Saturday afternoon came lazy and sun-drenched, and for once, everyone found themselves flopped out in Sky's living room like old times — almost.
Zelta was sprawled across the beanbag chair with a bag of gummy worms. Diana sat cross-legged on the couch, flipping through a fashion magazine with visible judgment. Sky leaned against the wall, sketchbook half open, eyes flicking between everyone and nothing.
Scott sat on the floor, back against the couch, sipping from a smoothie Zelta had forced on him with a death glare.
"I'm just saying," Sky muttered, flipping a pencil in his hand, "if you're going to wear a gold chain that expensive, maybe don't pair it with thrift store sneakers."
Scott blinked. "What?"
Diana perked up. "Wait, that's real gold?"
Zelta leaned over immediately, grabbing his wrist. "Oh my god, it is. Dude, this isn't plated — this is pure."
Scott tried to pull away. "Can we not have a jewelry inspection?"
"Nope," Sky said smugly. "Show and tell is in session. Spill."
Scott sighed, clearly flustered. "It was a gift."
Zelta tilted her head. "From who? Some mystery girlfriend back in the city?"
Scott hesitated, then smiled faintly. "From my stepdad, actually."
Everyone quieted for a moment.
Diana raised an eyebrow. "Your stepdad bought you a chain that costs more than my rent?"
Scott shrugged. "He... he's kind of loaded. Like, actual billionaire loaded. Tech security. And he's the reason we moved. Said he wanted to give my mom and me a better life."
Zelta blinked. "Wait. Are you rich?"
Scott laughed, eyes warm. "Not like that. It's his money, not mine. But he always treated me like I mattered. Gave me stuff that made me feel... seen. I guess."
Sky, unusually quiet, asked, "What about your real dad?"
Scott's expression dimmed, just for a second. "He was... not that guy. Mean. Drank a lot. Used to tell me I was a waste of space."
The room shifted, a little heavier.
Diana reached forward without thinking and tugged the chain lightly, just once. "Then wear this like armor. Not a flex."
Scott met her gaze and smiled — small, but real. "That's the idea."
Zelta tossed a gummy worm at his head. "Okay, emotional moment over. You're rich, you're hot, and now we all have abandonment issues. Can we move on before I start writing poetry?"
Sky rolled his eyes, but he was smiling too.
Diana said nothing — but the look she gave Scott held more softness than she meant to show.
And in that room, in that quiet afternoon haze, it felt — for a moment — like everything was okay.
Like whatever was coming..