The group stumbled out of the haunted house, blinking against the bright mall lights. Their hearts were still racing, breaths uneven, but laughter bubbled up almost immediately.
Cassian bent over dramatically, hands on his knees. "Selene screamed the loudest," he announced loudly, pointing at her. "I swear the ghosts got scared of her."
Selene shot him a glare sharp enough to cut glass. "I did not scream," she said, crossing her arms.
Orion snorted. "You did. Twice. One of them echoed."
Cassian clapped his hands. "Echoed! That's talent."
Selene smacked both of them on the back of their heads. "Keep talking and I'll show you real horror."
Aiden laughed under his breath, Lyra still clinging to his arm. "You two deserved that," he said.
Orion wasn't done. He pointed at Aiden and Lyra. "And you two? Lyra almost climbed onto Aiden's shoulders."
Lyra's face turned red. "It was dark!"
Cassian spun around dramatically. "And then there's Adrian and Amara…" He wiggled his eyebrows. "Walking like they're in a slow-motion movie."
Amara's cheeks warmed instantly. Adrian shot Cassian a warning look. "Don't start," he muttered.
Cassian raised his hands in surrender. "Fine, fine. But next time, we're putting you two in the front."
Orion laughed. "Yeah, let's see how brave they really are."
Selene rolled her eyes but smiled. "Enough teasing. Let's go get something to drink before you all pass out."
They headed toward the food court, the smell of fries and cinnamon rolls drifting through the air. Lyra stayed close to Aiden, still shaken from the haunted house, while Cassian and Orion continued reenacting their "bravery" with exaggerated screams.
Amara walked beside Adrian, still feeling the warmth of that moment in the dark. Their hands brushed again—accidentally, but neither of them moved away this time.
"You okay?" Adrian asked quietly.
"Yeah," she said softly. "Just… still recovering."
He gave a small smile. "You handled it better than Cassian."
From ahead, Cassian spun around. "I heard that!"
Adrian didn't even look up. "Good."
Selene snorted. "He's right. You screamed like a kettle."
Cassian gasped dramatically. "Betrayed by my own family."
Orion patted his shoulder. "We still love you. Sometimes."
They reached a smoothie stand, and Selene took charge immediately. "Everyone pick something. My treat again."
Cassian pointed at the most expensive drink on the menu. "I'll take—"
"No," Selene said instantly.
Orion laughed so hard he nearly choked.
Amara stepped forward shyly. "I'll just get a strawberry one."
Adrian nodded. "Same."
Lyra's eyes flicked between them, her jaw tightening for a moment before she looked away.
As they waited for their drinks, the cousins gathered around a table. Cassian and Orion kept teasing each other, Selene kept pretending she wasn't amused, Aiden kept the peace, and Lyra kept watching Adrian and Amara with a quiet storm behind her eyes.
But for the first time in days, Amara felt… okay. Surrounded by noise, laughter, and warmth, she felt a piece of herself settling back into place.
And Adrian, sitting beside her, seemed to notice. He didn't say anything. He didn't need to.