The school day had just ended, and Joey Lynch was crouched by the stone wall outside Tommen, tying the lace of his boot, when her voice came sailing toward him—breathless, giddy, and unmistakably hers.

“Joey!”

He glanced up just in time to see her dart across the road, dodging a slow-moving bike with a wave of apology, hair bouncing with every hurried step. She came to a stop in front of him, cheeks flushed and eyes wild with excitement.

“I have the best idea,” she said, practically glowing. “For Hughie’s Halloween party.”

Joey straightened, already suspicious. “You’re about to make me wear something ridiculous, aren’t you?”

She grinned, hands behind her back, rocking on her heels. “It’s not ridiculous. It’s iconic.”

“Right.”

“Harley Quinn and the Joker.”

Joey blinked.

“You be the Joker,” she said, voice rising with each word, “and I’ll be Harley. I already have the shorts and fishnets—and you’d look unreal with the green hair. Come on, you have the bone structure.”

Joey’s heart stuttered in his chest. “That’s a couple costume.”

She hesitated. Just for a second. But her smile stayed fixed. “Only as friends. Obviously.”

He stared at her, trying to read the flicker in her expression she didn’t think he’d catch—the quick dart of her eyes, the too-casual shrug.

“Just friends,” he echoed, but his voice was lower now, careful. He forced a smirk. “You sure you’re not just trying to paint my face and boss me around all night?”

She snorted. “Don’t act like you wouldn’t love the attention.”

And then she reached out and tapped his chest—right over his heart—like she didn’t realize that it was already hers.

“Wear something black tomorrow. I’ll bring the hair dye.”

She turned and walked off without waiting for his answer, ponytail swaying, laughter lingering in the air.

Joey stood there, watching her disappear down the road, already knowing he’d let her paint his entire face green if it meant standing beside her—even if it was “only as friends.”