17, nightshades

Ari wasn't part of Nightshades, but a letter had arrived summoning her to a "secret meeting." She had every intention of ignoring it until Enid showed up, practically dragging her by the arm.

The two sisters entered the dimly lit room, the shadows stretching long across the walls, to find three Nightshades already waiting: Ajax, Kent, and Bianca.

"Who called this meeting?" Bianca asked, arching an eyebrow at the two boys.

"I did," Enid said boldly, stepping forward with Ari trailing behind, Bruno following closely at her side. "Turnout's... disappointing."

"Enid, you were never officially inducted into the Nightshades," Ajax said sharply.

"Only because Dort dissolved the society before I could even join," Enid replied, unfazed. Ajax shot her a look, unimpressed. "Remember? You're the one who nominated me."

"Well, that still doesn't give you the authority to call a meeting," Ajax countered.

"Ajax, easy," Bianca interjected, her tone calm but firm.

"And why am I here?" Ari asked, crossing her arms.

"Because I felt like you'd be angry at me if I didn't include you after... well, after how I treated you," Enid admitted.

"Actually," Ari said with a shrug, "I don't even care. This whole Nightshade thing seems... very stupid."

Rude gasps came from Ajax, Kent, and Bianca, though Ari didn't flinch.

"Tyler Galpin wants to kill me," Enid said, her voice dropping, tension threading through each word. "Isn't that reason enough?"

"How do you know that?" Ajax demanded.

"Because he told me so," a voice said from behind them.

They all turned as Wednesday stepped forward from the shadows, her expression unreadable.

"I'm guessing your little see-through informant filled you in on this rendezvous," Enid said, her tone daring. "I'm not backing down, Wednesday."

"Fine," Wednesday said, voice cold and precise. "Tyler's making us move tonight—at the Remembrance Procession. I have a plan."

"To kill him?" Enid asked instantly.

"To control him," Wednesday replied flatly, as if the difference were obvious.

Ari exchanged a glance with Enid, unease flickering in her chest. Whatever this "plan" was, it wasn't going to be simple. And for once, the Nightshades' whispers of danger felt very, very real.

"Great, let's do this," Ari said, trying to sound confident.

"You are not coming," Wednesday said sharply, her eyes narrowing.

Ari's brow furrowed. "What? Why not? I can handle myself—"

"I'm sorry for calling you, Ari," Enid interjected quickly, stepping closer. "He already put you in a coma once. We're not risking it again."

Ari's lips pressed into a thin line, a mix of frustration and understanding battling in her expression. She looked at Enid, then at Wednesday, then at the rest of the Nightshades.

"I get it," she finally said, voice low but steady. "Fine. But when you need backup... don't forget I'm right here."

——————

Ari flopped back onto her bed, staring at the ceiling while Gia sat cross-legged on the other side of the dorm, twirling a piece of her hair like she was holding back a secret.

Finally, Gia leaned forward, a teasing grin tugging at her lips. "Liam likes you, you know? Like... more than a friend. That's why he was so mean toward Pugsley. He was jealous."

Ari rolled onto her side, giving her sister a look. "What? No. Liam's just Liam. He's always grumpy."

Gia smirked knowingly. "Grumpy, yes. But jealous grumpy. You didn't see the way he glared at Pugsley when you were talking to him? It was like he wanted to duel him right then and there."

Ari scoffed, grabbing a pillow and hugging it close. "That's ridiculous. Liam doesn't... he wouldn't..." She trailed off, her cheeks heating.

Gia's grin only widened. "Ohhh, he totally would. And honestly? It's kind of cute. Pugsley's sweet, but Liam looks at you like you're the only person in the room."

Ari groaned, burying her face in the pillow. "Gia, stop. You're making this way more complicated than it has to be."

"Complicated?" Gia tilted her head. "Or interesting?"

Ari peeked at her best friend over the pillow, glaring half-heartedly. "I hate you."

Gia flopped onto her stomach dramatically, propping her chin up on her hands, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she watched Ari still hugging the pillow like it was a lifeline.

"Liam is gonna kill me when he finds out I told you," Gia groaned, dragging out the words with mock despair. "Like, seriously, you're not gonna find my body tomorrow. He's gonna bury me under the quad and no one will ever know."

Ari rolled her eyes, trying not to smile. "You're being ridiculous."

"No, I'm being realistic," Gia shot back, pointing a finger at her. "You don't understand the level of silent, broody-boy rage Liam is capable of. He already gives Pugsley the death stare on a daily basis, and that's when he doesn't even know you know. Imagine when he finds out I spilled his big, dramatic secret. I'll be toast. Toast, Ari."

Ari couldn't help but laugh, shaking her head. "You're so dramatic."

Gia sat up, widening her eyes in mock horror. "Dramatic? Excuse me, but you didn't see the way he was pacing outside the infirmary when you were unconscious. He looked like he was about to explode if anyone so much as breathed wrong near you. And then don't even get me started on how he acted when Pugsley showed up."

