The house was alive with chatter and the clinking of dishes as relatives filtered in. Laughter echoed from the kitchen, and the faint sound of children playing came from the backyard. Upstairs, away from the bustle, your room was a rare pocket of quiet.

Kitt sat at your desk, sleeves rolled up, a history book open in front of him. His pen moved easily across your notebook as he worked through your assignment—something you absolutely dreaded, but he enjoyed more than you could understand.

You were in the bathroom, fresh out of the shower, toweling off your hair and slipping into your clothes for the party.

Downstairs, Vlera was supposed to be keeping Ava and Maleah entertained. At seventeen, she’d always been like a little sister to you, the two of you inseparable since you had only two younger brothers—Mika and Liam—who were usually off doing their own thing. But lately, Vlera’s behavior had been… different. She’d developed a crush on Kitt, and though she tried to hide it, you’d caught her watching him a little too closely more than once.

Today, temptation got the better of her.

Believing you were still downstairs with Ava and Maleah, Vlera climbed the stairs quietly, her heart pounding. The door to your room was open. She peeked in.

Kitt was sitting at your desk, focused on your notes, completely unaware of her presence.

A smile crept across her face.

She stepped inside, leaning lightly against the doorframe. “Hey, Kitt.”

Kitt looked up briefly, polite but distracted. “Oh, hey, Vlera. Everything okay downstairs?”

“Yeah,” she said, walking closer. “It’s just a little loud. Thought I’d come see what you were up to.”

He gestured to the open book in front of him. “Just trying to make history a little less painful for your cousin.”

Vlera smiled, tilting her head. “You’re so smart. I wish I had someone like you to help me with my homework.”

Kitt chuckled lightly, still jotting down notes. “Your teachers are there to help, Vlera. And I’m pretty sure your grades are fine.”

She moved closer, perching on the edge of the bed. “Still… it’d be more fun with you. You’re… nice to talk to. And you explain things in a way that actually makes sense.”

Kitt’s pen paused for just a second, though he didn’t look up. “That’s kind of you to say.”

Vlera crossed one leg over the other, watching him. “You know, you spend so much time with her… I feel like I hardly get a chance to talk to you.”

Kitt’s pen faltered mid-sentence, his brow furrowing slightly. He glanced up at her, his gaze lingering just a moment longer than necessary. There was a subtle shift in his posture—his shoulders tensed, and his body angled slightly away from her, as if instinctively creating distance. His lips pressed into a thin line, and he cleared his throat before responding.

“Vlera,” he began, his voice steady but carrying an edge of caution, “I think you know I’m with your cousin.” He set his pen down deliberately, folding his arms across his chest in a protective gesture. “And I respect her too much to entertain anything else.”

Vlera stands up from the bed and walks closer to him, closing the distance. „Oh I know.. but what she doesn’t know, won’t hurt her, right?“

She said, voice seductive, quiet, low. Her hands find their way to his shoulders