But before Matt could respond, a knock at the door made them both freeze. “Yo, Jack!” Daniel’s voice called. “You in there?”
Jack’s eyes widened. “Shit,” he muttered, glancing at Matt. “I’ll handle this. Stay out of sight.” He scooped Matt up, placing him behind an empty coffee mug on the desk. As Jack strode to the door, Matt huddled in the mug’s shadows, his heart pounding.
Jack opened the door just a crack, leaning against the frame to block Daniel’s view inside. “What’s good, man?” Jack asked, his tone casual but guarded.
Daniel’s voice was upbeat, oblivious to the tension. “Yo, you coming to the dining hall? Jacob’s trying to start some dumb bet about who can chug a milkshake fastest. You in?”
Jack hesitated, glancing back toward the desk where Matt hid. “Yeah, I’m in,” he said, forcing a grin. “Gimme a sec to grab my stuff.”
“Cool, cool,” Daniel replied, but then he paused, his tone shifting slightly. “Hey, you seen that kid Matt around? Coach was asking about him earlier. Said he missed practice or something.”
Jack’s jaw tightened, but his voice stayed steady. “Matt? Nah, haven’t seen him. Probably just overslept or some shit.” He shrugged, leaning harder against the doorframe to signal the conversation was wrapping up. “I’ll meet you at the dining hall in ten, alright?”
“Bet,” Daniel said, his footsteps already retreating. “Don’t flake, man!”
Jack closed the door with a soft click, exhaling as he turned back to the desk. He crouched down, his green eyes level with the mug where Matt peeked out. “Alright, Matt, I gotta head out for a bit,” he said, his voice low and serious. “Be careful, okay? If anyone but me comes in this room, hide. Under the desk, in a drawer, whatever. Don’t let anyone see you.” He reached out, his massive finger gently nudging the mug for emphasis. “I’ll be back soon, and we’ll figure this shrinking shit out. Promise.”
Matt nodded, his tiny voice barely audible. “Okay. Thanks, Jack.”
Jack gave him a small, reassuring smile before grabbing his jacket and heading out, the door locking behind him. Matt sat in the mug’s shadow, the dorm room suddenly feeling vast and perilous, his mind racing with the possibility of a future with Jack—and the daunting challenge of reversing his shrinking mishap.
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