Freaking Out

Steph stood frozen at the clearing's edge, her breath catching sharply in her throat. Her heart hammered in her chest as her wide eyes absorbed the impossible scene unfolding before her. Ethan, Gabe, and Tim stood motionless, their wings shimmering softly in the sunlight, the ethereal glow casting surreal patterns around them.

"Steph," Ethan finally spoke, his voice barely above a whisper, eyes pleading for understanding. "Please, don't be afraid. We can explain."

Steph staggered slightly, her knees weak with shock. Her eyes darted wildly between their glowing wings and their worried faces. "You're… angels?" she stammered, her voice quivering with disbelief and awe. Tears brimmed, spilling softly down her cheeks. "How is this even possible? How long have you known? How could you keep this from me?"

Gabe carefully folded his wings, stepping forward with deliberate gentleness, his voice soothing. "Steph, I'm so sorry. We never wanted you to find out this way. We didn't want to put you in danger by knowing our secret."

Tim, still grappling with his own newfound identity, stepped closer to Steph, vulnerability etched across his face. "I only just found out myself. It's overwhelming, I know. But it's still us, Steph. The same people you've always known."

Steph sank onto a nearby fallen log, burying her face in her trembling hands. Her shoulders shook silently, overcome with emotion and confusion. Ethan hesitated briefly before kneeling beside her, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "Steph, you mean so much to us. Keeping this secret was never about trust—it's about safety."

Steph lifted her tear-streaked face, meeting Ethan's gaze with heartbreaking intensity. "Ethan, you've always been my closest friend. Why didn't you trust me enough to share this with me sooner?"

Ethan swallowed hard, tears now welling in his own eyes. "Because knowing could put you at risk. I'd never forgive myself if anything happened to you."

Steph brushed the tears from her face, determination slowly replacing the initial shock. "I trust you—all of you. If you're angels, then you must be here for something important. Tell me what's really going on."

Ethan exchanged a meaningful glance with Gabe before speaking earnestly. "Steph, the truth is, I only became an angel a few weeks ago. I found this strange halo while fishing in Alaska. When I put it on, it transformed me into… this," he said, gesturing to his wings. "Gabe has been guiding me, helping me understand and control these new powers."

Steph's eyes widened further, astonishment written clearly on her face. "Just a few weeks ago? Ethan, that's unbelievable."

Ethan nodded solemnly. "And Tim," he continued, glancing over at their friend with compassion, "he only transformed yesterday. He's still adjusting, just like I am."

Steph turned to Tim, her expression softening even more. "Yesterday? Tim, how are you even standing right now?"

Tim smiled weakly, shrugging slightly. "Honestly, I have no idea. Though maybe it was Ethan giving me my first kiss that triggered it," he joked awkwardly, a faint blush spreading across his cheeks.

Ethan's eyes widened in embarrassment, his face instantly turning a deep shade of red. "Tim!" he sputtered, mortified.

Gabe burst out laughing, easing the tension. "Now that's an origin story," he teased.

Steph suddenly laughed, breaking the remaining tension, and stepped forward, embracing Ethan tightly. "Congratulations on your first kiss, Ethan!" she joked warmly, winking playfully at Tim. Ethan groaned, burying his face in his hands as everyone laughed good-naturedly.

"We're here on a mission, Steph. Something big is happening, and now more than ever, we need your help."

Steph straightened her shoulders resolutely, her voice firm with newfound courage. "I'm here for you. Whatever you need, I want to help. But promise me—no more secrets."

Ethan met her gaze earnestly. "No more secrets."

Steph nodded, taking a deep breath and steeling herself for whatever came next. "Good. Now tell me everything."

Gabe took a deep breath, his expression becoming serious. "There's something else, Steph. Admiral Levine is suspicious of Ethan. He's been using Jimmy Dorsey to spy on him, believing Ethan might pose some kind of threat."

Steph's eyes widened in alarm. "Jimmy? Seriously?"

Gabe nodded solemnly. "Jimmy confessed everything to me last night. He's scared, too. He's caught in a tough spot, stuck between us and the Admiral."

Steph glanced nervously between the three boys, uncertainty clouding her face. She hesitated before looking directly at Gabe, vulnerability evident in her voice. "Gabe, if all of this is true, what does it mean for us? Can we even have a future together with all this danger?"

