The hallway felt colder than I remembered, like the school itself didn't recognize me anymore. My footsteps echoed against the dull tiles while Bella and Elara flanked me on either side, both of them noticeably more relaxed than I was.
Maybe it was the decorations—cheap paper snowflakes hanging from strings, the dusty plastic garlands, the same faded red-and-green posters they dragged out every December. Everything looked exactly the same, but I didn't. I wasn't that version of myself that I was before.
Today was my last day ever stepping foot in this building. And even though I'd dreamed of this moment for weeks, it still twisted my stomach a little.
"Feels weird," I murmured, watching the multicolored lights blink unevenly on the fake tree by the office. "Like... maybe in another life none of this happened, and I'd just be a normal student." I snorted. "Well, whatever. I like this life better."
Elara gave me a small smirk, bumping her shoulder gently against mine. "Crazy to think our kids are gonna be the ones running through these halls someday, unless we homeschool."
She said it casually, but her tone carried a certainty—like she'd already seen it happen.
Bella groaned dramatically. "Ugh, I'm just glad I never have to come back. I will miss the pizza Fridays though..."
I couldn't help laughing. "Bella... I can literally make pizza. Or we can just order some."
Her eyes widened like I'd given her the secret to immortality, then curled into the biggest grin. "Oh. True. You're right."
Adorable.
We finally reached the principal's office. The door felt heavier than normal as I pushed it open, like it was protesting, like it knew I didn't belong here anymore.
Principal Hayes looked up from her laptop the moment the door opened—and her eyebrows shot up. She froze for a second, like I was some kind of ghost. Fair enough. Anyone missing for three weeks in this school might as well be declared a myth with how fast rumors spread.
"Noah," she said, smoothing her shirt as she stood. "It's... great to see you." Her handshake was stiff and overly polite, like she was trying too hard to seem professional.
That wasn't typical of her. She usually didn't give half a damn. This was the same woman who ignored half the complaints that landed on her desk. The same woman who shrugged off a student's gang rape months ago like it was an inconvenience. And now she wanted to act like she cared?
Elara's hand rested lightly on my back—steadying, grounding. Bella crossed her arms, her eyes locked on Hayes like she was analyzing every breath the woman took.
I glanced around the office. Same cracked leather chairs. Same dusty bookshelf that hadn't been touched in what felt like decades. Same fake plant in the corner with one leaf permanently bent the wrong way.
Same place.
Different me.
"Let's get this over with," I said softly, stepping deeper into the room.
"We're dropping out," Bella announced bluntly, like she was ordering a drink and not detonating a bomb in the middle of the principal's office.
Principal Hayes' eyes flew open wide—but then, bizarrely, she smiled.
"I expected this from you, Bella, you’re twenty-one after all," she said dryly. "But Noah? Really? What happened—are you being brainwashed or something?"
She said it like a joke, but there was something sharp behind it.
Elara's hand, still resting on my back, went rigid.
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't say stupid things about my life," I replied, my voice turning cold without me even trying. Elara's hand softened, her thumb sweeping slow calming circles across my spine.
Hayes sighed and pointed at the chairs. "Alright, sit down. Both of you."
We sat. She slid two forms across the desk—withdrawal papers. I skimmed through them, checking for anything off. Nothing. Just the standard dropout documentation.
I signed.
Bella signed.
Hayes folded her hands. "Are you sure, Noah? I remember when you were a freshman—you used to talk about wanting to run your own business."
"People change, Ms. Hayes," I said, shrugging lightly. "That's how life works. Besides, I'm happier now—with my future wives."
I slid my hand over Elara's where it rested on my shoulder, and grabbed Bella's with my other hand. Their warmth grounded me instantly.
Hayes blinked, her face going strangely soft. "Shame. I was... actually pretty interested in you."
She let out a little sigh. "But I guess you're taken. They never want me."
What.
What the actual fuck?
My face twisted before I could stop it. Elara didn't bother hiding her disgust either.
"Alright—we'll be taking our leave," she cut in sharply, grabbing my hand and pulling me and Bella up with her. She didn't even let Hayes finish her sentence.
As we stepped out, I glanced back. Hayes was staring at her desk, frowning like we'd ruined her day.
"What a weirdo," I muttered the moment the office door shut behind us. The stuffy school smell faded and the warm sunlight hit my face like a blessing.
I inhaled, ready to say something else, when Bella's stomach growled so loudly it sounded almost staged—like a sound effect from a cartoon. Elara and I both stared at her.
"Hehehe..." Bella giggled nervously, rubbing the back of her neck.
"Bella... we just had breakfast an hour ago," Elara sighed.
Bella had eaten six pancakes. Six. Yet she still looked like she could eat a whole diner menu and complain she was peckish.
She covered her stomach with both hands. "I burn a lot of calories..." she muttered defensively.
"It's okay, love," I said softly, reaching up to cup Bella's cheeks. "I made extra pancakes just in case. Just reheat them when we get home, alright?"
Her whole face lit up like she'd been waiting her whole life to hear that. Then she grabbed me by the collar and kissed me—hard. Her tongue slid into my mouth with that familiar, hungry dominance, like she owned every inch of me already and was just reminding me of it. And honestly... she kind of did.
When she finally pulled back, I barely had time to breathe before Elara swooped in.
"No way I'm letting Bella steal all the sugar," she murmured against my lips, and then her mouth claimed mine.
Her kiss was different—sharper, more eager, her tongue tracing patterns around mine that made heat crawl up my neck. We were still standing outside the school, in plain view, and embarrassment prickled through me, but Elara kissed like she didn't give a single fuck who saw. And the way she moved... it made not caring start to feel very, very easy.
I was sandwiched. Their hands stayed on me—Bella's gripping my waist, Elara's sliding her hands up my spine—and for a second the whole world felt like it blurred into background noise.
We finally pulled apart, breath mixing in the chilly air, and Elara's hand slid down without warning—smack.
She gave my ass a playful slap that echoed way louder than it should've.
I yelped and stumbled forward, my face burning while she just grinned like she'd won something.
We headed toward the car, and once we piled inside, Elara didn't waste a second before flooring it out of the parking lot.
The city looked busier than usual—more men than I typically saw crowding the sidewalks. For a second I wondered why, then it clicked.
Christmas. Two days away. That frantic last-minute energy. Bags everywhere. People rushing. I should've been thinking about gifts, but honestly? What did it matter. I was alive. Safe. With the only two people I wanted gifts from, not for.
The drive felt like nothing, just a warm blur, and soon the car doors shut behind us.
I stretched, arms up high, back cracking a little. My shirt rode up with the movement, lifting just enough to expose a sliver of my stomach.
Bella froze mid-step.
Her eyes locked onto my waist like she'd just seen a five-star meal instead of a guy who desperately needed lunch. I laughed under my breath.
"Ease down, tiger..." I teased, dropping my arms.
But Bella didn't drop anything.
She stalked toward me slow, hand sliding behind my lower back. In one smooth pull, she crushed me against her front. Her breath hit the side of my neck, hot as hell.
"I swear to fucking God," she growled, "after I'm done with my pancakes, I'm ruining you for the entire day."
Her hunger was so obvious it practically radiated off her. I swallowed hard, laughing nervously because there was no hiding how flustered I was.
Bella finally let go, leaving me standing there useless as she and Elara walked inside like they'd just ordered me off the menu.
I sighed, staring after them with my heart turning into warm soup.
"God, I love them..." I said, dreamily, stepping into our house.