Serendipity and Shared Joys{Re-write}

School ended—and to my surprise, nothing went wrong. No awkward moments, no disasters. Just... a good day. For the first time in forever, I actually enjoyed school.

I was packing up when I heard a familiar voice call out behind me.

"Hey, Alex! Wait up!"

I turned around. "Yeah? What's up?"

"How're you getting home?" Mia asked, trotting up to me with a bounce in her step.

"My dad's picking me up."

She grinned. "Can I come with? I wanna meet him—and get an autograph."

I laughed. "Of course. You can come."

"Great!" she said, grabbing my arm without hesitation and dragging me toward the parking lot.

Now, here's the thing—I wasn't used to girls being that… close. Especially not ones who were, well, this pretty. And confident. And literally holding my arm. I tried to play it cool, but I could feel the heat crawling up my neck. My brain was screaming.

We reached the car, and Dad was already waiting, waving at us from the driver's seat with sunglasses and a baseball cap—like some kind of undercover celebrity.

"Hey, Alex," he called. "How was school?"

"It was great. Thanks for picking me up," I said, hopping in.

He shot me a look, smirking. "Judging by the company you've brought... I'd say it was pretty great."

"Dad." I gave him the look. The don't-you-dare-make-this-weird look.

"Alright, alright," he chuckled. "So, what's your friend's name?"

Mia leaned in, a little nervous but excited. "Hi, Mr. Jones. I'm Mia. I'm a big fan of your work. Can I... maybe have your autograph?"

He smiled. "Ah, sorry, I don't have a—"

"Here!" she said, already holding out a pen and paper.

Dad blinked. "...Wow. Prepared. I like that."

He signed it with a flourish, and Mia looked like she was holding a golden ticket.

"Thank you so much!" she beamed.

Dad chuckled. "Mia, want me to drop you home?"

She hesitated. "Really? That's okay?"

He nodded. "Hey, it's the least I can do for my son's girlfriend—"

"DAD!"

"Sorry, sorry. I meant friend. His very good friend."

Mia giggled, and I sank deeper into the seat.

"Alright, both of you—get in."

We buckled up, and Dad turned on some music, humming like it was the most casual thing in the world. Mia leaned toward me.

"So, how's the new school treating you?" she asked.

"It's actually... good," I said, surprised to admit it. "Way better than the last one."

"Where were you before?"

"Boarding school. England. Super strict, kinda lifeless."

"England? That sounds so fancy."

"It wasn't," I laughed. "Dad brought me back. Said he missed me."

"That's sweet. He seems really cool."

"He is. Best dad I could ask for."

Mia smiled. "You guys are close. That's... nice. I wish I had that."

"You don't?"

She shrugged. "My dad's not really around. Work stuff. He's barely ever home. Sometimes I feel like he doesn't even know me."

I didn't know what to say. That kind of emptiness... it stung. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I'm used to it."

There was a pause. Not awkward—just quiet. Then I turned to her.

"Hey, Mia?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you... like me?"

It slipped out. No warning. No plan. Just—bam.

"I mean—as a friend!" I scrambled to add.

Her eyes widened, and she went red. She opened her mouth, closed it, then...

Dad, of course, chose that moment to glance at us through the mirror.

"Uh-oh," he said with a grin. "Looks like someone's in trouble."

"DAD!"

He just laughed and turned up the music.

Mia leaned closer to me. So close I could feel her breath against my ear.

"Yes," she whispered.

My ears turned to lava. My chest felt like it was being played like a drum.

Calm down! She meant as a friend! Just a friend!

I was panicking inside.

"Mia!" Dad called.

Saved. Thank you, Dad.

"Yes?"

"Where do you live?"

"Oh! 22 East Round Street. Valent Road. Mansion number 404."

Dad chuckled. "No kidding?"

"What do you mean?" Mia asked.

"Alex," Dad said, still smiling, "do you remember our address?"

"I'm not a kid, Dad. Of course I—" I paused. My stomach dropped.

"22 East Round Street... mansion number 40—wait... no... 405?!"

Dad nodded. "Yup. Neighbors."

Mia's eyes widened. "We're neighbors?!"

"Looks like it," Dad said. "Now you two can walk to school together. So convenient, right?"

"For you," I muttered under my breath. He was gonna milk this every single day.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

We got home, and Dad invited Mia to stay for dinner. She said yes.

We ate, we laughed—mostly at Mia's school stories—and I actually felt... happy. Afterward, we hung out in my room and played games.

She looked around, then pointed.

"What's that?" she asked.

"Oh, that's the VR-RPG headset. Realm of Ascendance. The one my dad got me."

"That's the one everyone's talking about, right? Super immersive?"

"Yep."

"Can I try?"

"Of course."

She put it on, but nothing happened.

"Alex, it's not turning on."

"Really? I literally used it yesterday."

"Did I break it?" she asked, panic creeping in.

"Let me try." I took it, slipped it on—and the menu lit up instantly.

"Huh... it's working."

"Then why didn't it work for me?"

"That's because," Dad said, stepping in, "only the first registered user can use it."

"Oh hey, Dad," I said. "Wait, why's that?"

"No clue," he shrugged. "But—here, Mia."

He handed her a box.

"A second VR set?"

"Yep. I bought a pair so I could play with Alex."

"But... Mr. Jones... I can't take this."

"You can. I'll just order another. Let the kids have their fun."

Mia looked stunned. "Thank you. Really, thank you."

Dad smiled... and leaned in toward me before heading out.

He whispered, "This is your chance. Don't waste my sacrifice. I'm expecting good news, got it?"

And just like that, he was gone.

Leaving me blushing. And Mia smiling.

And the game... about to begin again.