Nothing About This Is Friendly

The car door slammed shut behind her.

Nicole staggered as Angel half-dragged, half-guided her to the front steps. The porch light flickered above them, casting weird shadows on Nicole's barely-there balance.

"You'll be fine," Angel muttered, brushing her hands off like Nicole was some job she just finished.

She leaned against the front door, eyes fluttering. Angel didn't even press the bell. She took one last look at Nicole—disheveled, slumped, already slipping into sleep—and walked off without a word, the click of her heels fading into the night.

Nicole didn't fight it. Her knees gave up, and she slid to the floor. Cold porch tiles pressed against her cheek. Her fingers twitched. The world spun quietly around her.

Morning came with birds and sunlight.

The door creaked open.

Alex stepped out, purse in hand, ready to jog to her car—until she froze.

There. On the porch. Curled up like a forgotten doll. Nicole.

Her hair was a mess, knees scraped, lips dry.

"Jesus—Nicole?" Alex dropped her keys and knelt. "Nicole, what happened to you?!"

Nicole groaned but didn't wake.

Alex's face shifted—from shock to panic to something like… concern.

"Jaden!" she called out, banging on the door. "Get out here—now!"

And from inside, footsteps rushed.

Everything was about to explode.

Jaden burst through the front door, shirtless and half-awake, rubbing his eyes. "What the hell, Alex—?"

Then he saw her.

Nicole. Curled up on the porch like some drunk stranger. Bare arms trembling. Her breath uneven.

"Nicole?" His voice cracked.

He dropped beside her, shaking her gently. "Hey. Hey, wake up."

She stirred, barely. Her eyes opened just enough to recognize him—then shut again.

Jaden looked at Alex, his jaw tightening. "Did she just get here?"

"I found her like this," Alex said, her voice shaken. "She's freezing. We need to get her inside."

He didn't wait. He picked Nicole up like she weighed nothing and carried her inside, laying her gently on the couch.

"Get me a blanket," he snapped at Alex, who rushed off.

Nicole mumbled something. Jaden leaned in.

"What was that?"

"Water," she whispered, her throat dry and cracked.

He disappeared into the kitchen, came back with a glass, and helped her sip. Her hands were shaking so badly, he had to hold the cup for her.

"What happened?" he asked softly, crouching down so he could see her eyes. "Nicole, where were you?"

She blinked slowly, her lashes stuck together. "Party…"

"Yeah, I remembered. But how'd you end up passed out on the porch?"

She didn't answer. Her body flinched like it remembered something before her mind could catch up.

Jaden noticed.

Jaden stood up like something had snapped in him. "Who was there?" he demanded. "Who took you home?"

Alex returned with a blanket just in time to see the fire build in Jaden's eyes.

Nicole pulled the blanket over her head, as if hiding from the entire world.

Jaden sat across from her, elbows on his knees, his jaw tight.

"Nicole…" he said quietly, "I need you to tell me what happened."

Nothing.

He tried again. "Who dropped you off?"

Still nothing.

Alex hovered in the doorway, hugging her arms like she didn't know what to do. "Should we call someone? A doctor or—"

"She's not hurt," Jaden snapped, but then glanced back at Nicole—at the way her fingers trembled even under the blanket. "She's… just out of it."

Her dad came downstairs minutes later, groggy, scratching at his beard. "What's going on?"

Alex said nothing. Just stepped aside.

And then he saw her.

"Nicole?" His voice cracked. "What the hell—? Unbelievable. How did you even end up like this? What were you doing? Out drinking? Partying? Jesus, Nicole."

"Hey!" Jaden snapped. "Back off."

"Don't start with me, Jaden—"

"No, seriously, back off," Jaden said louder, stepping in front of Nicole. "You don't even know what happened."

"Exactly!" their dad barked. "Because she won't say anything. Because she never says anything."

"Maybe if you listened instead of yelling—" Jaden started, but their dad shoved past him.

"Don't talk to me like that. She's not a kid anymore. She knows better."

"She slept on the damn porch!" Jaden shouted. "What kind of dad misses that?"

Their father's jaw tightened. "Watch your mouth."

"Watch your priorities," Jaden shot back.

"Enough!" Alex finally stepped in, getting between them. "Please. Both of you."

The silence that followed was heavy. Nicole still hadn't moved.

"This is unbelievable," he muttered. "Out all night. Doesn't say a word. I can't do this—"

"Then don't," Jaden snapped from the kitchen doorway. "No one's forcing you."

Alex gave him a sharp look, silently begging him to stop.

But it was too late. The tension was thick now. Ugly.

"She's my daughter, Jaden."

"Yeah? Start acting like it."

That hit harder than it should have.

Their dad finally sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "She's not talking."

"She doesn't need to talk. Just look at her."

Their dad didn't respond. He stared at Nicole.

Still. Silent.

Not asleep. Just gone.

Nicole's fingers twitched under the blanket.

Jaden walked over, knelt beside the couch. His voice dropped low, the way you talk to someone who's already halfway gone.

"Nic…"

Her eyes shifted slightly. Not toward him. Just… shifted.

