If someone had told Brielle she'd willingly spend her weekend at Elijah Carter's house, she would've called them delusional.
Yet here she was.
Feet curled under her on the floor, marker in hand, sketching out rough ideas for their presentation on a poster board. Elijah sat across from her, chewing on the edge of a pencil like it might help him think faster.
"I still think we should've gone with my idea," Brielle said, tossing him a look.
"Your idea was three slides of sarcasm and glitter."
"Exactly. Engaging."
He smirked, shaking his head. "You're unbelievable."
"Tell me something I don't know."
Their eyes met. Lingered. Silence stretched like a rubber band pulled taut. Until...
The doorbell rang.
Elijah stood. "Hold on."
Brielle went back to outlining a header, only half-listening, until a too-familiar voice floated from the doorway.
"Elijah."
Ariana.
Brielle's hand froze mid-stroke.
When Elijah returned, Ariana was with him. Her golden curls perfectly styled, makeup flawless even on a Saturday, and that sugary sweet smile stretched across her face.
"Hey," she said, looking around before her gaze landed on Brielle. "Didn't know you were having… guests."
Brielle raised an eyebrow. "Didn't know you were doing house calls."
Ariana laughed lightly, feigning innocence. "Just wanted to check on Elijah. It's been a while since we hung out."
Elijah nodded, a bit thrown. "Yeah, it has."
"I mean, I wasn't expecting to walk in on a... cozy arts-and-crafts session," she said, glancing at the poster board.
Brielle didn't miss the implication. She smiled sweetly. "We're multitaskers. Education and entertainment."
Ariana sat down beside Elijah without asking. "We used to hang out like this too, remember?" Her voice lowered. "Before things… changed."
Brielle's jaw tightened. She didn't respond. She didn't need to.
Grace popped her head in. "Elijah, I'm hungry."
He looked apologetically between them and stood to head to the kitchen. "Be right back."
The moment he was gone, Ariana leaned in.
"You know, Elijah's been through a lot. He doesn't need more complications."
Brielle blinked slowly. "You mean like unexpected drop-ins and subtle jabs?"
"I'm just saying… we were close. Still are."
Brielle met her gaze, calm but cutting. "Then you should know pushing people away is the fastest way to lose them."
Before Ariana could respond, Elijah returned, handing Grace a snack.
"Thanks, Eli!" Grace chirped, skipping back out.
Elijah looked between the girls. "Everything okay?"
Brielle smiled, calm and composed. "Perfect. We were just having girl talk."
Ariana stood. "Anyway, I should go. Just wanted to check in."
Elijah nodded. "Thanks for stopping by."
She leaned in, touching his arm a second too long. "Take care of yourself, okay?"
Once she left, Brielle let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.
"You good?" Elijah asked.
"I'm always good," she said, gathering the markers again. "But I don't like surprises."
He sat beside her. "She was just being friendly."
"Sure," Brielle said with a smirk. "And I'm the Queen of England."
He laughed, and the tension eased. Just a little.
They went back to the project, side by side, but the air held something new now. Brielle's calm came with layers, vulnerability under steel. And Elijah… he was starting to see the difference.
Almost a date. Almost a moment. Almost something real.
But the shadow of Zane, and now Ariana, was only just beginning to fall.