren’t even home—they’re on some work trip. And…" She frowned at her screen, tapping at it a few times before groaning. "Great. WiFi’s out, too. So I can’t even message them to ask."

Thad groaned dramatically. "How long is this gonna last?"

Rebecca shot him an unimpressed look, exasperation clear in her tone. "I don’t know, Thad. Do I look like I control the weather?"

Thad grumbled something under his breath but didn’t push further.

A brief silence fell over the group, the only sounds being the rain drumming against the house and the occasional distant rumble of thunder. N glanced over at Rebecca. "So… what now?"

Rebecca hesitated, glancing around at the group. Then, with a small shrug, she said, "I mean… we could play a game?"

Uzi raised a brow. "A game? What kind of game?"

Rebecca smirked slightly, tilting her head. "I dunno yet. But we might as well do something while we wait for the power to come back."

Darren leaned forward, the glow of his phone flashlight casting shadows across his face. "Alright, how about we play Paranoia?"

Emily furrowed her brow. "What’s that?"

Darren grinned. "I played it at a party once. It’s pretty fun—basically, we all sit in a circle. The person who goes first whispers a question to the person on their right. It’s usually something like, ‘Who here would be most likely to blank?’ or ‘Who would you blank with?’—you get the idea." He waved his hand vaguely. "The person who gets asked has to say a name out loud, answering the question, but no one else knows what the question actually was except for the two people involved."

Thad blinked. "Wait, so the rest of us are just sitting here confused while people randomly call each other out?"

"Pretty much," Darren confirmed. "But then we flip a coin—or, like, a flip-flop or whatever if we don’t have one. If it lands face up, whoever who asked the question has to say it out loud. If it lands face down, the question stays a mystery forever."

Emily raised an eyebrow. "That sounds so sketchy."

"Yeah, but that’s what makes it fun," Darren countered with a smirk. "At the party I went to, we played it with a truth-or-dare twist. Some drones added dares instead of just questions, like ‘Go do blank to whoever’ or ‘Tell whoever a secret.’ Kept things interesting."

Uzi crossed her arms. "Sounds like a good way to start fights."

"Only if you’re a sore loser," Darren shot back. "Besides, the point isn’t to mess with others—it’s just fun seeing everyone get paranoid about what was asked."

N tilted his head. "So... we just guess what the question could have been?"

"Exactly," Darren said. "And if you’re really desperate to know, you can bribe other drones for answers. Not that it’ll work."

Uzi considered it for a moment, then shrugged. "Alright, I’m in."

Rebecca smirked. "Me too. This could be interesting."

One by one, everyone else agreed. Darren clapped his hands together. "Sweet. Now, who’s got something we can flip?"

Chapter Text

Thad immediately lifted his foot, slipping off his Croc and holding it up. "We don’t have a flip-flop, but this is close enough, right?"

Darren burst out laughing. "Dude, are we really about to use your Croc as fate’s ultimate decision-maker?"

Thad grinned. "Yeah. Unless you have a better idea."

Darren shrugged. "Nope, Croc it is."

With that settled, everyone shifted to sit in a loose circle on the floor. The thunder outside cracked loudly, making it feel as if the ground was rumbling. Emily flinched but quickly composed herself. "Okay, so who’s going first?"

Thad stretched out his legs and smirked. "You should, since you were the first one to ask."

Emily shot him a flat look. "That’s the dumbest reason I’ve ever heard."

Thad shrugged. "It makes sense.”

Emily let out an exasperated sigh. "Fine, whatever." She turned to her right, where Darren sat, and leaned in, cupping a hand around her mouth to whisper something. Darren listened, then smirked slightly before sitting back up.

Without hesitation, he looked across the circle and said, "Thad."

Thad’s eyes widened in shock. "Me? What? Why?!" He placed a hand on his chest as if Darren had just insulted his entire existence.

Darren burst out laughing. "Relax, dude, the question wasn’t even bad!"

Thad narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "That’s exactly what someone would say if the question was bad." He reached over and grabbed his Croc, holding it like it was some sacred artifact. "Only one way to find out."

Everyone watched as he tossed it into the air. It spun awkwardly before landing on the floor with the sole facing down.

There was a brief silence before Thad groaned dramatically, grabbing his head. "NOOO, COME ON. I NEED TO KNOW."

Darren smirked, leaning back on his hands. "Tough luck, dude. Guess you’ll never know."

Thad clasped his hands together in mock desperation. "Please. I’ll do anything."

Darren tapped his chin, pretending to consider. "Hmm... Nope."

Thad groaned again, flopping backward onto the carpet. "This game is so unfair."

Rebecca rolled her eyes. "That’s literally the point."

Still grumbling, Thad sat back up. Now it was Darren’s turn. He turned to his right, where Thad sat next to him, and leaned in to whisper his question.

Thad furrowed his brow, deep in thought, his fingers drumming against his knee as he considered his options. After a moment, he nodded to himself, decision made.

“Uzi,” he said.

Uzi’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Should I be concerned?” she asked, tilting her head with an amused yet wary look.

Thad just smirked, leaning back on his hands. “I dunno, should you?”

Uzi crossed her arms, giving him a mock glare. “You better hope I don’t find out what the question was.”

Thad rolled his eyes. “Well, good luck with that, ‘cause you probably won’t.”

Uzi smirked. “Not if I can help it.” Without hesitation, she snatched the Croc from the middle of the circle and flipped it. It tumbled awkwardly before landing face up—though slightly tilted to the side.

Thad’s eyes widened. “Cheater! That was totally rigged.”

Uzi scoffed. “Oh, please.” She gestured to the Croc with both hands. “It’s clearly face up. You just don’t want me to know.”

Thad crossed his arms, still unconvinced. “It’s, like, kind of face up. It’s leaning.”

“Sounds like a ‘you’ problem.” Uzi grinned. “And guess what? That means I do get to know.” She gestured at Darren. “Alright, let’s hear it.”

Darren, barely holding back a laugh, finally revealed the question. “I asked, ‘Who in this group would be most likely to get into a fight with a wild animal and win?’”

Uzi blinked. Then slowly turned her gaze toward Thad. “That was it?” she deadpanned.

Thad burst out laughing. “I knew you’d react like that.”

Uzi rolled her eyes. “Dude, you made it sound like some deep dark secret.”

“I mean,” Thad shrugged, “it is a pretty high honor. I just figured if anyone could take on a bear or something and walk away, it’d be you.”

Uzi smirked. “Damn right it would be.”

Rebecca sighed, shaking her head. “Can we all agree that no one here is fighting a bear?”

Emily raised a brow. “I mean… I could see Uzi taking on, like, a rabid raccoon or something.”

Uzi shrugged. “Sounds about right.”

They laughed for a moment before settling down. The game continued, the next turn about to begin.

Thad leaned toward Uzi, cupping his hand around his mouth to whisper.

“I dare you to stand outside in the rain for fifteen seconds,” he said, voice smug. “And you have to bring someone with you. Oh, and it can’t be me.”

Uzi recoiled slightly, narrowing her eyes. “Are you serious?” she muttered.

Thad grinned. “Yep.”

“No way.” She shook her head, crossing her arms. “Not happening.”

Thad sat back up, holding his hands up. “Hey, hey. Rules are rules. If the Croc says so, you have to.”

Uzi exhaled sharply, glaring at the Croc sitting in the center of the circle like it had personally wronged her. She hated how smug Thad sounded. Why did she have to bring someone else? If she was going to be miserable, she preferred to suffer alone.

Still, she had to pick someone. She glanced around the group, quickly eliminating options in her head. It would make her feel bad if she picked Emily. Rebecca? No way. She was literally hosting them at her house. And N—well, actually, she didn’t even want to consider that.

Her gaze landed on Darren. He met her eyes, instantly looking suspicious.

“…Darren,” she said reluctantly.

He narrowed his eyes. “Why do I feel like I should be concerned?”

“Don’t worry about it,” she muttered, feeling a little guilty for dragging him into this hypothetical misery. Not that it mattered, since she was determined for this question to remain hypothetical.

Thad smirked and grabbed the Croc, flipping it with little fanfare. It tumbled through the air and landed face down.

Uzi blinked. Then grinned.

“Yes!” she whispered, pumping her fist slightly in victory.

Thad groaned dramatically. “Lame! That would’ve been hilarious.”

Uzi shoved his shoulder playfully. “Oh, I’m so sorry for not waiting to do that.”

Thad shook his head. “You know it would’ve been funny.”

“Yeah, for you,” Uzi retorted.

Darren, still looking skeptical, leaned in slightly. “So… are you gonna tell me what the question was?”

Uzi smirked. “Nope.”

Darren exhaled through his nose, clearly debating whether to push for an answer. Eventually, he just sat back and crossed his arms, muttering something about how this game was stupid anyway.

Uzi chuckled before turning toward Rebecca, who sat beside her. It was her turn to ask a question. She leaned in, thinking for a moment before whispering her choice.

Uzi leaned slightly toward Rebecca, thinking for a moment before whispering, "Who is the biggest flirt in the group?"

Rebecca barely took a second to consider before answering, loud and clear, “Darren.”

Darren blinked, then scoffed. “Okay, seriously, what did I do?”

Rebecca laughed, giving him an exaggeratedly apologetic look. “Nothing! You’re just… a little obvious sometimes.”

“I am not!” Darren protested, looking around for support. No one jumped to his defense. “Wow. Okay. I see how it is.”

Rebecca, still grinning, picked up the Croc and flipped it effortlessly. It landed face down.

“Well, guess I don’t have to say it,” she said with a teasing shrug.

Darren narrowed his eyes. “What does that mean?”

Rebecca smiled innocently. “Nothing~”

“Uh-huh. Sure.”

Rebecca giggles to herself “I’ll tell you later if you really wanna know.”

Darren exhaled, scoffing before he eventually just muttered, “Fine. Thanks, I guess.”

Thad, who had been watching with a grin, finally spoke up. “I dunno, man. That was way too nice. You should be worried.”

Darren rolled his eyes. “Oh, be quiet.”

Rebecca giggled before turning her attention to the next drone in line. N.

She smirked. “Alright, N. Your turn.”

N visibly tensed as Rebecca leaned in to whisper the question. His expression shifted from anticipation to pure embarrassment within seconds, his face lighting up in a deep, unmistakable red.

Uzi immediately took note of this, her curiosity spiking. What did she even ask him?

Rebecca, watching his reaction, smirked. “Come on, N. You gotta answer.”

N hesitated, looking like he wanted nothing more than to disappear into the floor. He nervously scratched the back of his head, his gaze darting around the room before finally muttering, barely above a whisper, “…Uzi.”

Rebecca raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. “Oh? Interesting.”

Uzi’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Okay, what was that?” she asked, turning to N.

N instantly looked away, waving his hands frantically. “It’s nothing! Don’t worry about it!” His voice cracked slightly, making it all the more unconvincing.

Uzi crossed her arms. “Yeah, sure. Super convincing. Totally not making me want to know more.”

Rebecca, still grinning, picked up the Croc and tossed it in the air. Everyone watched as it landed—face down.

“Aww, bummer,” Rebecca sighed dramatically. “I was really looking forward to that one.”

N let out a breath of relief, shoulders sagging. “Oh, thank goodness.”

Uzi, however, was left staring at the Croc, completely unsatisfied. She glanced back at N, still looking flustered, and her mind raced. What the hell did she ask him? And why did he look so embarrassed when he said my name?

She tried to brush it off, but the curiosity still gnawed at her. I’m so going to figure this out later.

N leaned toward Emily, cupping his hand around his mouth to whisper a question. Emily furrowed her brows, thinking for a moment before saying, “Rebecca.”

Rebecca’s eyes immediately flicked to her, intrigued. She didn’t say anything, but Uzi could tell she was itching to know what had just been asked. She sat back slightly, arms crossed, waiting for the outcome.

Emily picked up the Croc and flipped it. It spun in the air before landing face up.

Rebecca smirked. “Alright, spill. What was it?”

N smiled sheepishly. “It was a dare,” he admitted. “I dared Emily to give someone the most dramatic, over-the-top compliment she can think of.”

Rebecca blinked before laughing. “Wow. Terrifying.”

Emily turned to Rebecca, flipping her hair for effect. “Rebecca, you absolute queen. Your presence alone is like the sun breaking through storm clouds, a beacon of radiance and charm in this cold, dark world. Your fashion sense? Impeccable. Your wit? Razor-sharp. Your vibes? Immaculate.” She took Rebecca’s hands in hers, staring into her eyes dramatically. “Frankly, it is an honor to exist in the same room as you.”

The group burst out laughing.

Rebecca feigned wiping a nonexistent tear from her eye. “That was… beautiful.”

Emily placed a hand on her chest. “I meant every word.”

Rebecca rolled her eyes but grinned. “Alright, alright. Dare complete.”

With that, Emily and Rebecca sat back down, still chuckling, as the game continued.

-

The rest of the game was filled with laughter, playful accusations, and dramatic reactions. Some dares had the group howling with laughter, while others made them squirm in secondhand embarrassment. The paranoia of not knowing the questions only added to the fun, and even though no one took it too seriously, there was still that slight edge of curiosity lingering in the air. The occasional thunder outside would shake the house, momentarily startling some of them, but it only added to the atmosphere.

After a while, the excitement started to fade, and one by one, they all grew tired of the game. Emily checked the time on her phone, stretching her arms over her head before suggesting they should all get some sleep and wait for the rain to let up before heading home. Rebecca agreed, saying that was probably the best idea. She stood up, using her phone flashlight to guide her through the dark room. “I’ll be right back. Going to grab some blankets and pillows for everyone.” With that, she disappeared through the doorway.

Thad wasted no time claiming his spot, immediately flopping onto the couch with a satisfied sigh. “Dibs on this spot,” he announced, kicking his feet up dramatically.

The others followed suit. Emily dropped down onto the floor in front of the couch, leaning against it as she got comfortable. N settled on the other end of the couch, sitting cross-legged for the time being, while Darren found a spot nearby, stretching out his legs.

Uzi opted for the floor. It just felt right—something about lying on a carpeted surface with the distant sound of rain tapping against the house was oddly comfortable. She stretched her arms behind her head, letting her mind wander.

Tonight had been fun. Really fun. She couldn’t even remember the last time she had laughed so much. She never really thought of herself as someone who would enjoy hanging out in a big group, but now, she was already thinking about how exciting it would be to do it again. The idea of having friends—actual friends—to spend time with, to joke around with, and to experience nights like this with… it felt nice. And as she lay there, listening to the rain and the quiet shuffling of her friends getting comfortable, she couldn’t help but feel genuinely happy.

For once, she was looking forward to what the future had in store.

Chapter Text

It had probably been about twenty minutes since Rebecca had brought the blankets and pillows. Everyone else seemed to have dozed off, but Uzi was still awake, lying on her side and staring at nothing in particular. She had always had trouble sleeping—her mind never wanted to shut up long enough to let her rest, and it was beyond frustrating. Right now, she was exhausted, her body practically begging for sleep, but no matter how much she tried, it just wasn’t happening.

The worst part? She was freezing.

