Two lives.

28. Corners of Laughter

May 30th
6:45 PM

The hostess leads us to a corner booth tucked against the far wall of the restaurant. It's shaped like an L, the kind of setup that always feels a little too cozy for a group as big as ours.

Lucifer slides into the very end of the shorter side of the booth, his usual smirk plastered on his face as he claims the prime spot by the aisle. Colby follows next, silently taking the seat beside him. Skin shuffles in after, tossing his phone onto the table like he owns the place.

I squeeze into the middle of the long side, feeling the press of bodies on either side of me. Ekko slides in after me, his shoulder brushing mine briefly before he gets comfortable. Across from us, Caylus flops down dramatically, nearly bumping into Andi as she takes her spot. Ophelia is the last to sit, curling into the corner of the booth with a small sigh of relief, like she's already settled in for the night.

The table feels crowded but warm, a jumble of elbows bumping and feet brushing under the table. It's the kind of chaos that makes me feel oddly at home, even if I'm sandwiched between Skin, who's already fidgeting with the ketchup bottle, and Ekko, whose arm keeps brushing mine every time he adjusts in his seat.

"Why do I always end up in the middle?" I mutter, glancing at Skin, who's currently attempting to unscrew the ketchup lid.

"Because you're the glue that holds this group together," Skin says, not even looking up. He finally pries the cap off with a loud pop and grins like he's just conquered a major obstacle.

"Or because you're the smallest," Ekko adds with a smirk, leaning back casually against the booth.

"Not true," I protest, turning to face him. "Andi's smaller than me."

"Hey, don't drag me into this," Andi says from across the table, her hands raised in mock surrender. "I'm just here for the fries."

"You're always here for the fries," Caylus teases, reaching across the table to steal one of the few fries in the basket.

Ophelia swats at his hand, glaring. "At least wait until we order, you animal."

Lucifer leans back in his seat, clearly amused by the back-and-forth. "You guys fight over food like we're stranded on an island and this is our last meal."

"Honestly, it might as well be," Skin quips, waving the ketchup bottle in the air like it's a trophy. "School food is trash. This is heaven by comparison."

As the chatter flows, I glance around the table, taking in the little details—the way Colby is quietly stacking sugar packets into a tiny tower, the way Andi's legs are tucked up onto the booth like she's trying to make herself as small as possible, and the way Ekko's fingers tap idly against the table like he's got a rhythm in his head no one else can hear.

The restaurant hums around us, filled with the clatter of dishes and the low murmur of other diners. But in our corner, it's just us—messy, loud, and perfectly imperfect.

I laugh, the sound breaking through the chatter around the table. "Do we even have any money? Because I definitely don't." I drop my menu onto the table and lean back into the booth, stretching my arms out dramatically like I'm surrendering to my fate.

"It's okay. I got you," Ekko says casually, nudging my arm with his elbow without looking up from the menu in front of him. His tone is nonchalant, but the gesture feels personal, like it's just for me.

I glance over at him, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "You don't have to do that," I say softly. "Really, it's fine."

Ekko finally looks up, turning his head to meet my eyes. There's something firm but gentle in his expression, a quiet determination that makes me hesitate. "No," he says simply, his voice steady but calm. "I'm paying for you."