"You don't have to say anything," he said. "But I'm here, okay?"

A long pause.

Her lips parted just a little. Dry. Cracked.

"I don't know what happened," she said, barely a whisper. "I didn't ask for the drink."

Jaden's heart twisted. He nodded.

"I believe you."

Their dad, standing a few feet away, let out a sharp breath—like he wanted to believe too, but didn't know how. His hands were clenched by his sides, fists he didn't even notice.

POV MARCOS 

Marcos sat in his car parked behind the abandoned gas station lot near school. one hand shoved in his hoodie's pocket, the other holding a tiny audio recorder. His jaw clenched. He clicked play. 

Nicole's voice spilled out—soft, vulnerable, 

"Marcos… pls don't …" 

Nicole's voice — breathy, desperate, 

The way she whispered his name still lingered in his head, way longer than it should've. Her breaths, her tiny gasps,

The way their lips moved together.

A smirk ghosted across his lips, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"This wasn't supposed to feel like this," he muttered to himself, his voice low and conflicted.

She was supposed to be a game. 

Not with that voice stuck in his head. 

Not with that raw, desperate version of Nicole burned into his memory. He ran a hand through his hair, frustration bubbling beneath his skin, his heart beating just a little too fast. leaned against the hood of his car, 

The audio kept playing, over and over, in his earbuds.

Suddenly a text from angel about Nicole. He didn't even bother replying to her messages. He couldn't. 

His fingers tapped on his phone, hovering over the audio file. He could delete it. 

But he didn't. 

He played it again. 

They all wanted to see her crack — the school's golden tomboy princess, always so cold, so untouchable. Angel had suggested the pills. 

Marcos hadn't even hesitated. 

But then in the bathroom… Something shifted. The way she clung to him. 

The way she whispered his name like it meant something. 

Her lips brushing his, her hands on his chest. For a moment, Marcos forgot it was a game. For a second, he felt something he hadn't prepared for. 

He yanked the earbuds out and threw his phone on the passenger seat, breathing hard. "Stupid," he muttered, slamming his fist against the steering wheel.

Nicole wasn't supposed to get to him. 

Not like this.

She was supposed to beg and break and fall apart.

Not haunt him. He got out of the car, pulling his hoodie over his head and shoving his hands into his pockets. The school courtyard buzzed with morning chatter, laughter, and the screech of sneakers on concrete. But for Marcos, it all sounded like static. He walked in slow, head down, earbuds in again — not for music. Just so no one would talk to him. Except, of course, his boys spotted him before he could disappear.

"Yo!" James called out, jogging up to him, grinning like an idiot. "Last night was wild, huh? She was all over you, bro. You got that magic touch."

Marcos didn't even look at him. "Shut up."

James blinked. "Damn, relax."

The others fell silent for a second as Marcos brushed past them and headed toward the back stairs instead of the front entrance. The last thing he needed was to walk into the hallway and lock eyes with Nicole right now. 

He hadn't seen her since the bathroom. Not since she'd mumbled his name like it was a lifeline. 

And he didn't know what he'd do if she looked at him with even an ounce of recognition. 

Because he knew. She wouldn't remember.

Not the whole thing. 

Not clearly.

God, it twisted his stomach.

He sat on the back stairwell, phone in hand again.

Played the clip one more time.

He closed his eyes. 

Angel POV; 

Her mom's voice buzzed in the background, something about lunch money and not embarrassing the family. Angel barely heard it.

She sat stiff in the front seat, eyes locked on her phone, thumbs moving fast.

"Skyyy, where you at? I'm here. Wait for me?"

"Let's walk in together?"

"Pls answer 🙄"

No response.

Again.

She sighed hard and stared out the window. Lincoln High's brick walls stared back like they knew her mood.

Sky hadn't texted her back.

Since the party.

Since Nicole.

Angel bit her lip, trying to play it cool. But her fingers tightened around the phone. She and Sky had been best friends since middle school. Inside jokes. Sleepovers. Crying over boys who didn't text back. They were a team.

Until Nicole showed up with her ripped jeans, broken energy, and bad attitude—and suddenly Sky was glued to her like gum on a shoe.

Angel watched Sky defend her. Laugh with her. Choose her.

Her phone buzzed.

Angel jumped—then deflated.

It was her mom.

"Don't forget your lunchbox."

Angel shoved the door open and climbed out without answering.

As the car drove off, she slipped her phone in her hoodie pocket and walked through the parking lot alone.

Sky was nowhere to be seen.

But Nicole's name rang louder than ever.

Sky POV 

She didn't even make it past the front gates.

The second period bell rang, and Sky was already halfway down the street, hoodie up, hair tied messy, and a tub of mint chocolate chip clutched in one hand like it meant something.

Nicole's favorite.

She hadn't answered any texts. Not even a dry "k." Not even a ghost view.

And Sky hated not knowing.

She thought about that party—how Nicole left. The yelling. The way her eyes looked glassy, her body stiff. And then… nothing. Radio silence.

Something was wrong. She felt it.