When the power had gone out, so had the AC, which meant the house had gotten unbearably cold. The rain outside wasn’t helping, and the occasional gusts of wind against the windows made it even worse. She had bundled herself up as much as she could in her blanket, but it wasn’t enough. A shiver ran through her, her body tensing in response, and she let out a quiet sigh, trying to pull the blanket tighter around herself. Her teeth chattered, her fingers cold against her arms. At this rate, she doubted she’d get any sleep at all. She was just starting to accept that when—

“Uzi?”

A soft voice broke through the silence.

She blinked, turning slightly at the sound. It was N. He was on the couch just behind her, close enough that his voice didn’t carry too far in the dark room. His voice was barely above a whisper, like he wasn’t sure if she was actually awake or not.

“…Are you awake?”

Uzi hesitated before rolling onto her back, still shivering. “No, I’m asleep,” she muttered sarcastically, her words coming out choppy from the way her teeth chattered.

Even in the dim lighting, she could see him tilt his head slightly, concerned. “Are you cold?” he asked, though it was obvious from the way she was shivering that the answer was yes.

Uzi shot him a look. “What do you think?” she deadpanned, voice still shaking from the cold.

N paused for a moment, then sat up slightly. “Do you… want my jacket?” he offered. “I’m not that cold, and you could probably use it more than me.”

Uzi blinked at him, surprised by the offer. She wasn’t exactly the type to accept help easily, but right now? She wasn’t about to be stubborn. “…Yeah. That’d be great, actually.”

N didn’t hesitate—he shrugged off his jacket and leaned over, handing it to her. She took it quickly, mumbling, “Thanks,” before slipping it on. The warmth from his body heat still lingered in the fabric, and she instinctively pulled it tighter around herself. It was way warmer than the blanket alone, and for the first time that night, she actually felt comfortable.

N settled back into his spot on the couch, adjusting his blanket around himself. There was a brief silence before he spoke again,“Goodnight, Uzi.”

Uzi shifted slightly, the warmth of the jacket already making her eyelids feel heavier.“Night, N.”

She lay there for a moment, feeling more at ease than before. It was… nice, in a way. She wasn’t used to others looking out for her like that. The thought made her stomach feel weird—she wasn’t sure why. But, she didn’t have the energy to dwell on it too much.

Instead, she let herself relax, the warmth lulling her into sleep at last.

-

A sudden brightness pierced through Uzi’s closed eyes, dragging her out of sleep. She groaned, immediately throwing an arm over her face in protest. The lights were back on, and after spending so long in the dark, it felt like she was staring directly into the sun. Blinking a few times, she slowly uncovered her eyes, waiting for them to adjust.

When her vision cleared, she glanced toward the window. The sky was still a deep, inky black, but the rain had finally calmed to a soft drizzle, barely audible against the glass. The worst of the storm had passed.

Somewhere across the room, Thad let out a tired groan. “Ugh… What time is it?” His voice was heavy with sleep.

Uzi instinctively reached for her phone, her eyes still feeling sluggish as she powered it on. When the time popped up on the screen, her stomach dropped.

1:17 AM

Oh, crap.

She had told her dad she’d be out late, but not this late. He was probably asleep by now, but that didn’t make her feel any less anxious about it. She hadn’t meant to stay out this long—how had time passed so quickly?

Before she could say anything, Emily’s voice cut through the quiet. “It’s 1:17,” she answered, her voice a little groggy.

Uzi hesitated, locking her phone again as she tried to push down the rising panic. What was she supposed to do now? It wasn’t like she could just walk home at this hour—she had no way to get there on her own. Taking the bus obviously wasn’t an option, and calling her dad? Yeah, right. She’d rather die than deal with that conversation.

That only left one real choice.

She sighed, sitting up slightly and stretching her arms over her head before pushing herself up onto her feet. She felt weirdly awkward about it, but there wasn’t really another option—she had to ask N.

Glancing around, she spotted him still on the couch, sitting up as he seemed to idly scrolled through his phone for a moment. He was probably checking the time, too.

As he went to put his phone away, he lifted his head and immediately noticed Uzi walking toward him.

Uzi tugged at the sleeves of the oversized jacket she was wearing—his jacket—as she hesitated for a moment before speaking. She felt awkward even asking, but what choice did she have?

"Hey, uh..." she started, her voice quieter than usual. "Would you mind driving me home?"

She tried to sound casual, but the guilt was obvious in her tone. She hated having to ask him for a favor like this, especially in the middle of the night. He had already been nice enough to give her his jacket—now she was making him go out of his way even more.

She braced herself for some kind of protest. Not that she thought he’d say no, but she expected at least some hesitation. Maybe a tired sigh or a ‘You sure you can't just stay?’ Something.

Instead, N barely even blinked before nodding. "Yeah, of course!" His tone was as easygoing as ever, completely unbothered.

Uzi blinked, caught off guard by how quickly he agreed. "Wait, really?”

He smiled at her, standing up and stretching before beginning to fold  his blanket neatly on the couch. "Yeah! I don’t mind."

That… made sense, actually. N had been nothing but nice since she’s met him—of course he wouldn’t have a problem with this. Still, Uzi had kind of expected some pushback. She didn't dwell on it too much, though.

As he started toward the door, he glanced back at her. "C'mon."

She hadn’t expected to leave this second, but at least they were able to. It was better than sitting around stressing about it.

Wanting to be at least a little polite, she turned to fix her blanket, making sure it wasn’t just sprawled messily on the floor. She wasn’t exactly an expert in folding blankets, but she did her best before quickly hurrying after N.

The media room was still dark, and as she made her way toward the door, she nearly tripped over her own feet. Catching herself, she huffed in annoyance before pulling out her phone, switching on the flashlight to guide her way.

The soft glow illuminated the stairs as she followed N down, the house eerily quiet except for the faint sound of soft rain still pattering against the windows.

When they reached the front door, N pulled it open and stepped aside, holding it for her without a second thought. The cool night air rushed in, carrying the scent of damp pavement and rain-soaked grass.

Uzi glanced at him and gave a small nod of thanks. "Appreciate it," she said, her voice casual, though she was still slightly groggy from sleep.

N just smiled. "No problem."

She stepped outside, immediately feeling the light drizzle against her face. It was barely raining now—more of a mist than actual raindrops—but the air was still damp and cool. With a quiet sigh, she pulled the hood of her hoodie over her head.

Behind her, she heard the soft click of the front door shutting as N followed. The driveway glistened under the streetlights, rainwater pooling in small dips along the pavement. Their footsteps were quiet against the wet ground, the world around them eerily still. The storm had left the neighborhood in a hushed calm, the only sounds being the distant hum of crickets and the occasional drip of water falling from the roof.

As she reached the car, Uzi grabbed the handle and pulled open the passenger door, slipping inside. The interior was cold as the chill from outside followed her. She exhaled softly, watching as N got in on the other side, shaking a few stray droplets from his hair before pulling the door shut.

The soft chime of the car starting filled the quiet as he pressed the ignition. The dashboard lights flickered to life, casting a faint glow over the dark interior. The rain-speckled windshield reflected the occasional flash of lightning in the distance, but the worst of the storm had passed.

Without a word, N shifted into drive, and they pulled away from the house, the tires rolling over the slick pavement. The glow of streetlights passed over them in intervals, stretching their shadows across the dashboard.

The night stretched ahead, quiet and open, as they drove through the empty streets.

Uzi’s eyelids felt impossibly heavy. The hum of the car engine and the rhythmic patter of rain against the windshield made it all the more tempting to just let herself drift off. She thought about grabbing her phone, maybe putting on some music to keep herself awake, but even that felt like too much effort.

Her drowsy thoughts were interrupted when N spoke up. “Hey, uh—what’s your address?”

She blinked, forcing herself to focus as he handed her his phone. The screen glowed softly in the dim car, illuminating his slightly outstretched hand.

Wordlessly, she took it, quickly typing in her address before handing it back. “Here,” she mumbled, suppressing a yawn.

N glanced at the GPS for a second before nodding. “Thanks.”

“No problem,” she replied, her voice quiet as she rested her head against the window, watching the blur of streetlights and darkened houses pass by. She wasn’t thinking about much—just letting her brain float in the space between awake and asleep—when, out of nowhere, a thought surfaced.

Rebecca’s question.

Uzi’s eyes opened a little more, her mind suddenly a lot more awake. She had completely forgotten about it until now, but the moment she remembered N’s embarrassed reaction, her curiosity kicked in full force.

She turned her head slightly toward him. “Hey,” she started, her voice cutting through the soft hum of the car. “Back during paranoia—what did Rebecca ask you?”

N stiffened just slightly, his grip on the wheel adjusting. He didn’t answer right away.

Uzi raised an eyebrow. “...What?”

He let out a small, nervous chuckle, avoiding her gaze. “Uh—nothing. It was nothing.”

That wasn’t convincing in the slightest.

Uzi narrowed her eyes at him, sitting up a little more. “Oh, come on. You can tell me. It’s just us, no one else is here to listen.” She leaned in slightly, watching him carefully. “What, was it that bad?”

N’s face heated up as he shook his head quickly. “No! No, it wasn’t bad, it was just—” He hesitated, gripping the wheel a little tighter. “I-It’s not important.”

Uzi smirked, now really curious. “Oh, this is weird,” she teased. “I’ve never seen you get this flustered before. That just makes me wanna know even more.”

N let out a groan, visibly shrinking in his seat. “Uzi…”

She grinned. “N…”

His expression was a mixture of amusement and panic, and Uzi was loving this. Whatever Rebecca had asked, it was clearly something that got to him.

She leaned back against her seat, crossing her arms. “C’mon, just tell me,” she prodded, her smirk widening. “I will find out one way or another.”

N groaned again, running a hand down his face, still avoiding looking at her. Uzi waited expectantly, eyes gleaming with intrigue.

N opened his mouth like he was about to say something—then quickly shut it again, his fingers tapping anxiously on the steering wheel. He seemed to be struggling to get the words out, and Uzi could practically see the gears turning in his head.

Finally, after a few seconds of hesitation, he let out a nervous breath. “I, uh—I promise I’ll tell you another time,” he mumbled, still not looking at her. “It’s just… late, and this probably isn’t the best time for it.” His voice wasn’t irritated or dismissive—just awkward and still obviously flustered.

Uzi tilted her head slightly, watching him with amusement. “Huh.” She hummed in consideration before shrugging. “Alright, I’ll hold you to that, then. You did promise, so now you have to tell me.”

N let out a stiff, awkward laugh, gripping the wheel a little tighter. “Y-Yeah… I guess I did.”

Uzi smirked, shaking her head as she leaned back into her seat. “Man, you’re acting real suspicious right now,” she teased, raising an eyebrow at him.

N chuckled under his breath, but it was nervous, and he very obviously kept his eyes locked on the road, resisting the urge to look her way.

Uzi could tell he probably felt bad for not telling her—because that was just the kind of drone he was—but she didn’t push him. She knew he’d keep his word.

With a quiet scoff, she watched him for a second longer before turning back to the window, watching the blurred shapes of buildings and streetlights pass by. Her thoughts lingered on the whole thing for a little longer, trying to piece together what kind of question could have possibly made N react that way.

But before she could think too much about it, sleep began to pull her under. The warmth of the car, the steady hum of the engine, the faint sound of rain tapping against the windshield—it was too much to fight against.

Her eyelids grew heavy again, and this time, she didn’t resist. Within moments, she was fast asleep.

Chapter Text

Uzi absentmindedly tapped her pencil against her notebook, barely paying attention as the teacher rambled on about something she wasn’t remotely interested in. Her mind kept drifting—mostly to lunch.

She’d realized recently just how much she looked forward to it now. It was nice having drones to sit with, drones she was actually getting to know. It was a weird adjustment, sure—she wasn’t used to this whole “friend group” thing—but she had to admit, she liked it.

She was pulled from her thoughts when she suddenly heard her name—sharp, cutting through the haze of her zoning out.

“Uzi,” the teacher called, his tone laced with irritation. “If you’d kindly start paying attention instead of daydreaming, that’d be great.”

Uzi snapped her head up, quickly straightening in her seat. “Oh—uh, sorry,” she muttered, forcing herself to refocus as the teacher shot her a brief, unimpressed look before continuing his lecture.

She sighed quietly, gripping her pencil tighter as she started taking notes again. Seriously, it wasn’t her fault class was so boring.

A few minutes later, the teacher finally shut his book with a dull thud, glancing around the room. “Alright,” he started, sounding just as uninterested as he did when lecturing. “Before lunch, the whole school is going to meet in the gym for an assembly.”

Mild chatter rose across the classroom at that, some students exchanging confused glances.

The teacher sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Look, just pay attention when you’re there. It’s important.” His tone was serious now, though still carrying a hint of boredom.

A student in the back raised their hand. “Is it a pep rally or something?” they asked, sounding genuinely confused. “We didn’t hear anything about this.”

The teacher shook his head. “No, it’s not a pep rally,” he said, then hesitated for a second before adding, “And I’m not allowed to talk about it right now.”

That sent a ripple of unease through the room.

Uzi furrowed her brow, gripping her pencil a little tighter. Not allowed to talk about it? What the hell did that mean?

Now she was curious. And, honestly? A little unsettled.

What could possibly be serious enough that the entire school had to meet in the gym without warning?

Something about this didn’t sit right with her. She had a bad feeling.

-

The uneasy feeling in Uzi’s gut didn’t go away. If anything, it only got worse as the next two class periods dragged on.

She wasn’t the only one feeling that way, either. The whole school was buzzing with speculation, students whispering between classes, tossing out theories about what this mysterious assembly could be about.

Some thought the principal was resigning—maybe something dramatic had happened behind the scenes. Others believed it had to do with a teacher getting fired, or some kind of scandal involving the staff. There were even wilder rumors floating around, like a fight so bad that police had to be called, or that someone got caught cheating on a major exam and was about to be made an example of.

But the one thing most people seemed to agree on? It had to be about the staff—because what could possibly be so serious about a student or group of students that the entire school needed to assemble?

That thought stuck with Uzi the most.

By the time the bell rang, signaling the transition to the assembly, she was on edge. The halls were packed, bodies pressing against her from all directions as everyone funneled toward the gym. She gritted her teeth, trying to navigate through the sea of students without losing her patience.

Her mind raced as she walked. What if something happened to a student? The school would have to acknowledge it if something serious went down, right? But then, wouldn’t they have just sent a message home? Why all this secrecy?

She didn’t like this. At all.

The pit in her stomach grew heavier as she neared the gym doors, pushing forward through the crowd. Something wasn’t right.

And she had a feeling she wasn’t going to like whatever they were about to hear.

As Uzi weaved through the crowd, trying not to get shoved around too much, her eyes landed on a familiar face just ahead—Darren. He was walking alongside Rebecca, their hands intertwined as they moved through the swarm of students. They stayed close, leaning toward each other slightly, as if the sheer mass of people made them instinctively stick together.

Uzi hesitated for only a second before pushing forward, squeezing between students until she reached them. She tapped Darren on the shoulder, causing him to turn around with a raised brow. His usual laid-back demeanor was still there, but there was something else in his expression too—mild unease.

