The group was sprawled out on the worn couches and beanbags in Aiden’s basement—a space that smelled faintly of popcorn and old wood, with mismatched posters plastered on the walls.

Logan sat cross-legged on the floor, a book balanced on his knee as he absentmindedly corrected the others’ grammar mid-conversation. His sharp mind was always two steps ahead, even when the topic was who would win in a fight: a grizzly bear or a T-Rex.

Ben leaned against the wall, quiet as usual but fully tuned in, his dark eyes flitting between speakers. He didn’t need to say much; his steady presence was enough to keep the group grounded.

Ashlynn was perched on the armrest of a couch, her arms crossed as she directed the chaos like the leader she was. “Focus, people! We’re deciding on a movie, not debating prehistoric battles,” she said with her signature blend of authority and exasperation.

Aiden, grinning like he’d just heard the funniest joke in the world, sprawled dramatically across a beanbag. “I’m telling you, it’s obviously the T-Rex. Grizzly bears don’t even have cool names!” His gaze flicked to Tyler, his smile turning into something softer. “What do you think, Ty?”

Tyler, sitting on the couch with his baseball cap turned backward, shot Aiden a smirk. “I think you’d root for the T-Rex because you are one—loud, obnoxious, and extinct in terms of valid opinions.” Despite the sarcastic jab, there was an unmistakable warmth in his tone.

Taylor snorted, munching on a handful of popcorn. “You’re both wrong. Bears win every time. End of debate.” She tossed a piece at her twin, grinning when he caught it mid-air.

Aiden tilted his head toward Tyler, pretending to be wounded. “Wow. Betrayed by everyone. But you’ll still go to the arcade with me tomorrow, right?”

Tyler rolled his eyes, but his faint smile lingered. “Yeah, yeah. Don’t let it go to your head.”