𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸/ 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱 .ᐟ .ᐟ

The moment you stepped into the house, you could feel the chaos.

Shoes were scattered by the door, music played from a Bluetooth speaker someone had definitely forgotten to charge, and voices were overlapping in the kind of way that only happens when everyone is shouting over each other — but somehow still having a good time.

Silas glanced at you as he toed off his shoes, that calm smile tugging at his lips. “Too late to run?”

You gave him a sideways look. “Maybe.”

He leaned down slightly, voice low. “I won’t let them overwhelm you. Promise.”

You nodded — even if your stomach still fluttered a little.

As soon as you followed him into the living room, the chaos honed in like a laser.

“SILAS BROUGHT HER!” someone yelled — a boy with a backwards cap and socks that didn’t match.

Another immediately dropped a handful of popcorn trying to bow dramatically. “The mystery girl appears!”

Silas sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Ignore them. Please.”

But before you could say anything, someone else chimed in. “Wait, is this the one he literally smiles at when he’s texting?”

A chorus of “oooh”s broke out.

You blinked, frozen — until you felt Silas’s fingers wrap gently around your wrist, his touch grounding.

“Y/N, this is Levi,” he said, nodding to the popcorn guy. “And that’s Jay, and Maddie’s the one with glitter in her eyebrows for no reason.”

Maddie grinned proudly. “There’s always a reason.”

“And I’m Jules,” said the backwards cap guy. “But I answer to ‘trouble,’ ‘disaster,’ or ‘don’t do that.’”

You laughed before you meant to.

“Don’t encourage them,” Silas muttered, tugging you gently to sit beside him on the couch.

The night rolled on with snack raids, movie debates, someone attempting to stack plastic cups on Jay’s head while he wasn’t looking, and Maddie trying to convince everyone that she could do tarot readings with Sour Patch Kids.

You stayed quiet at first — but Silas always glanced your way, squeezing your hand when you looked overwhelmed, brushing his knee against yours just enough to remind you: you’re good. I’ve got you.

Eventually, Levi handed you a controller for Mario Kart. “Newbie goes first.”

“You just want an easy win,” you said, raising an eyebrow.

“Okay, fire,” Maddie cackled.

You were halfway through Rainbow Road when Jules leaned over and whispered loudly to Silas, “She’s cooler than you.”

Silas didn’t even blink. “I know.”