The gym smelled like Halloween candy and desperation.

I stood at the butler station wearing my ridiculous cape while Harlow adjusted my collar for the third time. Her fingers brushed my neck and I swear she did it on purpose.

"Stop fidgeting," she said.

"I’m not fidgging."

"You are. Your shoulders are all tense." She squeezed them. "See?"

Her hands lingered. I stepped back.

"The costume is fine. Can I help set up now?"

"Not yet! We need to practice your bow!"

"My what?"

"Your bow! For greeting customers!" She demonstrated, curtsying deeply. The motion made her skirt ride up.

I looked at the ceiling. Safe. Neutral. No dangerous curves or exposed thighs.

"I’m not bowing."

"You have to! It’s part of the aesthetic!"

"I’ll nod. That’s my final offer."

She considered this. "Fine. But make it a vampire nod. Mysterious and alluring."

"There’s no such thing as a vampire nod."

"There is now! I invented it!"

Felix appeared wearing the most tragic Dracula costume I’d ever seen. The cape was too short, the fangs were crooked, and he’d slicked his hair back with what looked like an entire container of gel.

"How do I look, bleh bleh bleh?" he asked, genuinely serious about the vampire voice.

"Like you got dressed in the dark."

"Perfect, bleh bleh bleh! That’s the vibe I was going for, bleh bleh bleh!"

"You can stop doing the voice."

"Never, bleh bleh bleh! I’m fully committed to the bit, bleh bleh bleh!"

I regretted every choice that led me here.

Mr. Patterson emerged from behind the backdrop wearing a full Dracula costume that actually looked expensive. Velvet cape. Authentic-looking vest. Slicked-back hair with a widow’s peak drawn on his forehead.

The man who couldn’t care less about teaching had transformed into a Halloween fanatic overnight.

"Listen up!" Patterson’s voice carried across the gym. "This is a trial run! We have one week before the actual festival! ONE WEEK to perfect our booth and DESTROY 3-C’s pathetic haunted house!"

Felix leaned close. "He’s taking this very seriously, bleh bleh bleh."

"I noticed."

"Do you think he’s okay, bleh bleh bleh?"

"Probably not."

Patterson continued his passionate speech. "The cafe must run smoothly! Maids, you’ll practice taking orders and serving drinks! Butlers, you’ll assist with setup and provide atmospheric presence!"

"What’s atmospheric presence?" I asked.

"Standing around looking mysterious, bleh bleh bleh," Felix supplied. "Like a decorative plant, bleh bleh bleh."

"That tracks."

Harlow appeared at my side with a tray. "We’re starting practice service! You’re my first customer!"

"I don’t want anything."

"You don’t get a choice! This is rehearsal!" She pushed me toward a table decorated with fake cobwebs and plastic spiders.

I sat. The chair was wobbly.

Harlow pulled out a notepad covered in heart stickers. "Welcome to our humble cafe, dear guest." Her voice dropped into character, sweet and slightly dangerous. "What can I tempt you with today?"

"Coffee."

"Wrong answer! You’re supposed to say something fun!"

"Black coffee. Medium roast. No sugar."

She pouted. "You’re terrible at this."

"I’m a bartender. I take drink orders for a living."

"This is different! It’s cute and themed!" She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. The movement made her costume’s neckline dip lower. "Try again. Ask for something creative."

I deliberately kept my eyes on her face. "What do you recommend?"

Her smile turned wicked. "Our specialty is the Vampire’s Kiss. It’s strawberry lemonade with edible glitter."

"Sounds complicated."

"It is! I invented it!" She straightened, bouncing on her heels. "I’ll make you one! Wait right there!"

She skipped toward the makeshift counter where Marin was setting up an espresso machine.

Vivienne slid into the seat across from me without invitation. She’d changed into a simpler outfit for setup work, black jeans and a burgundy sweater that somehow still looked expensive.

"You’re actually going through with this," she said.

"Your sister is very persistent."

"That’s one word for it."

We sat in silence for a moment. The gym buzzed around us, students laughing and calling out instructions. Patterson was directing the fog machine placement with the intensity of a military operation.

"About last night," Vivienne started.

"We don’t have to talk about it."

"I think we do." She folded her hands on the table. "You said you’d think about our proposal."

"I did. I am."

"And?"

"And it’s insane."

"We’ve established that already."

I leaned back, the chair creaking dangerously. "Your mother threatened my sister’s future. My job. Everything I’ve worked for. And you want me to risk all of it on a relationship that defies every logical parameter."

"Yes."

Just yes. No justification. No persuasion.

I respected that.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because the alternative is pretending we feel nothing. And I’ve spent two years pretending. I’m tired of it."

Her purple eyes held mine. No mask. No corporate polish. Just Vivienne, seventeen and exhausted and done with lying.

"You know this could explode spectacularly," I said.

"I’m aware."

"Your sisters could turn on each other."

"They won’t. We’re Valentine quadruplets. We share everything."

"Not usually boyfriends."

"We’ve never wanted the same one before." She tilted her head. "You’re a unique problem."

"Gee, thanks."

"It’s a compliment."

Harlow returned with a glowing pink drink that smoked ominously. She set it in front of me with a flourish.

"One Vampire’s Kiss! Made with love!"

I eyed the ice fog. "Is this safe to drink?"

"Probably! The internet said yes!"

