CHAPTER THREE — THE WAY HE LOOKS AT ME

I don’t usually notice people noticing me. Not off the field. On the field, yeah, that’s one thing different. Eyes are expected there. Coaches, teammates, opponents, all are supposed to be watching, calculating, reacting. It’s part of the game.

… But this…. This is different. Because Kade Mercer doesn’t just look at me. He studies me. And now that I’ve seen it, I can’t unsee it.

I’m standing in Lila’s room, arms crossed loosely over my chest, trying to pretend the lights didn’t just flicker like something brushed against the edges of reality.

Trying to pretend the air doesn’t feel heavier. Trying to pretend I’m not hyper-aware of him standing way too close. “You’re thinking a little too hard again,” Kade says. His voice is low. Like nothing’s wrong. Like everything’s wrong and he’s already adjusted to it. I tilt my head slightly. “You say that like you’re not doing the exact same thing.” A faint shift in his expression. Not quite a smile. “Maybe,” he admits. That’s the closest thing to honesty I’ve gotten out of him so far. I glance toward the window again. Nothing. Just the dark outline of the yard, the faint glow of the streetlight, everything exactly where it should be. Except it doesn’t feel right.

I push off the dresser and take a step away from him, needing space to think. “Okay,” I say, turning back. “Let’s say I believe you. That something’s… off. That things are ‘overlapping,’ like you said.” He watches me carefully. I continue, “What does that actually mean?” He doesn’t answer right away. Of course he doesn’t. He never does. Instead, he shifts his weight slightly, leaning more into the doorframe like he’s grounding himself.

“I don’t have all of it figured out,” he says finally. I blink. “That’s new.” Another almost-smile. Gone just as quickly. “I know patterns,” he continues. “And this doesn’t feel random.” I exhale through my nose. “Great. So we’ve upgraded from confusion to patterned confusion.”

“Hope.”. The way he says my name…

It stops me. Not sharp. Not soft. Just… intentional. I look at him again. Really look this time. He’s always been hard to read, but tonight there’s something different in the way he holds himself. Like he’s bracing for something I haven’t caught up to yet. “What aren’t you telling me?” I ask. A beat of silence. Then….

The door opens. “Okay, I’m back, and if you two are still standing exactly where I left you, I’m officially concerned.” Lila breezes in, holding two drinks, then stops mid-step. Her eyes flick between us. Then narrow. “Yeah, no,” she says, setting the drinks down on her desk. “Something is happening.” “Nothing is happening,” I say immediately. At the exact same time Kade says, “Nothing.” Lila stares at us. Then laughs once. “That was the least convincing thing I’ve ever heard.” I rub my forehead slightly. “You’re reading into it.” “I’m not,” she insists. “You’re both acting weird, and I don’t like it.” Kade pushes off the doorframe. “I’m going to grab something from the kitchen,” he says. Lila squints at him. “You were just in the kitchen.” “I need water.” “You walked past water.” “I changed my mind.” Lila opens her mouth, then closes it again. “Okay,” she says slowly. “That’s… suspicious.” Kade doesn’t respond. He just looks at me once, real quick, deliberate, and then leaves. The door closes behind him. Silence settles in. Lila turns to me immediately. “Okay. Talk.” I cross my arms again. “There’s nothing to talk about.” “Hope.” I sigh. “Lila.” She leans forward slightly, eyes sharp. “You feel it too, don’t you?” My chest tightens. I hesitate. That’s enough of an answer.

Lila’s expression softens just a little. “Okay… so I’m not crazy.” “I didn’t say that,” I mutter. She nudges my arm. “You didn’t have to.” I glance toward the door.

“Things just feel… off,” I admit finally.

Lila nods slowly. “Yeah.” That surprises me. “You too?” She shrugs, but it’s not casual. “Not like you’re describing. But… something. Like when a storm’s about to hit and everything goes quiet first.” I stare at her.

