I wake up to the soothing sound of talking downstairs with laughs scattered ever so often. I sit up in my bed, feeling sluggish, and rub the sleep from my eyes. I slept like a baby in my bed, remembering how good it feels to sleep on something besides a lumpy twin-sized dorm mattress.

As I brush my teeth and get changed, I think of how comfortable Levi already seems with my family. I'm too lazy to put in my contacts, so I slide on my glasses and head downstairs.

When I get to the kitchen, I realize that I was the last to wake up. Levi smiles at me from the breakfast nook where he's talking with my mom. I note that he's still in his pajamas — grey sweatpants and a black t-shirt. He smiles at me. "Morning, four-eyes," he says, taking a bite of toast.

"What're you guys doing awake so early?" I ask them as I get some orange juice from the fridge. I hear Dani laugh at me from her stool at the island.

"Early? Scar, it's almost noon," Dad tells me. He's cooking something at the stove, and it smells really good. I look at the clock. 11:53. Great.

"Jet lag," I say.

"We're in the same time zone as UNC," Dani retorts.

"Whatever."

I sit next to Dani with my glass of orange juice. Dani leans into me and says quietly, "Someone's trying to get on Mom's good side."

I look over and watch Levi eat an apple, listening to my Mom tell some elaborate story. I listen closely and realize she's telling him how she and Dad met. I smile to myself, tuning in to Mom's recount of her extremely problematic courtship. It's my favorite story, and Levi seems to be enjoying it just as much as I did the first time I heard it.

". . . so the next clue of the scavenger hunt led me to the top of this mountain, but when I got there, Gray wasn't even there," my mom is saying, laughing at the memory. "There's just another clue that tells me to trek back down the mountain and drive to the middle of nowhere."

Levi is laughing along with her, and Dad interrupts from his position in front of the stove. "Baby, you're making me look bad. Why don't you tell him what was waiting for you once you got to the middle of nowhere?"

Mom rolls her eyes at her husband, but I don't miss the unmistakable shine of overflowing love in her gaze. Mom turns back to Levi. "I'll admit, it was very romantic," she admits, still smiling. "There were flowers and candles and food and—"

"Presents," Dani adds. "That's the best part of the story, in my opinion, the presents Dad gave you. A man will only be as valuable as the things he can buy me. Clothes, jewelry, shoes—"

"Anyway, as I was saying," Mom continues, side-eyeing her daughter. "Yes, there were presents, but that was definitely not the best part of that day."

Dad laughs. I raise my eyebrows at her comment at the same time that Levi asks, "So then what was the best part?"

Mom and Dad share a look from across the room, and I'm the first to understand. I set down my orange juice and cover my eyes. "Gross, gross, gross, gross," I chant, squinting my eyes shut. "Keep it to yourselves."

Dani laughs. "Scar, you innocent little thing. How do you think me, you, and Archer got here? The stork?"

Dad walks over to Mom and kisses the top of her head. "Definitely not the stork," he says quietly, but loudly enough for me to head. I groan as Levi laughs.

"Here, take your vitamins," Dad says when he gets back to the counter, placing two Flintstone gummy vitamins in front of me. "I made you a sandwich. Burnt the way you like it. And eat some strawberries too. I bet you're not getting enough fruits and vegetables."

I haven't taken vitamins since I left, but I take them anyway for nostalgia's sake, and dig into the sandwich that Dad made for me. I'm two bites in when we hear a car pull into the driveway. I freeze.

Dani practically hops out of her chair. "They're here!" She exclaims, running toward the door. I look toward Levi, remembering I haven't told Jack or Levi that they would both be present. Oh no . . .

Levi gets up with my Mom, not catching onto the 'they' in Dani's exclamation. He throws his apple core away and stands with me next to the door to welcome my brother. And Jack.

"I'm pretty sure your Dad checked into my room every hour or so and shined a flashlight in my face just to make sure I was in there alone," Levi laughs to me. "Then he made me toast this morning. I like your dad but he is . . . intimidating, to say the least."

I laugh nervously, watching the front door. "Yeah, he can be pretty intense. Did you make sure the toast wasn't poisoned?"

"Now that I think about it, my throat does feel a bit tight . . ." He says, rubbing the back of his neck.

The laugh in my own throat is halted when the door opens. I hold my breath then release it when I realize it's only Archer.

"Archie," my mom says excitedly, walking up to hug her son. He drops his bags at the doorway and hugs her back, picking her up off the floor. Mom says that he looks like he needs a haircut, and Archer rolls his eyes, swerving away from her hands trying to inspect every inch of his face.

"Moooooom," he complains as she moves his head around, peppering him with questions. "I'm fine. I'm fine. Yes, I am getting enough sleep. Mom."

"Riv, leave the poor kid alone," Dad says to Mom. But as he gets closer to Archer, he starts examining him like Mom. "Actually, are you getting enough sleep? You look a bit thin. Is the coach working you too hard?"

