The next morning at Ridgewood High, things were… different.
Liv wasn't humming.
She wasn't talking about music videos, rehearsals, or hair.
She was on a mission.
"Alright," she said, practically slamming her tray down at the lunch table, "we need a plan."
Maddie glanced up. "Please tell me you're not about to talk about the guy in the hoodie again."
Liv leaned in. "Maddie. He caught bullets. With his chest. And then he asked if I was okay like he was some kind of undercover superhero. We're not just going to pretend that didn't happen!"
"Okay, okay," Maddie said, holding up her hands. "I'm in. But only because I think the mystery guy could be dangerous—or at least important."
That's when I walked over, sliding into the seat across from them. "Morning, ladies."
Liv's eyes lit up. "Perfect! Aiden, you're smart. Techy. Into that whole… genius-boy-with-a-vibe thing."
"Is that my new label?" I asked with a grin.
"Help us figure out who saved me last night," she said. "Hood up, all in black, voice like James Earl Jones—but younger. He literally tanked a gunshot to the chest and didn't even flinch!"
I raised an eyebrow. "Sounds… cinematic."
Maddie studied me. "You're not even a little curious?"
I tilted my head, pretending to think. "Statistically? Probably someone wearing high-grade ballistic armor. Maybe ex-military. Or a really committed cosplayer."
Liv leaned forward. "You seriously don't think he had powers?"
I shrugged. "If powers existed, Ridgewood wouldn't be the first place they show up."
"Unless," Maddie muttered, narrowing her eyes, "they already have."
She was looking directly at me.
I held her gaze, calm. Confident.
"No offense," I said lightly, "but if I had bulletproof skin, I'd be doing a little more than AP Chemistry and hanging out with Joey Rooney."
She smirked, but I saw it—a flicker of doubt.
Maddie Rooney was smart.
I had to play this carefully.
The bell rang.
As we walked toward class, Liv was still talking theories—"What if he's a government experiment?" "What if he's a time traveler?" "What if he's, like, Batman but actually nice?"
Maddie stayed mostly quiet.
I walked just behind them, hands in my pockets, expression unreadable.
And when no one was looking, I looked up… and smiled.