As I closed the door to my room, silence wrapped around me like a nket. The thick walls muted everything—noughter, no chatter, no Carly yelling over Sam. Just peace.

    I threw myself onto the bed and reached for the book on my nightstand. It was Crime and Punishment—dense and theplete opposite of a rxing read, but an incredible book nheless (I was rereading it).

    Time passed without me noticing. I got pulled deeper into Raskolnikov''s mind, flipping pages with growing focus.

    Then, a soft ding broke the silence.

    I looked up. The small bell on the wall—a subtle chime that rang only inside my room—lit up. Someone was requesting me.

    I ced the book face-down on the nightstand.

    I got up, crossed the room, and opened the door.

    Standing there were Carly, Sam, Paige, and Missy—all in pajamas.

    Paige was holding a bag of popcorn, Sam had a mischievous grin, Carly looked too innocent to be trusted, and Missy just waved like it was the most normal thing in the world.

    "We voted," Paige said. "You''re joining girls'' night."

    I blinked. "I didn''t even know I was on the ballot."

    "Too bad," Carly smiled, already walking past me into the room.

    "Move it, book boy," Sam added with a smirk.

    "Okay...e on in," I said, stepping aside for the rest to enter.

    Paige was thest one to walk in. She paused just past the doorway, leaned slightly toward me, and whispered, "Wait, there isn''t a girl in here, is there?"

    I rolled my eyes. "No... I was reading."

    Missy stepped further in, her eyes scanning the room. "Wow," she said, clearly impressed.

    I didn''t me her. My bedroom was giant, easily the best one in the house (not that Mom''s was much worse). It had everything: a king-size bed, a walk-in closet, a grand bathroom with a jacuzzi inside, a deck with an ocean view, a massive TV with plush sofas, and a huge decorative globe in the corner of the room. There was also a piano and a few instruments set up neatly near the window—guitar stands, a keyboard, even a small drum kit. Thanks to the soundproofing in the walls, I could y whenever I wanted without disturbing anyone.

    The five of us settled in—Carly, Paige, and Missy dropped onto the sofa while Sam dove into one of the puffs like it was a beanbag throne. I grabbed the other puff and sat across from them.

    Sam didn''t waste a second. She got up, walked over to my mini-fridge like it was her own, and pulled out a cold soda.

    "You keep the good stuff," she said, popping it open before I could evenment.

    I leaned over and snatched the bag of popcorn from Paige''s hands, making her pout

    "So," I said, grinning as I tossed a piece into my mouth, "what are we talking about?"

    "Gossip," said Missy. "A gossip between us, but need to be something that at least two of us don''t know about it," she added.

    "Carly starts," I said, while Paige and I sat together on the same puff, sharing the bag of popcorn.

    Carly hesitated for a moment, then spoke. "At the beginning of the year, I had a crush on a guy named Jake. Sam and Freddie got confused and thought I was talking about our Jake."

    "I remember that," Sam chimed in. "Hearing him sing made me want to puke."

    "Yeah, Fake Jake, nothing like the original," I added, making Paige roll her eyes.

    "So what happens next?" asked Missy, leaning forward with curiosity.

    Carly continued, "He ended up getting back with his ex..."

    "Uhhh, too bad," eximed Missy. "I go next. There was this boy I dated, Taylor. My dad thought it was a girl, and when he found out it was actually a boy, I told him Taylor yed for the other team... just not the team he assumed."

    "Isn''t he that jerk that broke up with you for dumb reasons?" asked Paige.

    "Yes, but it''s all in the past," said Missy.

    "Hey, just say the word and I''ll kick his ass," I offered.

    "I''ll help with that," added Sam with a grin.

    Paige continued, "I don''t have much of a romantic story to share... but I do have a funny one with Sheldon. One time, he told me he might have a crush on me, and I tricked him by saying we should kiss—then I ended up drawing a mustache on his face instead."

    We allughed.

    "You two would''ve made a cute couple," I said jokingly.

    "Shut up, dumbass," Paige retorted, and started tickling me without mercy.

    I kicked Paige off the puff yfully.

    Carly murmured next to me, "Do you know what a cute couple would be?"

    I pointed a finger at her. "Don''t start, Carly."

    "Mine would be Jonah, my ex-boyfriend," Sam continued. "He tried to kiss Carly..."

    "Pig," said Missy.

    "What did you do?" Paige asked.

    "I kicked his nuts," Sam replied tly.

    "Ouch," I said, wincing.

    Now everyone turned to me.

    "I don''t know which one to say," I admitted.

    "There are so many, aren''t there?" Paige said sarcastically.

    "Certainly, more stories than all of usbined," Carly added.

    I ignored their jabs and said "Humm, I''ll talk about when I met Scarlett,"

    Missy jumped in, "The one we went out with earlier this month? She was gorgeous."

    I nodded, smiling. "It was at a Lost in Trantion event in Japan. I went up to her, told her I was a fan. Then she asked me which of her roles I liked the most... and I couldn''t remember a single one."

    We all burst intoughter.

    "So how''d you get her?" asked Paige.

    I told them the story.

    "Shameless Jake. Nothing new," Sam said, shrugging.

    "You''re lucky you''re cute, Jake," Paige added with a teasing grimace.

    We ended up talking and singing untilte that night.

    ---

    I slowly opened my eyes because of some movement. It was Mom, covering everyone with nkets. Missy was asleep on the couch, along with Carly and Sam, who were curled up together. Paige had passed out on the puff, and I was lying on the floor with my head resting on herp.

    I murmured to Mom, "It''s not what you''re thinking... but no doubt your son is too charming."

    Mom looked down at me deadpan. "How can you joke when you''re barely awake?" Then she added, "And what if Mom approved any of them?"

    That made my eyes pop open. I saw Mom with a smug grin.

    "How about the four of them?"

    I got a pillow to my face in response.

    ------

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