“That’s exactly what it feels like.” She lets out a small breath. “Okay, cool. Love that for us.” I huff a quiet laugh. Then… The lights flicker again. Longer this time.

We both stare at each other . “Okay, that’s new,” Lila says. “Not really,” I reply.

Her head snaps toward me. “Not really?”

I hesitate. Then shake my head. “It happened earlier. At the field.” Lila’s expression shifts. Concern. Real concern.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” “Because I thought I imagined it.” Another flicker.

The room dims, then steadies. Lila wraps her arms around herself slightly. “Yeah, I don’t think that’s imagination.” I don’t either. Not anymore. The door opens again. Kade steps back in, a glass of water in his hand. His eyes go straight to the lights. Then to me. “You saw that,” he says. It’s not a question. “No,” Lila cuts in. “We saw that.” Kade’s attention shifts to her.

For a moment, something unreadable passes between them. Then he nods once. “Okay,” he says quietly. “Okay what?” Lila asks. “Okay, it’s happening faster than I thought.” I feel my stomach drop. “That’s not reassuring.” “It’s not meant to be,” he says again. I step closer before I can stop myself. “How do you know any of this?” I ask. Kade looks at me. He holds a gaze. For a second too long. “I’ve seen it before,” he says. Everything in me stills. “What?” Lila frowns. “Seen what before?” Kade doesn’t answer immediately. And that silence…. It stretches. Tightens. Then… Footsteps sound in the hallway. Heavier. Slower. Deliberate. Lila’s posture shifts instantly. “Dad’s home.” Kade glances toward the door. Then back at me. Like he’s weighing whether to say something else. He doesn’t get a chance. Then the door opens again. And the room changes. Not because of the lights. Not because of anything unnatural. Because of him. Lila’s dad fills the doorway, he is tall, solid, presence-first in a way that makes the space feel smaller just by stepping into it. “Hey,” he says, voice calm but firm. “Didn’t know we had a full house tonight.” “Hope’s staying for a bit,” Lila says quickly. His eyes land on me. Assessing. Not unkind. But observant in a way that feels a little too close to Kade’s. “Good game tonight,” he says. I nod. “Thank you.” He holds my gaze for a second longer than necessary. Then shifts his attention to Kade. And something changes. Subtle. But there.

A tension I don’t understand. “You’re back early,” he says. Kade shrugs slightly. “Didn’t feel like being out.” Another pause. Longer this time. Lila looks between them. “Okay… what is happening tonight?” No one answers. Her dad exhales slowly, stepping fully into the room. “Lights flickering?” he asks.

My heart skips. “You noticed?” I say. He nods once. “Whole house. I thought it was just the wiring.” Kade doesn’t speak.

But I see it… The way his jaw tightens slightly. Like that explanation doesn’t sit right with him. Doesn’t sit right with me either. Lila’s dad looks between us again.

“You kids stay in tonight,” he says. “A storm might roll in.” Storm. The word settles heavy in my chest. Because that’s exactly what this feels like… Not something random. Something building. He gives a short nod and steps back out into the hallway, closing the door behind him. Silence falls again. Different this time. Thicker. Lila exhales. “Okay, seriously!! what is going on?” I don’t answer. I can’t. Because I’m looking at Kade. And he’s already looking at me.

Like he’s been waiting for this moment.

Like whatever he was holding back, He’s about to say it. The lights flicker again.

And this time… They don’t come back right away. Darkness fills the room for just a second too long. And in that second…

I swear I feel something else in the room with us. Watching. Waiting. Then the lights snap back on. Everything looks normal. But nothing feels normal. Kade steps closer. Close enough that I feel it before I process it. “Hope,” he says quietly. My pulse spikes. “What?” I whisper. His eyes don’t leave mine. “This isn’t going to stay contained.” A chill runs down my spine. “Then what happens next?” I ask. He doesn’t hesitate this time. “If It finds a way in.” And for the first time… I realize something worse than the feeling of being watched.And that is what is happening now.