The evening carried a hush that made Tisha's palms damp as she sat across from Eloira at the riverside restaurant. The warm lights strung along the railing reflected in the water, and Eloira's smile kept pulling Tisha in. Every time Eloira laughed, Tisha forgot the fork in her hand, the meal on her plate. She was drowning in nerves and affection.
"You're staring again," Eloira teased, brushing her foot against Tisha's under the table.
"Can you blame me?" Tisha muttered, trying to sound casual but failing. Her voice cracked and she cleared her throat. "There's something I need to do."
Eloira tilted her head. "You're scaring me."
"No," Tisha rushed. "Nothing bad. I think… I think I'm ready to tell my parents about us."
The words hung in the air, fragile. Eloira blinked, surprise flashing in her eyes, then softened. "Are you sure? You don't have to rush because of me."
Tisha shook her head, fingers gripping the edge of her napkin. "It's not rushing. It's overdue. I don't want to keep hiding you. You mean too much to me."
Eloira reached across the table, her hand brushing over Tisha's trembling fingers. "Then we'll do it together. I'll stand with you."
Tisha inhaled slowly, her chest easing at Eloira's steady voice. "Together," she whispered.
Later that night, they stood in the living room of Tisha's family home. Eloira's hand brushed against hers, hidden but firm, a silent anchor. Her parents looked up from the couch, confused by the late visit.
Tisha's throat was dry. Her heart pounded so loudly she wondered if everyone could hear it. Still, she spoke. "I need to tell you something. I'm dating Eloira."
The silence that followed felt endless. Her father's brows knit together, his lips pressing into a line. Her mother looked at Eloira, then back at Tisha. Her face softened, though her eyes held questions. "If she makes you happy, then that's what matters."
The breath Tisha had been holding spilled out in a rush. Her vision blurred with tears she tried to blink away. Eloira squeezed her hand, her smile warm and certain. Tisha stepped closer and pressed a kiss to Eloira's temple in front of them, her voice trembling but clear. "She does."
Her mother smiled faintly. Her father exhaled, still quiet, but not turning away. It was enough. For the first time, Tisha felt free.
Across the city, Ellie shoved open her car door and pulled Kyla in, slamming it shut behind them. The silence inside was heavy, the tension sharp as glass.
Kyla crossed her arms, eyes flashing. "Dragging me out like this? What's your problem?"
Ellie turned in her seat, fire in her gaze. "You. Acting like it doesn't matter when it does. Sitting on Axel's lap in front of me like you wanted me to lose my mind."
Kyla scoffed, though her heart thudded hard against her ribs. "You think I didn't see you with Tristan? Smiling at him, touching his arm. Don't act innocent."
Ellie leaned closer, voice dropping, each word sharp. "So you admit it. You're jealous."
"I'm not," Kyla said quickly, but her voice wavered. She looked away, but Ellie caught her chin, forcing her to meet her eyes.
"Liar," Ellie whispered, her thumb brushing across Kyla's lip. The touch made Kyla's breath stutter.
Their faces hovered close, lips almost touching, heat radiating between them. The seconds dragged, tension pulling tighter, until Kyla whispered, "Then kiss me."
Ellie did. Slowly, deliberately, her lips pressing against Kyla's with a hunger she had held back for too long. The kiss started soft, but Kyla's hand fisted in Ellie's sleeve, dragging her closer. Their mouths met again, slower, deeper, breaths ragged, each pause more unbearable than the last.
Ellie pulled back slightly, lips brushing Kyla's skin. "Say it. Say you want me."
Kyla trembled, nails digging into Ellie's shoulder. "I've always wanted you."
Ellie groaned softly and tugged her onto her lap. Kyla straddled her, the kiss growing hotter but still restrained, each movement deliberate. Ellie kissed down her jaw, lingering at her throat, teasing with slow grazes of her lips that left Kyla gasping.
Kyla's whisper came broken, desperate. "Ellie…"
Ellie met her mouth again, tongues sliding together in a kiss that was both fight and surrender. Their jealousy dissolved into fire, each kiss slower, deeper, dragging them further into the ache they had both hidden.
