NOAH'S POV

Nathan and I walked side by side through the bustling hallway, our steps in sync as we approached our lockers. The usual hum of students filled the air—laughter, hurried conversations, the occasional locker slamming shut. But my mind was elsewhere.

I was still mentally replaying last night’s disaster. Cooking had seemed like a solid plan at the time. But standing in a kitchen filled with smoke, Lucas screaming my name like I had personally betrayed him, and Gavin laughing so ...