When Josh got home that afternoon, the first thing he heard was the sound of arguing coming from the living room.
Joy and Jay.
Again.
"I'm just saying," Jay said, waving a video game controller, "you cheated. There's no way you beat me that fast."
"I didn't cheat!" Joy snapped back. "You're just slow!"
Josh peeked around the corner. Joy was sitting on the couch with her arms crossed, smirking. Jay was standing with his mouth open, looking personally offended by whatever had just happened.
"Wow," Josh said, stepping inside. "Did I walk into a war zone or something?"
Joy looked up. "Tell Jay I didn't cheat."
Jay turned to him. "Tell Joy that button mashing isn't a real strategy."
Josh dropped his bag by the stairs and sighed. "Why do I always have to be the referee?"
"Because you're the middleman," Joy said cheerfully.
"Because you're the easiest to guilt," Jay added with a grin.
Josh rolled his eyes and flopped down on the couch beside Joy. "You two are exhausting."
Mom walked into the room, wiping her hands on a towel. "Are they arguing again?"
"Yes," all three siblings said at once.
Mom just shook her head. "Dinner will be ready in an hour. Josh, do your homework before then, okay?"
"I will," Josh mumbled, even though he fully intended to not do his homework until at least fifteen minutes before bedtime.
As his mom left the room, Jay flopped down on the opposite couch and looked at Josh with a smirk. "So… how's Aki?"
Josh blinked. "What?"
"I heard you read a love confession to her in drama class," Jay teased.
Joy's eyes lit up. "Wait, what?! You confessed to Aki?!"
"No!" Josh shouted. "It was just a scene! A play! Acting!"
"But you played the best friend who secretly likes her," Joy said, poking him in the side. "Suspicious!"
Josh groaned and buried his face in a cushion. "This is why I never tell you guys anything."
Jay chuckled. "Relax, dude. If you like her, just say so. It's obvious anyway."
"It is not," Josh mumbled into the cushion.
"It totally is," Joy said. "You smile like an idiot when you get her texts."
Josh sat up, flustered. "I do not!"
Jay just raised an eyebrow. "You kinda do."
Josh crossed his arms, face red. "Whatever. I'm going to my room."
"Tell Aki I said hi!" Joy called after him.
"Tell her I approve," Jay added.
Josh stomped up the stairs, half embarrassed, half amused. His family could be the worst sometimes… but also the best.
He shut his door, dropped onto his bed, and pulled out his phone.
Aki: So how many people teased you after class?
Josh grinned.
All of them. You happy now?
Aki: Very.
He laughed quietly to himself, then texted her again.
Also… you were amazing today. Just saying.
There was a pause. Then:
Aki: Thanks, Josh. That means a lot.
He stared at the screen for a second longer, heart thudding just a bit too loud in his chest.
Yeah.
His family was chaos… but Aki?
Aki made everything feel calm.