“Hey,” Uzi said, glancing between him and Rebecca. “Do you have any clue what’s going on?”

Darren exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “Not a clue. But I don’t like it. It’s freaking me out.” His tone wasn’t panicked, but there was an edge to it, like he was actively trying not to think too much about it.

Rebecca turned her head slightly, giving Uzi a small smile. “Oh, hey, Uzi,” she greeted, her voice lighter despite the tension surrounding them. “We were just about to go find the others—N, Thad, and Emily. You wanna come with?”

Uzi didn’t even need to think about it. “Yeah, of course.”

She fell into step beside them, her arms crossed as she kept her gaze ahead. The noise of the crowded hallway felt even louder now, students chattering all around them, everyone equally confused. But despite the chaos, sticking with Darren and Rebecca made her feel slightly less tense.

Still, that uneasy feeling wouldn’t go away. If anything, it only grew.

As they finally pushed their way into the gym, the noise of a few hundred students all talking at once filled the air. Uzi scanned the room, looking through the crowd until she spotted two familiar figures—Thad and Emily—standing off to the side near the bleachers.

“Hey, there they are,” Rebecca said, nudging Darren lightly before the three of them made their way over.

Thad looked perfectly at ease, arms crossed as he glanced around the room with mild curiosity. Emily, on the other hand, had her arms tucked tightly around herself, her expression tense.

“So what do you guys think this is about?” Uzi asked as they approached.

Emily frowned. “I have no idea, but I don’t like it. Something about this feels… off.”

Thad, on the other hand, shrugged. “C’mon, it’s probably something dumb. Maybe the principal got tired of people using AI to write their essays and decided to call a school-wide intervention,” he joked.

Emily shot him a sharp look. “Thad, this is serious.”

Thad held up his hands. “Okay, okay, but—” He gestured around them. “Look at everyone. The whole school is freaking out, and for what? I bet we’re all stressing for no reason, and this is just gonna turn out to be something really stupid.”

Emily rolled her eyes but didn’t argue further.

They continued talking for another minute, throwing out theories and trying to make sense of everything, when Darren suddenly glanced around and frowned. “Wait… where’s N?”

The group fell silent for a second before Thad piped up. “Oh, he’s over there.” He pointed toward a section of the bleachers near the back. “Sitting with J and V.”

At the mention of that name, Uzi instinctively turned her head in the direction Thad was pointing.

There, sitting near the top of the bleachers, was N—situated between V and another girl she could only assume was J. V was slouched lazily beside him, looking incredibly uninterested in whatever was happening, while J sat upright, her sharp eyes scanning the room like she was evaluating everything.

J was similar in stature to V. She had silver hair tied up into pigtails by dainty black ribbons, her sharp yellow eyes a stark contrast to her hair. Her expression was nothing short of smug, a knowing smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth as she leaned slightly toward N, speaking in a way that made it seem like she was making some kind of comment about the situation—or maybe even about him.

Uzi’s eyes narrowed.

She hadn’t met J yet, but Thad had mentioned her before—how she was not a great drone and how she encouraged V to pick on N. And looking at her now, Uzi could already tell she wasn’t going to like her. Something about the way she carried herself, the way she seemed so comfortable with making N sit with them, immediately put Uzi on edge.

Her stomach twisted slightly as she thought about what kind of things J had probably said to N before. She wasn’t sure what exactly J’s deal was, but if she was anything like V, then Uzi already knew she wasn’t someone she wanted to be around.

She glanced back at the rest of the group, forcing herself to shake off her irritation. Whatever this assembly was about, that was the real issue here. But still… she couldn’t ignore the way N looked like he was just enduring sitting there, and that bothered her more than she wanted to admit.

Rebecca glanced around at the crowd slowly filling up the gym and gestured toward the bleachers. “We should probably find seats before they’re all taken.”

Everyone nodded in agreement, and they started making their way toward the seating area. They climbed up to the lower-middle section, settling into place. From here, Uzi had a good view of the gym floor and everything set up in the center.

As she sat down, her eyes instinctively flickered toward N. He was sitting toward the bottom-left row, not too far from her, with V and J still beside him. He wasn’t talking much, just idly glancing around as if lost in thought while J whispered something to V, who chuckled in response. Uzi wasn’t sure if she was imagining it, but N looked slightly uncomfortable.

Shaking the thought away, she turned her attention to the center of the gym. A microphone stood in the middle of the polished floor, its stand adjusted and ready for whoever would be speaking. Behind it, slightly off to the side, was a large screen connected to a projector mounted on a cart. The projector was off for now, its blank screen giving away nothing about what they were about to see.

Uzi furrowed her brow. The setup felt… ominous. What kind of announcement required a full visual presentation? The whole thing seemed big—bigger than just a simple policy change or some new school rule. She drummed her fingers against her knee absentmindedly, trying to piece together what could possibly be serious enough to require the entire school to be here for it.

Then, the room slowly started to quiet down. The noise of hundreds of students talking at once dimmed into murmurs before settling into silence.

Uzi glanced toward the front of the gym and immediately understood why.

The principal was walking toward the microphone, his expression unreadable, his posture rigid. He wasn’t carrying any papers or notes, which meant whatever he was about to say, he either had memorized or was speaking from experience.

A weird, uneasy feeling settled in Uzi’s stomach.

This isn’t going to be good.

The principal stepped up to the microphone, clearing his throat before speaking. “I’m sure many of you are wondering why we’ve gathered you all here today.”

Uzi barely held back an eye roll. Gee, you think? That’s literally all anyone had been talking about all morning. The way he said it, like he was revealing some grand mystery, only made her more impatient. If this turned out to be something dumb, she was going to be so  annoyed.

Before she could dwell on it further, the lights dimmed slightly, and a faint hum filled the air as the projector flickered to life. A large image appeared on the screen— a student. Just a normal-looking guy. He had short, slightly messy hair, a neutral expression, and wore a typical school hoodie. There was nothing particularly remarkable about him, nothing that screamed this is an important person you should know about.

The principal gestured to the screen. “Does anyone recognize this student?”

A few people in the crowd nodded, murmuring among themselves, but most remained silent.

Uzi frowned slightly before leaning toward Thad, who was sitting beside her. Keeping her voice low, she asked, “Do you know who that is?”

Thad barely spared the screen a glance before shrugging. “Nope. And honestly? I still think this whole thing is stupid.” He crossed his arms, slouching slightly in his seat. “They’re making a big deal out of nothing.”

Uzi raised an eyebrow. Thad looked utterly unimpressed, like he was already mentally checked out of whatever this was supposed to be. Maybe he was right, and this was just another overblown school announcement—but something about the principal’s serious tone and the way the room had gone so quiet made her doubt it.

The principal continued, his voice calm but carrying an unmistakable weight. “Some of you may have noticed that he hasn’t been in school so far this week.” He let that sentence linger in the air for a moment, as if giving students time to process it.

Uzi exhaled sharply, resisting the urge to tap her fingers against her leg in impatience. Okay, great, but why does that matter? Every second of dragging this out only made the whole thing more frustrating. Why couldn’t he just say what happened instead of dancing around it?

Then, without warning, the screen shut off, leaving only the dim lighting of the gym. The principal’s posture straightened, his expression shifting from serious to downright uncomfortable. His hands rested tensely on the podium as he took a breath before continuing.

“I regret to inform you all that this student…” he paused, glancing over the room as if bracing for the reaction. “…passed away this past weekend.”

Chapter Text

The moment the words left his mouth, the gym erupted into hushed whispers. A ripple of reactions spread through the students—some gasped, their faces twisting in shock, while others exchanged uncertain glances. A few looked completely indifferent, as if this news barely registered as important to them.

Uzi’s mind reeled. What?! This wasn’t at all what she expected. He died? Her stomach twisted as her thoughts raced. What could’ve happened? Was it an accident? Something worse? This was serious—horrible, even.

She glanced at her friends. Rebecca had a hand over her mouth, brows furrowed in concern. Darren and Emily were exchanging a tense glance. Thad, despite his earlier indifference, looked a little less smug now, though he still didn’t say anything.

Uzi’s eyes flicked back to the principal. He looked grim, like even he didn’t want to be the one delivering this news. The atmosphere in the gym had completely shifted, and Uzi couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever came next was only going to make this worse.

The principal cleared his throat, his fingers briefly adjusting his tie in a nervous tic before he spoke again. His voice, though steady, carried a noticeable strain.

“I’m going to be incredibly blunt with you all.” His eyes scanned the room, making brief contact with different students before settling back on the microphone. “This student didn’t just pass, but he was murdered.”

A sharp, collective inhale rippled through the gym. The whispers from before turned into something quieter, heavier.

The principal continued, his voice more deliberate now. “I was informed by the police that I had to make this announcement today. We didn’t say anything yesterday because, frankly, we weren’t sure if we could. The details of the situation are…” He hesitated for the briefest moment, exhaling sharply. “…graphic.”

Uzi barely processed the next few seconds. Murdered? Her mind latched onto the word like a vice, repeating it over and over again. This wasn’t just some freak accident or medical emergency—this was a murder. A crime. Something deliberate. Someone had done this.

The principal went on, his expression unreadable, though his grip on the podium had tightened. “The student was staying after school for reasons unknown when they were attacked. At first, authorities believed it was an animal attack due to the, um…” He swallowed. “…nature of the scene. However, finger prints as well as other evidence were found —not belonging to the student, but belonging to an unknown individual.”

The silence that followed was suffocating.

Uzi’s stomach twisted uncomfortably. This wasn’t some horrific accident or the doings of a wild animal slipping into the building. There were only two possibilities for who could’ve done this: an intruder… or another student.

The room felt impossibly still. Even the students who had looked indifferent before were now sitting tensely, as if the weight of the revelation had finally settled in.

Then, after what felt like forever, the projector screen flickered back on, cutting through the silence. A new slide appeared—a phone number, bold and clear against a blank background.

“If anyone has any information,” the principal said, his tone firm yet pleading, “please contact this number or the police directly.”

Uzi barely registered the words. She was still stuck on that single, horrifying thought.

There’s a murderer in this school.

The principal paused, giving everyone a moment to absorb the weight of what had just been said. A few students hesitantly pulled out their phones, snapping pictures of the number displayed on the screen. The quiet hum of notifications and camera shutters filled the otherwise silent gym, but it was overshadowed by the heavy atmosphere that hung over the crowd like a storm cloud.

Uzi’s thoughts swirled. This felt unreal. A student had been murdered—not in some far-off city, not in a late-night alley, but here. In their school. A place that was supposed to be safe. The reality of it all settled uncomfortably in her chest.

Her gaze shifted to the drones sitting beside her.

Thad, for once, wasn’t making some offhand joke or dismissing the situation as dumb. He was staring straight ahead, his usual smug confidence wiped away. His brows were slightly furrowed, lips pressed together in a tight line, fingers idly tapping against his knee as if trying to process everything.

Emily looked far worse. Her hand covered her mouth, eyes wide with a sort of horror Uzi had never seen in her before. Her shoulders were tense, her whole posture rigid like she was frozen in place. She didn’t say anything—she just stared at the screen, like she was waiting for the principal to say, Just kidding! This was all just a social experiment! But no such words came.

Rebecca and Darren sat huddled together, Darren’s arm wrapped protectively around her shoulders. Rebecca had leaned into him, gripping his sleeve tightly, her expression twisted with unease. Darren, normally so laid-back, had a deep frown on his face, his usual carefree energy completely gone.

Uzi swallowed hard, tearing her eyes away from them and letting her gaze wander across the rest of the gym.

The room was a mess of reactions. Some students sat completely frozen, staring in shock at the screen or the principal as if waiting for more details, some kind of explanation. Others weren’t as composed—she caught sight of a few students crying, covering their faces as their friends tried to console them. Then there were the ones who still tried to act indifferent, leaning back in their seats with crossed arms, pretending not to care—but the tension in their bodies, the occasional darting glances at each other, gave them away.

Then her eyes landed on N.

He was still sitting on one of the lower rows, his entire body wound tight with tension. His arms were wrapped around himself, fingers gripping his sleeves. She watched as his thumb rubbed small, repetitive circles into his arm—self-soothing, like he was trying to hold himself together.

Next to him, J and V were whispering to each other, their voices too low to hear over the murmurs in the gym. They weren’t whispering like they were gossiping or joking about something—no, their expressions were serious, their postures stiff. They were obviously discussing something important. But as much as they seemed invested in their conversation, they weren’t paying attention to N. 

They didn’t look at him, didn’t say a word to him. It was like he wasn’t even there.

Uzi felt something simmer in her chest—frustration, maybe even anger. Why weren’t they comforting him? N clearly wasn’t okay. His supposed closest friends were right there, and yet they were too wrapped up in their own conversation to even acknowledge him.

That wasn’t fair.

She clenched her jaw, turning her attention back to the principal. There was still more to hear, more to process. But even as she tried to focus, a part of her still lingered on N.

The principal cleared his throat, his gaze sweeping over the sea of students before him. His voice, though steady, carried an unmistakable weight.

"I know this is a lot to take in," he began, his usual composed tone laced with something more somber. "I want to thank you all for being here today and for listening. I understand that this news is shocking, and for some of you, it may even be difficult to process."

He paused, exhaling slightly before continuing. "The school will have counselors available for anyone who needs to talk. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, please don’t hesitate to reach out—to a teacher, a friend, a staff member. No one should have to go through this alone."

His eyes briefly scanned the students again, as if assessing the overall atmosphere in the room. Then, with a small nod, he concluded, "That being said, you are all dismissed. You may head to lunch now."

A heavy silence settled over the gym for a few seconds—no one moved right away. Then, slowly, the crowd began to stir. Chairs scraped against the floor, murmurs and hushed conversations started up again as students hesitantly began to make their way toward the exits. The once-packed bleachers shifted as people stood, some moving sluggishly, still processing everything, while others whispered to their friends, their voices filled with urgency and confusion.

-

The group sat at their usual spot in the cafeteria, their trays mostly untouched as they processed everything they had just heard. The usual chatter of lunchtime felt subdued, the weight of the assembly still hanging in the air.

Darren was the first to speak. “So… that was insane.” His voice was quiet, thoughtful. “I mean, a murder? At school?” He shook his head, pushing his food around on his tray with his fork. “I don’t even know what to think.”

Rebecca sighed, leaning on her hand. “I don’t either. I keep trying to come up with some kind of explanation, but nothing makes sense. How does something like that even happen?”

Thad, who had been uncharacteristically quiet up until now, scoffed. “I still don’t get why they waited until today to tell us. Like, why not yesterday?” He crossed his arms. “The fact that they had to ‘check if they were even allowed’ makes it sound even worse.”

Emily frowned. “That’s because it is worse. I don’t know how anyone’s supposed to just… carry on like normal after hearing that.” She glanced around the cafeteria. “Look at everyone. Half the people in here aren’t even eating. It’s like the entire school is on edge.”

Uzi wasn’t really listening to the rest of the conversation at this point. She was lost in her own thoughts, absently picking at the corner of her tray.

