The Edge of the Storm

The last few days before Christmas Eve felt like walking on a tightrope, the world all festive and bright but with something dark tugging at the edges. December 21st through 23rd, winter break was winding down, and the town was drowning in holiday cheer—lights everywhere, carols blasting, people acting like nothing could go wrong. But I felt it, that knot in my gut, tighter every day. My parents’ absence was a shadow I couldn’t shake, and living at the Forresters’ was starting to feel like a borrowed life I didn’t deserve. Belle, Luca, and Bella—they were my lifeline, but even they couldn’t drown out the quiet hum of something coming. Something bad.

It kicked off on the 21st, when Belle decided we needed to “soak up the holiday spirit” and dragged us to a winter carnival on the edge of town. She was in full aggressive mode, her eyes flashing as she shoved a scarf at me. “No sulking, Wise,” she snapped, her voice sharp but her smile soft underneath. “We’re doing this, and you’re gonna like it.”

I smirked, wrapping the scarf around my neck. “You’re bossy as hell, you know that?”

“Damn right,” she said, grabbing my hand and pulling me out the door. Her grip was firm, but when her fingers laced through mine, it was all warmth, and I let myself lean into it. At the carnival, she didn’t let go, her body pressed close as we wandered through stalls and rides, her laughter loud and fearless. She dragged me onto a spinning ride, her hair whipping in the wind, and when it stopped, she kissed me, hard and quick, her lips tasting like cotton candy. “See?” she said, grinning. “Told you you’d have fun.”

“Whatever,” I muttered, but my heart was racing, and not just from the ride. She was my anchor, keeping me from sinking, and I didn’t know how to tell her that.

Luca and Bella were glued together, their new relationship in full bloom. They’d made it official after the market, and now they were that annoying couple who couldn’t keep their hands off each other. At the carnival, Bella was her aggressive self, shoving a guy who bumped into her at the ring-toss game. “Watch where you’re going, jerk!” she barked, her eyes blazing. Luca laughed, pulling her back against him, his arms around her waist.

“Chill, babe,” he said, kissing her neck. “You’re scaring the kids.”

She rolled her eyes but melted into him, her smirk softening. “You’re lucky you’re cute, Morales,” she said, her fingers playing with his jacket zipper, and he grinned like he’d won the lottery.

We ran into more kids from school, faces that were starting to feel familiar. There was Tara, the goth girl from math who’d given me the bracelet, her eyeliner sharp as ever, tossing darts at balloons with deadly aim. She waved us over, her voice dry. “You guys here to lose at everything, or just spectate?”

“Careful, Tara,” Luca said, grinning. “Bella might take that as a challenge.”

Bella smirked, stepping up to the dart game. “Watch and learn, Morales.” She nailed three balloons in a row, her aggressive streak shining, and Tara clapped, impressed.

Nearby was Zoe, a loud cheerleader with a laugh you could hear a mile away, and Nate, a quiet kid from art class who was always sketching. Zoe was hyping up a crowd at the bumper cars, her energy infectious, while Nate hung back, doodling in a notebook. “Yo, Wise,” Zoe called, waving. “You in for a round? I’ll crush you!”

Belle laughed, her aggressive edge flaring. “You’re on, Zoe. Prepare to eat dust.”

We piled into the bumper cars, Belle and me in one, Luca and Bella in another, Zoe and Tara teaming up. It was chaos, Belle steering like a maniac, slamming into Zoe’s car with a grin. “That’s for talking smack!” she shouted, her laughter wild. Luca and Bella were just as bad, their car ramming Nate’s, Bella cheering like she’d won a war. For a moment, it was just us, a bunch of dumb kids, no shadows, no grief.

But then I saw Dez, standing by a food truck, his eyes locked on us. He was alone, holding a flyer for his Christmas Eve party, his smile too sharp, too knowing. His gaze flicked to Belle, laughing in my arms, then to Bella, her head tilted against Luca’s as they climbed out of their car. His jaw clenched, jealousy burning in his eyes, but there was something else—confidence, like he was holding a winning hand. He caught me staring and raised the flyer, mouthing, “You coming?” before turning away, his steps too deliberate, like he was already setting a trap.

Belle noticed, her smile fading. “He’s up to something,” she said, her voice low, aggressive. “That party’s not just a party, Wise.”

“I know,” I said, my gut twisting. “But what?”

