A Spirit Between Us (bxb)

Chapter 31 - Nothing.

Lyla didn't waste time. She caught up with Finn in the hallway after school, her usual cheerful demeanor masking the turmoil swirling beneath her surface. She'd thought about the conversation with Archie all day, turning their strategy over and over in her head.

If there was even a slim chance of reaching the real Finn through the Mimic's fog, she was going to take it.

"Hey, Finn!" she called, her voice overly chipper as she jogged up to him.

He turned slowly, his movements stiff, as if he was calculating every step. His expression didn't match the Finn she knew. It was sharper, colder.

"What now?" he muttered, his tone flat.

"C'mon, I haven't seen you in forever! You're definitely coming over." she declared, grabbing his arm before he could argue.

He didn't flinch or pull away, but his eyes narrowed, a flicker of suspicion darting across his face. "Why?"

"Because I'm bored," she replied breezily, tugging on his arm to lead him toward the exit. "And because you promised me a movie marathon like, forever ago. Don't tell me you're flaking on me now."

"I don't remember that." the Mimic said through Finn's lips, its voice dripping with disdain.

"Well, I do, and that's good enough," Lyla quipped, flashing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. She tightened her grip on his arm. "Let's go. I already have popcorn at home."

Finn hesitated, and for a second, she thought he might refuse. But then he nodded, a quick "Okay." leaving his mouth. He looked determined, he looked like himself for those small fleeting moment. But like always, the Mimic's cocky smile reappeared, and he allowed her to lead him out of the school.

The walk to her house was tense. Lyla kept up a steady stream of chatter, throwing out random anecdotes about her classes, complaining about teachers, and rambling about which movies she wanted to watch. All the while, Finn remained silent, his footsteps unnervingly quiet beside hers.

When they arrived, Lyla unlocked the door and gestured for him to step inside. "Welcome back to Casa Danton." she said with mock flair, trying to mask her nerves.

Finn didn't respond. He stepped inside, his gaze flickering around the living room, scanning the space like a predator assessing its surroundings.

Lyla forced a smile. "Make yourself at home. I'll grab the snacks."

She disappeared into the kitchen, pulling her phone out of her pocket as she leaned against the counter.

Lyla fingers darted across the screen frantically.

Lyla (4:45pm): He's here. Start thinking of what I should say.

She watched as the bubble popped up, and then stayed there for an agonising period of time. He really needed to learn how to use a phone.

Archie(4:47pm): Don't push too hard. Just ease into it. Try to get a reaction.

Lyla rolled her eyes. Yeah, thanks for the groundbreaking advice, she thought, pocketing her phone before grabbing a bag of popcorn.

When she returned to the living room, Finn was sitting stiffly on the couch, his hands clasped in his lap. His gaze was fixed on the floor, and for a fleeting moment, Lyla thought she caught a glimpse of something. Hesitation, vulnerability? But it vanished as soon as it appeared.

She hated seeing him like this. Her Finn.

The boy she knew was gone, buried beneath something dark and unrecognizable. She missed him so much it hurt, an ache so deep it made her chest feel hollow. And now here she was, stuck following around Archie Hollow, of all people, a boy she never thought she'd even speak to, let alone rely on for help. Life had a twisted sense of humor.