Out of all the schools she had gone to, never had something like this happened. Sure, she had transferred to places where drama happened, fights broke out, and there was the occasional school lockdown for some minor incident. But this? A murder? And not just anywhere—inside the school itself? That was a whole different level of terrifying.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden realization.

N.

She glanced around their table. He wasn’t here.

She thought back to when they had left the gym—she hadn’t really been paying attention to where he had gone, but now that she was thinking about it, he must have gone with J and V instead of coming with the rest of them.

Her mind lingered on the memory of him sitting in the bleachers, tense, withdrawn, while J and V whispered to each other, barely even acknowledging him. The way he had hugged himself, how his body language practically screamed discomfort.

She frowned.

After debating for a moment, she spoke up. “Hey,” she said, glancing at the others, “does anyone wanna come with me to check on N? See if he wants to sit with us?”

Rebecca raised a brow. “You don’t think he’d rather stay with J and V?”

Uzi shrugged. “Maybe. But I still wanna check.”

There was a brief pause before Emily perked up. “I’ll go!” she said, pushing her tray aside. “Honestly, I was kinda wondering about him too.”

Uzi nodded, relieved that she didn’t have to go by herself. She didn’t know why, but something about walking up to N alone while he was with them felt… weird. Like she’d be intruding.

She stood up, and Emily followed suit. “Let’s go, then.”

As they weaved through the crowded cafeteria, Uzi scanned the tables, searching for N among the sea of students.

“Hey, over there,” Emily called, nudging Uzi and pointing toward a table near the far side of the room.

Uzi followed her gaze and spotted him. N was sitting with J, V, Lizzy, and a couple of other students she didn’t recognize. From a distance, she could already tell that the energy at their table was different—low murmurs, a sharp contrast to the usual cafeteria chatter.

As they approached, N’s eyes flicked up, and the moment he saw them, his expression shifted. His tense posture loosened slightly, and he gave a small smile, lifting a hand in a subtle wave. He wasn’t his usual bright, cheerful self, but compared to how he had looked in the gym, there was at least a little relief in his eyes.

Lizzy, who had also noticed them, gave a casual wave to Uzi before returning to whatever conversation she was having.

Just as Uzi parted her lips to speak, a voice cut through the moment.

“Oh, aren’t you the letter girl?”

Uzi blinked, momentarily thrown off. She turned her head to see V, who had her elbow lazily propped on the table, chin resting on her palm as she looked at her with mild interest.

It took Uzi a second to process what she meant before it clicked—the note. The one she had found in her locker. The one that had been addressed to V, only for her to blow her off entirely when she tried to return it.

Uzi’s face twisted into an unimpressed scowl. “Wow,” she muttered dryly, crossing her arms, “what a fond memory.”

V smirked slightly but didn’t say anything else, clearly pleased that Uzi had remembered.

Before Uzi could even get to why she was here, J suddenly leaned forward, eyeing her with interest. She hadn’t spoken during the interaction, because there had been no reason to. But now that Uzi was in front of her, she seemed more intrigued.

“So,” J said bluntly, her tone sharp and to the point. “What do you want?”

Uzi’s irritation spiked. She hadn’t even been here for a full minute and was already being cut off twice before she could even talk to N. It was aggravating. She didn’t care about whatever weird game V was trying to play, and she definitely didn’t care for J’s attitude. She just wanted to ask N if he wanted to sit with them, but apparently, that was too much to ask.

She inhaled through her nose, exhaling sharply. Don’t lose your patience yet.

Uzi didn’t waste any time. She turned her gaze to J and said flatly, “I’m not here to talk to you.”

J’s eyebrows twitched upward ever so slightly, clearly not expecting that level of bluntness. For a brief second, she looked almost offended, but Uzi didn’t give her a chance to respond.

She turned to N instead. “Anyway,” she continued, her tone shifting to something much more casual, “I was just wondering if you wanted to sit with us.”

She could feel J’s glare burning into the side of her head, but she ignored it.

N blinked, pausing just for a fraction of a second—so subtle that most drones wouldn’t have caught it. But Uzi did. It wasn’t hesitation in the sense that he didn’t want to go. It was more like… something was holding him back.

Still, after that brief moment, he nodded. “Yeah,” he said with a small smile. It wasn’t as bright as usual, but it was warm and genuine as he looked at Uzi. He started pushing his chair back to stand.

“See you guys,” he said as he turned to J and V.

J’s scowl deepened as she stared at Uzi, but N either didn’t notice or chose not to acknowledge it.

V, meanwhile, gave an exaggerated, lazy wave. “Later, N,” she said, as if she couldn’t care less.

J’s expression flickered with something unreadable as she looked at him, almost like she wanted to say something—but instead, she made a face before quickly masking it and half-heartedly raising a hand in a barely-there wave.

Uzi didn’t look back at either of them. Instead, she turned and started walking with N and Emily back toward their table, though that odd moment of hesitation from him still lingered in the back of her mind.

As they weaved through the crowded cafeteria, Emily glanced at N with a look of concern. “Hey,” she asked gently, “how are you holding up?”

N still looked tense, his shoulders slightly raised, fingers fidgeting at his sides. But he answered regardless. “Oh, uh—yeah, this whole thing kinda threw me off,” he admitted, his voice light but edged with something unshakable. “I mean, it just feels… wrong, you know? The way it happened, and in the school of all places.” He exhaled a shaky laugh, trying to keep up his usual cheery tone. “But, uh, at least it wasn’t more than one drone? That’s—something, I guess?”

The attempt at optimism didn’t land. His words carried an uneasy weight, and despite the small, forced chuckle at the end, his discomfort was obvious.

Uzi walked beside him in silence for a moment, processing his response. A strange feeling settled in her chest—something close to sympathy, or maybe even sadness. The way he was forcing himself to sound okay, even when he clearly wasn’t… it made her want to do something about it. Comfort him, maybe… Give him a hug or something.

The thought immediately made her internally cringe. What? No. That’s weird. She wasn’t about to get all soft like that.

Before she could dwell on it any further, they reached their spot.

Thad, Rebecca, and Darren turned their attention to them, their conversation pausing as they looked up.

“Oh, hey, you guys are back,” Thad said casually, nodding at N.

“Hey, N,” Darren greeted with a small smile.

Rebecca gave a polite nod. “Glad you came to sit with us.”

N offered them a small, appreciative smile as he took a seat. Uzi and Emily followed, sitting down beside him as the conversation picked up again.

Chapter Text

Over the next few days, no matter how much she tried to shake it, Uzi couldn’t stop thinking about the murder.

It lingered in the air like a shadow, always present even when drones pretended it wasn’t. Every day at school, she watched as students forced smiles, carried on with their routines, and laughed in the hallways like nothing had happened. But it was all fake. A performance.

She could see the cracks in it—the way some drones flinched at sudden noises, the uneasy glances exchanged when someone brought up staying after school, the hushed whispers that died out the moment a teacher walked by. And then there were the ones who stopped showing up altogether. Maybe they were grieving. Maybe they were too scared to step foot in the building, afraid they’d be next.

Her own group of friends had, for the most part, moved on. Not in a way that meant they didn’t care—they all had their own ways of processing it. Rebecca and Darren stuck close to each other more than ever, Emily seemed a little more tense, and even Thad, who usually shrugged off serious things, wasn’t cracking jokes about this. But still, life went on. The group joked, hung out, and went about their days as if things were normal.

But normal felt wrong.

No matter how much everyone tried to pretend, there was something different in the air now, a weight that hadn’t been there before. A quiet, lingering unease that Uzi couldn’t ignore, even when she tried.

Uzi lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, the glow of her digital clock casting faint numbers onto the walls. The house was silent, the kind of deep, heavy quiet that only came late at night. Normally, she would have appreciated it. But tonight, it just made her thoughts louder.

No matter how much she tried to push them away, the revelation of the murder kept replaying in her head. The announcement, the principal’s grim expression, the gasps from the crowd. The way the entire school had tried to pretend like nothing happened. It made her sick. A student was dead—brutally murdered—and within days, drones were already acting like it was some ghost story, some distant, abstract event that had nothing to do with them.

She turned onto her side, gripping the blanket tighter.

None of this made sense. Who would do something like this? Why? And how the hell had it happened inside the school without anyone noticing? The whole thing felt too bizarre, too impossible. But it wasn’t impossible. It was real. Someone had died, and the police didn’t even seem to have a lead. If they did, she hadn’t heard about it.

That thought made frustration burn in her chest. How could there be nothing? No suspect, no motive, no real answers? It was like everyone was just waiting for this to blow over. The school, the cops, the students. As if ignoring it long enough would make it go away. But it wasn’t going away.

Uzi clenched her jaw, sitting up slightly.

If no one else was going to do anything, then maybe she should.

The thought came suddenly, and at first, she almost laughed at herself. But the more she considered it, the more it made sense. She had listened to enough true crime podcasts, watched enough crime documentaries—she knew how these things worked. Sure, she wasn’t a detective or anything, but she knew what to look for. Clues. Patterns. Inconsistencies.

And she was good at putting pieces together.

The police didn’t seem to be getting anywhere, but maybe she could. Maybe she could find out what really happened. Someone at school had to know something. A secret they weren’t sharing, something that didn’t add up. And Uzi was determined to figure it out.

Lying back down, she exhaled sharply, staring up at the ceiling again.

This was her school. Her classmates. And someone had gotten away with murder.

She wasn’t going to let that slide.

Uzi sat up with a huff, frustration and restlessness making it impossible to stay still. She threw her blankets off and swung her legs over the edge of the bed, the cool air nipping at her. Sleep clearly wasn’t happening anytime soon. Maybe if she distracted herself, did something, she could settle her mind enough to actually get some rest.

She moved to her desk, the chair creaking slightly as she sat down. With a quick press of the power button, her computer whirred to life. The sudden brightness of the screen was almost blinding in the dark room, and she winced, squinting as her eyes adjusted. After a few seconds, she typed in her password and pulled up her browser.

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard for a moment.

What exactly was she looking for?

She hesitated before finally typing something along the lines of murder at high school. Almost immediately, results flooded the screen. News articles, forum discussions, social media posts. She scrolled past a few, scanning the dates, until one caught her attention. It was from Monday, just a day after the incident.

That was the closest thing to real, immediate information she’d get.

Clicking on the link, she leaned forward, eyes darting across the screen as she took in the article.

The first few paragraphs summarized what she already knew: a student had been found murdered at school, and the police were still investigating. No suspects had been named. No new information had been released. It was all frustratingly vague.

Then, a content warning popped up before the next section. Uzi’s grip on the mouse tightened.

It was a written interview—an account from the person who had discovered the body.

Her heart rate picked up slightly as she read further.

The witness explained that they had been in the school after hours, needing to grab something from the  janitors closet. It was supposed to be a quick, simple task. But when they opened the door, they found themselves in a scene straight out of a nightmare.

The victim had been so mutilated they were barely recognizable. The wounds—deep, jagged, unnatural—made it look like they had been attacked by a wild animal. There was so much oil, staining the floor, the walls, pooling beneath the body. The sight was so horrific that the witness admitted they barely had time to process it before their stomach lurched and they had to run out, vomiting from the sheer shock.

After that, they immediately called the police.

The interview ended there.

Uzi stared at the screen, her hands clenched into fists on the desk.

Honestly, it was kind of surprising that the police hadn’t flagged this article and taken it down yet. That’s just how reporters are, she assumed, always trying to milk information from witnesses, even if it interfered with the investigation.

Even so, this helped her gain a better understanding of the situation. This wasn’t just some simple murder. The brutality, the sheer violence of it—it wasn’t normal. This wasn’t something she could just ignore.

And now, more than ever, she needed to find out the truth.

There was a little bit more to the article. The next part made Uzi’s stomach churn as she scanned over the words -

“It was shocking to investigators when they discovered that this wasn’t an animal attack. DNA testing revealed that this seemingly unmotivated attack was cause by none other than another drone. And…”

The article continued on a bit longer about this. Even though in hindsight Uzi already knew that another drone was the murder, just hearing it again didn’t help to calm her nerves.

Uzi exhaled sharply, running a hand down her face as she shut her computer. The room was silent again, save for the faint hum of the cooling fans winding down. The glow of the screen disappeared, leaving her alone in the dim light of her desk lamp.

Her mind was racing, trying to piece everything together. Everything she had just read swirled around in her head, making it impossible to think about anything else. This wasn’t just some random tragedy that people would eventually forget about—this was brutal. And what made it worse was that no one seemed to have any real answers.

She needed more information.

All she had right now were scattered details from secondhand sources, half-formed theories, and way too many unanswered questions. If she wanted to get anywhere with this, she needed something real. Something concrete.

And the best way to do that?

Go to the scene itself.

That part of the school had been sealed off since the incident. No one went near it. The hallway was practically cursed in the eyes of the students—just walking past it was enough to send shivers down people’s spines. The crime scene tape, the eerie silence that hung in the air whenever the topic was brought up, the unspoken rule that no one so much as acknowledged what had happened there… it all made the area completely off-limits in everyone's minds.

But not for Uzi.

If anything, that just made it all the more important to check out.

That was where everything started. It only made sense to start there.

The thought sent a wave of adrenaline through her, her fingers gripping the edge of her desk. This was insane. She knew that. But there was no way she was just going to sit back and let this whole thing get swept under the rug.

Uzi leaned back in her chair, staring up at the ceiling, her mind still buzzing. The plan was solid—sneak into the closed-off hallway, get a firsthand look at the scene, gather whatever clues she could. But then, another thought crept into her mind, one she hadn’t considered before.

What if she didn’t do this alone?

Her first instinct was to dismiss it. She had always handled things on her own. That was just how she operated. Depending on others only led to disappointment, and she never saw the point in letting anyone in. But… things were different now, weren’t they?

She actually had friends.

Uzi physically cringed at the thought, groaning as she covered her face with her hands. That sounded so corny. Gross, even. She hated how it made her feel—almost sentimental . She wasn’t some soft, emotional sap who needed a support system. She was fine on her own.

…Right?

But the more she tried to shake the thought, the more it lingered. She did have drones who cared about her now. Drones she cared about in return, as much as she hated to admit it. And logically speaking, having more than one set of eyes on this investigation could be useful. Different perspectives, different skills—there was no denying that working as a team would be more efficient.

She exhaled sharply, gripping the arms of her chair. Fine. Maybe bringing someone in wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world. But that led to another question—who?

She had to be smart about this. Not everyone would be up for something like this, and she needed people she could actually trust. The wrong choice could slow her down—or worse, ruin everything.

Uzi drummed her fingers against the desk, thinking hard. Who in her friend group would actually be useful in solving a murder?

Uzi leaned forward, resting her elbows on her desk as she mulled over her options. If she was really going to do this, she needed the right drones—drones she could trust, who wouldn’t freak out or try to talk her out of it.

Darren was the first to come to mind, but she quickly dismissed the idea. Sure, he wasn’t an idiot, and he could probably be useful in some capacity, but she wasn’t exactly close with him. And more importantly, the second she told him anything, he’d tell Rebecca. No question about it. Those two were practically glued together, and if there was one thing she knew, it was that Darren didn’t keep secrets from her.

