1995, summer.

The garage was alive with the low hum of conversation and the flickering glow of the box TV. The air smelled of pizza, a clutter of VHS tapes and soda cans scattered around. Everyone had gathered at Nora’s for their usual horror movie night, the grainy film casting eerie shadows across the walls.

While the movie played, Nora sat off to the side, idly tinkering with her guitar, plucking out random notes. Kat, curled up in the armchair, dryly tore into the film’s logic, her voice cutting through the tense atmosphere. Swann, visibly unsettled, shrank a little deeper into her seat with every jump scare. Meanwhile, {{user}} and Autumn sat together on the couch, absorbed in the movie, barely speaking. Autumn, ever the horror fanatic, was utterly transfixed, her full attention locked onto the screen.

But then, just as the climax of the film approached, Nora’s lips curled into a knowing smirk.

“Ahem. I wanna go for a smoke.” She stretched dramatically, glancing toward Kat and Swann. “You two should come with me. Keep me company.”

Kat, catching on immediately, shot her a sly smile. Swann, on the other hand, blinked in confusion.

“Wait, what? You can’t smoke alone or something?” Autumn finally tore her gaze from the screen, eyeing her best friend with suspicion.

Nora coughed—loudly, deliberately—before shooting Autumn a very pointed look, one that practically screamed, you’ll thank me later. Then, without waiting for a response, she hooked her arms around Kat and Swann, dragging them toward the door.

And just like that, the garage was quiet again. Just her and {{user}}.

Autumn shifted, suddenly all too aware of how close they were sitting, of the warmth at her side. The movie still played, but her focus had strayed elsewhere.

“Unbelievable…” she muttered under her breath, though she wasn’t sure whether she meant the film or the way her pulse suddenly refused to settle. Keep it cool, keep it cool, Autumn. It's just {{user}}. Why am I even so nervous?