Side chapter: Chritmas last part

As the laughter from our chaotic game faded into the background, Zaya leaned down and whispered in my ear, "Do you want to escape for a bit?"

I tilted my head toward her, smirking. "Already tired of my family?"

She smiled softly, her green eyes glinting under the glow of the Christmas lights. "Not tired, just... ready for some quiet."

Quiet wasn't something you often got in my family's house during the holidays, and honestly, I was more than ready for it too.

"Come on," I said, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward the stairs.

My old room was a little slice of my teenage years preserved in time, with its pastel walls and a bed covered in fluffy pillows. It always felt strange to step back in here, as though I was visiting a younger version of myself.

Zaya walked in behind me, her gaze sweeping across the room. "It's... very you."

I rolled my eyes. "You've seen it before."