And Rebecca? Yeah, there was no way she’d want any part of this. She just seemed like the type who’d immediately shut it down, telling Uzi it was dangerous or reckless or whatever. And if she got involved, it wouldn’t be to help—it’d be to convince Darren not to do it.

So that was a dead end.

Then there was Emily. Uzi frowned, drumming her fingers against her desk. Emily had been really shaken up by the whole thing, even days later. Every time the murder was mentioned, she got this wide-eyed, unsettled look, like she couldn’t get it out of her head. Honestly, Uzi was a little surprised she even agreed to come with her to check on N the other day.

Yeah… no way was she getting involved in this. Emily was too emotional about it—too scared. If Uzi even brought this up, Emily would probably just tell her she was crazy for even thinking about investigating. And Uzi wasn’t in the mood for that conversation.

So that left two drones.

Uzi sighed, leaning back in her chair as she thought about Thad. Their friendship was still in this weird in-between state—not quite like it used to be, but not unfamiliar either. There were moments when it felt like no time had passed at all, when he cracked a dumb joke or teased her like they were still in middle school. But then there were other times, like now, when she was painfully aware of how much time they’d spent apart.

She hated thinking about it. How she’d moved away, how they lost touch. How years went by without a single word between them until recently. It wasn’t anyone’s fault, really—things just happened. But that didn’t make the sting of it any less real.

Still, now that she was back, it was like they were picking up where they left off. And the more she thought about it, the more it made sense—Thad would be the perfect drone to help her. They weren’t as close as they used to be, but she still trusted him. And more importantly, she knew he wouldn’t shut her down. He wasn’t like Emily, too shaken by the murder to even consider digging deeper. If anything, Thad seemed more annoyed by how much drones were talking about it rather than scared.

He’d probably think this whole thing was ridiculous, sure. But he wouldn’t say no.

And really, that was all she needed.

The thought of bringing N into this made Uzi hesitate, a feeling creeping up in her that she didn’t really want to acknowledge. Guilt.

N had taken the news of the murder harder than most, even though he tried to act like it didn’t affect him that much. He still smiled, still acted like his usual self, still tried to be positive. But Uzi noticed the small things—the way he tensed up when the topic came up, how he hugged himself a little too tightly when he thought no one was looking, how his usual warmth felt just a little forced.

She didn’t pity him. That wasn’t it. But she did feel for him, even if she didn’t know why. Maybe it was because she knew what it was like to put on a front, to pretend things didn’t bother you when they really did.

Before that train of thought could go any further, Uzi shut it down, pushing away whatever strange emotions had started bubbling up. None of that mattered right now.

What did matter was that, out of everyone, N seemed like the most willing to help. Not in the way Thad would—Thad would probably agree just because he had nothing better to do, or because it sounded like a fun distraction. But N? N would do it because he cared.

And that made a difference.

Thad might be helpful, sure, but he had a habit of goofing off or not taking things seriously, whether he meant to or not. That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it could be frustrating. N, on the other hand, wouldn’t get distracted. He’d actually try his best, would genuinely want to help. That was just how he was—or at least, that was how Uzi saw him.

And if she was really going to do this, she needed someone like that on her side.

And with that, Uzi made up her mind.

Tomorrow, she would tell Thad and N about her plan. She would ask them to help, lay out what she was thinking, and see if they were on board. It wasn’t like she needed anyone’s approval—if they said no, she’d still go through with it—but having them with her would make a difference. Thad, with his carefree attitude, would make things feel a little less heavy. And N… well, N would actually take it seriously. He would help because he wanted to, because that’s just the kind of drone he was.

It felt strange, relying on others like this. She was used to doing things alone, always assuming no one would really get her. But now, for the first time in a long time, she had people she trusted. Drones who, despite everything, cared.

Uzi cringed again at that thought. Ugh, that sounded so sentimental. Gross.

Shaking her head, she let out a sigh and shut her eyes, forcing herself to push all these thoughts away. What mattered now was tomorrow. She had a plan, a purpose, something to focus on.

Now all she had to do was get some sleep and wait for morning to come.

Easier said than done.

Chapter Text

As Uzi walked into school, she ran through her plan again in her mind. Step one: find N and Thad. Step two: tell them she wanted to investigate the murder. Step three: ask if they’d help. Simple.

Or at least, it should be.

The more she thought about it, though, the more she realized she had no idea how to bring it up. It wasn’t exactly the kind of thing you just blurted out in the middle of casual conversation. Hey, so I was thinking about sneaking into a crime scene. You in? Yeah, no. That would get her nothing but weird looks.

She needed a strategy. Maybe she could pull them aside the next time she saw them—find a quiet spot, away from nosy classmates and teachers. The last thing she wanted was someone overhearing and thinking she was crazy. If she was lucky, she’d get the chance to talk to both of them at once, saving her the trouble of explaining it twice. But if not, she could tell them separately first, then bring them together later.

That seemed like the best approach. It would give her time to gauge their reactions, make sure they were actually on board before committing to anything. If one of them said no—though she doubted they would—she’d still have the other. Either way, she wasn’t backing down.

Now, she just had to figure out when and where to do it.

Before Uzi could dwell on her plan any longer, she instinctively checked her phone—and her stomach dropped. One minute until class started.

Her thoughts screeched to a halt, panic kicking in as she shoved her phone back into her pocket and bolted down the hallway. Her boots clanked loudly against the floor as she weaved between students who were still lingering by their lockers, completely oblivious to her crisis.

She cursed under her breath, pushing herself to move faster. If she was late, that would only make her day more annoying than it already promised to be. The last thing she needed was a teacher lecturing her while she was trying to figure out how to recruit her ‘investigation team.’

Just as the final bell was about to ring, she slipped into the classroom, breathless but victorious.

-

Third period. Finally.

Uzi had never given much thought to this class before—just another period to suffer through—but ever since she actually met N, she realized he’d been here the whole time. It was weird to think about. Before, he had just been another background character in the blur of students she ignored. Now? He was someone she actually knew. Someone who, for better or worse, she actually noticed.

As she walked into the classroom, she made her way to her assigned seat. That was probably why they hadn’t met earlier—her seat was all the way across the room from his. If they’d been sitting anywhere near each other, maybe she would’ve known him sooner. Maybe.

When she passed by, N caught sight of her and immediately perked up. He shot her a small smile and a wave—nothing over-the-top, just a casual, friendly gesture. Without thinking much about it, Uzi waved back just as easily before settling into her seat.

Then the teacher started talking, and Uzi immediately checked out.

Tuning out the dull, muttering voice at the front of the room, she flipped open her notebook—not to take notes, obviously, but to start aimlessly doodling in the margins. Her mind drifted, her pencil skimming across the paper as she filled the page with meaningless shapes and patterns. She could already tell this was going to be another long, boring lecture.

After about 10 minutes of what seemed like mindless rambling, the teacher, a middle-aged woman with a habit of talking way too much, suddenly clapped her hands together, snapping Uzi out of her daze. The sharp sound made her flinch just a little—not enough for anyone to notice, but enough to pull her back into the present. She barely had time to process her irritation before the teacher launched into her next announcement.

“Alright, everyone, listen up! For the next part of today’s lesson, you’ll be working in pairs.”

A collective groan rippled through the classroom. No one liked partner work—not because it was hard, but because it was work. Uzi herself would normally be among the ones grumbling. The idea of being forced to collaborate with someone, making small talk and pretending to care, was always a nightmare.

But then—

“—and since I’m feeling generous today, you can pick your own partners.”

The atmosphere of the room instantly changed. The previously unmotivated students suddenly perked up, murmuring excitedly as they scanned the room for their friends.

And Uzi?

For once, she actually felt relieved.

This was perfect. Way too perfect.

She could ask N to be her partner, and in doing so, she’d have the perfect opportunity to tell him about her plan. She wouldn’t have to wait, or awkwardly pull him aside later—this had just handed her the chance she needed on a silver platter.

She was so caught off guard by how well this worked out that she almost didn’t move right away. It wasn’t often the universe actually helped her. Normally, things went out of their way to be inconvenient. But now, for the first time in a while, things were actually in her favor.

She wasn’t about to waste it.

The classroom quickly descended into chaotic chatter as students moved around, finding their friends and claiming spots to work. Some stayed at their desks, while others perched on countertops or leaned against walls, making themselves comfortable wherever they could. The teacher, who had long since given up on enforcing any real order during partner work, didn’t seem to mind as long as everyone at least pretended to be productive.

Uzi wasted no time. She pushed back her chair and maneuvered through the clusters of students, heading straight for the other side of the room. N had been mid-conversation with someone sitting nearby, but when he caught sight of her approaching, his expression brightened.

“Oh! Hey, Uzi,” he greeted, his usual upbeat energy shining through.

“Hey,” she replied casually. “Wanna partner up?”

If she had any concerns about him hesitating, they were gone in an instant. N immediately nodded, his smile widening. “Yeah, totally!” He sounded genuinely happy about it, like he would’ve said yes even if she hadn’t been his only option.

Uzi glanced at the desks around him. The drones nearby were already getting a little too chatty for her liking. It was the perfect excuse to get N away from them—not that she actually cared about distractions. The real issue was making sure no one overheard what she wanted to talk to him about.

“This spot’s kinda crowded,” she said, keeping her tone neutral. “Wanna move somewhere quieter?”

N didn’t seem to pick up on the real reason behind her suggestion. He just nodded enthusiastically, already pushing his chair back. “Good idea. It’d be way easier to focus.”

As he got up, Uzi scanned the room for a better spot. There were students sitting just about everywhere—some on counters, some sprawled out against walls—but then, she spotted it. A corner of the room, tucked away behind a desk, completely unoccupied.

Perfect.

She gestured toward it. “Over there. No one’s around.”

N followed her gaze and gave an approving nod. “Looks good to me.”

With that, the two of them made their way across the room, slipping past other students who were too preoccupied with their own conversations to pay them any attention. As they walked, Uzi’s mind raced. This was her chance—she just had to find the right moment to bring it up.

As soon as they reached the spot, Uzi slid down against the wall, stretching her legs out in front of her. N followed suit, settling beside her with an easy motion. He crossed his legs and pulled out the worksheet, propping it against a folder as he grabbed his pencil.

Uzi immediately saw where this was going. He was actually going to do the assignment. That wasn’t going to work for her. She needed to speak up before he got too focused—or worse, before she lost her nerve entirely.

Without giving herself a chance to overthink it, she blurted out, “Hey, I need to talk to you about something important.”

N’s pencil paused just above the paper. He blinked, glancing over at her with mild confusion. “Oh? What’s up?” His expression wasn’t concerned, just curious.

Uzi hesitated for a fraction of a second, still figuring out how to approach this. She knew she couldn’t just come right out and say, Hey, wanna help me investigate a murder? That was a guaranteed way to make him either panic or think she was insane.

“I need help with something,” she started carefully, keeping her voice low. “And… I think you’re the best drone to ask.”

That seemed to catch his interest. He tilted his head slightly, pencil still poised between his fingers. “Really?”

Uzi nodded, her tone matter-of-fact. “Yeah. I trust you.” She said it plainly, without any sentimental weight, just as a statement of fact.

At that, N’s expression shifted slightly. He straightened up a bit, clearly intrigued now. “Okay… I’m listening.”

Good. She had his attention. Now came the hard part—actually explaining what she wanted from him.

Uzi took a careful breath, choosing her words with precision. “…Obviously, you know about what happened the other day,” she began, keeping her tone as steady as possible.

At that, N’s curiosity wavered for just a second. His expression flickered—just a brief change, like something heavy had settled in his mind—but he didn’t interrupt or look away. He just listened, his focus entirely on her. That, at least, was reassuring.

Encouraged, she continued, “It’s been bothering me. I mean, I’m sure it’s been bothering everyone.” She glanced at him pointedly. “Probably you, too.”

N didn’t react strongly, but there was something in the way he held himself—like he was bracing for whatever she was leading up to.

Uzi pressed on. “I’ve been thinking a lot about it. No one talks about it, but it’s still there—hanging over everyone’s heads. And it’s not like the police are making any big progress. No breakthroughs, no answers.” She paused, gauging his reaction. N nodded slightly, his brows knitting together just a little. He looked mildly confused, like he wasn’t sure where she was going with this, but he kept listening nonetheless.

Now came the real moment.

Uzi hesitated for a fraction of a second before forcing herself to push forward. “So… I want to figure it out. Solve it.” She locked eyes with him, making sure her words carried weight. “I want to find out what really happened. Who did it. And get justice for the victim.”

N blinked. His posture straightened slightly, as if trying to fully process what she’d just said.

“If we do that,” she added, “then maybe everyone can stop looking over their shoulders, wondering if they’re next.”

She let those words settle between them, watching closely for his reaction.

N's expression shifted almost imperceptibly at first, his usual bright and easygoing demeanor replaced by something more guarded and serious. The kind of serious Uzi didn’t often see from him. He leaned back slightly, his posture stiffening as he processed what she had just proposed. His gaze lingered on her for a moment, searching her face as if he wasn’t entirely sure whether to take her seriously or not.

After a brief, uncomfortable pause, his words tumbled out, a little hesitantly. “Wait... are you… asking me to help you with this?” His voice was softer, but the edge of disbelief was evident.

Uzi nodded, her expression steady, but she could sense the weight of the situation finally settling on him. He stared at her for a moment, lips parted, as though trying to find the right words—words that could somehow convey what was going through his head.

Then, with a deep exhale, N seemed to zone out for a moment, lost in his own thoughts, his eyes unfocused. The seriousness didn’t quite fade, but the initial shock seemed to settle into concern.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he spoke again, his tone much softer, but filled with a distinct edge of worry. “Uzi, whoever did this… they’re not just some regular drone. They're dangerous. And if you actually find out who it is...” He swallowed, his hands fidgeting slightly, betraying his nervousness. “What if they find out you’re on to them? What if they hurt you?”

His expression grew even more troubled as he leaned in slightly, his voice quieter. “I— I wouldn’t want that. I care about you. A lot.” His eyes flickered with something deeper for a second, but the vulnerability in his voice remained. “I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you.”

Uzi could see the earnestness in his eyes, the way his entire demeanor was wrapped in concern. He was worried for her, and she could feel it—he wasn’t just saying words to be comforting, but because he genuinely cared.

Uzi felt a strange, almost inexplicable warmth spread across her chest after N's words. It was like something soft and unfamiliar settled inside her—a feeling she wasn’t used to. His concern for her, the genuine care in his voice, stirred something in her that made her feel almost... fuzzy? She didn’t know what to make of it. It made her feel strange, maybe even a little flustered. It wasn’t exactly discomforting, but it was definitely something she hadn’t anticipated.

Her face flushed slightly, the warmth creeping up her neck as she tried to shake off the feelings that followed his words. She brushed her fingers over her cheek, attempting to distract herself from the odd sensation. It wasn’t that she disliked the warmth of his care—it was just that it felt too much, too real for her to process right now.

Before she could say anything in response, N spoke again, his voice cutting through her thoughts. “So... what if I said no? What would you do? Would you still go after this on your own?”