Gabe stepped closer, gently holding her hand and meeting her gaze reassuringly. "Steph, I promise you, whatever comes our way, we'll face it together. We'll figure this out, one step at a time."

Steph squeezed his hand gently, her determination returning. "Alright. You have my word—I won't tell anyone. Your secrets are safe with me."

Gabe, deeply moved by her understanding and courage, leaned forward suddenly, capturing Steph's lips in a passionate kiss. Steph was momentarily startled but quickly melted into the embrace, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Ethan chuckled, breaking the moment gently. "Well, guess we all know who's winning 'best kiss' at the awards ceremony this year."

Everyone burst out laughing, breaking the tension completely. Steph playfully nudged Ethan as Gabe smiled sheepishly. "Alright," Gabe chuckled, "maybe we should all go get changed for dinner."

Gabe turned to Tim, smirking teasingly. "Yeah, Tim, you really stink after that flying lesson."

Ethan laughed, shaking his head. "Seems like our entire lives revolve around that damn bathroom and the endless mishaps that happen there."

Steph rolled her eyes, playfully scolding them. "Boys are gross and have absolutely no shame."

Ethan grinned mischievously. "Steph, let's not forget—you have a single bath, and we're stuck dealing with a double bath and all the chaos that brings."

The group laughed and joked all the way back to their dorms, spirits high and hearts lighter after sharing their secrets and bonding over their newfound trust.

Steph met up with the girls shortly afterward, excitement radiating from her. As they got ready for dinner, she couldn't contain herself, immediately spilling about her kiss with Gabe, though carefully omitting any details about angels or secret powers. "You wouldn't believe how amazing Gabe is," she gushed, eyes sparkling. "He's genuinely special—I can't even begin to describe it."

A sudden, firm knock on Jimmy's dorm door jolted him from his thoughts. His heart skipped a beat, already suspecting who awaited him on the other side. He opened the door slowly, his eyes meeting the stern yet professional gaze of Admiral Levine's assistant, Dotty.

"Jimmy Dorsey?" Dotty inquired crisply.

Jimmy nodded nervously, his throat tightening. "Yes, that's me."

"The Admiral would like to see you. Immediately," she said in a clipped, authoritative tone, stepping aside to let him pass.

Jimmy swallowed hard, following Dotty down the sterile hallways toward Admiral Levine's office. Anxiety twisted in his gut as they walked in silence. His mind raced, contemplating the dangerous tightrope he was walking. His loyalty to Admiral Levine was faltering. The friends he had made, especially Ethan and Tim, had shown him kindness and compassion—a stark contrast to the Admiral's calculating, ominous presence. Could he really betray his new friends? And what would happen if Levine found out he was wavering?

When they reached the Admiral's office, Dotty opened the door, ushering Jimmy inside. Levine looked up from his computer, eyes coolly assessing Jimmy as Dotty quietly closed the door behind her, leaving them alone.

"Sit down, Jimmy," Admiral Levine ordered calmly, motioning to the chair across from him. Jimmy complied, shifting nervously under the Admiral's intense gaze.

"Tell me," Levine began smoothly, "how are things progressing with Ethan Blade?"

Jimmy cleared his throat, swallowing hard before speaking. "Well, sir, Frank and I took your advice and have been spending more time with Ethan and his group. We went to City Island with them yesterday, and I think they're starting to trust us."

Levine's eyes narrowed slightly, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Excellent. Have you noticed anything unusual? Anything suspicious?"

Jimmy hesitated briefly, recalling the genuine warmth he'd felt among Ethan's friends, but quickly masked his uncertainty. "Nothing concrete yet, sir. But Ethan does seem… different somehow. Hard to explain."

"Keep an eye on him," Levine instructed firmly, suddenly sitting upright. "In fact, I have an idea."

Admiral Levine turned toward his computer, swiftly accessing the EarthCorp student database. A knowing smirk formed on his lips. "Ah, just as I suspected. Ethan Blade, Gabriel Starlight, and Timothy Crane—they occupy a six-person dormitory, yet currently, only the three of them reside there."

Jimmy raised an eyebrow, unsure where Levine was heading. "Sir?"

Levine's smirk widened into a cunning smile. "Effective immediately, you and Frank will move into their dorm. Becoming roommates will make it significantly easier to keep an eye on Ethan and report back to me directly."

