Rena: Code 143

Bonus 1.2: Where it all Began

Sean's POV

The sound of our footsteps echoed across the quiet street as we jogged after Sheila. The pavement beneath our feet seemed to stretch endlessly, the rhythmic slap of our sneakers filling the otherwise still night. The air had grown cooler, the warmth of the evening slowly fading as the city settled into the night. I could hear Nick's breathing beside me, a little quicker than usual. My own pulse was steady, but my mind was spinning.

"Sheila!" I called, watching her figure just ahead, her silhouette a blur in the dim streetlights. "Wait up!"

Her pace slowed as she heard us, her posture relaxed but curious as we caught up. When she turned around, a sly grin played across her lips, her gaze sweeping over the two of us. "So... you've decided to join me?" she asked, her voice teasing, but I could sense the genuine curiosity beneath her light tone.

I shook my head, trying to push away the lingering buzz of adrenaline in my veins. "No, we're not... partaking." My voice came out steadier than I expected, but my mind was still on the quarter and how it had landed on tails. The decision had been made. And honestly, I wasn't sure if I felt relieved or regretful.

Nick stepped forward, his voice softer as he chimed in. "However, we didn't want you walking home by yourself. Figured we'd at least do that much."

There was a flicker of something in Sheila's eyes—disappointment, maybe—but it quickly shifted to surprise, and then to something more masked and unreadable. She laughed lightly, shaking her head. "You boys are sweet," she said, her voice dropping to a more sincere tone. "Really, you didn't have to."

Nick rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "We didn't want you out here alone."

For a moment, the three of us stood in a strange silence, the earlier tension replaced by something lighter, though not quite comfortable. Sheila's gaze lingered on us both, that glimmer of playful mischief still in her eyes, but I could sense her shifting into a different mood, as if she'd decided that our refusal didn't phase her.

We started walking Sheila back to her dorm, our footsteps falling into an easy rhythm as the tension between us slowly faded. The night was cool, and the distant hum of the city was a comforting backdrop. I kept my hands in my pockets, my thoughts swirling in quiet chaos.

It had been months since I'd last seen Nick. My deployment had felt like an eternity, and the moment I'd come back, all I could think about was reconnecting with my best friend—my brother. I missed him and our family, missed the normalcy of life away from the military grind. Tonight was supposed to be about Nick. The goal had been simple: get him to loosen up, maybe even finally get laid. It wasn't like he didn't have opportunities, but Nick... well, he was a bit of a nerd at times.

I glanced sideways at Sheila, watching the way her hair swayed slightly as she walked. She'd surprised me tonight. When I first saw her with Nick, my immediate thought was excitement—for him. She was gorgeous, and Nick had definitely caught her interest. He was awkward, sure, but I thought tonight might be different for him. I'd seen that little spark between them and the way she looked at him. It wasn't hard to imagine this ending the way we'd hoped.

But then, something changed. Somewhere along the line, the fun and drinks had led to Sheila and me kissing. It wasn't planned, not by a long shot, and that's what left a bitter taste in my mouth now. Nick had eyes on her first. This was supposed to be his night, not mine. And yet, when her lips met mine, I didn't stop it. I couldn't lie—Sheila was crazy hot, and for a second, I'd forgotten who I was and why I was even there.

Still, it was hard to shake the guilt.

I glanced at Nick, still quiet and staring off into the distance, his face unreadable. That familiar pang of guilt hit me again, sharper this time. I hadn't apologized yet. For kissing Sheila. For breaking whatever unspoken bro code we had. I wasn't sure how to bring it up, but the longer I stayed silent, the worse I felt. Nick wasn't just some friend. He was my brother, and I'd always looked out for him. I'd been protective since day one—making sure no one messed with him, that he stayed on the right path. And now, I was the one who'd messed up.