But tonight, it was worse.
Hunter had barely stepped inside before the noise swallowed him whole.
"You're not allowed to touch anything sharp," Cindy declared from the couch.
"Or drive," Meera added.
"Or sing," Percy said immediately.
Hunter dropped onto the sofa with a dramatic groan. "You people are cruel."
Jay leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching the chaos unfold like she'd expected nothing less. "You're alive.
That's your gift."
Hunter grinned at her. "Still scary."
"Good," Jay replied. "Fear builds character."
Angelo walked in last, calm as always, placing the car keys down like nothing had happened in the last twenty-four hours. The room didn't go silent—Section E didn't know how—but it did… shift.
Lia noticed immediately.
"Don't," she warned.
"I didn't say anything," Angelo replied.
"You were about to."
Jay snorted. "He always is."
Percy turned sharply. "Why do you always start things with him?"
Jay didn't even look at him. "Because he finishes them."
Sibling rivalry didn't spark.
It detonated.
Aries, leaning against the railing, groaned. "Can we not do this today?"
"You don't get a vote," Jay shot back.
Aries' jaw tightened. "Funny. You say that a lot for someone who hates authority."
Hunter blinked. "Wow. Is this normal?"
Kairav answered without looking up from his phone. "This is them being restrained."
Ion passed Hunter a glass of water.
"Welcome to the family."
Lia rubbed her temples. "I just want one night—one—without someone fighting."
Jay glanced at her, instantly softer. "Then stop inviting them."
That earned her three pillows to the face.
Jessica laughed. "See? Balance."
Daniel leaned toward Theo. "Place your bets. Ten minutes before something breaks."
"Five," Tiger replied.
Hunter shifted, eyes flicking between Lia and Jay. "You two always like this?"
"No," Lia said.
"Yes," Jay said at the same time.
They stared at each other.
"…Sometimes," Lia amended.
Hunter smiled faintly. "You came for me anyway."
The room quieted—just enough.
Jay turned away first. "Don't make it weird."
Angelo finally spoke. "You should rest."
Hunter tilted his head. "You sound like you're giving orders."
"I am."
Jay muttered, "Here we go."
Percy rolled his eyes. "You act like you run everything."
Angelo's gaze didn't waver. "I don't act."
Kairav choked on his drink.
Lia shot Angelo a look. "Please. Not tonight."
He nodded. "Fine."
That should've ended it.
It didn't.
Because Section E was Section E.
Someone turned on music. Someone else started arguing about food. Kit and Mayo disappeared into the kitchen and came back suspiciously fast. Eren climbed onto the
armrest. Drew was filming something. Felix laughed too loudly. Calix egged him on.
Hunter watched it all, stunned.
"This," he said quietly to Lia, "is louder than my concerts."
Lia smiled. "They're worse when they care."
Jay passed by, ruffling Hunter's hair. "You're stuck with us now."
He laughed. "I figured."
Outside, the world still believed Hunter had vanished into recovery.
Inside this house, he was just another person being yelled at.
And somehow…
That felt safer than any stage.