And Then, The World Ended

Chapter 6 Noah

I jolt awake to the sound of insistent knocking at the door. Glancing at my hover-pad, my heart nearly stops. Our sonic flight to Japan leaves in two hours! How did I oversleep on a day like this?

"Noah, Sophie, open up!" Jordan's voice filters through the door, tinged with urgency. "We gotta go or we'll miss the flight!"

Leaping out of bed, I race to Sophie's room and pound on her door. "Soph, wake up! We overslept and the plane leaves in two hours!"

A thud and a groan emanate from her room before she appears, hair sticking out at odd angles. "What? Oh my god, how did this happen?"

"No idea, but we need to move!" I rush back to my room, throwing on the first clothes I find. My hands shake as I stuff last-minute items into my backpack.

Sophie appears in the living room, looking slightly more put together but still frazzled. "I can't believe this is happening."

Jordan bursts through the front door, his expression a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Guys, seriously, we have to go now. Hayes is waiting in the limo downstairs."

"Limo?" I ask, but Jordan is already grabbing our bags and herding us out the door.

We sprint down the stairs. Bursting out of the building, I spot a sleek black flying limo idling by the curb. Hayes leans against it, looking effortlessly cool in aviators and a leather jacket.

"Fashionably late as always," he quips with a smirk as we approach.

"Sorry, we overslept," I gasp out, trying to catch my breath.

Hayes chuckles. "No worries, I figured as much. That's why I planned for us to leave extra early."

Sophie and I exchange a relieved glance as we climb into the limo. The interior is all plush leather and gleaming chrome, with a mini fridge and a holoscreen entertainment system.

"Whoa, this is incredible," Sophie breathes, running her hand over the seats.

Hayes settles in across from us, pouring himself a glass of champagne from the fridge. "Perks of the job. Figured we might as well travel in style."

Jordan plops down next to Hayes, grabbing his own glass. "To Japan!" he toasts, raising his drink.

"To Japan!" we echo, clinking our glasses together.

As the limo lifts off and merges into the skyway traffic, I lean back against the luxurious seats and let out a breath. We made it. Despite the chaotic start, we're finally on our way.

I glance over at Hayes, who's already deep in conversation with Jordan. The morning light filtering through the windows casts a warm glow over his features, making him look even more handsome than usual.

My stomach flutters as I remember our moment on the rooftop during Jordan's party. The way Hayes looked at me, the almost-kiss that left me reeling for days afterward. I still don't know what it meant, if anything. But I can't deny the way I feel drawn to him, like a moth to a flame.

Sophie nudges me, breaking me out of my thoughts. "You okay?" she asks quietly, searching my face.

I nod, mustering a smile. "Yeah, just can't believe this is really happening."

She grins. "I know, right?"

Excitement bubbles up inside me once more as I picture the adventures awaiting us. Exploring the metropolis streets of New Edo, formerly known as Tokyo. hiking through misty bamboo forests, soaking in hot springs under the stars. And through it all, the possibility of something more with Hayes.