Jimmy's eyes widened, the implications sinking in rapidly. "Yes, sir. We'll do that right away."

"Good," Levine replied, his voice carrying a chilling undertone. "Remember, Jimmy—your future here at EarthCorp depends on your success in this matter. Don't disappoint me."

Jimmy stood abruptly, nodding quickly. "I won't, Admiral."

As he left the office, Jimmy felt the weight of his new assignment settle heavily on his shoulders, dread and determination intertwining. He wasn't sure exactly what he'd gotten himself into, but he knew there was no turning back now.

Gabe, Ethan, and Tim walked casually down the corridor toward their dorm, laughing and teasing each other about Tim's earlier flying mishaps. Gabe playfully nudged Ethan, recounting Tim's comical attempts at flight, while Tim rolled his eyes in mock annoyance.

Tim reached the door first and pushed it open, immediately freezing in shock.

"What the...?" Tim stammered, his voice trailing off.

Gabe and Ethan quickly stepped forward, peering inside. Both froze, their jaws dropping simultaneously. Jimmy and Frank stood in the middle of the dorm room, casually unpacking their belongings and making up beds that had previously been vacant. Jimmy looked up, offering an awkward wave and a hesitant smile.

"Hey guys," Jimmy said cautiously, trying to sound casual but betraying an underlying tension. "Looks like we're roommates now."

Frank straightened up from folding a blanket, offering an apologetic shrug. "Yeah, surprise," he added weakly.

Gabe's expression hardened, suspicion creeping into his gaze. Ethan quickly glanced at Tim, noticing the sudden paleness on his friend's face.

"Who authorized this?" Gabe asked, forcing his voice to remain calm despite the rising confusion and anxiety within him.

Jimmy set down the pillow he'd been holding and stepped closer, lowering his voice slightly, as though aware someone could overhear. "Admiral Levine himself," he answered quietly. "He said it was about efficiency and keeping tabs on empty dorm spaces."

Ethan crossed his arms, exchanging a wary glance with Gabe. "Seems a bit sudden, don't you think?"

Frank sighed, shaking his head. "Look, guys, we didn't ask for this either, okay? Levine just ordered it, and when Levine orders something... well, we don't exactly get to say no."

Tim finally found his voice, stepping hesitantly into the room. "I guess that's true," he admitted reluctantly, still clearly uncomfortable.

Ethan studied Jimmy closely, sensing something more beneath his explanation. "Is that really all it is? Efficiency?"

Jimmy hesitated for a fraction of a second before nodding slowly, though his eyes flicked uncertainly between Ethan and Gabe. "Yeah, that's what Levine said. Efficiency."

Gabe sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. "Alright, I guess it's not your fault. Just... let's keep things cool around here."

Jimmy visibly relaxed, nodding gratefully. "Absolutely. No trouble. Promise."

Frank gave a lopsided grin, trying to lighten the tense atmosphere. "Besides, I heard you guys are pretty entertaining roommates. Should be interesting, right?"

Tim snorted softly, shaking his head. "Entertaining isn't exactly the word I'd use."

Ethan smiled slightly despite himself, releasing some of the built-up tension. "Alright, welcome to the madhouse, I guess."

As Jimmy and Frank resumed unpacking, Gabe caught Ethan's gaze, silently communicating a mixture of suspicion and worry. They both knew this wasn't merely about dorm efficiency. Admiral Levine had motives they needed to uncover quickly—before things got out of hand.

Gabe, Ethan, and Tim had barely settled when Jimmy and Frank announced, "We gotta go grab the rest of our stuff. We'll be back in twenty minutes."

"Sure thing," Ethan replied casually, watching as the pair left the room.

"I should probably shower now before Jimmy and Frank get back," Tim spoke quickly, sprinting toward the bathroom.

Gabe stood for a minute, pondering the situation. "I think he's scared of them being in there with him. I'm gonna go talk to him."

Ethan followed Gabe into the bathroom and started brushing his teeth. Gabe undressed and stepped into the shower next to Tim. "Tim, you don't have to be afraid of them. We're going to have to share this bathroom now. They won't hurt you, and I won't let them. Besides, you're probably strong enough to kick both their asses now," Gabe insisted, feeling like the protective older brother.