Uzi blinked at him, her mind temporarily pulled away from the swirl of emotions she was trying to make sense of. She quickly wiped her hand over her face, feeling the warmth in her cheeks again as she rubbed it away. She cleared her throat, a little self-conscious, and then met his gaze as she spoke, her voice hesitating slightly.

“I… I would still do it,” she said slowly, her gaze steady. “I’ve already made up my mind. Even if you don’t help me, I’m not backing down.” Her voice was quieter now, the conviction clearer in her words than before. She wasn’t going to let anything stop her from finding out the truth. “But… I was also going to see if Thad would help.” She added, a small, sheepish smile spreading on her face as she spoke.

N didn’t respond immediately, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—uncertainty, maybe? He furrowed his brow slightly, clearly processing her words. After a beat, he asked, “Okay, but... what if Thad says no? What then?”

Uzi paused at that, the question hanging in the air as she thought it over. The possibility of Thad not agreeing to help hadn’t crossed her mind in that way. She didn’t even let herself entertain it for too long.

“No,” she replied, after a moment’s consideration. “If Thad says no, it won’t change anything. I’m doing this, whether I have help or not.”

Her tone was firm now, more sure of herself than she’d felt in the conversation up to that point. It wasn’t about the help—if they helped, great. If not, she’d still find a way. She wasn’t going to back down from this investigation. Not now.

N remained quiet for a moment, his eyes scanning her face as if searching for any sign that she might be wavering. But Uzi’s resolve remained firm. Despite the uncertainty and the vulnerability that N had shown, Uzi was more determined than ever to see this through—on her own, or with help.

N’s gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, his brow furrowed slightly as he weighed her words. He let out a slow breath and gave a small nod, his tone more steady now, though there was a trace of hesitation lingering in his voice. “Alright... I’ll help you. You’re right—I can’t just let you do this on your own.” His words were deliberate, more certain than before. He was still clearly processing the gravity of the situation, but the decision was made, and Uzi could feel the shift in him.

The relief that washed over Uzi was immediate and almost overwhelming. A weight she hadn’t realized she was carrying seemed to lift from her chest. She exhaled, her shoulders relaxing as she felt a renewed sense of confidence. A slight smile tugged at her lips, though it was tempered by the seriousness of their conversation. “Thanks, N,” she said softly, genuinely grateful. “I’ve already gathered a lot of info about the situation. I’ve been looking into it for a while now.”

The words flowed naturally, the relief in her voice clear as she spoke. For a brief moment, she allowed herself to savor the fact that N had agreed to help. But even as she said it, a thought crept into her mind.

N had been right. The danger of doing this alone hadn’t truly hit her until now. She hadn’t even thought about the risks involved—what if the drone behind all this was dangerous? What if she put herself in harm’s way trying to uncover the truth? Uzi felt a pang of unease, but it was quickly replaced by a renewed sense of determination. With N agreeing to be by her side, she wouldn’t have to carry the burden alone.

Now that the decision had been made, she couldn’t help but feel more certain than ever. The weight of uncertainty that had hung over her was now replaced with a clearer path ahead. She wasn’t alone in this anymore. Together, they would solve the mystery—and that sense of solidarity filled her with a quiet strength.

Chapter Text

Uzi sat slouched at her desk, eyes locked onto her computer screen as she mashed the controls, immersed in the fast-paced chaos of her game. Each click and movement felt almost mechanical—muscle memory guiding her through the motions. She had long since tuned out the world around her, fully absorbed in the gameplay. But as the match concluded and the victory screen flashed across her monitor, the sense of satisfaction was fleeting. Letting out a quiet sigh, she exited the game, her cursor hovering over the shut-down option for a second before finally clicking it. The hum of the PC fans slowed, then faded into silence as the screen went black.

Leaning back in her chair, she grabbed her phone from the desk and checked the time—8:36 PM.

For a moment, she just stared at the numbers, her mind shifting gears as she recalled what she had meant to do. The realization hit her quickly: she never got around to talking to Thad. They didn’t share any classes, and lunch had been just as chaotic as ever, leaving no real opportunity to pull him aside. But she did remember mentioning it to him in passing, telling him she needed to talk to him about something important in private.

That, of course, had only made him suspicious.

Thad had immediately started pestering her, demanding to know what it was about. His curiosity had been relentless, and he hadn’t exactly been subtle about it either. She could practically hear his exasperated tone in her head, recalling how he had kept pressing her for answers. But she had stood her ground, refusing to tell him right then and there. Eventually, he had given up—but not without some grumbling, clearly annoyed that she was making him wait.

Uzi sighed, tapping her fingers against the side of her phone as she mulled over what to do next. It wasn’t like she could just leave this conversation for another day—she needed to talk to him. And sooner rather than later.

Uzi exhaled through her nose, gripping her phone a little tighter as she made up her mind. She’d FaceTime Thad. It was the quickest way to get this over with—assuming he even picked up. If he didn’t, well, that would be a whole other problem. She really didn’t want to wait until tomorrow to do this.

Tapping over to his contact, she hesitated for only a second before pressing the call button. The screen displayed the ringing animation, and she braced herself, half-expecting him to ignore it. But after the third ring, the screen flickered, and Thad’s face appeared.

He was lounging in bed, propped up against his pillows, looking completely at ease. His hoodie was slightly rumpled, and his posture screamed relaxation. The way he answered was just as nonchalant—his tone cool and casual. “Yo.”

Uzi felt a small wave of relief that he had actually picked up. “Hey.”

Thad raised an eyebrow. “So? What’s up?”

She didn’t waste time getting to the point. “You remember earlier? When I said I needed to talk to you in private?”

At that, his interest visibly piqued. His expression shifted from indifferent to intrigued, and he leaned slightly closer to the camera. “Ohhh, yeah. The super ‘secret’ thing you wouldn’t tell me at lunch.”

She could already tell where this was going. He started prodding at her. “So are you going to tell me or what?” He stated eagerly. “You were being so dramatic about it - is it really that important?” He exaggerated his words as he spoke.

Uzi rolled her eyes, cutting him off. “Okay, shut up. I’m literally about to tell you.”

Thad huffed, clearly unimpressed with her attitude, but still leaned back against his pillows with a resigned look. “Fine, fine. Go ahead.”

Uzi leaned back in her chair, gripping her phone with both hands as she exhaled. “Alright, I’m just gonna be blunt with you.”

Thad raised an eyebrow, waiting.

Unlike with N, she didn’t feel the need to dance around her words. She knew Thad well enough to know that sugarcoating things wasn’t necessary—he could handle straightforwardness. It wasn’t that N was weak or anything, but he was definitely more sensitive, more inclined to worry. Thad, on the other hand, wasn’t like that.

She met his gaze through the screen. “You remember what happened recently? The announcement. The student that was—”  She didn’t even have to finish the sentence.

Thad’s easygoing demeanor flickered for just a second. It wasn’t a huge reaction, but she caught it—a brief tensing of his shoulders, the way his fingers curled slightly where they rested on his blanket.

There was a beat of hesitation before he responded, his voice measured. “Yeah… what about it?”

He wasn’t exactly nervous, not the way N had been. But there was something there—something guarded, cautious. His expression wasn’t tense, but his usual laid-back air felt just a little forced now, like he was trying to read where she was going with this before giving away too much himself.

Uzi exhaled, leaning forward slightly. "Look, I’ve been thinking about this a lot. The police aren’t doing anything—or if they are, they’re being way too quiet about it. Meanwhile, everyone at school is just sitting around, waiting to see if they’re next. So I figured… why not try to figure it out myself? Find out who did it and stop them."

Thad blinked. Then, after a brief pause, he let out an awkward laugh. "Okay, yeah, sure. Funny. You got me. Now quit messing around."

Uzi’s eyes narrowed. "I’m not joking, Thad."

That made him stop. His grin faltered slightly, his head tilting as he gave her a more scrutinizing look.

"...Wait. You're serious?" His tone was different now—less amused, more incredulous.

Uzi folded her arms. "Yes, I’m serious." She then cut straight to the point. "I want your help. I don’t wanna do this alone. And I trust you."

Thad didn’t respond immediately. He just stared at her through the screen, like he was waiting for her to suddenly crack a smile and say Gotcha! or something. But she didn’t.

After a few seconds, he let out a slow breath, running a hand down his face. "You’re actually being for real right now?"

Uzi’s patience was running thin. She scoffed, her voice sharper now. “Yes, Thad. I just said that."

Thad rubbed the back of his head, looking uncomfortable. He took a moment before sighing. “Look, Uzi… I’m sorry, but I don’t want to get involved in all that.” His voice was firm, but there was no hostility in it. Just honesty.

Uzi blinked. She wasn’t sure what she had expected, but it wasn’t this. She figured he might hesitate or need some convincing, but outright refusing? That caught her off guard.

Thad continued, his expression serious. “No hard feelings or anything. I just… I don’t think it’s a good idea, and I don’t wanna be part of it.”

Uzi sat there in silence for a moment, processing. She wasn’t upset—she got it. It wasn’t exactly a low-stakes situation. But still, something in her pushed her to ask, “Why?”

She wasn’t demanding, wasn’t trying to guilt him into changing his mind. She just genuinely wanted to know.

Thad exhaled sharply, shifting slightly in his bed before speaking bluntly. “Uzi, it’s obviously dangerous. You know that, right?” His tone wasn’t condescending, just straightforward. “And, no offense, but you’re being impulsive about this.”

Uzi tensed. That stung more than she wanted to admit. She had expected reluctance from him, sure, but outright calling her impulsive? That hit a nerve. She felt the urge to snap back, to argue, but before she could, she hesitated. Because… as much as she hated to admit it, he wasn’t entirely wrong. She had jumped headfirst into this investigation without fully thinking through how dangerous it could actually be.

She sighed, her frustration deflating into something more resigned. “Yeah… I guess I can understand why you said no.” She leaned back against her chair, running a hand through her hair. It wasn’t what she wanted to hear, but at least he wasn’t sugarcoating it.

Thad nodded, his expression lightening just a bit. “Good luck, then. Not that you need it. I already know you’re gonna do this anyway.”

Uzi let out a small laugh, shaking her head. “You know me too well.”

Thad smirked slightly, then shifted in his bed. “Speaking of you being impulsive—did you see that ridiculous stunt someone pulled in gym today? I swear, it was almost as reckless as something you’d do.”

Uzi rolled her eyes but couldn’t help but smirk as the conversation drifted into something more casual.

-

Their conversation carried on for about an hour, shifting between random topics, inside jokes, and occasional sarcastic remarks. It was easy, familiar—just the usual back-and-forth that made time slip by without either of them noticing. But eventually, the conversation wound down, and with a few final words, they both said goodbye and hung up.

As the call ended, Uzi let out a deep breath, sinking back into her chair. The room was quiet again, save for the distant hum of her computer’s fan. Her mind drifted back to their conversation, but more than that, she kept circling back to the part that lingered the most—Thad outright refusing to help. She had half-expected him to joke about it, maybe even hesitate before eventually giving in, but instead, he’d called her impulsive and shut the idea down completely.

And yeah, maybe she was impulsive. She could admit that much to herself. But so what? What was wrong with wanting to do something about this? A student had been murdered, and no one seemed to be doing anything. If she could figure out who was responsible, she could stop it from happening again. That was the only thing that mattered.

Her fingers drummed against her desk as she thought about how differently N had reacted. Unlike Thad, N hadn’t shut her down or called her impulsive. He had hesitated, sure, but in the end, he had agreed to help. Maybe if she had told Thad that N was on board, he would’ve reacted differently. Maybe he would’ve felt more inclined to say yes. Or maybe not. Either way, she chose not to dwell on it too much. She had a goal, and with or without Thad, she was going to see it through.

Chapter Text

The morning sun filtered through the bus windows, casting streaks of light across the worn seats. Uzi sat in her usual spot, near the back, resting her head against the cool glass. She slipped her headphones in, drowning out the distant chatter of other students as she stared out at the passing streets. The usual routine. The world outside blurred into streaks of color, but her mind was sharp, already mapping out her next steps.

She had spent the night thinking—too much, probably. There was no doubt in her mind that she needed to move forward with the investigation. And now, with N officially on board, it was time to loop him in on her plan. The timing couldn’t be better. He’d be getting on the bus soon, and that meant they could talk before school started.

As the bus made its usual stops, Uzi subtly glanced toward the front, keeping an eye on the students boarding. Her anticipation built with each stop, and just as she was beginning to grow impatient, she finally spotted a familiar figure stepping onto the bus. Sure enough, there was N, his bright yellow eyes scanning the rows of seats.

Uzi tugged out one of her earbuds, making a point to catch his eye. She gave him a small wave—not too obvious, but enough to get his attention. N’s expression lit up when he saw her, and he waved back enthusiastically before making his way over. Sliding into the seat beside her, he grinned.

“Morning, Uzi!” he greeted cheerfully. “How’d you sleep?”

She sighed, rubbing her eyes. “Terribly,” she admitted bluntly.

N’s cheerful expression softened, his brows knitting together slightly. It wasn’t pity—Uzi could tell he wasn’t the type to pity others—but there was an unmistakable empathy in his eyes.

“That sucks,” he said, his voice quieter now. “I hope you get better sleep soon.”

She let out a tired chuckle. “Yeah, me too.”

As the bus continued down the road, she found herself lost in thought again. Sleep had felt impossible lately—mentally, she was drained, but physically, her body refused to shut down. Every night, her mind ran in circles, replaying whatever was on her mind over and over, refusing to let her rest. It was exhausting. But now wasn’t the time to dwell on that. She had a plan, and she needed to tell N about it.

Uzi pulled out her other earbud, wrapping the cords around her fingers before tucking them into her bag. Normally, she wouldn’t bother—her music was a lifeline, especially on the bus—but right now, she needed to focus. This conversation was too important to be half-listening.

She turned to N, exhaling slightly before getting straight to the point. “You remember what I asked you yesterday?” she started, keeping her voice low. “About helping me figure out who’s behind the murder?”

N didn’t seem particularly surprised, but there was a brief flicker of something in his expression—hesitation, maybe. He stiffened ever so slightly before nodding. “Yeah…?” he said. “What about it?”

Uzi leaned in a bit, lowering her voice even more. “I’ve got a plan now. A real plan.”

At that, N straightened, his usual relaxed posture shifting as he gave her his full attention. “Alright,” he said, sounding genuinely interested. “What’s the plan?”

She glanced around the bus quickly before continuing. “I want to go to the crime scene. The janitor’s closet—the one that’s still marked off with caution tape.”

N blinked, tilting his head slightly. “Wait, hold on. You mean actually go in there?”

“Yeah.”

He raised a brow, looking skeptical. “You do realize they have the place blocked off for a reason, right?” He gestured vaguely. “Like you just said, it’s literally marked. No one’s gonna just let us waltz in.”

Uzi smirked slightly. “I know. But hear me out—I have an idea.”

N watched her carefully, his expression somewhere between intrigued and concerned, but he didn’t interrupt. He just waited, ready to hear whatever crazy plan she was about to suggest.

Uzi leaned in just a bit more, her voice steady but laced with excitement. “We go in after hours,” she said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Once everyone’s gone.”

N blinked, looking at her like he wasn’t sure he heard her right. “Wait… Are you saying we should break into the school?”

