Whispers of The Unseen

The Distraction and Tension

The next morning, Theo and Max showed up at my door before I even had time to drink my coffee. Theo had that easy smile on his face, the kind he always wore when he was trying to make me laugh, and Max stood just behind him, a little more serious, but still with a hint of a smirk in his eyes.

"We figured you could use a distraction," Theo said, holding up a bag of pastries from the local bakery. The smell of fresh cinnamon rolls filled my porch, making my stomach growl despite the knots still tangled there.

I leaned against the doorframe, trying to muster a smile. "You two are too much. But come on in."

Max brushed past me, his shoulder grazing mine as he stepped inside. "We wouldn't taking no for an answer today. You're stuck with us."

I closed the door behind them, trying to ignore the little flip in my chest that came whenever either of them got too close. It was ridiculous, really. With everything going on, I shouldn't be thinking about the warmth of Max's touch or the way Theo's smile made my pulse quicken. But there was something comforting about the way they hovered around me, like they were determined to protect me from the dark thoughts lurking at the edges of my mind.

Theo set the pastries on the kitchen counter and started rummaging through my cupboards, looking for plates. He tossed me a grin over his shoulder. "You're out of sugar, by the way. And probably milk, too. What do you even eat around here?"

I rolled my eyes, but the banter helped to ease the tension in my chest. "Maybe I'll just let you two take care of my grocery shopping from now on."

"Sure, we'll add it to the list," Max chimed in, leaning against the counter with a small, playful smile. "Along with making sure you don't go wandering around town alone anymore. We'll just become your full-time bodyguards."

"Bodyguards who flirt with me endlessly, I'm sure," I shot back, raising an eyebrow at Max. His smile widened a fraction, but he didn't deny it.

Theo slid a plate of pastries my way, his fingers brushing mine as he did. The touch was brief, but it sent a little jolt through me. I caught his gaze, the teasing smile still there, but something softer lurking beneath it.

"We're serious, though," he said, his voice dropping just a little. "We want you to feel safe, Aria. Whatever you need, we're here."

I swallowed, feeling a lump form in my throat. I wasn't used to leaning on anyone like this, but there was a part of me that wanted to let them in, to trust that maybe I didn't have to face all of this alone.

The three of us spent the day together, trying to pretend that everything was normal. We played board games, watched a terrible horror movie that Max insisted on, and Theo made fun of how I covered my face during the gory parts. It almost worked, too-almost made me forget the darkness that had been creeping into my life.

But there were little moments when I felt the tension building, those unspoken things that hovered between us. Like when Theo's hand lingered on my back just a little too long as he passed me a bowl of popcorn. Or the way Max's fingers brushed mine when he reached for the remote, his eyes catching mine for just a heartbeat before looking away.

Every touch sent a shiver through me, and I found myself wondering, just for a second, if they felt the same spark that I did. But I couldn't focus on that. Not with everything else hanging over us.

Later in the afternoon, we ended up in the backyard, trying to soak up the last bit of sunshine before the cold settled in. Max sat on the porch steps, fiddling with his phone, while Theo sprawled out on the grass, hands behind his head, looking up at the sky. I joined him, lying down beside him, feeling the cool blades of grass tickle my neck.

"This was a good idea," I said softly, staring up at the clouds drifting lazily above. "Thank you, guys. I really needed this."

Theo turned his head to look at me, his smile softening. "That's what we're here for. To make sure you don't lose that smile of yours."

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help the small smile that tugged at my lips. "You're such a cheeseball, Theo."

He laughed, the sound warm and familiar. "Maybe, but you like it."

I nudged him playfully with my elbow, and he chuckled again, his eyes crinkling at the corners. Max glanced over from the porch, his expression unreadable as he watched the two of us. I wondered what he was thinking, but before I could ask, he stood up and wandered over, dropping down to sit cross-legged beside me.

Max's gaze softened as he looked at me, his voice quieter than usual. "We'll get through this, Aria. All of it. And when this is over, you'll look back and see how strong you are."

For a moment, my breath caught in my chest. There was something so earnest in the way he said it, something that made me feel like maybe, just maybe, I could believe it. I reached out, squeezing his hand, trying to convey everything I couldn't find the words for.

"Thank you, Max," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "For everything."

His thumb brushed over the back of my hand, and the touch sent a warmth through me that I hadn't felt in a long time. Theo, noticing the moment between us, propped himself up on one elbow, a teasing smile playing at his lips.

"Careful, Max. If you keep being this sweet, I might get jealous."

Max shot him a look, but there was no real heat behind it. It was the kind of banter that was familiar between the two of them, and for a moment, I let myself get lost in the lightness of it, forgetting about everything else.

But even as we joked and laughed, I couldn't shake the feeling that Ghostface was still out there, watching, waiting for his next move. The town was still under lockdown, and no one knew when-or if-it would truly be safe again. And deep down, I knew that I couldn't keep hiding in these moments of distraction forever.

But for now, I let myself lean into it, enjoying the way Theo's laugh filled the air and the warmth of Max's hand in mine. Because even if everything around us was falling apart, this moment was real.

And I needed something real to hold on to.