The main room of Colony House was packed.
People talked in small groups, crushed plastic cups passed between residents, and the sound of an old cassette tape playing on a battery-powered radio tried, for a moment, to push back the terror lurking beyond the locked windows.
Near the staircase, Ellis bumped into people's shoulders as he passed, the smell of distilled alcohol trailing him like a cloud.
Taking a misstep, he nearly stumbled into a tall guy holding a drink.
"Hey, watch it," the guy muttered, steadying him. "You okay, man?"
Ellis shoved him off roughly. "Am I okay? What do you think? Are you blind, idiot? Looking for trouble?"
The guy stepped back, raising his hands in surrender, but Ellis took a threatening step forward. Before things could escalate, Fatima cut through the crowd, stopping in front of her boyfriend and pressing her palm gently against his chest.
"Hey, hey... look at me," she said, her voice overflowing with exhausted patience. "You need to take it easy. Come sit down for a bit."
Ellis blinked, focusing on her face for a second before looking away. "I'm fine. It's a party, Fatima. No need to worry about me."
He turned his back and walked off with heavy steps toward the kitchen, ignoring the attention around him.
Julie, who had been watching from a few meters away, approached slowly. "Is everything okay?"
Fatima sighed. "I think so. He said not to worry... but you know how it is."
Their conversation was cut off by Donna's voice as she clapped her hands to get everyone's attention. When the chatter died down and all eyes turned to her, the house leader offered a tired but genuine smile.
"Alright, everyone," Donna's hoarse voice echoed through the room. "Today we've got two very good reasons to celebrate. It's been exactly one year since Fatima walked through those doors and changed the energy of this house for the better."
A few people whistled, and Donna's smile widened. "And we're also celebrating the eighteenth birthday of our newest resident, Julie. May you have many years ahead of you, kid."
A round of enthusiastic applause followed. Fatima smiled, pulling Julie into a side hug. At least for tonight, it seemed they had decided to shelve the fear brought by Daniel's earlier revelation.
Donna raised a hand for silence again, her tone shifting back to its usual firm authority. "Quick announcement. The two front bathrooms on the second floor are closed due to plumbing issues. Use only the ones in the back."
She didn't look at Kevin, who stood leaning near the front door. But Daniel, observing the dynamics from the back of the room like a spectator, noticed the way Dale immediately shot the man a glare filled with barely contained fury.
The house leader handed Fatima and Julie two small cloth bags. When the girls opened them, they pulled out two rustic dreamcatchers, handcrafted from dry branches and frayed strips of fabric.
"May they filter all your nightmares," Donna said, her voice softening as she hugged them both. "And leave you only with the purest dreams."
The circle broke apart, and people began approaching to offer their congratulations individually. Daniel waited patiently, leaning against the wall, deliberately positioning himself as the last in line.
When the space cleared, he approached the two of them. He greeted Fatima with a nod, muttering a quick "congrats."
Then he turned to Julie. She held the gift against her chest, but wore an adorable pout.
"Still want to kill me over the 'mother-in-law' comment?" Daniel asked with irony as he stepped closer, slightly invading her personal space.
Julie rolled her eyes, whispering so only he could hear over the background music. "You need to stop doing that. Teasing me like that in front of my parents. In front of everyone."
"So you're saying that if no one's watching, it's not a problem?" he shot back, idly playing with a strand of her hair between his fingers.
"No... that's not what I meant." Her voice faltered, her heart racing.
"Come with me," Daniel said. He slid his hand from her hair until he found her fingers, intertwining them with a natural ease that disarmed her. "I'll show you your gift."
A few meters away, Trudy watched the interaction. She lifted her plastic cup to her lips, a faintly amused expression on her face. She had already heard the gossip about the "don't worry, mother-in-law" spreading through the house like wildfire.
She was starting to find their dynamic kind of cute—and decided not to interfere as she watched them walk away.
Daniel guided Julie, who walked with her head lowered through the narrow hallway, dodging a couple passionately making out, until they reached the storage room door at the back of the first floor.
With a push, he revealed the inside of the room, which smelled like long-stored sheets, settled dust, and aged wood. Completely deserted and steeped in shadows.
He pulled the light cord, which flickered before bathing the space in a dim yellow glow. Then he let go of her hand and shut the door with a muted click, isolating the music outside.
"Close your eyes," he murmured.
Julie swallowed, obeying slowly as she instinctively wet her lips.
The expectation of a kiss there made her almost dizzy. She tilted her chin slightly upward, holding her breath.
Daniel watched her reaction: the blush on her cheeks, her eyelashes trembling faintly, the unmistakable tilt. A faint trace of amusement appeared at the corner of his lips.
Unhurried, he accessed his inventory. The bundle of wildflowers, perfectly preserved, materialized directly in his palm.
"You can open them."
Julie blinked, her vision struggling for a second to focus. The shy, expectant smile she had prepared melted away.
There, just inches from her face, was a bouquet of vibrant flowers, with blue and yellow petals that looked freshly picked, neatly tied with a ribbon.
"How... where did you get this?" she stammered, confusion overtaking her features. She took the flowers carefully, as if afraid they might disappear.