She didn't go to school to play detective or get answers. She just wanted Nicole to open the damn door.

When she got to Nicole's street, her stomach twisted. This felt like… more than a visit. Like she was showing up after a war without knowing what side she was on.

She took a breath, tucked the ice cream under her arm, and knocked.

No answer.

Again.

Then the door creaked open slowly.

Nicole stood there in an oversized tee, eyes dull and barely meeting hers.

"I brought this," Sky said quietly, holding up the tub. "Mint chocolate chip. You hate every other flavor, remember?"

Nicole didn't say anything.

But she stepped aside to let her in.

That was enough.

Sky walked in, kicked off her sneakers at the door, and followed Nicole into the dim living room. The curtains were still half-shut. The air smelled like toast and regret.

Nicole plopped back onto the couch like gravity had a grudge against her.

"You skipped school for this?" she muttered, her voice low, rough.

"Yeah," Sky said, holding up the ice cream. "You looked like crap yesterday. Figured this was an emergency."

Nicole snorted. "I always look like crap."

"You usually pretend better."

That got a twitch of a smile from her—barely. Nicole grabbed the tub and a spoon off the coffee table without asking. She dug in like she hadn't eaten in days, which might've been true.

"Mint chocolate chip?" she asked between bites. "Not vanilla?"

Sky raised a brow. "I'm not a psychopath."

Sky sat on the arm of the couch. Close, but not too close. Like she knew Nicole was a loaded weapon.

After a beat, Nicole asked, "You here to babysit me or what?"

"Nope. I'm here because I care. Unfortunately."

Nicole looked up. Her eyes were tired, bruised by something more than sleep. She didn't say "thank you ." That wasn't her.

Instead, she asked, "Is Angel still on your contact list?"

Sky blinked. "Why?"

Nicole looked away. "Just wondering who your people are."

"You're one of them," Sky said.

Nicole shoved another spoonful into her mouth.

The room settled into silence again, Sky's eyes flicked to Nicole's arm—she had a faint red mark near her wrist.

She didn't ask.

Nicole noticed her looking. "Don't." Her tone was flat.

"I wasn't—"

Sky stayed quiet.

Nicole sighed and dropped the spoon into the tub. "Look. I don't remember much from last night. Just… heat. Like my body wasn't mine. Like my head was filled with TV static."

Sky watched her carefully, still not pushing. Just listening.

Nicole shook her head, voice lower now. "I hate not remembering. It makes me feel… stupid. Weak."

"You're not," Sky said, too quick.

Nicole looked up at her. "You don't even know what happened."

"I know you wouldn't have left me without a word unless something messed up happened. And I know Angel's acting weird today. So is Marcos."

Nicole's jaw tightened. "Of course he is."

Sky leaned forward. " what happened "

Nicole opened her mouth—then stopped. "I don't know. Honestly. I think… Angel gave me a drink. But it was meant for you."

Sky's face twisted. "What?"

"We were joking, right?" Nicole gave a sharp laugh. "Like idiots. And then I just… took it. Proved I could. Ha. Proved I could."

Sky stood. Pacing now. "If they drugged you—"

"Don't." Nicole's voice dropped, sharper now. "Don't do the hero thing. Don't make this a drama. I already feel like a statistic."

"I'm not here to save you. I'm here because I care."

Nicole's lip quivered before she forced it still. She pulled her hand away, stood, and turned her back. "I'm tired."

"You want me to go?"

Nicole didn't answer. But Sky didn't leave either. She stayed right there.

Nicole didn't turn to face her, just stared ahead at nothing, arms folded across her chest.

"If it came down to it…" Her voice was low. Careful. "How far would you go for someone you call a friend?"

Sky blinked, confused at first. "What do you mean?"

Nicole finally looked at her. "I mean—would you lie for them? Hurt someone else for them? Even… someone you care about?"

Sky hesitated. "Depends. Who's the someone?"

"Does it matter?" Nicole pushed. "Let's say it's between doing what's right and protecting your friend. What then?"

Sky stepped closer. "Where's this coming from?"

"Answer the question."

Sky's jaw tightened. "If I really cared about them, yeah… I'd protect them. Even if it meant hurting someone I love." She held Nicole's gaze. "If it was you—I'd lie, I'd fight, I'd burn it all down."

Nicole looked away again. "That's not loyalty. That's obsession."

"Then maybe I'm a little obsessed with you." Sky didn't flinch when she said it.

There was silence.

Nicole finally stood, slow and steady, like the thought had been boiling in her all along.

disappeared upstairs without another word, moving like a storm. Sky sat there, chewing her lip, second-guessing everything. Minutes later, Nicole came back down—hair tied, hoodie on, sneakers laced.

"We're jumping her," Nicole said flatly.

Sky blinked. "Who?"

"Angel." Nicole turned to her, voice cold now

Sky crossed her arms, defensive. "Okay, hold up—what exactly are you talking about? You don't even remember what happened, do you?"

Nicole scoffed. "Your friend drugged me. Or do you need a replay?"

Sky exhaled hard, torn.

"…Then let's make it quick," Sky said.