DELUGE // Paul Lahote

TWENTY SIX

INTRUDE

THINGS WERE... GOOD.

IT was the kind of quiet good Sunday Uley didn't trust, the kind that made you wait for the chaos to creep in—but it was good all the same.

Kim was back to being Kim: effortlessly sweet, and a grounding presence that helped Sunny stay steady during the awkward terrain of late spring semester.
There was no uncertainty anymore, not between them, and with that pressure gone, everything else seemed to fall into place.

Lunches had become something she looked forward to.
Paul—who had become somewhat of a living shadow during the days of their unresolved tension—was back to sitting with them. He was talkative again, teasing Jared with deadpan jabs and sometimes even throwing his input into conversations she was having with Kim.

They hadn't talked again about their situation, but that strange invisible tether between them felt calmer now, less like a chokehold and more like... a tug.
Gentle. Familiar.

As far as Sunny was concerned, the worst of it, was behind them.

________

With only a few weeks until the end of her Jr year, Sunny was no exception when it came to the stress of upcoming finals.

She slumped in her seat beside Quil second period, scribbling in the corner of her notes as he tapped the eraser of his pencil against the desk.

"So," he started casually, keeping his voice low. "we still on for after school?"

"Yeah," Sunny nodded, meeting his gaze. A soft smile forming at the subtle reminder.
They'd agreed to after school study sessions leading up to finals.

"Well, I was thinking maybe we could go to my place?" Quil offered, spinning the pencil between his fingers. "Mom's working late, we'd have the house to ourselves."

Her stomach twisted—not from bashful nerves that often greeted her when Quil was around—but worry.

She blinked, surprised by the sudden wave of emotion. She hadn't thought about Sequoia much in the last couple of weeks... Sunny had plenty of other things to occupy her time.
But thinking of her now felt sort of like a betrayal.

Quil took her silence as hesitation,
"Quoia won't be there," he added quickly. Because he knew what her concern would be. He'd had to listen to his sister's complaining on more than one occasion over the past few weeks.
"She's not home much, actually."

Sunny smiled weakly, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Right."
Her bottom lip caught between her teeth. "Can we just go to Emily's? I don't want to run into her, if she happens to be home."

Quil didn't push.
"Sure," he agreed easily.
Not willing to jeopardize their plans.

The bell rang overhead, and the two stood, gathering their things. Quil nudged her lightly with his elbow as they made their way out into the hall, their steps practically in sync. They'd mastered their track to the cafeteria. Having made the trip everyday since the beginning of the semester.
As they entered , Sunny automatically started veering toward the courtyard, like she always did.

But she'd only managed a couple of steps before Quil was calling after her.
"Hey," he said, "would you, maybe, want to sit with us?" His hand lifted to rub over his shoulder awkwardly.

Sunny's eyes widened at his suggestion. She had definitely noticed his unusual confidence lately.
And maybe a part of her enjoyed it.

She looked between Quil and the glass doors leading out to the courtyard, where she could make out the familiar figures of her regular lunchtime companions sat at their usual tree.