The Keys to freedom

Friendly valentine

Pink and red decorations were taped haphazardly to lockers, students were carrying roses, chocolates, and stuffed animals like trophies. Oz stood at her locker, staring blankly at the chaos, her hand resting on the open door as she frowned at all the happy faces.

She used to love Valentine's Day. Pyke had always made it special. But this year, it was just another day—a reminder of what she'd lost.

Deep in thought, she didn't notice Grayson approach until he leaned casually against the locker beside hers.

"Hey," he said, a crooked grin spreading across his face.

She blinked, pulling herself back from her thoughts. "Hey, Gray."

Without a word, he whipped a slightly wilted rose out from behind his back.

She blinked at it, confused.

"Don't look too impressed," he said, smirking. "I plucked it off the bushes outside. It's technically vandalism, so you're welcome."

She let out a soft laugh as he held the rose toward her, she took it from him and brought it up to her nose. Before she could say anything in response, he pulled a small stuffed dog from his backpack and held it up triumphantly.

"And this little guy? I stole from Jana Lawson last period."

A smile tugged at her lips. "Wow, really pulling out all the stops for me, huh?" she said taking the stuffed animal.

"Obviously," he said, giving an exaggerated bow. But there was a faint flush creeping up his neck, betraying his nonchalantness. "Anything for you." He hesitated for half a second before quickly adding, "You know... as a friend, of course."

She tilted her head, narrowing her eyes in playful suspicion. "Oh, sure. In that case, what'd you steal for Jessper and Evie? You know... your other female friends?"

He grinned sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck. "Uh... I'm working on it."

She laughed and shook her head, clutching the rose and stuffed dog to her chest. "Well, thank you. I love them."

"Good," he said, slinging an arm around her shoulders as they started toward the lunchroom. "I worked so hard on it." He joked.

The cafeteria was as chaotic as the halls, tables decorated with Valentine's balloons and candy wrappers scattered everywhere. Jessper, James and Eric were already sitting at their usual spot, sharing a box of chocolates that wasn't originally theirs.

"What took you guys so long?" Eric asked, tossing a wrapper at Grayson as they approached.

"Grayson was vandalizing school property and stealing from poor, unsuspecting girls," Oz said, placing the rose and stuffed dog on the table before sitting down.

Jessper raised an eyebrow. "So, a standard Tuesday for him then."

"Wednesday," Grayson corrected, grabbing a piece of chocolate.

Oz shook her head with a small laugh. "Whatever. Did you guys make any progress on the clue?"

James shook his head, leaning in. "Nope, sadly this riddle is kicking our asses,"

Oz laughed. "Let's meet after school and see what we can come up with then. We always seem to do better when we put our heads together."

"Yep," Jessper chimed in, smacking on a piece of chocolate. "All our minds combined make one fully functional brain."

"Shh, no more clue talk—Evie's coming," Eric whispered, prompting everyone to straighten up quickly.

"Happy Valentine's Day, guys," Evie said approaching the table with a grin, and setting her things down beside James.

Before Oz could say anything, James snatched the rose off the table and held it out to Evie with a dramatic flourish.

"Happy Valentine's Day. This is definitely for you and not stolen just now from Oz.

Evie stared at the slightly wilted rose, with an amused grin.

"Hey!" Oz said, swatting James on the arm. "You can't steal, my stolen flower!"

"Yeah, I didn't risk life and limb climbing that fence—getting attacked by Mrs. Reynolds' demon rose bush—just for you to steal all the glory," he shot back, snatching the flower from his hands, placing it back in Oz's. "So, wear it with pride. It cost me blood, sweat, and possibly a tetanus shot."

Oz smirked, twirling the stem between her fingers. "Wow, such bravery. Truly, I'm honored."

He placed a hand over his heart, sighing dramatically. "You should be. That bush had it out for me. I think it sensed my intentions."

She chuckled, shaking her head. "Your intentions? What, grand flower theft?"

"Grand romantic gesture," he corrected with a smirk, before quickly adding, "You know... as a friend, of course."

She rolled her eyes, shoving him playfully as laughter rippled through their table, warm and easy. But even as she smiled, her gaze drifted across the cafeteria, drawn to the familiar figure of Pyke sitting with his friends.

For a moment, she saw herself—last year's version—perched beside him, laughing without hesitation, without worry, as if the world couldn't touch her. That girl had been naïve, blind to the cracks forming beneath her feet. Now, looking at him from across the room, she felt the distance stretch between them like an uncrossable chasm. That version of her felt worlds apart from the person she had become. She wasn't that girl anymore. And maybe, she never really had been.

completely oblivious to Lacey sitting beside him. She twirled a strand of her blonde hair around her finger, angling her body toward Pyke, desperate for even a flicker of attention. But he didn't spare her a single glance—his focus stayed locked on Harper, treating Lacey like she was invisible. Her effort was almost pathetic, borderline comical.

She chased his attention like it was a trophy to be won, a competition she refused to lose. Even back when Oz and Pyke were together, Lacey had tried to wedge herself in—smiling too wide, laughing too loud, hoping to catch his eye. And, just like now, she'd failed.

What surprised her more was the realization that she hadn't seen him with anyone since their breakup—at least not romantically. She'd assumed he'd be surrounded by girls by now, easily moving on like she was nothing. But he hadn't.

And now she found herself wondering... why?

~

When they all returned to the house to start their brainstorming on the latest clue, Oz headed straight for her room, tossing her bag onto her bed. As she turned, something by the window caught her eye.

A vase sat on her nightstand, holding a dozen red roses in full bloom. She approached slowly, her fingers brushing over the soft petals. As she leaned in closer, she noticed something dangling from one of the stems—a small, beach-themed snow globe keychain, the kind you might pick up from a souvenir shop. Tiny grains of fake sand shifted as she tilted it, a miniature lighthouse and a palm tree encased in the glass.

There was no note.

But she didn't need one.

Her chest tightened as she sat on the edge of her bed, holding the keychain in her hand. She glanced at the window, imagining Pyke sneaking in like he always had when they were dating to avoid, her father and brother. Her fingers closed around the keychain as a bittersweet smile appeared on her lips. He still had a way of tugging at her heart, even from a distance.

She placed the globe carefully back on the nightstand and looked at the roses one last time before heading out the door.