The stars above Cyberspace glittered like thousands of tiny data points suspended in a vast, endless sky. The team had set up camp for the night in a quiet zone—just beyond the border of Sensible Flats and before they'd cross into U-Needle Point.

Jackie sat near the glowing firepit Digit had cobbled together using cracked code bricks and a heat node. Her hoodie was zipped all the way up. The digital night air was cool, but that wasn't why she was curled in on herself.

Matt flopped down beside her with his usual overconfidence, brushing dirt off his pants.

"Whew. Long day, huh?" he said, leaning back on his hands and glancing up at the night sky. "Good thing we had you solving that puzzle. I swear, I'd still be staring at that code if you hadn't cracked it."

Jackie smiled faintly. "It wasn't that hard. Just pattern recognition."

Matt turned to look at her, his eyes catching the flicker of firelight.

"You know, you're kinda scary-smart when you do stuff like that," he said, his voice lower now—more private. "It's hot."

Jackie blinked. "Hot?"

Matt laughed. "What? Since when do you use words like that?" she asked, half-laughing but nervous.

"Since I realized I'm hanging out with the prettiest girl in Cyberspace," he replied with a wink.

Jackie felt her heart give an uncomfortable flutter.

She turned back toward the fire. "You're ridiculous."

"I'm right."

Behind them, Inez was focused on a scanner, completely unbothered. Digit hummed a tune while roasting code-mallows. Everything looked normal.

But Jackie didn't feel normal.

Was Matt serious? Or was he just… being Matt?

Because sometimes she thought she saw something in his eyes—something more. But then he'd go and ruffle Inez's hair or joke around with her like she was the one he liked, and Jackie's stomach would twist.

She stared into the fire and wondered what it meant if he really did like Inez.

And what Jackie would do about it.

Later That Night

Jackie needed space. She stepped away from the group, making her way to the edge of the glowing lake nearby. The stars shimmered in the reflection.

Digit hovered after her, not quite stealthy.

"I know you're following me," Jackie said with a small smirk.

Digit fluttered down beside her and perched on a smooth code-stone.

"Sooo," he began, "Matt was laying it on pretty thick earlier."

Jackie sighed. "Don't start."

"What? It's obvious, isn't it? The way he looks at you? Come on, Jackie, even I can see it—and I've got screen pixels for eyes."

Jackie folded her arms tightly. "He doesn't like me."

Digit tilted his head. "You sure about that?"

She exhaled. "I think he likes Inez."

There was a long pause. Even the data wind seemed to be still.

"Seriously?" Digit asked.

Jackie shrugged, staring at her reflection in the water.

"If Inez does like Matt," she said slowly, "I'll step aside. I'll let her have him."

"Why would you—?"

"Because," she interrupted softly, "Inez is my best friend. She's the only friend I've ever had who really gets me. She understands how I think, how I feel. I know her like I know my own mind."

Digit stayed silent, sensing this was more than just a casual vent.

"You'll never find anyone as trusting or as kind," Jackie said, eyes glistening. "If I told her that I love him… she'd let me have him. And he'd be mine. She'd say she's fine…"

Her voice broke slightly.

"But I know she would be lying."

Digit looked at her for a long moment, his expression softening.

Behind a data tree nearby, two figures stood frozen in the shadows—Matt and Inez, silent and wide-eyed.

They hadn't meant to overhear.

But they did.

Jackie sat near the lake for a long time after Digit flew off. Her words clung to the air like static, impossible to delete, impossible to take back.

She meant every one of them.

But now that they were out there—spoken and raw—she felt like she'd exposed a wound she hadn't even realized she'd been hiding.

When she finally turned back toward camp, the night felt colder.

Matt and Inez were gone. Probably asleep.

She tried not to think about how easily the world could break beneath her feet.

The Next Morning

The smell of synth-berries and heat-pressed pancakes filled the campsite. Jackie awoke later than usual, eyes puffy, hair in a halo of sleep-frizz. Inez was already up, sitting cross-legged near the firepit with a tin cup of pixel-tea cradled in her hands.

Jackie hesitated.

"Morning," she said quietly, trying to keep it casual.

Inez looked up. "Hey."

There was a pause. The kind that said I know what you said last night.

Jackie moved to grab a plate, but Inez spoke up before she could sit.

"Can we talk?"

Jackie's stomach flipped.

"Sure."

They walked a little ways down a path lined with binary flowers and data-vines until they were alone again by the lake.

Jackie didn't say anything.

Inez finally did.

"I heard you. Last night. When you were talking to Digit."

