Signal Lost

Kai sat across from Jordan at their usual lunch table, watching his best friend stare blankly at his iPhone. Jordan had been scrolling through Instagram for twenty minutes straight, eyes glazed, completely missing the chaos erupting around them.

"Bro," Kai said, snapping his fingers. "You alive?"

Jordan didn't respond. Just kept scrolling, liking, existing in that weird digital haze where nothing mattered except the next notification. Zombie mode, activated.

The cafeteria suddenly erupted in screams. Someone shouted about a fire in the gym. Kai jumped up, heart racing, but Jordan? Still sitting there. Thumb moving. Mind somewhere else entirely.

Kai grabbed his arm. "Jordan, we need to GO."

Jordan blinked, eyes slowly focusing. "What? Sorry. This reel is crazy."

"DUDE." Kai pointed at the smoke curling under the door. "The building is actually on fire."

Jordan finally looked up. Then back at his iPhone. "Let me just finish watching—"

Kai snatched the phone and shoved it in his pocket. "No. You're being a zombie. Your friend is trying to save your life here."

They ran, joining the stampede of students pouring into the parking lot. Outside, safe on the grass, Jordan turned to him, eyes wide. "Did you just call yourself my friend?"

Heat rushed to Kai's cheeks. "I mean... yeah? We've been sitting together every day for like, three months."

Jordan stared at him, then started laughing. "I thought we were just desk mates because we're both awkward. I didn't know we were actually friends." He paused. "That's kinda sweet, actually."

Kai pulled the iPhone from his pocket and handed it back. "Don't let this thing turn you into a zombie again. Real life is happening right here."

Jordan took it, then slipped it into his pocket without unlocking it. "Yeah. Okay. My friend wants to hang out after school? My mom's working late, we could order pizza. Play FIFA. Whatever."

"Your friend would love that," Kai said, grinning.

As the fire trucks arrived, sirens wailing, neither of them reached for their phones. They just stood there, two guys who'd finally figured out they weren't just desk mates anymore, watching something real unfold together.