Morning light filtered softly through the blinds as the group stirred awake in the game room. Empty snack bags and scattered cushions lay about — remnants of the night's chaotic fun. The silence was a stark contrast to the raucous energy from just hours before.
Angela stretched and glanced at her phone. "I've gotta get going — church starts soon, and you know how it is with Pastor's daughter duties." She smiled apologetically at everyone.
Ben nodded, rubbing sleep from his eyes. "Yeah, me too. I'll catch you later."
Tyler groaned from his spot on the couch. "Guess it's back to reality."
Jessica lingered by the door, watching Aiden as he gathered his things. When the others filtered out, she stepped closer, her voice low. "Hey… thanks for letting me stay last night."
Aiden looked up, surprise flickering in his eyes.
Jessica's lips brushed against his cheek, then quickly moved to his mouth in a soft, lingering kiss.
His breath caught.
Before he could say anything, Jessica grinned, her cheeks flushed, and bolted out the door, leaving a dizzy silence behind.
Aiden stood frozen, the quiet morning suddenly charged with something new—something he wasn't ready to name yet.
Aiden stood rooted in the quiet room, Jessica's kiss still warm on his lips. His mind raced, a mix of surprise and something deeper stirring beneath the surface.
What was that? His heart thudded unevenly, a strange flutter he hadn't expected. Jessica — with her confident smile and easy charm — had crossed a line he hadn't realized was there.
He replayed the moment over and over, fingers brushing his lips where hers had touched. Was it just a fleeting thing? A careless impulse fueled by last night's haze?
But even as doubts crept in, a small part of him whispered something hopeful, something he hadn't allowed himself to feel in a long time.
Maybe... maybe this isn't just about the party or the chaos.
For the first time in a while, Aiden felt the possibility of something more — something that might make this messy, complicated life feel a little less heavy.
Yet, beneath that flicker of hope, a shadow of caution lingered. He knew better than to get too close, too fast. Trust was a fragile thing, and he'd learned the hard way how quickly it could shatter.
He sighed, pushing the swirl of emotions down, at least for now. For today, it was enough to simply feel it, whatever "it" was — and let the moment settle.
[hour later…]
The church was packed.
Angela sat with her parents near the front, her posture perfect and composed. She wore a modest dress and a tired smile, but her mind drifted, thoughts still tangled with last night — the dancing, the laughter, Aiden, and Ben. Even now, she wasn't sure what exactly had changed between them, only that something had.
Pastor Weber stood at the pulpit, voice warm and familiar. But the ease of his Sunday sermon took a sharp turn.
"We'd like to take a moment to speak to something that's been troubling our town lately," he said, placing a firm hand on the lectern. "As many of you know, there have been a series of animal attacks in the area — more frequent, and more violent than we've seen before."
Murmurs spread through the crowd. Heads turned. Concern rippled like a wave.
Angela stiffened slightly, her mother's hand closing around hers.
"The authorities are doing everything they can," the pastor continued. "But we urge you all, young people especially, to be cautious. Please avoid the woods, especially at night. Don't wander off alone. Travel in pairs. Stay in well-lit areas."
He paused. "And most importantly… pray for our town. For wisdom. For protection. And for peace."
From her seat in the back, Jessica's expression shifted. What had been carefree fun only hours ago now felt… smaller. Tainted, even.
She glanced down at her phone, fingers twitching. Aiden hadn't messaged her. Not that she expected him to. But still…
In the far aisle, Ben stood with a couple of his friends, arms crossed. His jaw clenched at the mention of the attacks, eyes narrowing. Something about it didn't sit right with him — hadn't for a while.
And outside the stained-glass windows, clouds gathered above the forested edge of Forks. Quiet, brooding. As if holding its breath.
Something was changing in the town. And they all felt it — even if no one could name it yet.