Echoes Of The Unseen

EOTU -VEINTICUATRO

The sun began to set, casting long, golden shadows across the wide, open spaces of Noah's grand house. Months had passed since Reverie, Theodore, Danielle, and Noah had moved in together, and in that time, the house had transformed from a quiet, perfectly-kept mansion into a whirlwind of chaos and laughter.

Noah's mansion, with its sprawling rooms, high ceilings, and large windows, was no longer pristine. Blankets were draped haphazardly across the couch in the living room, random books lay open on the floor, and the kitchen. Well, the kitchen had become a battleground of sorts.

Inside the kitchen, Theodore stood at the stove, carefully stirring a pot of bubbling pasta. His brow furrowed in concentration as he occasionally lifted the spoon to taste the sauce he had prepared. He leaned slightly to the side, trying to get the perfect angle for the taste. "Needs more salt," he muttered to himself, reaching for the shaker.

Theo hadn't imagined when he first moved in that he would be the one doing most of the cooking. In fact, he had been excited at the thought of escaping the daily kitchen duties he'd grown up with. "Big house, probably a personal chef or something," he had joked at the time. But now, as the de facto cook, he had to face the reality. He shook his head, dropping a pinch of salt into the sauce.

Just then, Danielle stormed into the kitchen, her face twisted in frustration. Her hair was tied into a messy bun, and her expression was a perfect reflection of her mood. She slammed a thick textbook onto the counter, making the whole kitchen island shake slightly. The sound echoed in the large room, and Theodore glanced up at her with an amused smirk.

"Another math problem, Danielle?" Theodore asked, wiping his hands on the dishtowel he had slung over his shoulder.

Danielle groaned dramatically, throwing her arms into the air as she dropped onto one of the bar stools. "I swear, if I have to solve one more equation, I'm going to throw this book out the window. Living with three overachievers who love math was not what I signed up for!"

She buried her face in her hands, and Theodore couldn't help but laugh. "Oh, come on. It's not that bad."

Danielle lifted her head just enough to give him a deadly glare. "Easy for you to say. You like math. I moved in to escape school stress, not to be surrounded by human calculators!"

As if summoned by her words, Noah strolled into the kitchen, a wide grin already plastered on his face. He leaned casually against the doorframe, his eyes twinkling mischievously.

"Did someone say 'equation'? Because I've got a great one we can all try!" He stepped forward, pulling a piece of paper from his pocket, unfolding it as if it were some precious artifact. "It's only like, fourteen steps. Shouldn't take more than an hour."

Danielle's head shot up, and without a word, she grabbed a pillow from the couch nearby and flung it at Noah. "No more math!" she groaned, her voice muffled as she buried her face back in her hands.

Noah ducked easily, the pillow sailing harmlessly past his head. He held up his hands in surrender, but the grin on his face never faded. "Hey, hey! Just trying to share the love of numbers with my favorite people."

Theodore glanced at him sideways, shaking his head with a smile. "Noah, man, you're gonna drive us all crazy with your constant math talk."

Noah crossed the room, taking a seat next to Danielle at the kitchen island. He leaned back in the chair, balancing on two legs, clearly enjoying how easy it was to get under everyone's skin. "What can I say? Numbers are life."

Just then, the door at the far end of the hallway slammed open, and Reverie came bounding into the room, her usual energy filling the space. Her hair was still slightly damp from her earlier shower, and she wore a bright, oversized hoodie that almost swallowed her petite frame. She moved with a quick, light step as she skidded to a stop beside Noah, throwing her arm around his shoulders.