"Mom, Dad, I'm fine," he whines. Then Dad draws him into a hug.

"I missed you, buddy," I hear Dad say to Archer. Then Dad turns to Levi, smiling. "Arch, have you met Levi? Scarlett's friend."

Archer gives Levi one of his charming but slightly-threatening smiles, nearly identical to the one Dad gave Levi yesterday. Levi takes a second to reply, probably caught up in how similar my Dad and brother look, especially with them standing side-by-side. It stuns a lot of people — their uncanny physical resemblance. And it can be intense to have two identical pairs of steel-grey eyes staring you down.

"I've heard a lot about you. Good to finally meet you, dude," Archer says, holding out his hand between them. Levi goes in for a traditional handshake, but Archie takes his hand and turns it into one of those back-patting bro-hugs.

"Good to meet you too," Levi says. "The most I've heard about you is that you're a pretty big Taylor Swift fan."

Archer tilts his head at Levi. "Got a problem with that?" He asks, an interrogative edge to his voice. Then he looks at me. "Scar, don't tell me you brought a music snob into our house."

Levi opens his mouth to backtrack, but Archer beats him to it, his face splitting into a humorous grin. "I'm just messing with you. Don't worry, Levi, I don't have any reason not to like you. It'd be great if we could keep it that way." And the warning that Archer tacks onto that last part doesn't come across as a joke at all.

Despite Archer's brotherly threat, Levi and Archer are on good terms right now, and that's what really matters. The last thing we need is another conflict in this house.

Dad looks around. "Hey, where's J—"

The front door opens again, and I know this is it for me. I know I've fucked up as soon as Jack enters the foyer with his relaxed smile lingering on his face, dimples and all. His striking eyes scan the room, brightening when they landing on me. Like all previous conflict is forgotten and all he cares about is seeing me. His smile grows into something more untethered, like we're the only two in the room right now.

Then his eyes focus on the person standing right next to me.

As soon as he sees Levi, all traces of happiness fall off his face. I look at Levi and see that the casual excitement of meeting my brother has washed off his face as well. They lock eyes, and neither say a word.

I'm frozen in place.

Jack is the first to break eye contact. He quickly regains his composure and shakes my Dad's hand and hugs my Mom. "Thanks for having me, Mr. and Mrs. Maddox."

"Of course, Jack, we're always glad to have you," my dad says, pulling Jack into a hug similar to the one he gave Archer. "How's the season going for you?"

"It's already kicking my ass," Jack answer truthfully, and my Dad laughs. Jack glances over at where I'm standing with Levi and adds, "But I'm ready for anything that's thrown my way."

"Jack, we almost forgot to tell you," Mom interrupts. "Since Scarlett's friend is here, you're going to have to stay with Archer in his room. Is that okay?"

"Of course, it is," Jack says, staring bullets through Levi. Archer pulls Jack's attention away from Levi by roughly yanking him into a hug.

"Jackie doesn't mind. It'll be just like old times,"Archer laughs. "I call being the little spoon tonight. I love feeling those big strong arms wrapped around me."

"Arch, stop torturing him," Dad says.

"Yeah," Dani adds. "Save the rough play for when you two are alone in bed later tonight. Make sure to keep the noise down, okay?"

"Why do you have to take everything too far, Dani?" Archer asks, letting Jack out of the headlock and rolling his eyes. "Just to be clear, you're sleeping on the floor," he says to his best friend.

"I was already planning on it," Jack says, playfully shoving Archer away from him.

Dad looks between Levi and Jack. "Jack, come here. Have you met Levi?"

Dad ushers the two boys together so they're face-to-face. Levi's arms are crossed over his chest as he says, "No, I don't believe we have." Levi puts on a languid smile and holds out his hand. "Nice to meet you, Jack."

Jack looks at the hand between them as if Levi is holding a bomb. But he takes it anyway. "Same here," Jack says.

My Dad looks at the tense looks on their faces before clapping them both on the shoulder. A warning to be on their best behavior in his home. "Well, you two will be spending a week together under the same roof, so I hope you'll become friends soon enough."

Jack and Levi's handshake lingers for a few seconds too long, and I look down to realize that both their knuckles are turning white from trying to hurt the other. Both their immaturity and hatred for each other are striking.

They release the handshake and step back from one another. I let out a breath of relief. Crisis averted. This time.

Dani goes to hug Jack, and he tells her he brought her something. He takes a book out of his backpack and hands it to her. "Flowers for Algernon?" Dani asks unenthusiastically, not even trying to hide the disappointment from her face. "Jack, I already have a copy. I've read this a hundred times already."

"Yeah, I remembered you saying it was one of your favorites." Jack smiles. "Open to the first page."

Dani reluctantly does what she's told, and her face bursts with surprised happiness. "Dude, how the hell did you get the author's autograph? Daniel Keyes died a few years ago."

"I found it in my lit professor's storage closet. He gave it to me after I promised to get him tickets to the first two playoff games," Jack explains, but I doubt Dani hears him. She's flipping through the pages with glee.

