The living room buzzed with energy, split into two distinct worlds. On one side, Beck, Andre, and Evan were sprawled across the couches, eyes glued to the massive flat-screen as Austin's game played on it. Their banter alternated between analysing plays and shouting at the screen, their cheers filling the air whenever Austin's team made a good move.
On the other side, Cat, Tori, and Jade were huddled around the sleek sound system. Cat's newest demo, 'Step On Up,' pumped through the speakers, its infectious beat filling the room. Tori was quick to catch onto the rhythm, twirling around and belting out the lyrics like she'd been practicing them for weeks.
"This is so catchy," Tori said, her voice breathless as she laughed and spun in place. "I'm obsessed already. Cat, this is going to blow up!"
Cat grinned, matching Tori's energy with a twirl of her own. She sang along effortlessly, letting her voice soar above the track. "Glad you think so," she said between lines. "It's still a rough cut, but I've got a good feeling about it."
Jade, meanwhile, leaned against the arm of the couch, her arms crossed. She wasn't immune to the song's charm—it was undeniably good—but this kind of pop wasn't her thing, and she wasn't one to throw herself into the hype.
"It's solid," Jade admitted, a rare but genuine compliment. Her tone was casual, but Cat caught the faintest smile tugging at her lips.
"Oh, come on" Cat teased, holding out her hand to Jade. "You're not just gonna sit there while we're having this much fun, are you?"
"I don't dance to pop," Jade replied coolly, though her eyes betrayed her amusement.
"Correction," Cat said, stepping closer and taking her hand. "You don't yet."
Before Jade could protest, Cat tugged her off the couch and into the makeshift dance floor. Tori whooped in encouragement as Cat spun Jade around with a playful flourish.
Jade rolled her eyes but couldn't help the laugh that escaped her. "This is ridiculous," she muttered, though she allowed herself to move—just a little.
"Ridiculously fun!" Cat countered, her grin widening.
Meanwhile, from the couch, Beck glanced over at the scene and smirked. "Looks like the pop star's pulling Jade out of her grumpy shell again," he said, nudging Andre.
Evan chuckled. "I'm just impressed she got her to stand up."
The energy in the room shifted abruptly when a roar from the TV speakers signaled something big. Beck and Andre jumped to their feet, Evan clapping loudly.
"Touchdown!" Beck shouted, pointing at the screen as the camera zoomed in on Austin's celebratory run across the end zone.
"Man, that was clean," Andre added, grinning at the replay.
On the screen, Austin paused his run, looked directly into the nearest camera, and made the gesture: two fingers perched above his head like cat ears. He held the pose for a moment before pointing to the stands, flashing his signature confident grin.
Cat froze mid-dance, her cheeks instantly flushing. Tori was the first to catch on, her eyes lighting up.
"Did he just—did he just do cat ears?" Tori gasped, pointing at the screen. "For you?"
Cat tried to downplay it, waving her hand dismissively. "I mean… he's just being cute."
"Don't you dare pretend you're not loving this," Tori teased, wrapping an arm around Cat's shoulders. "He's out there on national TV showing you off, and you're over here blushing like a middle schooler."
Jade, leaning against the couch again, raised an eyebrow but couldn't hide the smirk creeping across her face. "It's nauseating," she said dryly, but there was no bite to her words.
Evan chuckled, joining in. "Honestly, respect. That guy knows how to play to the cameras. You two are the power couple of the century right now."
Cat let out an embarrassed laugh, covering her face with her hands for a moment before peeking through her fingers. "He's so extra," she said, but her voice was full of fondness.
"You know you love it," Tori said with a playful nudge.
"I really do," Cat admitted with a sheepish grin.
As the group's teasing subsided into laughter, the TV cut to a commercial break, leaving the room buzzing with lingering amusement. Cat sat down beside Jade, still shaking her head at the whole scene, but her expression was light and happy.
The quiet hum of Jade's record player filled the living room as she settled onto the couch with Ryan. He was flipping through a book of concept art, sipping on a whiskey neat, while Jade scrolled absently on her phone. The mood was calm, familiar, and perfectly in line with how their evenings usually went.
But tonight, her mind wandered.
Seeing Cat earlier, so full of energy, so radiant as she danced around her living room, had stirred something Jade thought she'd buried. It wasn't jealousy—not in the way it might have been months ago—but a pang of something softer, more bittersweet.
She glanced over at Ryan. He caught her gaze and smiled faintly, looking up from the book. "What's on your mind?"
Jade hesitated, not entirely sure how to frame it. "Just... today," she said finally. "Being at Cat's." Ryan hadn't been there due to how he 'wouldn't being caught dead watching a football game'
Ryan nodded, waiting for her to continue. He had a way of not pressing, giving her space to open up on her own terms.
"She seemed happy," Jade said, leaning back against the couch. "I mean, really happy. Watching her with Austin, seeing her like that… it's good. It's good for her."
"That's good" Ryan replied, his voice gentle, turning the next page.
Jade's sighed, realising he wasn't going to press further, he wasn't that type. Ryan was steady, predictable in the best way. He matched her pace, her moods. But sitting here, in the calm of her apartment, Jade found herself lingering on the memory of a time when everything felt... unpredictable.
Cat's energy had been like a storm—beautiful, chaotic, impossible to ignore. Jade had often resented it back then, feeling like it clashed too much with her own sharp edges. But now, with the benefit of distance, she could admit to herself how much she'd loved that contrast. The way Cat had made life feel brighter, even when it was overwhelming.
Ryan shifted beside her, drawing her out of her thoughts. He was engrossed in his book, unaware of the quiet pull in Jade's chest. She looked at him, his calm presence so familiar now. She cared for him deeply, appreciated how easy it was to be with him.
But every so often, a part of her missed the chaos. The unpredictability. The colour.
She sighed softly, sinking further into the couch. There was no point dwelling on it—those days were behind her, and she knew that was for the best. Cat had found her happiness with someone who matched her world, and Jade had found hers in a life that felt grounded.
Still, as Ryan reached for his whiskey and continued flipping pages, Jade's thoughts lingered just a little longer on the memory of Cat's laugh, her wild energy, and the way she used to light up a room in a way no one else could.