The 22nd was quieter, just us at the Forresters’, wrapping more charity gifts with Sophie, Jaden, and a new kid, Liam, who was in our chem class. Liam was nerdy, all glasses and quick facts, but nice, always cracking science puns that made Sophie groan. “Why did the atom go to therapy?” he asked, taping a box shut. “It had too many unstable relationships!”

Jaden laughed, tossing a bow at him. “Dude, you’re the worst.”

Sophie smiled, her braids swinging as she stacked gifts. “He’s not wrong, though. These kids are gonna love this stuff.”

Belle was all business, her aggressive side out as she organized the wrapping station. “Jaden, stop throwing shit,” she snapped, but her eyes were warm when they met mine. She slid next to me, her thigh against mine, and whispered, “You okay?”

“Yeah,” I lied, her closeness the only thing keeping me steady. I kissed her forehead, soft and quick, and she smiled, her hand squeezing mine under the table.

Luca and Bella were across from us, their fingers intertwined as they wrapped a toy truck. Bella was bossy, telling Luca he was taping it wrong, but when he leaned over and kissed her cheek, she blushed, her aggressive edge softening. “You’re hopeless,” she muttered, but she leaned into him, her hand resting on his arm.

Dez stopped by again, dropping off more donations. He didn’t say much, just handed Mrs. Forrester a box, but his eyes were everywhere—on Belle’s hand in mine, on Luca and Bella’s quiet touches, on Sophie and Liam’s laughter. His smile was tight, his fists clenched, and when he left, he dropped a party flyer on the table, his voice casual but heavy. “Tell everyone, yeah? It’s gonna be big.”

Bella snorted, her aggressive streak flaring. “What’s with him and this stupid party?” she muttered, tossing the flyer aside.

Luca shrugged, pulling her close. “Dude’s just desperate for attention.”

But I wasn’t so sure. Dez’s confidence, the way he kept watching us—it felt like he was counting pieces on a chessboard.

On the 23rd, we ended up at a bonfire night at the park, organized by the school’s student council. The place was packed—Zoe was there, leading a sing-along with her cheerleader energy; Nate was sketching the flames; Ethan and Mia were handing out hot cocoa; and Liam was geeking out about the fire’s chemical reactions. It was loud, warm, everyone wrapped in scarves and passing around marshmallows. Belle was next to me, her body pressed against mine, her hands wrapped around a mug of cocoa. She leaned up, kissing me slow, her lips warm and sweet. “This is nice,” she whispered, her eyes soft but fierce. “Don’t let Dez ruin it.”

“I won’t,” I said, pulling her closer, my arms around her. But I felt it—that prickle on my neck, like we were being watched.

Luca and Bella were by the fire, her head on his shoulder, his arm around her. He was roasting a marshmallow, holding it out for her to bite, and she laughed, licking sugar off her lips before kissing him, quick and playful. “You’re gonna burn it, Morales,” she teased, but her voice was all warmth, her hand tangled in his.

Zoe bounded over, dragging Nate with her. “You guys coming to Dez’s party tomorrow?” she asked, her grin wide. “He’s been hyping it up like it’s prom or something.”

“Maybe,” I said, uneasy. Belle’s grip tightened, her aggressive side simmering.

“He’s up to no good,” she said, loud enough for Zoe to hear. “Watch yourself, Zoe.”

Zoe laughed, but it was nervous. “It’s just a party, right?”

Nate shrugged, his pencil pausing. “Dunno. Dez seems… intense about it.”

I looked across the fire, and there he was—Dez, standing with a couple of his crew, handing out more flyers. His eyes found us, lingering on Belle’s arm around me, on Bella’s laugh as Luca kissed her cheek. His face was hard, jealousy coiling tight, but that smug glint was back, like he was already seeing the endgame. He raised a flyer, his smile sharp, and turned away, blending into the crowd.

That night, back at the Forresters’, we crashed in the living room, the four of us sprawled on couches, Christmas lights glowing. Belle was curled against me, her legs over mine, her fingers tracing my wrist. Luca and Bella were tangled under a blanket, her head on his chest, his hand playing with her hair. The warmth, the quiet—it was almost enough to make me forget the world outside. But as I glanced at the window, I saw it—a flicker of red, tattered and fleeting, like a torn coat in the snow. Gone when I blinked. I didn’t say anything, didn’t want to break this. But the knot in my gut was tighter than ever. Dez’s party was tomorrow, and whatever he was planning, it wasn’t just a party. It was a trap, and we were all walking into it.