"Didn't you say you wouldn't be surprised if I told you magic was one of my hobbies?" Daniel replied, his sharp sarcasm masking the softness of the gesture.
Julie shifted her attention from the colorful petals to his incredibly calm expression. The initial disappointment from the lack of a kiss competed with the genuine charm of the gift, but as she took in the fresh scent of the flowers, the charm won easily.
"If you don't want to tell me, that's okay," she said softly.
Without any warning, she stepped forward and wrapped him in a tight hug.
Daniel stiffened for half a second before returning the gesture, catching the scent of her hair.
"Thank you," she whispered, her head resting against his chest.
"You're welcome," he replied, his voice dangerously soft. "Now let's get back to the party before they think I kidnapped you."
Julie let out a small, disappointed sigh as they walked out. The storage room had seemed like the perfect setting for something more, but she swallowed the frustration, her attention drifting back to the flowers.
As soon as they returned to the main hall, Fatima was the first to intercept them.
"Wow! These flowers are beautiful," she said, her face lighting up with curiosity as she examined the bouquet.
"Daniel gave them to me," Julie replied, lifting her chin, unable to hide her happiness.
Before Fatima could comment, three girls approached Daniel. They walked past Julie as if she were invisible.
The leader of the small trio — a blonde with shoulder-length hair, around twenty-five years old — wore tight clothes and a V-neck that accentuated her bust. With a predatory smile, she stopped dangerously close to Daniel.
"Hey, handsome," she purred, openly scanning him from head to toe. "There's a private party on the third floor later. You're more than invited. Show up."
The other two giggled in sync, their tone dripping with implication. Without waiting for a response, they turned and walked away, swaying exaggeratedly toward the stairs.
Julie tightened her grip on the stems, turning to Fatima with visible discomfort. "What... what happens at those private parties on the third floor?"
"You're better off not knowing, Julie."
Julie bit her lower lip as the suspicion settled in, slowly turning her head toward Daniel. He stood with his arms crossed, wearing a smug smile.
"You really think I'd go?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No..." Julie replied, though her voice came out thin and uncertain. She cleared her throat. "You're not going, right?"
"I'm not," Daniel assured, his face turning serious.
He had never been a fan of cheap, meaningless indulgence. Maybe it was because he grew up watching his parents' unshakable partnership and lasting romance, but he had always sought something real—not a fleeting escape in a dark room with strangers.
Julie let out a deep breath, believing him as she saw the sincerity in his expression.
Daniel tilted his head slightly. "What about you, Fatima? Ever joined those private parties?"
Julie blinked, turning toward her friend, intrigued. The memory of Fatima kissing another resident resurfaced in her mind.
"Yeah... before I started dating Ellis." She didn't seem particularly bothered talking about it.
Appearances can be deceiving, Daniel thought.
"Changing the subject, I've got a spare vase in my room. You can put the flowers there, Julie."
"Good idea. I don't want them to wilt. I'll be right back," Julie said to Daniel before following Fatima upstairs.
Daniel leaned against the wall, watching Julie's silhouette disappear at the top of the stairs. A soft look—something he rarely showed—appeared on his face without him noticing.
[Pathetic,] the System mocked in the back of his mind. [Your oxytocin levels are so high I'm experiencing virtual nausea. I didn't think you'd act like a romantic comedy protagonist.]
"Go calculate the growth rate of the grass outside and leave me alone," Daniel shot back mentally, shaking his head.
Feeling his stomach growl, he headed toward the kitchen.
Upstairs, Fatima opened the bedroom door and let Julie step inside. The space felt cozy, decorated with a few paintings Ellis had made.
Fatima grabbed a ceramic jar, filled it with water from a plastic bottle, and carefully placed the bouquet inside.
"So..." she began, sitting cross-legged on the edge of the bed, watching Julie with curiosity. "Are you going to tell me what happened in the motorhome earlier?"
Julie told her everything.
From the initial nervousness, to the surprisingly good food, the movie... all the way to the moment they were about to kiss—interrupted by the knock on the door.
"And you won't believe it," Julie said, lowering her voice as if sharing something precious. "Even with my parents at the door... he pulled me in and kissed me anyway."
"Seriously? I'll admit... he's got guts." Fatima tilted her head slightly. "So... are you two dating?"
Julie looked down, uncertain. "I don't know... we didn't really talk about that. He didn't ask me out. Nothing official."
Fatima studied her for a moment, noticing the hint of disappointment forming.
"I know that matters," she said gently. "But look at how he treats you."
Julie lifted her head, even if just a little.
"He called your mom 'mother-in-law,'" Fatima continued, counting on her fingers. "He gave you flowers. And honestly? I haven't seen him pay attention to anyone else since he got here."
She shrugged, her expression soft. "It might not be some big, pretty confession... but it doesn't feel casual either."
Julie fell silent. Her attention drifted back to the flowers, and slowly, a smile formed on her lips.
========================================
If you want to support the continuation of the story and read chapters in advance, you can become a supporter for just $5 and get access to 5 early chapters.
patreon.com/Northmann