Chapter 2

I should have known better than to listen to Whiskers.

"Confidence is key," he had said, sitting smugly on my windowsill that morning. "Be bold. Be mysterious. Say something that will make a guy remember you forever."

So, like an idiot, I listened.

Which is how I ended up in front of Daniel Carter, one of the most attractive guys in my grade, blurting out the words:

"Do you believe in the multiverse?"

Daniel blinked. "Uh… what?"

Oh no.

Abort. ABORT.

But no, my brain had already committed to the cringe. "Because in at least one universe, we're probably dating."

Silence.

Pure, agonizing silence.

I swear I heard someone drop their pencil in the background.

Daniel gave an awkward chuckle. "Uh… cool?"

Then he walked away.

Just—turned around and walked away like I hadn't just shattered my entire existence in front of him.

I stood frozen, every part of my soul leaving my body in shame.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I could hear Whiskers cackling.

"Classic," he wheezed. "Absolutely iconic. Amelia, that was painful to watch."

I clenched my fists. "You told me to be bold!"

"I didn't tell you to lead with quantum physics, kid."

I groaned, dragging my hands down my face. "I'm never listening to you again."

Whiskers smirked. "Oh, you always say that. And yet, here we are."

I was going to fight this cat.