The rain tapped gently against the windows of Socks’ house as thunder rumbled in the distance. Inside, soft blankets and fairy lights gave the room a warm, cozy glow. The group had gathered for a sleepover—something they hadn’t done in months.

Socks sat cross-legged on the floor, a bowl of popcorn in his lap, trying not to think too hard about how different things felt lately. Blaza was wrapped in a blanket cocoon, only his face poking out. “This is the coziest I’ve felt in years,” he mumbled.

“That’s ‘cause you always run headfirst into explosions,” TBhonest quipped with a tired smile, adjusting his glasses.

Joocie chuckled, but it faded quickly. He stared at the ceiling. “Do you guys ever… feel like things aren’t gonna be like this forever?”

The room fell into a momentary silence. Oof rolled onto his side, his voice soft. “I think about that all the time.”

Meme, sitting by the window, his face half-lit by lightning, added quietly, “We’ve all changed. Like… we still laugh, but it’s not always the same laugh.”

Socks looked around at his friends. They’d built something chaotic, beautiful, and weird together—but he felt it too. That quiet fear of growing apart.

“I don’t want to lose this,” Nadwe said suddenly, hugging a pillow. His voice trembled, and the room tensed. “I don’t want to lose you guys.”

Blaza crawled over and threw an arm around him. “Then we don’t let go.”

“Even if we drift, even if we change,” Socks said, his voice more serious than usual, “this right here—this night—means it was real.”

No one spoke, but slowly, one by one, they leaned in, forming a messy, blanket-covered hug. The storm outside roared louder, but inside, there was only quiet breathing and unspoken promises.

They didn’t need to say forever. They just needed this moment to be enough.

And somehow, it was.