𝐔𝐩 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝙎𝙊𝙎𝙎 𝙊𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙨

Even Then

Rain slipped from the trees in steady drops, whispering against the windowpanes. The air was cool, thick with the clean, earthy scent of fresh rain. It was gloomy, yes-but in the quiet way that invites peace.

A calm kind of stillness.

Evening had settled over Sulphur Springs, Louisiana. The rain, which had poured relentlessly all day, had softened now, falling in a gentle hush that wrapped the town in a sleepy sort of calm.

Austin Barrett lay in bed, a blanket draped loosely around his hips. The room was dimly lit, bathed in the soft glow of LED fairy lights that blinked gently along the walls. Across from him, a vanity mirror sparkled faintly, its lights muted and warm. The air was filled with the scent of roses and vanilla, sweet and familiar. Green vines curled up the corners of the walls like they'd always been there.

But this wasn't his room.

It belonged to someone else.

A girl.

Ciara Adeline Frost.

Cici.

Everyone knew that name. Cici was popular-the kind of girl even freshmen whispered about in the hallways. She had friends everywhere, always being invited to parties, hangouts, anything and everything. But despite the attention, she stayed loyal to those who truly mattered to her. Especially one.

Austin.

Austin was just as popular as Cici. He was the kind of guy people gravitated toward-kind, comforting, easy to love. The one you'd call when everything felt like too much. Always the first to check in when something went wrong.

Just like tonight.

He was at home when Cici called, her voice soft, a little shaken. She said she'd been hearing things, and it was starting to freak her out. Austin didn't hesitate-not for a second. He grabbed his keys and rushed over. And he stayed.

That's how they ended up here.

Cici lay curled beside him, her right leg slung over his waist, her thigh resting lightly across his hips. Her head was tucked against the right side of his chest, her arm resting over his stomach like it belonged there.

And just to be clear-

Yes.

Cici had a boyfriend.

Emery Castillo.

But Cici was a cuddler. Always had been. She'd curl up with just about anyone she trusted.

But it didn't work both ways.

You didn't go to her-she came to you. You had to earn that space, that closeness. And Austin?

She trusted him. More than most. Maybe more than anyone.

Cici had been curled up against Austin for a while now, just listening-to the rain, his heartbeat, the quiet between them. It felt... safe. Like home.

Austin's hand moved slowly along her arm, his fingertips tracing gentle lines against her warm brown skin, his nails grazing it just enough to soothe.

"You feeling better, Frosted Flakes?" he teased gently, breaking the silence with a smile in his voice.

Cici's lips curved, her fingers idly tracing his forearm, brushing against the soft ginger hairs.

"Wanna try that again, Mr. Barrett?" she murmured, voice low, teasing right back.

Austin chuckled, and she felt the quiet rumble of it in his chest beneath her ear. It made her heart ache-in a good way.