When they finally broke apart, foreheads pressed together, both of them were trembling. Kyla whispered, her voice shaking, "You drive me insane."
Ellie smiled faintly, brushing her lips over Kyla's again. "Good. Because you drive me insane too."
The rehearsal hall was buzzing with low chatter when Anastasia stormed in, her heels clicking hard against the floor. She spotted Zake near the back with Dominique and Charlie, laughing at something Irene had said. Her jaw clenched, and without hesitation, she walked straight toward them.
Zake caught her stare, his smirk fading into something more defensive. "What now, Anastasia? Another fight you plan to win?"
"You wish," Anastasia shot back, crossing her arms. "You keep looking at me like you've got something to say, but you never do. Maybe you're scared."
Dominique and Charlie exchanged amused glances while Irene sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You two are impossible."
Zake leaned closer, his voice low. "Scared? Of you? Don't flatter yourself."
Anastasia tilted her head, eyes narrowing. "Then prove it. Say what you really want to say."
The air thickened. Zake's jaw worked, but no words came. Anastasia smirked and turned as if to walk away, but he grabbed her wrist. Their eyes locked, and for a second, no one else in the room existed. She didn't pull away. Instead, she whispered, "That's what I thought." But her racing heart betrayed her.
Nearby, Irene and Veilah were in the corner, their voices hushed yet sharp with tension. Veilah's eyes burned. "You're always stepping between them, Irene. Like you want to play the hero. Why?"
"Because someone has to keep them from killing each other," Irene replied, but her voice wavered.
Veilah leaned in. "Or maybe you're scared of admitting you like seeing Anastasia fight with him. Because it means you're not the only one drawn to her fire."
Irene froze, color rushing to her cheeks. She swallowed hard, her words caught in her throat. Veilah's smirk softened just slightly, her hand brushing Irene's arm. "Thought so."
In another wing of the hall, Astrid leaned against a piano, her expression soft as she watched Claude scribbling notes into his music book. His hair had fallen into his eyes again, and he kept brushing it back with distracted fingers. Astrid finally spoke. "You know, you look ridiculous when you're that focused."
Claude glanced up, chuckling. "And yet you're still staring at me."
Astrid flushed but didn't look away. "Because I like ridiculous things."
He raised a brow, setting down his pen. "Careful. That almost sounded like flirting."
"Almost?" Astrid teased, stepping closer. "What if it was?"
Claude's eyes dropped to her lips for a fraction of a second before darting back up. He smiled faintly. "Then maybe I'd say you should do it again."
Their silence grew warmer, filling the space between them until Astrid finally reached up, tucking a strand of hair behind his ear. His breath hitched, and that was enough to set her heart racing.
Cassandra stood stiffly outside the back exit, staring into the night air, when Kira approached. Neither spoke at first. The silence stretched, heavy and aching.
"You're avoiding me," Kira finally said, her voice quieter than usual.
Cassandra closed her eyes. "I don't know how to look at you without… without thinking about how we almost lost everything."
Kira stepped closer. "But we didn't. We're still here."
Cassandra's throat tightened. "I don't want to fight anymore."
"Then don't." Kira reached for her hand, hesitated, then held it anyway. "I don't care if we're stubborn or scared. I want you. That's all I've ever wanted."
Cassandra turned, eyes shining with unshed tears. "You drive me crazy."
Kira smiled faintly. "Good. Then we're even."
The kiss they shared was hesitant at first, trembling with everything unsaid. Slowly, it deepened, turning into the kind of kiss that tasted like forgiveness, like home. Their foreheads pressed together when they broke apart, both smiling through their tears.
The three guys Dominique, Charlie, and Zake sat at a table later, watching the chaos unfold around them. Dominique shook his head, sipping his drink. "We're surrounded by love stories, and somehow, we're the audience."
Charlie laughed. "Speak for yourself. I'm enjoying the show."
Dominique leaned back, a sly grin tugging at his lips. "Trust me, it's only a matter of time before we get pulled in too."
The three clinked their glasses together, the sound sharp and clear, cutting through the noise of the night. The world around them was messy, tangled, passionate, but for the first time in a long while, it felt alive.