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Scene opens outside Maddie's house.
It's late afternoon, the skies cloudy like they're trying to match her mood. Caleb's parked awkwardly down the street, pacing back and forth before finally knocking. Maddie answers in a big hoodie, bare-faced, hair up—stunning anyway. She's not surprised to see him, but her face hardens like stone.
> "We don't talk for months and now you knock like we're friends?" she says, arms crossed.
Caleb runs a hand through his hair, the same one Maddie used to braid when they watched horror movies. "I just wanted to see how you were. After everything with Cass…"
"Don't." Her voice cracks, but she hides it. "You don't get to check on me after ghosting me. You're either in or out, Caleb. You chose out. So stay out."
She slams the door before he can say more. Caleb stands there a moment, shoulders sinking, guilt slicing through him.
Cut to inside the house—Maddie storms into the living room.
Jazmine's sprawled on the couch with a slice of pizza and a raised brow.
> "Boys are so stupid," she mumbles. "Like, peak-level dumb."
Maddie lets out a frustrated laugh. "He just showed up like nothing happened."
Jaz: "I swear, men only get clarity at the exact moment it's no longer helpful."
They burst into laughter.
The two girls sit on the couch, legs tangled, They joke, talk about trash exes, Maddie mentions Caleb without saying his name, and then—
>
Jazmine shrugs but smirks. "Let's just say I'm into girls who are terrible for me… and one golden retriever boy who doesn't even know I exist."
>
"Wait… Oliver?"Maddie asks.
Jazmine shrugs again but smiles wider. "Don't say his name. I'm trying to be mysterious."
Scene ends with them laughing, a little broken, a little healing.
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Absolutely—I totally get the vibe you're going for! That perfect blend of brotherly banter, emotional tension, chill guy energy, and the undeniable shift in James's feelings for Blair. Here's the structure for Chapter 18 – Part 2, written from Caleb's POV and set right after his failed visit to Maddie's house:
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Caleb's POV
The streetlights blurred past him as he drove home in silence, music off, Maddie's door slam still echoing in his head. He'd parked like a coward halfway down her block, spent ten minutes rehearsing something smooth, and still managed to fumble everything the second she opened the door.
Now he was just mad at himself. And maybe a little mad at her. Mostly himself.
The gates of the Quest mansion opened automatically, the warm golden light spilling from the windows made the place feel too alive for how hollow he felt inside.
Inside, James was in the kitchen, shirtless, half-leaning over the marble counter with a protein shake in one hand and his phone in the other.
> "You look like you just got dumped," James said, not looking up.
"Worse," Caleb muttered, tossing his keys on the counter. "Tried talking to Maddie."
James blinked, then gave a slow, dramatic turn. "Talk? Bro, it's been months. After you broke up with her outta nowhere and spent the whole semester playing mattress Olympics with half the school?"
"Relax. You slept with the other half."
James grinned, unbothered. "True. But I don't ghost the good ones."
"I didn't ghost her," Caleb muttered, grabbing a glass. "I just… I didn't know how to explain what I was feeling."
"Which part—confusion or cowardice?"
Caleb shot him a look, but James was smirking like a devil, arms now crossed.
> "Besides," James continued, "at least I don't break hearts. You shattered that girl, man."
"Oh please," Caleb scoffed. "You're currently breaking my sister's heart."
James blinked. "What?"
"Cassie. You know she's been in love with you since, like, forever. Everyone knows it. She changes her whole look whenever you're around."
James looked genuinely confused for a moment. "Dude, I never gave her any green light. Ever. I didn't touch her. Never hooked up with her. I was trying not to mess things up with you guys."
"Cool. Then what about Blair?"
James froze, for just a beat. Just enough.
> "What about Blair?"
Caleb leaned against the fridge, watching him with a slow grin. "I saw you last night. In the garden. You looked at her like… like she was a f**king star or something."
"Oh come on, don't get poetic on me," James snapped, turning back to his shake. "It's not a big deal."
"You sure? Because your mouth says 'not a big deal' but your face was out here doing rom-com close-ups."
James rolled his eyes, but his smirk was softer now, like he'd been caught.
"She's just… fascinating. Quiet. Strong. Different from the girls I usually deal with. Doesn't mean I like her."
"Uh huh. That's why you're still thinking about her today."
"Shut up," James muttered, tossing a spoon at him. "Go text Maddie something poetic."
Caleb ducked the spoon, both of them laughing now. The house was quiet, the chaos on pause, just two guys teasing each other—but under it all, something was shifting.
James wasn't the same around Blair.
And Caleb knew it.
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