chapter 20

Chapter 19 – The Final Chapter

It was Saturday again. Everyone somehow ended up at Kai's house. No one questioned it anymore. It was basically their unofficial HQ.

Zach was stretched across the couch in one of Kai's hoodies, legs everywhere like he paid rent. Kai was wiping down the kitchen counter even though it was already spotless.

Mia sat on the floor, legs crossed, snacking from the container of fries Jamie was feeding her like she was royalty.

"So," Mia started, mouth full. "We should go on a weekend trip."

Kai looked up. "What trip?"

"The one I just planned in my head two seconds ago," Mia said with a shrug.

"I'm in," Zach said immediately. "I'm packing my skincare."

Jamie raised a brow. "Do I need to bring a tent?"

Kai didn't even look up. "Why would we sleep in a tent when we have functioning bank accounts and delusional parents?"

Zach nodded. "Exactly. I only camp in five-star hotels."

"You're so dramatic," Mia said.

"And yet you love me," Zach shot back.

Kai sighed. "Just pick somewhere with a Hot tub ."

"Oh? For me or for you to stare at me in it?" Zach teased.

"Yes," Kai replied without blinking.

Jamie leaned back on his elbows. "So this is like our soft launch as a group?"

Zach scoffed. "Soft? We hard launched the second I showed up at Kai's in just a hoodie and socks."

"I'm still recovering from that image," Mia said, rolling her eyes.

Kai looked mildly offended. "You all have zero boundaries."

Mia smirked. "And you love it."

"I tolerate it," he muttered.

Zach climbed into Kai's lap without a care. "He loves it. Look at his face."

Kai didn't deny it.

Mia leaned against Jamie. "We're so annoyingly functional now. It's weird."

"We're still a mess," Jamie said. "Just a coordinated one."

---

Epilogue – Three Months Later

Mia was fixing her hair in front of the mirror. Jamie was in the kitchen. Something was burning. Probably toast again.

"Are you even trying not to burn things?" Mia called out.

Jamie yelled back, "I'm attempting, alright? Where's the fire extinguisher?"

"Under the sink," she said. Then grabbed her phone and checked the time. "We still meeting at Kai's?"

"Yep," Jamie said, "Zach said he's cooking."

Mia gave a dry laugh. "Translation: Zach's watching Kai cook while claiming the credit."

"Honestly yeah," Jamie shrugged. "I'm bringing actual wine this time. No more stealing from Kai's expensive stash."

"Snitch," she muttered.

Jamie popped into the room. "You ready?"

"Let's go."

They left the house hand in hand.

By the time they got to Kai's, the usual chaos was already in motion. Zach yelling about pasta. Kai ignoring him. Music playing. Cups everywhere. The usual mess.

The End.