Chapter 139: SOMEONE BESIDE ME

Jack and Luca walked side by side, their hands still intertwined.

The hallway stretched before them, the fluorescent lights humming overhead, the worn carpet soft beneath their feet.

Neither seemed eager to let go.

The adrenaline from the office hadn't completely faded it buzzed beneath Jack's skin, thrumming through his veins.

Jack glanced down at their hands. His thumb traced the back of Luca's palm.

Luca noticed. "What?"

Jack shook his head. "Nothing."

Luca raised an eyebrow. "You're staring."

"I'm allowed to."

"At my hand?"

Jack smiled. "At you."

Luca rolled his eyes, but he didn't release him. The gesture was familiar, comfortable. His fingers tightened slightly around Jack's.

Then Sam appeared from around the corner. His steps were fast, his expression bright. He stopped dead. His eyes moved to Jack. To Luca. To their joined hands. His eyebrows slowly rose.

"...What did I miss?"

Nobody answered immediately. Sam walked closer, his gaze dropping back to their hands. His eyes widened.

"Why are you holding hands?"

Jack opened his mouth.

Sam pointed at them. "Did you two get back together?"

Luca looked away. His cheeks were pink.

Sam looked around at everyone. "What did I miss?"

Jay casually answered, "A lot."

Sam's mouth dropped open. "A LOT?" He looked offended. "Seriously? You guys should've called me!"

Noah looked at him. "You were the one who left."

Sam pointed at himself. "I was hungry."

Noah deadpanned, "Exactly."

Sam groaned. "Fine. I'm hungry. I have to go eat." He took one step. Stopped. Turned around. "But now tell me what happened."

Jay laughed. "Sam—"

"No. I need the full story." Sam gestured dramatically. "Narrate it. Every detail. Don't hide anything."

Jay stepped forward like he was about to perform on stage. He cleared his throat dramatically.

"Fine."

Sam immediately got serious. His hands were clasped. His eyes were wide.

Jay started, his voice theatrical. "Jack walks in..."

Sam nodded intensely. "Go on."

Jay pointed toward an imaginary board member. "Then he stands there and says—" He straightened his shoulders and deepened his voice. "'I'm the captain.'"

Sam's eyes widened. "Revise!"

Jay stopped. "What?"

"Do it again."

Jay sighed. "I'm the captain."

Sam threw both hands up. "Again!"

Jay laughed. "Why?"

"Because that's good."

Jay repeated it, his voice louder. "I'm the captain."

Sam practically screamed. "AGAIN!"

Noah covered his face. "You're encouraging him."

Jay continued, his voice rising. "Then Jack tells them if they're going to expel Jay and Noah, they have to expel him and Luca too."

Sam's mouth fell open. "Wait."

Jay nodded. "Yep."

"He actually said that?"

"Exactly that."

Sam grabbed Jay's shoulders. "Keep going."

Jay pulled away. "You're pulling out on me."

Sam blinked. "What?"

"You keep interrupting."

Sam gestured impatiently. "I'm emotionally invested."

Jay continued. He told Sam about Jack admitting he and Luca were together. He told him about Jack's father denying it.

He told him about Coach exposing the truth. He told him about the two-month suspension.

Sam's eyes were wide. "Wait. He actually did that?"

Jay nodded.

Then Jay told him Jack and Luca admitted they were together. Sam's excitement slowly changed.

"Wait... so what happened to them?"

Jay's voice was quieter. "They're suspended too."

Sam's smile disappeared. "What?"

Noah explained. Because Jack and Luca had admitted their relationship, the same two-month suspension applied to them.

They'd lose the remaining training sessions just like Jay and Noah.

Sam looked toward the direction Jack and Luca had disappeared. His expression shifted. The excitement faded into something heavier.

"So Jack knew he'd lose the rest of the camp?"

Jay nodded. "Yeah."

Sam went quiet. His hands dropped to his sides. "And he still did it?"

Noah's voice was soft. "He didn't even hesitate."

Sam exhaled. He looked down at the floor. "Idiot."

Jay smiled. "You sound like Luca."

Sam shook his head. "I'm serious. He could've stayed quiet. He could've let the board punish us." A pause. "But he didn't."

A small smile tugged at Sam's lips.

"Okay," Sam said, his voice brighter. "Now tell me the rest."

Jay laughed. "The rest?"

"Yes. Because apparently I missed an entire season finale while I was getting food."

Sam's expression shifted throughout the story. Shock. Excitement. Horror. Then excitement again. His hands flew to his face. He gasped. He laughed. He practically vibrated with energy.

Finally, Jay finished.

Sam stood there silently. His mouth was open. His hands were frozen.

Then: "Oh."

A beat.

"Ohhh."

He rubbed his face. "I missed a lot."

Noah nodded. "We tried telling you."

Sam looked at Jack and Luca. His eyes moved between them.

"So..." He pointed between them. "You two are back together?"

Everyone stopped.

Jack looked at Luca. His heart pounded. Jay looked at Luca. Noah looked at Luca. Sam looked at Luca.

The silence became ridiculous.

