𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐆𝐎 (𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐔𝐒) *editing*

𝐎𝐥𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞🥀

rewritten: January-May 2025

"If this is your idea of a date, it sucks."

"You're stingy today, mariposa."

"Gee, I wonder why," Maeve replied, rolling her eyes.

After narrowly dodging several FEDRA patrols, the two found refuge in a building linked to the heavily restricted mall. However, Maeve couldn't shake her suspicion about him – why would he choose this place of all places? It was locked down tighter than a vault, according to the soldiers, and no one was allowed entry until they were a soldier fully equipped with body armor and a bazooka sent to clear the area. She had heard rumors that infected occasionally wandered in, one infected for every dozen people. Regardless of how they got in, she preferred to keep her distance.

She had witnessed the grim fate of those who broke the rules, whether they were infected or not.

Jordan muttered something in Spanish before flashing a grin at her. "Scout's honor," he said, "I'm not going to do anything."

"Says you."

Honestly, her biggest concern was what would happen if they got caught. She could be sent back to school and face punishment, while Jordan might be killed for being associated with the Fireflies. They could both end up dead, shot down like wild animals. And if FEDRA didn't take them out, any infected they may encounter would. Either way, the scenarios in her head led to death–a grim, no-win situation. The possibilities of unavoidable demise loomed large.

She still couldn't fathom it. She let herself be pressured into following him into that forbidden, eerie mall that occasionally housed infected. Her judgement was questionable at best. Common sense? Completely absent. Seriously, she should've told him off and slammed the door right in his face, but instead, her feelings for him overwhelmed any logical thought.

Whenever he spoke in that charming way of his, her knees turned to jelly, and she felt utterly helpless. And let's not forget that infuriatingly adorable grin of his. She was convinced he had no idea just how captivating he could be; those dimples of his only made things worse. He had the power to send her heart to the moon and back.

It was so unfair.

Maybe if she had a pretty accent or cute dimples, she could persuade him into doing something incredibly stupid too. Then, just maybe, they might have something to talk about.

A language that felt both familiar and foreign filled her ears. Sweet, enchanting words she couldn't comprehend. A startled gasp escaped her as Jordan pulled her close, wrapping one arm around her waist while his other hand clasped hers. He spun her playfully and then dipped her, laughter spilling from him as her face shifted through surprise and annoyance — emotions that were oddly relatable.

"I have no idea what you just said, but I hope you—" She started to reprimand him when his lips suddenly met hers, cutting her off completely.

A wave of surprise washed over her, and butterflies began to dance in her stomach. She felt a delightful warmth, and being in his embrace made her feel even cozier and protected. He held her firmly as their lips moved together, both eager to savor the moment.

They separated to regain their breath.

He leaned in and murmured something in Spanish, his warm breath brushing against her ear before he pressed his forehead to hers. "I love you."

And just like that, the incredible warmth within her surged and then collapsed. It was almost overwhelming; the butterflies transformed into bees. A weight settled in her chest, reminiscent of the sensation of leaping from a great height, with gravity tugging her down toward the ground.

She longed for those words to be said to her again the idea of never hearing them again stung just as much as his absence.

His stunningly earthy brown eyes locked with her hazel ones. Though it made him shy, she cherished the moments spent gazing into his eyes, their hue so distinctive and pure, with a hint of mischievousness. The colors swirling around his pupils reminded her of rich soil and vibrant forests. She gasped softly. He was so breathtaking, and she admired him with all her being.

"Yeesh — get a room, you two!"

They were so wrapped up in their own little bubble that they didn't notice the two figures making their way toward them. Soaked to the bone, their clothes clung to their bodies, and the light reflected off their wet skin.

"Riley?" Maeve exclaimed, stepping back from Jordan.

"In the flesh, baby!" The girl with rich brown skin beamed. "Great to see you again, Maeve."

"Right back at'cha," Maeve shot finger guns at her. Then she glanced at her sister. "How are you unscathed?"

"She almost shanked me, actually."

"Not surprising."

Ellie clicked her tongue in annoyance as she brushed past the trio. They watched her storm off down the hall and up the stairs.

Jordan turned to Riley, who was still watching Ellie walk away. "I take it she didn't handle it too well?"

"Not really."

Maeve looked between them. "What exactly didn't she handle?"

"Riley's a Firefly, too," Jordan revealed.

"Holy — for real?"

"Yeah...you can imagine how that conversation went."

Maeve was at a loss for words. Her mind still reeled from Jordan's confession. It was mind-boggling, to say the least. She hadn't expected Riley to be a Firefly too. Before she could say anything, Jordan spoke up.

"We should catch up to Ellie before she ditches us."

"Absolutely."

With that, they set off in the direction Ellie had taken.