Uzi shrugged, unfazed. “I guess so.”

N stared at her for a second before leaning back slightly, processing her words. His initial surprise faded into something more uneasy. “Uzi… I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” he said slowly. “If we get caught, we could get into serious trouble. And isn’t, like… interfering with a crime scene illegal?”

Uzi made a face, unimpressed. “It’s only illegal if we get caught.”

N scoffed at that, letting out a breath of disbelief before laughing lightly. “Oh yeah, because that makes it better.”

Uzi smirked slightly, undeterred. “I’m serious. As long as we’re smart about it, we should be fine.”

N still didn’t look convinced, but the hesitation in his expression was now mixed with reluctant intrigue. He wasn’t saying no… at least, not yet.

N let out a slow breath, rubbing the back of his head as he finally gave in. “Alright… fine. But now we need to figure out the best way to actually do this.” His eyes flicked toward her, uncertain but willing. “How are we even getting inside after school ends?”

At that, Uzi’s lips curled into a smirk. “We don’t leave.”

N furrowed his brows slightly. “Wait—what?”

“We stay after,” Uzi clarified, leaning forward slightly as if she was letting him in on some grand secret. “We just wait it out until the evening.”

N frowned, his fingers tapping idly against his knee as he considered it. “How? Drones would notice if we stuck around for no reason. Teachers, staff… someone’s bound to get suspicious.”

Uzi waved a hand dismissively. “Easy. We go to the library. If anyone asks, we’re studying.” She paused before adding, “And besides, there are places in there that are pretty well hidden. If we time it right and lay low, no one’s going to find us.”

N was silent for a moment, processing her plan. He nodded slowly, then repeated it back to her in a brief summary to make sure he had it right. “So, after school, we meet in the library like we’re just studying. Then we wait it out and hide until it’s empty, and once it’s late enough, we sneak out and head to the crime scene.”

Uzi gave him an approving nod. “Exactly.”

N still looked a little uneasy, but there was a determined glint in his eyes now. “Alright,” he said with a sigh, “I’ll meet you there after school.”

Uzi leaned back, satisfied. “Good. Just don’t be late.”

N let out a small, nervous chuckle, but there was a hint of a smile behind it. “Yeah… wouldn’t want to miss our ‘study session.’”

Chapter Text

All throughout the day, a gnawing feeling settled in Uzi’s stomach—an anxious, restless energy that she couldn’t quite shake. Was it nerves? Excitement? Some strange, tangled mix of both? Either way, it made it impossible to focus.

Her classes blurred together, the words of her teachers fading into background noise as her mind wandered. Every so often, she’d snap herself back to attention, only to get lost in thought again moments later. What if this actually worked? What if she and N really uncovered something—exposed the murderer lurking in plain sight? It was a thrilling, almost cinematic idea, but reality wasn’t a movie. There was a very real chance they wouldn’t find anything at all. Or worse… that they’d find something they weren’t prepared to handle.

And yet, despite the uncertainty, her determination didn’t waver. Reckless? Maybe. But she wasn’t going to just sit back and do nothing.

By the time the final bell rang, the weight in her chest hadn’t eased. If anything, it had only grown heavier. Adjusting her backpack straps, she took a steadying breath and headed toward the library. This was it—the beginning of everything.

Uzi pushed open the heavy library doors, and a wave of cool, conditioned air met her, prickling against her metal frame. She shivered slightly, stepping inside and letting the door shut softly behind her.

The school’s library was more expansive than most, stretching wide with towering bookshelves lining the back half of the room, forming a labyrinth of knowledge. The front was more open, filled with neatly arranged tables and study areas where students sat hunched over textbooks or quietly whispering among themselves. The lighting was soft, a mix of warm overhead fixtures and the natural glow filtering through large windows near the entrance. The scent of aged paper and ink lingered in the air, a subtle contrast to the faint hum of the air conditioning.

Uzi’s sharp eyes scanned the room, searching for the perfect spot—somewhere secluded, yet not too far from the entrance to the dense rows of bookshelves. Her gaze landed on a table positioned near the middle of the open area, just on the edge of where the organized space dissolved into a maze of towering shelves. It was tucked away enough to avoid prying eyes, but still within reach of an easy escape if needed.

Without hesitation, she strode toward it, her footsteps muffled by the thick carpet. The quiet atmosphere of the library was only occasionally interrupted by the faint rustle of pages turning or hushed conversations from students working together. She pulled out a chair, the legs scraping softly against the floor, and sat down. Sliding her bag off her shoulder, she set it beside her and pulled out a few books—props to sell the illusion that she was here to study.

Now, all she had to do was wait for N to show up.

As if on cue, the library doors swung open again, and Uzi glanced up just in time to see N step inside. He paused for a moment, scanning the room, his eyes flicking over the various tables and rows of bookshelves until they landed on her. Spotting her, he perked up slightly and gave a small, friendly wave before weaving his way through the tables toward her.

When he reached the table, he let his bag slip off his shoulder, setting it down with a soft thud before pulling out the chair beside her and sitting down. Uzi leaned back slightly, arms crossed, a smirk tugging at her lips. “Look who finally decided to show up,” she remarked, her tone teasing.

N chuckled, shaking his head. “Hey, I wasn’t trying to be late,” he defended lightly. “Some of us actually had to get through the hall traffic.” His expression was amused, his usual cheerful demeanor as present as ever.

As he spoke, his eyes drifted to the books Uzi had spread out on the table, and taking the hint, he reached into his bag. He pulled out a notebook, a couple of pencils, and a slightly worn folder before placing them neatly in front of him. He shuffled them absentmindedly, tapping one of the pencils against the edge of the table as he leaned in slightly toward Uzi.

“So,” he murmured, keeping his voice low, “what’s the plan now?”

Uzi didn’t look up from the book she had flipped open, turning a page idly. “We wait,” she answered simply.

N raised a brow. “Wait for what, exactly?”

She finally glanced up at him, tilting her head slightly. “For most of the students to clear out,” she explained. “Once the place is empty enough, we go hide and wait for the building to close.”

N frowned thoughtfully, tapping the eraser of his pencil against the table. “And where exactly are we supposed to hide?”

Uzi turned slightly in her seat and subtly gestured toward the entrance of the vast bookshelves behind them. “There,” she said. “It’s like a maze back there—tons of places no one would bother checking.”

N followed her gaze, his expression shifting as he considered her words. After a moment, he nodded, a small look of approval crossing his face. “Yeah… that could work,” he agreed. “That’s actually a solid plan.”

Uzi smirked, satisfied. “Of course it is.”

N flipped open his folder, pulling out a slightly crumpled sheet of paper and smoothing it out on the table. He grabbed a pencil and, without hesitation, started writing.

Uzi glanced over, raising a brow. “What are you doing?” she asked, tilting her head slightly.

N didn’t look up as he continued jotting something down. “Homework,” he replied casually. “Might as well get it out of the way while we wait.”

Uzi scoffed, leaning back in her chair. “Yeah, no thanks. I think I’ll just take a nap instead.” She folded her arms, already getting comfortable.

N let out an exaggerated sigh, finally lifting his head to look at her. “Uzi,” he said, giving her a knowing look, “you shouldn’t procrastinate. Especially when you have nothing else to do.” His voice wasn’t scolding in a harsh way, more like someone offering genuine advice.

Uzi rolled her eyes, a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. “Do you even know me?” she shot back. “Procrastination is, like, my favorite pastime.”

N shook his head with a quiet laugh. “Yeah, I figured.” He didn’t push the subject further, just turning his attention back to his paper and continuing his work.

For a moment, Uzi simply watched him, then stared down at her own bag, debating silently. The idea of getting ahead on homework was definitely unappealing, but… maybe he had a point. It wasn’t like she had anything better to do until the library cleared out.

With a resigned sigh, she grabbed her bag, pulled out a pencil, and flipped open one of her workbooks. Reluctantly, she turned to the page she had been avoiding and started writing.

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught N glancing up. When he noticed her actually working, he smiled softly, just for a second, before going back to his paper.

Uzi blinked at that, surprised by how oddly contagious that small gesture was. Before she knew it, she found herself smiling, too.

-

The next hour passed in an oddly peaceful rhythm. More and more students filtered out of the library, some leaving in pairs, others alone, until only a handful remained. Uzi kept herself occupied with her homework, occasionally nudging N for help when a question stumped her. Sometimes, the two of them would lapse into quiet conversation, exchanging the occasional sarcastic remark or joke to pass the time. For once, everything felt strangely normal—almost like they were just two students staying late to study.

As Uzi worked, she absentmindedly glanced out the window. The sky had darkened slightly—not quite sunset, but the daylight was starting to fade. It was a subtle but clear reminder that time was moving forward, and soon, the school would be empty.

That was when she noticed a teacher moving about the library, stopping by tables to speak with the remaining students. Uzi observed as, one by one, the students packed up their things and made their way to the exit. It didn’t take long for her to piece together what was happening—whoever this teacher was, probably the librarian, she was telling people to leave.

Uzi tensed slightly and, as quietly as possible, began sliding her books back into her bag.

N, noticing her sudden movement, furrowed his brow. “What’s up?” he asked, keeping his voice low.

Uzi leaned in slightly, whispering, “That teacher—she’s making people leave. I think the school’s about to close.” She subtly nodded in the librarian’s direction as the woman spoke to another student.

N followed her gaze, watching for a moment before nodding in understanding. Without further question, he started packing up his things as well, though there was a hint of tension in his movements now.

Once his bag was packed, N glanced at Uzi again. “Alright, so what now?” he murmured.

Uzi’s eyes flicked toward the rows of bookshelves behind them, then back to N. Keeping her voice low, she said, “We wait until she’s distracted, then we slip into the shelves. If we time it right, she won’t even notice we’re still here.”

N exhaled quietly and gave a small nod, shifting slightly in his seat. “Alright… let’s hope this works.”

Uzi smirked slightly, eyes glinting with anticipation. “It will.”

Uzi pulled the zipper of her bag closed with painstaking care, ensuring it didn’t make a sound. She turned to N, eyes sharp with focus. “Next time she stops to talk to a student, that’s when we move,” she whispered.

N gave a small nod, his expression serious. The two of them fell silent, their attention fixed on the librarian as she slowly made her way around the room. Uzi’s heart pounded in her chest, the tension almost suffocating. Every second felt stretched out, agonizingly slow, as they waited for the right moment. She tightened her grip on her bag strap, fingers clenching instinctively.

Then—finally—the opportunity came.

The librarian stopped beside a student lounging on a beanbag chair, bending slightly to speak with them. Her back was fully turned, her attention elsewhere. It was now or never.

Uzi and N locked eyes, exchanging a silent understanding. Uzi barely moved her lips as she mouthed the word: Now.

In perfect sync, they both rose from their chairs with practiced quiet, careful not to scrape the legs against the floor. They moved quickly but soundlessly, their footsteps deliberate as they navigated toward the entrance of the towering bookshelves. Uzi’s gaze remained locked on the librarian, her pulse racing with every step. She was hyper-aware of every small sound—the distant rustle of pages, the murmur of a student finishing a conversation, the soft hum of the overhead lights.

The moment they stepped into the labyrinth of shelves, vanishing from view, Uzi let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. She inhaled deeply, then exhaled in quiet relief before turning to N with a small, triumphant smirk.

“We made it,” she whispered.

N let out a breath of his own, his expression relaxing slightly. For a brief moment, they shared a silent victory, the tension easing just enough to let a flicker of excitement take its place.

Uzi moved forward, her steps light against the floor as she navigated deeper into the maze of bookshelves. The towering cases loomed over her, packed tightly with books of all sizes, their spines forming a wall of muted colors. The air was thick with the scent of paper, and the further she walked, the quieter everything seemed. The occasional muffled sound of a page turning or a chair shifting in the distance was the only indication of life outside their secluded path.

Behind her, N quickened his pace to catch up. “Uh—where exactly are we going?” he asked in a hushed voice, glancing around the seemingly endless rows of books.

Uzi turned her head slightly but didn’t stop walking. “Just looking for a good place to stay put until the school's completely closed,” she replied casually.

N gave a small nod, still trailing behind her. “Sounds good,” he murmured, glancing at the shelves around them.

They wandered further into the labyrinth, the distant hum of the school growing fainter with every turn they took. Eventually, Uzi came to a halt at a dead end, where the shelves boxed them in on three sides, creating a small, hidden alcove. She gestured for N to follow her as she slid down to sit on the floor, resting her back against the cool surface of the bookshelf. With a quiet thump, she set her bag down beside her.

N followed suit, settling down next to her and placing his own bag at his side. He shifted slightly, adjusting to the hard floor before letting out a soft exhale.

Uzi wasted no time digging into her bag, rustling through its contents for a moment before pulling out a bag of chips. She tore it open with a quiet pop, the faint scent of salt and seasoning filling the air.

N glanced at her, his expression softening with mild amusement as he shook his head. “Of course,” he murmured with a small chuckle.

Uzi smirked and, without hesitation, held the bag out toward him. “Want one?”

N gave a grateful nod. “Yeah, thanks,” he said, reaching in and taking a chip.

“No problem,” Uzi responded as she tossed one into her mouth, the satisfying crunch breaking the otherwise quiet atmosphere.

Time dragged on in the quiet corner of the library. Uzi had long since finished her chips, crumpling the empty bag and stuffing it back into her backpack. The initial excitement of sneaking around had dulled into boredom, the minutes stretching endlessly as she and N made idle conversation before eventually resorting to scrolling through their phones.

She wasn’t really paying attention to what she was looking at—just mindlessly flicking her thumb across the screen, anything to pass the time. Every now and then, she would glance up, watching as N sat beside her, just as absorbed in his own screen. The silence between them wasn’t uncomfortable, but it made her restless.

It didn’t help that she was starting to feel tired. The stillness of the library, combined with the low hum of the building’s ventilation, lulled her into a sense of relaxation. Her body felt heavier, her eyelids drooping despite her best efforts to stay alert. She shifted slightly, rubbing her eyes in an attempt to fight off the drowsiness.

Then, without warning, the lights shut off.

Uzi barely reacted, only blinking at the sudden darkness. The shift didn’t faze her—she had been expecting it. But beside her, N glanced up from his phone, his eyes flicking to her.

"Should we go now?" he asked, keeping his voice low, as if worried someone might still hear them.

Uzi shook her head, adjusting her posture slightly. “Not yet. It’s too early,” she murmured. “We should wait at least another thirty minutes—maybe an hour—just to be sure everyone’s gone.”

N exhaled through his nose, nodding in understanding. “Guess we’re lucky we even made it this far without getting caught.”

Uzi gave a small smirk but didn’t respond. Instead, a new thought crossed her mind, one that made her expression falter.

She wondered what N had told his parents about being out this late. She hadn’t even considered it before, too focused on her own cover story.

Her dad hadn’t questioned her at all when she told him she was staying over at a friend’s house. In fact, he barely even acknowledged it, just giving a distracted nod before going back to whatever work he was buried in.

She’d known he wouldn’t care—he never did. Maybe it was even a relief for him, not having her around. Less responsibility, less to deal with.