Tim looked confused, glancing over his shoulder as water cascaded down his back and wings. "What about those?"

"Pull them in, Timmy," Gabe replied in a sarcastic tone, looking slightly annoyed.

As Tim lifted his soapy hands and shrugged, a realization dawned on Gabe. "Oh no! Ethan!" he exclaimed urgently, causing Ethan to pause mid-brush.

"What's wrong?" Ethan asked, toothbrush still hanging from his mouth.

"Tim's wings," Gabe said, concern filling his voice. "They don't retract like ours."

Ethan's eyes widened, toothbrush forgotten. "Wait—are you saying he can't retract them at all?"

"I... I don't know," Gabe admitted, worry evident on his face as they all stared at Tim, who was turning bright red with embarrassment as he stood there awkwardly, dripping wet and completely naked.

"Um, can we maybe discuss this when I'm wearing clothes?" Tim stammered, looking anywhere but at Ethan and Gabe.

Ethan quickly turned back to the mirror, suppressing laughter, while Gabe cleared his throat, turning around abruptly. "Yeah, good idea," Gabe agreed hastily, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Tim hurried out of the shower room, quickly wiping himself off and dressing in fresh clothes, still flushed from embarrassment. Ethan stepped into the shower stall next to Gabe, shaking his head slightly.

"So, what do we do about Tim's wing situation?" Ethan asked quietly, adjusting the water temperature.

Gabe sighed deeply, running a hand through his wet hair. "I'm not sure. We can't exactly hide them permanently. We might need to find a way to teach him to control or disguise them."

"Yeah," Ethan agreed thoughtfully. "Maybe there's something the Halo can do to help. We'll have to ask it later."

Both stood under the hot water, contemplating the problem in worried silence.

The trio quickly finished up in the bathroom, getting dressed just as Frank and Jimmy walked back into the dorm, arms loaded with their remaining belongings. "Perfect timing," Jimmy said casually, unaware of the tension in the air.

"Yeah," Ethan replied lightly, exchanging a cautious glance with Gabe and Tim. "Perfect timing indeed."

Jimmy set his things down and glanced around. "So, are we meeting the girls for dinner?"

"Yeah, that's the plan," Gabe confirmed. "But first, let me talk to you guys about a few dorm rules."

Jimmy and Frank exchanged curious looks but followed Gabe into the bathroom for some privacy. Gabe closed the door behind them, taking a deep breath before speaking. "Alright, here's the deal. We're going to split bathroom time—thirty minutes for you two, then thirty minutes for Ethan, Tim, and myself. This is important, so we all have the privacy we need."

Frank nodded easily. "Sounds fair. Anything else?"

Gabe's expression grew serious. "One more thing. Ethan and Tim—they're, you know, becoming more than friends. And I want to make it clear—if I hear even one rude or snide comment, I will personally end you. Understood?"

Jimmy quickly held up his hands defensively, his tone both friendly and reassuring. "Whoa, Gabe, relax! It's 2065, nobody cares about that stuff. We're not prudes."

Frank laughed lightly, nodding his agreement. "Yeah, seriously, man. We promise we'll never do anything to make them feel uncomfortable. Chill."

Gabe relaxed visibly, giving them a cautious smile. "Good. Glad we understand each other."

Gabe stood in the bathroom doorway, watching as Frank and Jimmy began getting ready. The contrast between them and Ethan and Tim was glaringly obvious. Jimmy casually sat on the toilet, not bothering to close the stall door, chatting away with Frank as if it were the most normal thing in the world. Minutes later, Frank was attempting to rinse shampoo from his hair, only to have Jimmy mischievously pour more shampoo back onto his head.

"Hey! Knock it off, dude!" Frank protested, wiping soap from his eyes. Jimmy only laughed until Frank retaliated by loudly farting and waving it dramatically toward Jimmy. "Take that, buddy!"

Gabe shook his head, equally amused and disgusted by their antics. "Seriously, are you two toddlers or grown men?"

Frank shrugged with a goofy grin. "Depends on the day."

Jimmy laughed even louder, still fanning the air. "Welcome to our world, Gabe!"

Once everyone finished getting ready amidst laughter and banter, the group headed to the girls' dorm to escort them for a "romantic" dinner at the mess hall, joking and teasing each other along the way.