Jackie's heart plummeted into her stomach. "Oh."

"I didn't mean to eavesdrop," Inez said quickly. "We just… came looking for you and—well, we heard more than we should have."

Jackie felt her throat close up. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," Inez said, eyes softening. "I just… I didn't know you felt that way. About Matt. Or about me."

Jackie looked away. "I didn't want you to find out like that."

"Jackie," Inez said, reaching for her hand, "you don't have to give him up for me. I don't like Matt. Not like that."

Jackie blinked. "You don't?"

Inez shook her head. "He's cute, sure. But not my type. He's too... loud."

That made Jackie let out a small laugh. "Yeah. He's a lot."

Inez smiled. "But you? You've liked him for a while, haven't you?"

Jackie nodded. "I didn't even mean to. It just… happened."

"I get it," Inez said gently. "He flirts like a dork, but he's also sweet. And he looks at you like the sun rises and sets with your math skills."

Jackie covered her face. "Ughhh."

"Don't 'ugh' me," Inez teased. "He's clearly into you, Jacks."

"But what if he's not?" Jackie whispered. "What if I got it all wrong?"

Inez let out a soft sigh and squeezed Jackie's hand. "Then you tell him the truth. And if he's dumb enough not to feel the same, I'll help you kick his butt."

Jackie laughed again, this time a little watery.

"You're the best friend I've ever had," Jackie said, voice quiet.

"I know," Inez said, smiling. "And you're mine. But you don't have to protect me from your happiness, okay? That's not what friendship is."

Jackie swallowed hard and nodded.

Meanwhile…

Matt sat on a cracked boulder a few feet away, tossing pebbles at a glowing bug that kept blinking in and out of reality.

He'd barely slept.

Jackie's words from last night were on a loop in his head.

"If I told her that I love him… he'd be mine…"

She loved him?

He never expected to hear it like that. Never even imagined she might feel that strongly. He always thought he was the one chasing her, just barely keeping up with her brilliance and confidence and the way she'd roll her eyes when he joked too much.

He thought she liked someone else—maybe even Slider or some guy she met from home.

He never thought he'd be the one breaking her heart by accident.

And he hated that.

Digit fluttered in and plopped beside him.

"You look like a corrupted data file."

Matt groaned. "I feel like one."

"So. You heard her?"

Matt nodded. "Yeah."

"Well?" Digit asked. "Are you gonna tell her?"

"I want to," Matt said, rubbing his hands over his face. "But what if I screw it up?"

Digit gave him a deadpan stare. "You're already screwing it up by not telling her."

Matt let out a slow breath. "Okay. Okay. I'll do it."

Digit patted his shoulder with a wing. "Atta boy."

That Evening

They'd packed up camp and were waiting for the Transportal to recharge. The trio sat together, quiet but comfortable—almost.

Jackie stole glances at Matt. Matt stole glances at Jackie. Inez stared at both of them like she was watching a live-streamed rom-com.

Finally, Matt stood up. "Hey, Jackie? Can we talk?"

Jackie's heart jumped. "Uh. Yeah."

They stepped a little ways away. The air shimmered with portal energy and anticipation.

Matt shoved his hands in his pockets. "So… about last night."

Jackie winced. "You heard that, huh?"

"I did."

She braced herself. "I meant it. But you don't have to say anything. I know it was awkward and—"

"I like you too."

Jackie froze.

Matt took a small step closer.

"I was flirting because I like you. Like, really like you," he said, laughing nervously. "I just didn't know if you felt the same."

"You didn't?" Jackie asked, eyes wide.

"You're literally the smartest, kindest, coolest person I've ever met. Of course, I didn't think I had a chance."

Jackie stared at him. "Matt… I thought you liked Inez."

Matt blinked. "Inez? She's basically my little sister."

Jackie covered her mouth, half-laughing, half-shocked. "Oh my gosh…"

Matt scratched the back of his neck. "So… now that everything's out in the open…"

He held out his hand.

"Can I be yours?"

Jackie looked at his hand, then at him—and saw every joke, every dumb flirt, every soft look in a new light.

She took his hand.

"You already were."

Author's Notes

This chapter is inspired by and loosely influenced by Angelica's monologue from Hamilton. It's a soft, emotional coming-of-age story for these kids as they start to grow into their feelings for each other. And it is heavy on emotions and girl-best-friend dynamics. Inez gets some much-needed depth here, and we start seeing Matt really process his feelings. I'll be updating regularly. Thank you for the support so far—reviews fuel my soul, and they make me want to write more!