Luca realized everyone was waiting for him. He looked at Jack. Jack didn't pressure him. He simply waited. His eyes were steady. His hand was still in Luca's.

Luca's lips twitched.

Then he said, "We'll see about that."

He turned and walked away. His footsteps were light.

Jack stared after him. "What?"

Luca kept walking.

Jack groaned. "Oh, come on."

Sam burst out laughing. "He is playing with you!"

Jack pointed at Sam. "Why did you even ask?"

Sam grinned. "Because I wanted to know!"

Jack shook his head and immediately jogged after Luca. "Luca, wait!"

Luca didn't stop. His shoulders shook slightly.

Jay watched them disappear around the corner. He smiled. Then he reached for Noah's hand.

"Come on."

Noah smiled. "Where?"

"Somewhere without them."

They walked away together. Their fingers intertwined. Their steps matched.

Sam remained standing alone in the hallway. He slowly looked around. Nobody was there.

He blinked. "Did I just get ditched?"

He looked in the direction Jack and Luca had disappeared. Then toward Jay and Noah. "Seriously?"

He sighed dramatically. "Unbelievable."

He turned to leave.

And walked straight into someone.

Sam stumbled backward. His arms flailed. His feet scrambled for purchase.

A hand caught his wrist before he could fall. The grip was firm. Warm.

Kian.

He steadied Sam, his eyes amused. "Watch where you're going."

Sam immediately pulled his wrist free. His face was flushed. "You watch where you're going."

Kian sighed. "I'm not going to argue with you."

Sam opened his mouth. Closed it. His jaw worked.

Kian studied him. Sam was clearly still annoyed. His mouth was pulled into a pout. His eyebrows were drawn together. His arms were crossed.

Kian tilted his head. "Why are you grumpy?"

Sam immediately crossed his arms tighter. "It's none of your business."

"I'm just asking."

"Don't."

Kian studied him for another second. His eyes were steady. Patient. Sam looked away, his jaw tight.

Kian waited. The seconds stretched.

Eventually Sam sighed. The air left his lungs in a rush. "It's just my friends."

Kian's expression softened. "What about them?"

"Everyone's getting their person." Sam gestured vaguely toward the hallway. "Luca and Jack got back together."

Kian raised an eyebrow. "They did?"

Sam nodded. "And Jay and Noah are basically glued together."

Kian's mouth twitched.

Sam continued, his voice rising. "And I'm just…" He looked around. "Alone."

Kian laughed. The sound was warm, unexpected.

Sam immediately glared. "Stop."

Kian tried to contain his smile. "I'm sorry."

"You're laughing."

"A little."

"That's not comforting."

Kian shook his head. "You should be happy for them."

"I am happy for them." Sam pointed toward the hallway. "I'm just saying they could've remembered that I exist before abandoning me."

Kian looked at him. Something flickered in his eyes. Then he said casually, "Oh."

He reached out and tapped Sam lightly on the head. "Oh, oh."

Sam froze. His body went rigid.

Kian gave him another small tap. "Poor thing."

Sam's eyes widened. For one second, he didn't react. His mouth opened. Closed. Then his expression snapped back.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Kian smiled. "Comforting the little puppy."

Sam's jaw dropped. "I'm not a puppy."

"You are."

"I'm not."

"You are."

" I'M NOT."

Kian nodded solemnly. "Fine." A beat. "You're not."

Sam narrowed his eyes. His suspicion was clear.

Kian turned and started walking. Then he looked back. "Come with me."

Sam didn't move. "Why?"

"I'm buying you a snack."

Sam's expression immediately brightened. He took one step. Then stopped himself.

"Wait."

Kian looked at him.

"Why would you buy me a snack?"

Kian sighed. The sound was long-suffering. "Because you're heartbroken, idiot."

Sam's face changed. "I'm not heartbroken."

"You're standing alone in a hallway complaining because your friends found happiness."

"That's different."

"Sure." Kian started walking again. "And I'm the senior here." He looked over his shoulder. "It's my responsibility to comfort my juniors when they're heartbroken."

Sam smiled despite himself. He caught up, falling into step beside Kian.

"Fine."

Kian raised an eyebrow. "Fine?"

"I never said no to snacks."

Kian laughed.

Sam pointed at him. "But don't misunderstand."

"I won't."

"I'm only coming because of the snack."

"Noted."

They walked down the hallway together. Sam kept talking, his voice bright and animated. Kian kept pretending he wasn't listening. His eyes were on the path ahead, but the corner of his mouth was lifted.

When Sam started walking too fast, Kian reached out and caught the back of his jacket. His fingers brushed the fabric.

"Slow down."

Sam looked back. "Why?"

Kian released him. "Because you nearly walked into me twice."

Sam grinned. "Maybe you should stop standing in my way."

Kian shook his head. "There you are."

"Where?"

"The annoying one."

Sam laughed. The sound bounced off the walls.

They continued down the hall together. Neither noticed that Kian's hand briefly rested against the back of Sam's shoulder as they turned the corner.

Neither thought much of it.

Not yet.

But something had changed. Just a little.

And for the first time, Sam wasn't walking alone.