010 | game night 2.0

The energy in Gianna's living room was electric. The coffee table was piled high with snacks-bowls of popcorn, bags of chips, and a tray of Cienna's homemade brownies. The group was gathered on the couches, controllers in hand, gearing up for another chaotic game night.

"Alright," Lamine said, cracking his knuckles as he stared at the screen. "Let's make this quick. I'm here to win, not waste time."

Marc Bernal snorted, leaning back against the armrest of the couch. "You talk a big game, Yamal. Didn't you come dead last last time?"

"That was a fluke," Lamine shot back. "Tonight, I'm unstoppable."

"Sure, buddy," Marc Guiu teased, tossing a handful of popcorn into his mouth. "We'll see how unstoppable you are when Gianna wipes the floor with you again."

Gianna grinned from her spot on the couch, controller already in hand. "Oh, I'm ready. Hope you guys don't cry too hard when I win...again."

"Cocky much?" Hector teased, sitting beside her.

"It's not cocky if it's true," Gianna shot back, sticking her tongue out at him.

"Alright, alright, less talking, more playing," Cienna said, plopping down next to Marc Bernal. "Let's see who's got what it takes tonight."

The game began, and the room filled with shouts, laughter, and the occasional curse as the competition heated up. Lamine, true to his word, started strong, leading the pack in the first few rounds. But Gianna quickly caught up, her quick reflexes and competitive streak kicking into high gear.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Lamine yelled as Gianna overtook him in a key round. "How are you this good?"

"It's called skill, Yamal," Gianna said, smirking. "You should try it sometime."

As the rounds continued, Hector's arm casually found its way around the back of the couch. At first, Gianna didn't think much of it, too focused on the game to notice. But as the matches wore on, his arm shifted slightly, settling comfortably across her shoulders.

She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, raising an eyebrow. "Getting cozy, are we?"

Hector didn't look up from the screen, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "Just making sure my teammate's comfortable. We're winning this thing, right?"

Gianna shook her head, trying to ignore the warmth spreading across her cheeks. "We'll see about that."

Cienna, sitting across from them, caught the exchange and raised her eyebrows at Gianna, a knowing smile playing on her lips. Gianna shot her a warning look, but Cienna just shrugged, clearly amused.

The game continued, with Marc Bernal and Marc Guiu bickering like siblings over stolen points, Lamine yelling in frustration every time he lost, and Cienna calmly dominating a round just to remind everyone she was still in the game.

By the final round, it was down to Gianna, Hector, and Lamine. The three of them were neck and neck, each one determined to come out on top.

"You're going down, Gigi," Hector said, his arm still comfortably draped around her shoulders.

"Not a chance," she replied, leaning forward as the match neared its end.

Lamine, desperate to make a comeback, leaned so far forward he nearly fell off the couch. "I'm not losing again!"

In the end, it was Gianna who clinched the win, throwing her arms up in victory as the rest of the group groaned.

"Unstoppable," she said, grinning as she leaned back against the couch.

"Fine," Hector said, shaking his head. "You win this time."

"This time?" Gianna teased. "Face it, Fort-I'll always be better than you."

Hector chuckled, giving her shoulders a gentle squeeze. "We'll see about that next time."

As the night wore on, the games gave way to casual conversation and laughter, the group relaxing into the kind of easy camaraderie that only came with years of friendship. Gianna couldn't help but smile as she looked around the room, feeling grateful for the people who filled her life with so much joy.

And while she'd never admit it out loud, the warmth of Hector's arm around her shoulders made the night feel just a little bit sweeter.