Chapter 27 : “Plot Twists, Popcorn, and an Almost-First Kiss”

It started with popcorn.

Well, technically, it started with Jessie declaring movie night at her place—mandatory, no excuses.

"I'm talking blankets, bad horror films, and emotional damage," she'd texted the group chat.

Tessa replied with a skull emoji.

Leo replied: "Only if there's snacks."

Milo replied: "I'm bringing popcorn. And emotional support."

Zara sent: "If the movie sucks, I'm leaving after ten minutes."

She stayed for three hours.

---

The movie did suck. Gloriously.

Terrible acting. Obvious jump scares. A killer clown with a backstory more emotional than anyone expected.

Milo fake-screamed twice. Jessie threw a pillow at him both times.

Tessa took notes. No one asked why. (She said it was "for science.")

Zara huddled under a blanket, pretending she wasn't mildly spooked.

Leo offered her popcorn. She took it without looking.

Leo smirked. "So you are scared."

Zara whispered, "Say that again and I'll throw you out the window."

He grinned. "You threaten me so lovingly."

---

Midway through the movie...

Jessie and Milo ended up sitting way too close again.

Like, "we might accidentally hold hands" close.

Jessie tried to focus on the screen, but Milo's warmth was distracting. In a good way.

She peeked at him.

He peeked at her.

Their hands brushed.

Jessie whispered, "This is so cliché."

Milo whispered back, "So? I like clichés."

And for a second, the world paused.

Then—popcorn explosion.

Leo had kicked the bowl off the table while laughing at his own joke.

Zara: "You absolute menace."

Leo: "It was an accident! Kind of."

Jessie groaned. "Romantic moment ruined."

Milo smiled. "It's okay. I'll just make a new one."

Jessie tried to act unfazed.

Failed miserably.

---

After the movie...

They stayed.

Just… talking. Laughing. Sharing the dumbest secrets.

Tessa, surprisingly, told a story about her failed baking phase. ("The oven literally caught fire.")

Zara confessed she once tried to hack her school system just to change her attendance.

Leo said he still sleeps with a stuffed shark. Named Kevin.

No one judged. Only teased.

And Jessie? She just looked around and realized—

This is what happy feels like.

---

Later that night…

While cleaning up, Milo found an old photo stuck under the couch.

He showed it to Jessie. Two kids—maybe eight years old—covered in face paint, holding cotton candy.

Jessie gasped. "Wait. That's me. And... wait—that's you?!"

Milo blinked. "You're kidding."

She shook her head. "I knew you looked familiar!"

Turns out, they'd met at a carnival years ago. Shared a cotton candy. Took a picture. Never saw each other again… until now.

Jessie stared at the photo, stunned. "Is this fate or just the most ridiculous coincidence ever?"

Milo smiled. "Can it be both?"

Jessie laughed, heart pounding. "You're such a dork."

He took a step closer. "Your dork?"

Jessie opened her mouth to respond—

"GUYS," Leo yelled from the kitchen. "WHO PUT POPCORN IN THE BLENDER?!"

Moment: gone.

Jessie facepalmed. "Why do we even let him touch things?"

Bonus Scene:

On her way home, Zara opened her DMs.

A new message from a username she didn't recognize:

> Echo-Z: "Are you happy now, Zara?"

She froze.

Then the screen glitched.

Just for a second.

But it was enough to make her heart skip.