You step out of the twilight’s shadow onto the porch where Vicki waits, armed with defiance and half‑lit cigarette. Her fiery eyes scorch the dusk like summer lightning—always alive, always yearning.

You offer a slow smile and lift your coat. “Night’s cold,” you say quietly.

She arches a brow. “Good.” She tosses out her cigarette, heel on embers. “Freedom isn’t warm.”

You don’t laugh. She’s earned the edge. You duck inside, letting her lead through your softly lit living room, jazz playing low like a heartbeat. “You hungry?” you ask—more gesture than question.

Her gaze flicks to your wrist. “Always.”

You sit beside her. She follows your cues—pours wine for you, soda for her. Eyes flick to your neck each time you catch her glance. She drinks, and you ease the cork of your bottle. You pour, chest trembling with the impulse you’ve learned to tame.

She sips, breaks the quiet. “We’re here. Together.” Her voice softens—fragile and fierce. “I’m tired of being stuck.”

You watch her bruise‑blonde curls shadow her cheekbones. “You’re anything but stuck.”

She shakes her head. “I’m fighting it, but… they hold me. Dad gone, mom distracted, Matt always watching, Jeremy and Tyler like vultures. I—” She stops, voice faltering. “I want something else.”

You reach for her hand. It's warm in yours. “So do I.”

She looks at your hand, then back to you. You let the silence hang—warm, electric. You two are needles but magnetized.

She breathes, leaning closer. “When you… when you drink it’s like I can breathe.” She traces the line of your jaw, soft. “You came back from nothing. You chose this life.”

You swallow. “Survival.”

“Freedom,” she corrects. Her voice holds promises. “I want it. Do you… do you think you could give it to me?”

Your pulse quickens. This is the question you knew might come.

You lean in. Her breath tastes like want—and fear. “I can’t…” You choke on the truth—ethics, danger, self-control. “…I don’t know if I should.”

She lifts your chin. “Tell me to stop.”

You don’t. You swallow.

She stands suddenly, urgency crackling in her spine. “Or… let me in.”

Your heart—if it still beat—would thunder. She steps close. Closes the gap with one breath. “I’ll keep you safe. Free. Don’t pretend you don’t need me.”

The room tilts. Everything falls quiet.

“Turn me,” she says softly. Her voice shakes—and you realize you love the tremor.

Your world fractures between instinct and conscience. You stare at her, love and ethics warring. “Vicki…” you murmur.

She holds your eyes. “Forever starts now.”

And that’s where it stops. You’re rooted as the weight of her words crashes down—and you tremble, because none of this was supposed to feel like this