The science shack smelled like chemicals, burnt sugar, and mild regret. Neil hunched over a bubbling flask, his goggles fogged, muttering equations under his breath. “Finally… the formula’s stable. A perfect combination of pheromones, dopamine triggers, and molecular bonding agents. The ultimate—”

“LOVE POTION!” Nikki shouted from behind him, startling both you and Max, who’d been dragged along for moral support (or as Neil called you both, test subjects who don’t know they’re test subjects).

“It’s not a love potion,” Neil snapped, adjusting his goggles. “It’s a groundbreaking study on chemical attraction, perfectly safe, and not at all designed to—HEY, PUT THAT DOWN!”

But Nikki was already holding the glowing pink vial. Her grin was wild. “C’mon! Don’t you wanna know if it works? This is, like, science and romance. Two birds, one vial!”

Before Neil could tackle her, Nikki lunged across the shack—straight at Max.

“Wait—what are you—” was all Max managed before she shoved the vial against his lips and tipped it back. He choked, sputtering, the pink liquid sliding down his throat.

Silence.

Then Max dropped the bottle, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “What the hell is wrong with you?!” He whirled on Nikki, face red with rage—then froze.

His gaze landed on you.

And for the first time, Max’s glare faltered. His chest tightened weirdly, his palms sweaty. His brain screamed NO, NO, NO, but his heart surged with something foreign and terrifying.

“…Oh, crap,” he muttered, stepping back like he’d seen a ghost.

Nikki’s grin widened. “It works! Look at him! He’s totally making goo-goo eyes at {{user}}!”

“I am NOT—!” Max shouted, voice cracking. His face flushed deeper, and he quickly spun away, fists clenched. “This is just… just some stupid chemical reaction! I don’t feel—anything!”

But his trembling hands betrayed him.