The mansion’s driveway looked like a luxury car dealership having a full-blown identity crisis. Range Rovers lined up like obedient soldiers, the Rolls limo sat there catching the morning sun like it knew it was royalty, and Tommy’s Mansory Aventador idled at the edge, purring low and violent, the kind of sound that didn’t just say I’m expensive—it said I cost more than your house and I absolutely know it, damn well too.
The air smelled like fresh concrete, cold metal, and money that hadn’t existed in their lives half a year ago.
Six months. That’s all it took for the world to flip on its head.
Six months ago, Peter and Tommy were broke kids scrolling through car photos on cracked phones, dreaming out loud, pretending they weren’t serious.
Back then, "luxury" meant the AC worked most of the time.
Now?
Now the driveway alone looked like a very expensive problem waiting to implode.
Peter stood on the front steps, hands shoved into his pockets, watching his worlds collide in the kind of organized chaos that only rich mornings seemed to have. Doors opening. Engines humming.
Voices overlapping. Sarah and Emma were already inside the Rolls limo—the Range Rover couldn’t fit everyone anymore, which was both annoying as hell and a quiet flex he still hadn’t emotionally processed.
Madison, Sofia, Lea, Kayla, and Mia followed, heels clicking on stone, hair perfect in that effortless way that took way too much effort.
The whole group looked like they were headed to some royal engagement or a Vogue shoot instead of Lincoln High School, and the absurdity of it all hit Peter right in the chest. High school. Same lockers.
Same bells.
Completely different universe.
Madison came first, obviously. She crossed the driveway like she owned the land, the house, and probably the air too.
Queen energy, zero apologies. She grabbed Peter by his shirt and kissed him hard—deep, possessive, no hesitation, the kind of kiss that said mine so loudly it didn’t need subtitles.
Anyone watching knew exactly what that was.
Territory claimed. Message delivered.
Sofia followed, quieter but just as sure. Her kiss was softer, slower, carrying gratitude tangled up with relief, like she was still convincing herself that things were real, that she was safe. Healing looked like that sometimes—not dramatic, not clean, just small moments where you stopped bracing for impact.
She pulled back with a tiny smile that felt fragile and strong at the same time. Peter held it with care.
The twins didn’t bother competing.
Sarah hugged him quick and tight, like she was afraid if she lingered too long something bad she was resisting would happen.
Emma went the opposite direction—full dramatic spin, arms around his neck, laughing like the world wasn’t heavy at all.
It cracked something in him, pulled a laugh out of his chest even though everything else felt tight and sore. Lea and Kayla joined in, turning it into this oddly wholesome group hug that would’ve looked cute as hell if anyone actually knew the context.
Mia hugged him too—quick, genuine—but her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes, and that part stuck.
"Glad you’re okay," she said quietly.
Peter nodded, because what do you even say to that? He’d been shot. She’d watched it happen. Everyone had. That thing doesn’t just disappear. It lingers. Like smoke.
Tommy waited by the Aventador, hands shoved in his pockets, pretending he wasn’t watching the whole thing like a man on death row waiting for his name to be called.
When the limo doors finally shut, he walked over, face tight, eyes tired in that way money doesn’t fix.
"Yo," Tommy said, glancing at the disappearing limo, then back at Peter. "Need to talk. Like—now. Quick."
Peter raised an eyebrow. "That tone never means anything good."
"Mia and I are fighting." Tommy exhaled hard. "About... you know. The shooting."
Peter felt something sink in his chest. "Tommy—"
"She gets why I ran to my mom first," Tommy rushed on, words tumbling out like he was afraid they’d rot if he kept them inside. "Said she understands. Said we’re both mommy’s boys and she can’t change that shit. But—" He stopped, swallowed. "She’s pissed I didn’t think about her at all. Like my brain just hard-reset and she didn’t exist."
Ah. Yeah. Peter knew that feeling. Crisis tunnel vision.
The world narrowing down to one flashing red priority while everything else turned to static and noise: mothers!
"To save your mom," Peter said, firm. "Which was the right call. I had people. She needed you."
"Then tell her that." Peter straightened. "Tell her you fucked up. Say sorry like you mean it. Then actually do better. That’s it. That’s the whole playbook."
The twins waved wildly from the back window, faces pressed to the glass like excited puppies who’d just discovered wealth and air conditioning at the same time. Then the limo turned the corner and disappeared down the street, taking the noise, the engines, and the chaos with it.

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