"This is . . . annotated . . . by Daniel Keyes . . . himself," Dani gasps. "I think I might pass out."

Archer scoffs. "Always the ass-kisser," he says, and Jack punches him in the arm.

"So he's the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus now? Is there anything this kid can't do?" Levi says with audible strain in his usually-controlled voice.

"Hey, he's not the Sandman. Or the tooth fairy," I say, feeling the need to defend Jack.

"I'm not convinced. I wouldn't be surprised if he threw sand in my eyes or knocked my teeth out in my sleep," Levi replies. I can't help but laugh at his comment.

Jack turns to look at me at that exact moment, and he sees me leaning into Levi to laugh. We lock eyes, and I see his heart break a little as a look of sadness and jealousy passes over his features.

♔

Later, still enthused by Jack's gift, Dani forces us all to watch the film adaptation of Flowers for Algernon in the living room even though she's already seen it dozens of times before.

"Jack, you've read the book, right?" Dani asks as the movie starts. It's easy to see that she's excited to finally have another book lover in the house. These intense book conversations between Jack and Dani are always rapid-fire and lost on the rest of us.

Jack nods as he sits down on the opposite end of the couch as me. I see the controlled longing look in his eyes when Levi sits right beside me, knowing that we can't risk him being the one next to me. Mom launches a blanket in my direction, and Levi catches it before spreading it over me.

"Do you prefer the book or movie?" Dani asks.

"Definitely the book," Jack answers. He shakes his head. "Come on, I'm offended you even have to ask that. Do you think so little of me?"

Dani lifts her chin righteously. "Gryffindors like you could stand to be humbled every once in a while."

"Hey," Archer butts in, "I'm a Gryffindor too." He high-fives his best friend, as if it's groundbreaking news that he and Jack are extremely alike.

"What am I?" I ask.

"Hufflepuff," Jack, Levi, and Dani all answer at once.

"Is that a bad thing?" I ask, shrinking back.

Levi laughs beside me. "No, it's not. But of course, it's not nearly as good as being a Slytherin."

Dani laughs. "Oh, shut up. Ravenclaw is where it's at." Then she thinks for a second. "Actually, Jack, you're kind of a Ravenclaw like me."

"Isn't Ravenclaw for the smart people?" Levi asks. I turn my head toward him, appalled by yet another subtle jab at Jack. Levi backtracks, "I mean, Jack just seems like a Gryffindor through and through. That's not a bad thing."

"Dude," Archer says, "respectfully, shut up. You don't even know him."

"Archer," Mom bites, "be nice."

Jack keeps his eyes on Levi, and his look isn't kind. "Arch, it's cool," he assures. "Levi didn't mean anything by it, did he?"

Levi smiles at him. "Not at all."

"Respectfully, everyone shut up," Dani says, turning back to Jack to continue her interrogation. "Have you read The Martian?"

Jack smiles and nods. Of course he has; it's one of the books he annotated and gave to me. He compared our relationship to the forbidden love between Beck and Johanssen—two astronauts forbidden from being in a relationship. Then we watched the movie together. Well, there wasn't much watching involved, but same thing.

Dani is pleased by his answer. "Do you prefer the movie adaptation of The Martian or book?" She asks, and from the way she stares him down, I can tell she's very concerned with his answer.

Archer groans. "Can you two shut up with this nerd talk? I'm trying to let the TV kill my brain cells."

"As if there are many left to kill," I say. Mom and Dad laugh, and Archer throws a popcorn kernel at me.

Jack is still thinking about Dani's question. "I'll tell you later," he finally answers. "I'll have to think about that one."

Dani scoffs. "You shouldn't even have to think because there's only one right answer. Actually, I'm outraged that the film totally cut out the part when the rover tipped o—"

"Dani," Mom cuts in. "Please quiet down so we can actually hear the movie that you picked out for us."

Dani reluctantly lays back down, and the movie starts. But my mind and eyes keep wandering back to Jack. He can't risk getting caught staring at me, but when he does look at me, I can tell there are a million thoughts swirling in his head.

It feels like miles of miscommunication and distance separate us, and an entire of week of having to stay away from each other will only further that divide. And the longer I wait to talk things out with him, the greater the damage will be.

♔

Yes, we said the update schedule would be every Monday and Friday morning (EST). Yet here we are posting on a Thursday morning. Fear not, because another update will be posted tomorrow morning.

thought corner

1. What do you think about Levi and Jack's first official meeting? Will things get better or worse?

2. What should Scarlett do in her current situation?

3. Have your views of either Levi or Jack changed? How so?

4. Are you surprised by their Harry Potter house sortings?

challenge

For TTSR readers: the first person to guess the correct Hogwarts House for Grayson, River, Violet, Peyton, Sadie, and Tommy gets a future character in this book named after them. Some of them are really on-the-fence, so good luck!

Only one guess per person!