Ari's face softened just a little, though she quickly masked it with another eye roll. "Still doesn't mean anything."

"Uh-huh." Gia crossed her arms and leaned back against the headboard with a smug little grin. "Keep telling yourself that. But don't come crying to me when Liam finally confesses in the most over-the-top, broody, tragic way possible. Probably in the middle of some monster attack, when he thinks he's about to die."

Ari threw the pillow at her. "You read too many romance novels."

Gia caught the pillow, laughing. "And you don't read enough."

Ari groaned loudly and dragged the blanket over her face like she could just disappear into it.

Gia, of course, was relentless. She tugged the blanket down just enough to see Ari's annoyed expression. "Ohhh, that groan? That was the I-know-she's-right-but-I'll-never-admit-it groan. Classic Ari."

"Shut up," Ari muttered into the pillow, her voice muffled.

Gia leaned closer, grinning ear to ear. "You liiiiike him."

"I do not!" Ari shot up, glaring at her with cheeks that betrayed her with a soft pink flush.

Gia raised her brows. "Really? Because you just got all defensive. And you're blushing. And you can't even say his name without sounding like you swallowed a bee."

Ari let out a long sigh, staring up at the ceiling before finally turning her head toward Gia.

"I don't like Liam," she said firmly, as if saying it out loud might make it feel more real. "I like Pugsley. And I know he likes me back." Her voice softened, almost uncertain. "But I'm not ready for... that. For a relationship. Not yet."

She fiddled with the edge of her blanket, her brows furrowing. "I mean, I love hanging out with him. He makes everything easier, like I can just breathe around him. But if we cross that line and something goes wrong..." She trailed off, pressing her lips together. "I don't want to lose what we already have. I don't want things to turn awkward."

Gia studied her for a moment, her expression unusually thoughtful. "So what you're saying is... you like him too much to risk it?"

Ari blinked, caught off guard by the way Gia had put it. She hesitated, then gave the smallest nod.

Gia smirked knowingly. "Wow. That's even cuter than I thought."

Ari rolled onto her side, groaning into her pillow before lifting her head just enough to mumble,

"Come on, we're just fourteen. Isn't that too young to date?"

Gia raised a brow, leaning back in her chair like she'd been waiting for that line. "Uh, not really. Half the school's already sneaking around kissing in broom closets. You just notice less 'cause you're too busy almost dying every other week."

Ari shot her a flat look, but Gia only smirked wider.

"Besides," Gia went on, twirling a strand of her hair, "dating doesn't have to mean, like, marriage. It just means you like someone enough to try. And if it doesn't work out, you'll survive. It's not the apocalypse."

"Feels like it could be," Ari muttered.

Gia leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. "You're scared because Pugsley matters to you. That's the point. If he didn't, you wouldn't care so much about what happens."

Ari stared at her for a beat, then flopped back dramatically. "Ugh. Why do you have to sound smart sometimes?"

"Because one of us has to," Gia shot back, grinning.

"Besides, you've never had a boyfriend before," she said slyly. "Don't you think it would be nice to have someone you actually like as your boyfriend?"

Ari sat up halfway, giving her the flattest glare she could muster. "Wow. Thanks for announcing my tragic love life like it's breaking news."

Gia snorted. "I'm just saying! Most girls our age are stuck with random crushes that fizzle out in two weeks. You? You already have a guy who clearly likes you back. That's rare."

Ari hugged her knees to her chest, chewing on her lip. "Yeah, but... what if I mess it up? What if I hurt him? Or he hurts me?"

Gia softened, her grin fading into something more genuine. "Then at least you'll know you tried. And Pugsley? He doesn't strike me as the type to give up on you easily."

Ari hugged her knees tighter, her voice softening as she stared at the floor. "It still feels... wrong. I don't want to ruin our friendship. Besides, it's a terrible time for this. Pugsley's got so much on his mind with Slurp. Last time I saw him, he came here after everything with Willow Hill, and then he just... disappeared, thinking about Slurp the whole time."

Gia leaned back against the wall, studying her friend with a mixture of sympathy and amusement. "Yeah... I get it. He's got a lot going on. But you? You can't keep ignoring what's right in front of you forever."

Ari glanced at her, biting her lip. "I just... I don't want to complicate things. What if I do something stupid? What if it makes things worse?"

Gia rolled her eyes, nudging Ari playfully. "You? Do something stupid? That's impossible."

Ari smirked faintly despite herself. "Don't tempt fate."

"Trust me," Gia said, grinning, "sometimes the best things come from the messiest situations."

Ari let out a small laugh, the tension in her shoulders easing just a little.

Should she believe Gia?

Should she finally ask him out?

Or should she stay friends with him?

Ari wanted to choose the first two options but her fear of losing their friendship wanted last option.

—————-

A/N

I still haven't watched new eps guys...

I will watch I promise.

you have no idea how lazy I am, besides I was just too busy reading Atyd (I am reading two povs at the same time)

Love James pov!