"That’s not reassuring."

"Live dangerously, Assistant-kun!"

I took a sip. It was actually good. Sweet, tart, slightly fizzy from the carbonation.

"Well?" Harlow asked.

"It’s decent."

"Decent?" She gasped. "It’s amazing and you know it!"

"Fine. It’s amazing."

She beamed. Vivienne’s lips twitched.

Cassidy appeared with Iris in tow, both wearing matching maid costumes now. My sister looked thrilled and slightly terrified.

"Look who I found lurking by the doors, bleh bleh bleh!" Cassidy said, apparently infected by Felix’s vampire voice.

"Stop that," I told her.

"Make me, bleh bleh bleh."

Iris giggled. "You look so silly!"

"Blame your brother. He’s a bad influence."

"I’ve done nothing wrong."

"You exist. That’s wrong enough."

Iris sat next to Vivienne, examining my drink with interest. "Can I try?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I don’t trust anything Harlow makes without supervision."

"Rude!" Harlow protested. "I followed the recipe exactly!"

"You just admitted you’re not sure it’s safe."

"Minor detail!"

Sabrina drifted over, holding a clipboard. "We need to assign stations. Isaiah, you’re working the espresso machine with Marin during service hours."

"I thought I was being atmospheric."

"You were. Now you’re barista adjacent. Congratulations on your promotion."

"Can I refuse?"

"No."

Typical.

Patterson called for attention. "Alright people! We’re doing a full run-through! Customers, sit at tables! Servers, take your positions! Butlers, look brooding and Victorian!"

"What’s Victorian about vampires?" I asked.

"Dracula was set in Victorian England, bleh bleh bleh," Felix explained. "It’s historically accurate, bleh bleh bleh."

"Please stop."

"Can’t, bleh bleh bleh. I’ve committed, bleh bleh bleh."

Marin waved me over. "You know espresso machines?"

"I’m a bartender. Close enough."

"Great! You’re in charge of drinks. I’ll handle food orders."

She was wearing cat ears with her costume. Made sense. Cats and vampires, both nocturnal predators.

The practice run began. Students playing customers sat at tables while the maid squad approached with notepads. Harlow bounced between tables, her energy infectious. A girl I recognized from English class ordered something called a Bloody Mary Special.

"That’s just tomato juice with hot sauce," Marin whispered.

"Sounds terrible."

"It’s thematic!"

I started the espresso machine, the familiar hiss and steam grounding me. This I understood. Hot water, ground beans, pressure. Simple physics.

Unlike four identical girls confessing their feelings in a parking lot.

Vivienne appeared at the counter. "One black coffee."

"Seriously?"

"I don’t do themed drinks."

"It’s a vampire cafe."

"I’m aware. Black coffee. Please."

I pulled the shot, steamed nothing because she wanted it black, poured it into a to-go cup. Our fingers brushed during the exchange.

She didn’t pull away.

"Thank you," she said quietly.

"You’re welcome."

She took a sip, winced. "This is very bitter."

"You ordered black coffee."

"I thought I’d like it."

"Do you?"

"No. It’s terrible."

I laughed. "Want sugar?"

"Please."

I added two packets, stirred, handed it back. She tried again.

"Better?"

"Adequate."

"High praise."

Her lips quirked. "Don’t let it go to your head."

Cassidy shouted from across the gym. "Angelo! Stop flirting and make my drink!"

"I’m not flirting!"

"Your ears are red, bleh bleh bleh!" Felix called out. "Dead giveaway, bleh bleh bleh!"

I was going to strangle him.

Cassidy reached the counter, propping her elbows on the surface. "One Vampire’s Kiss. Extra glitter."

I found it. Added a frankly alarming amount to her strawberry lemonade. The dry ice made it smoke like a witch’s cauldron.

"Perfect," Cassidy said, taking the cup. She sipped through the straw while maintaining eye contact.

The glitter caught on her lips.

"You have something..." I gestured vaguely at my own mouth.

She licked her lips slowly. "Better?"

"Cassidy."

"What? I’m just drinking."

"You’re doing it weird."

"Am I?" She leaned closer across the counter. "How should I drink it?"

"Normally."

"Show me."

This girl.

I grabbed my own cup of water and took a sip. "Like that."

"Boring."

"Functional."

"You’re no fun, scholarship boy."

"I’m working."

"You’re always working." She straightened, the moment breaking. "We should fix that."

Before I could respond, Harlow appeared with Iris, both giggling about something.

"Isaiah! Iris needs a drink too!"

"What do you want?" I asked my sister.

"Whatever has the most sugar."

"Absolutely not."

"Vivienne said I could have whatever I wanted!"

I shot Vivienne a look. She examined her nails with sudden fascination.

"One strawberry lemonade," I told Iris. "Regular edition. No dry ice."

"But the fog is cool!"

"You’re fourteen."

"So?"

"So you’re not drinking something that could burn your throat if you’re not careful."

Iris crossed her arms. "You’re being overprotective."

"I’m being responsible."

"Same thing."

Harlow jumped in. "I’ll make sure she’s safe! I’ve tested all the drinks! Multiple times!"

"That explains your sugar high."

"I’m naturally energetic!"

Sabrina appeared at my elbow. Silent as always. "We need more ice. The freezer in the cafeteria has some."

"I’ll get it."

"I’ll come with you."