The thought made something tighten in her chest. Annoyance. Frustration. Maybe even something closer to hurt, though she quickly shoved that feeling down.

Typical.

Uzi turned her head toward N, breaking the quiet between them. “So,” she started, her voice light with curiosity, “what excuse did you come up with for staying out this late?”

She expected him to answer casually, maybe even joke about it. But instead, she saw something shift in his expression. His posture stiffened slightly, and there was a noticeable hesitation before he finally spoke.

“I, uh… I didn’t tell them anything,” he admitted, his voice coming out uncharacteristically uneasy, words slightly stumbling over each other.

That caught Uzi off guard. She blinked at him, momentarily thrown by his reaction. That wasn’t like him at all. “What do you mean?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

N exhaled, his shoulders sinking as he fidgeted with his hands. “They’re always out of town,” he said finally, voice quieter now. “Work trips… or, I think that’s what they do.” He gave a short, humorless chuckle, but there was no real amusement behind it. “I don’t really know. They don’t tell me much.”

Uzi just stared at him for a moment, processing what he’d said. She hadn’t expected that. Not from him.

N was always so upbeat, so unfailingly kind. She had just assumed that meant he had a supportive family—parents who were just as warm as he was. But now? She wasn’t sure what to think.

Her mind briefly flicked to her own dad. He might’ve been distant, buried in his work, but at least he acknowledged her existence every once in a while. Even then, she still resented him for how little he seemed to care, and she knew, whether she wanted to admit it or not, that her frustrations with him bled into the way she treated others. The way she didn’t care what drones thought about her, how blunt she was, even rude. She had just… stopped caring.

But N? If his parents ignored him just as much—maybe even more—then how was he so nice? How could someone who grew up with so little attention still be so open, so kind to everyone around him? It didn’t make sense. And for some reason, that realization made something uneasy settle in her chest.

Uzi hesitated for a moment before speaking again, her voice softer this time. “Then… who takes care of you?” She didn’t mean it as an insult or an accusation—just an honest question laced with genuine curiosity and an underlying sense of concern. The thought of him just… being alone made something in her chest twist uncomfortably.

N froze for a beat, his fingers tightening slightly around the fabric of his sleeve. He dropped his gaze, his usual brightness dimming into something more distant. When he finally answered, his voice was quieter than before, almost like he was pulling the words from a place he didn’t often visit.

“No one, really.” He swallowed, shifting slightly where he sat. “I mean… my grandma used to take care of me when I was younger.” There was something almost wistful in his tone, but beneath it was a weight that hadn’t been there a moment ago—something heavier, something deeply stricken. “She was always there for me. Made sure I was okay. But… she passed away a few years ago.” His voice faltered just slightly at the end, and for a moment, he didn’t say anything else.

Uzi didn’t respond immediately. She wasn’t sure what to say.

But then N straightened up a little, forcing a small, almost sheepish smile onto his face. “It’s fine, though! I’ve just been doing everything myself since then.” He gave a small, dismissive shrug, as if trying to make it seem like it wasn’t a big deal. “I’m working really hard in school right now. Keeping my grades up, trying to get into a good college.”

He paused, glancing away, then mumbled something barely audible under his breath.

Uzi barely caught it, but she heard it.

“Maybe then they’ll notice me.”

The words were spoken so quietly, as if he hadn’t meant to say them out loud at all. He kept his gaze lowered, his fingers idly picking at his hands.

Uzi didn’t know what to say to that. There was an ache in her chest that she couldn’t quite describe, an anger she couldn’t quite place. It wasn’t fair. None of this was fair.

Uzi struggled to find the right words. She knew she should probably say something comforting, something reassuring—but the problem was, she wasn’t exactly good at that. In fact, she sucked at it.

She cringed internally at the thought of past attempts to console friends when they were upset. Usually, she’d either blurt out something unintentionally awkward and pitying or just… stand there like an idiot, completely useless. Emotional support was not her strong suit. It never had been.

And yet, here she was, faced with N—someone who was always so cheerful, so bright—now looking more vulnerable than she’d ever seen him. And for once, she actually wanted to do something about it.

Uzi hesitated, exhaling sharply through her nose. She couldn’t believe she was about to do this.

Slowly, almost uncertainly, she reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. It was a bit awkward at first, but she lightly brushed her thumb in a small, soothing motion, hoping it came across as reassuring rather than weird.

What the hell am I doing? she thought. But she didn’t pull away.

Instead, she just said the first thing that came to mind. “Hey… I’m proud of you.” Her voice was softer than usual, lacking its usual sarcasm or bite. “I see how hard you work. Like, genuinely. You could’ve just given up, but you didn’t.” She let out a short, self-deprecating laugh. “Meanwhile, I’m dealing with a similar situation and barely keeping my head above water. Honestly? I wish I had even half of your determination.”

For a moment, N didn’t react. He had been staring down at his hands, avoiding eye contact, but at her words, his head lifted. His eyes locked onto hers, wide with something she couldn’t quite place.

“Really?” His voice was quiet, but there was no sarcasm, no disbelief—just a raw, almost hesitant sincerity, like he wasn’t sure if he was allowed to believe her. Like no one had ever said that to him before.

Uzi felt something tighten in her chest.

She gave a small nod, her expression steady despite the uncertainty bubbling inside her. She wasn’t exactly used to this kind of sincerity, but she held his gaze, refusing to look away in fear of making things awkward.

Then, to her surprise, N reached out, his hand gently resting on top of hers. His touch was light, almost hesitant, as though he wasn’t sure if this was okay. His fingers curled slightly, not gripping but grounding, as if he wanted to hold onto the moment for just a second longer.

His voice was soft, barely above a whisper. “Thanks… I really appreciate that. A lot.”

Uzi didn’t move. She wasn’t sure she even could. The weight of the moment settled between them—quiet, fragile, and far too real for her comfort.

And then, all at once, it hit her.

She got the ick.

A sudden wave of secondhand embarrassment, an overwhelming awareness of what she had just done.

What was she doing? Since when did she comfort others like this? Since when did she—did she hold hands?

Panic shot through her, and before she could stop herself, she yanked her hand back as if she had just touched a hot stove.

“Oh, uh—” The words tumbled out in a flurry. “I—sorry, I didn’t mean to be weird. That was weird, wasn’t it? Yeah, that was definitely weird.” She rubbed the back of her head, staring determinedly at the floor, feeling the heat rise to her face.

N blinked, startled for a moment before quickly waving his hands. “No, no, it’s fine! I didn’t think it was weird at all.” He gave a reassuring smile, his tone warm and genuine, trying to ease whatever internal crisis she was having.

Uzi wasn’t convinced. The awkwardness clawed at her like an itch she had to scratch, and she desperately needed an escape. Without thinking, she grabbed her phone and checked the time.

Oh. Perfect. A distraction.

“It’s been almost an hour since the lights shut off,” she announced, her voice slightly strained as she latched onto the change in subject.

N, sensing her need to move on, nodded immediately, slipping back into his usual self. “Right. Guess that means it’s time to go.”

Uzi cleared her throat, regaining her composure, and stood up, grabbing her bag. N followed suit, adjusting the strap of his own bag over his shoulder.

And just like that, the moment was gone.

Now, they had something more important to focus on.

The crime scene awaited.

Chapter Text

The school halls were eerily silent as Uzi and N navigated through the darkness. The only light came from the full moon outside, its silvery glow occasionally spilling through the tall windows, casting long shadows across the floor. The stillness of the building made every footstep sound louder than it should have, and the weight of what they were about to do settled heavily in the air between them.

They moved quickly yet cautiously, the anticipation growing with each turn they took. Finally, they reached their destination.

The crime scene stood before them, cordoned off with bright yellow tape stretched tightly across the door and surrounding area. The bold black letters screamed DO NOT CROSS , serving as an obvious warning, but neither of them had any intention of following it. The scene felt frozen in time, untouched since whatever incident had taken place.

Uzi exhaled quietly, her eyes locked on the door. “We made it,” she muttered under her breath.

She should’ve felt triumphant, but instead, a gnawing uncertainty crept up her spine. She hadn’t exactly thought this far ahead. It was one thing to want to investigate, but another thing entirely to actually do it. Where was she supposed to start? What was she even looking for? A clue? Evidence? Did drones just know how to investigate crime scenes, or was she just making this up as she went?

N, standing beside her, leaned in slightly and whispered, “So… do we just go in and check it out?” His voice was barely audible, but there was an unmistakable eagerness to it.

Uzi nodded, forcing confidence into her expression. “Yeah.”

She did not admit that she had absolutely no plan.

Without another word, they stepped over the tape, careful not to disturb anything too much. The caution signs supporting the tape wobbled slightly but remained standing. As they reached the door, Uzi hesitated. She didn’t want to just rip the tape down—that felt reckless, like it would leave behind too much evidence of their intrusion.

Instead, she slowly peeled the section wrapped around the handle and the doorframe, wincing as the adhesive made a faint peeling sound in the silence. Once it was loose enough, she carefully eased the door open.

A weight settled in her stomach, an anxious pit forming as she braced herself for whatever was inside. Oil? A destroyed room? Some kind of horrific scene? She had no idea what to expect.

But when the door creaked open just enough to see inside—

Nothing.

Just pure, suffocating darkness.

Uzi blinked, her eyes straining against the void. She couldn’t see a single thing.

Beside her, N frowned, equally perplexed. He glanced at her, lowering his voice. “Uh… so what now? We can’t exactly turn the lights on. That’d be kinda obvious.”

Uzi pressed her lips into a thin line, contemplating their next move.

Uzi reached into her backpack without a word, her fingers blindly rummaging through its contents until they closed around exactly what she was looking for. A flashlight.

She had thrown it in last minute that morning before school, just in case. It was one of those random thoughts she had—what if I need this later? —and for once, that instinct had paid off.

She pulled it out, holding it up as she smirked.

N raised a brow, impressed. “That was smart.”

Uzi’s smirk widened, tilting her head slightly. “I know.”

Without another word, she clicked the flashlight on.

The beam of light cut through the darkness instantly, illuminating the small, confined space in front of them.

The closet was a disaster.

Minimal effort had been made to clean up whatever had happened here. The most jarring thing was the deep black stains smeared across the wall, unmistakably dried oil. It wasn’t just splattered randomly—it was concentrated in a single area, staining the wall in a way that suggested someone had been sitting there, leaning against it before slowly sliding down. The trail of dried oil told the story of that slow descent.

On the floor, beneath the stain, was a small, darkened puddle. Long since dried, but still deeply unsettling.

And then there was the mess. The shelves, which had likely once been neatly stocked with cleaning supplies, were in complete disarray. Bottles, cleaning rags, and brooms littered the floor, mixed with toilet paper rolls and overturned boxes. It looked less like a crime scene and more like a place where someone had fought desperately, or where chaos had erupted all at once.

Uzi swallowed, suppressing a sharp inhale. Beside her, N had lifted a hand to his mouth, eyes wide. His fingers trembled slightly, caught between shock and disgust.

Trying to steady herself, Uzi adjusted her grip on the flashlight and carefully moved the beam around, searching the scene for anything else.

Uzi exhaled slowly, her breath steady but laced with unease. Her eyes flickered across the scene, taking it all in.

“This…” she started, her voice quiet but firm, “this wasn’t quick. There was a struggle.” She gestured toward the scattered supplies and the oil stains on the wall. “Whoever the victim was, they fought back. And then—” she hesitated, processing the gruesome details before continuing, “—they were thrown against the wall before they were killed.”

N swallowed hard, his hands fidgeting slightly as he took another uneasy glance around the room.

Uzi frowned. Something still wasn’t adding up. The articles had said it wasn’t a normal murder—it wasn’t a stabbing, and it wasn’t a shooting. It was something far worse.

Her eyes darkened as she muttered, “It’s like… they were mauled.” She turned to N, watching his expression shift. “By something.”

N tensed, his nervous energy palpable. “Y-Yeah,” he said, his voice slightly shaky. “That’s what it looks like.”

Uzi narrowed her eyes slightly, thoughts racing. “But why? What was the motive?”

N hesitated at that, his brows furrowing as if he was debating something internally. His fingers tapped anxiously against his leg before he finally spoke. “I think—”

But before he could finish, a sharp sound cut through the silence.

Footsteps.

Fast, deliberate, and coming from just outside the closet.

N’s words died in his throat, his entire body going rigid as his head snapped toward the noise. Uzi felt her stomach drop, her grip tightening around the flashlight as adrenaline spiked through her circuits.

Someone was here.

Uzi whipped around, her grip tightening on the flashlight as she quickly swept its beam across the dark hallway. Her heart pounded, but her voice remained steady, controlled.

“If someone’s out there,” she said lowly, her tone sharp with warning, “you better not be messing with us.” Her eyes darted between the dimly lit corners, trying to catch even the slightest movement.

N had turned fully as well, his posture stiff, his eyes wide as he scanned the hallway. He leaned slightly toward Uzi, whispering frantically, “I really think we should leave. Now.”

Uzi didn’t argue—she didn’t need to. She nodded once, but there was a catch. They couldn’t just bolt and leave the crime scene looking like someone had been snooping around. That would be reckless.

“We can’t just run,” she muttered quickly, shifting slightly closer to N as she explained. “I have to put everything back exactly how we found it—the tape, the door—everything.”

N swallowed hard, his jaw tightening as he processed her words. He exhaled through his nose, his nervous energy clear, but he gave a firm nod. “Okay. I’ll watch your back. Just be fast.”

Uzi barely acknowledged his response as she turned back to the closet, her hands moving swiftly but carefully. Every second felt agonizingly long. They needed to get out of here—now.

With meticulous precision, Uzi pressed the door shut, careful not to make a sound. The tape had lost some of its adhesive from when she had peeled it off earlier, so she worked slowly, smoothing it back into place as best as she could. Every movement felt agonizingly slow, her fingers deliberate as she ensured nothing looked out of place—if someone noticed even the slightest difference, it could raise suspicion.

As she worked, the silence settled heavily around them. No more footsteps. No movement. No indication that anyone else was there. It gnawed at her, making her second-guess what they’d heard earlier. Maybe their nerves were just getting to them? Paranoia had a way of twisting reality, making every shadow seem sinister, every distant sound feel closer than it really was. Besides, who would even be here this late? A security guard, at most—but even then, if someone had truly rushed past them, it couldn’t have been a guard. They wouldn’t be sneaking around.

Finally, the last piece of tape was back in place. Uzi took a small step back, inspecting her work before exhaling softly. She turned to N and gave him a quick nod. “Alright. Let’s go,” she whispered.

N, who had been keeping watch, instantly fell into step with her as they silently maneuvered back over the caution tape. He shot her a glance, his expression still laced with unease, but he didn’t say anything. Uzi didn’t either. They both knew lingering here any longer wasn’t an option.

As they moved swiftly through the dimly lit hallway, their steps fell in sync, quick but controlled—there was no need to run, not yet. The silence between them was thick, but N eventually broke it, his voice low and uncertain.

"Do you know where the exit is?" he asked, glancing sideways at Uzi.

She nodded without hesitation. "Yeah. End of the hall, to the right."