[indent][i][color=#a9a9a9]The air outside was crisp, a light breeze rustling through the trees lining the street. Harper’s hand clutched to her father’s, her fingers curling around his with a desperate need for reassurance as they walked along the narrow sidewalk. Her sister, taller now at fourteen, strode just ahead with a box of some of their old toys in her hands, her steps confident and unhurried. Harper’s eyes strayed from her to look down at the stuffed rabbit in her other hand, its worn fur a comforting presence, even as her teeth met her lips to stop them from quivering. The rabbit’s mismatched button eyes seemed to stare back at her, judging her with an impossible-to-say question, for how could it say anything at all? [/color][/i]

[color=#a9a9a9][i]Still, was it disappointment she saw in those button eyes, or was it just her overly active and anxious mind playing tricks on her? [/i][/color]

[i][color=#a9a9a9]Harper squeezed the rabbit a little tighter, her thumb tracing the worn spot on its ear where the stitching had started to come undone. Her father had promised to fix it, but they had never gotten around to it, always too busy with one thing or another. Maybe after today, after they dropped off their toys at the orphanage, they’d sit at the table together, and he would pull out his little sewing kit, the one with the tiny scissors and colourful threads. She tried to grasp onto that thought like her world depended on it, imagining the comforting scene, but it slipped through her fingers like sand, leaving her feeling more adrift than before.[/color][/i]

[color=#a9a9a9][i]She had to give it up. She had to grow up. [/i][/color]

[i][color=#c2e0b7]“We’re doin’ somethin’ important today, girls,” [/color][/i][color=#a9a9a9][i]her father had said earlier that morning, his voice warm and certain. [/i][/color][i][color=#c2e0b7]“It’s good to give back, to share what we have with those who need it more.” [/color][/i]

[color=#a9a9a9][i]Harper wasn’t entirely sure how giving away their old toys was supposed to make her feel better. The rabbit was the only thing she hadn’t been asked to put in the box, a small mercy she’d clung to initially. She glanced at Sierra again, her older sister’s back straight as if she was already carrying the full load of knowing things Harper didn’t. Sierra never seemed nervous, her steps were always confident and sure. She didn’t have a rabbit she clung to for comfort. She didn’t need one.[/i][/color]

[i][color=#a9a9a9]As they approached the large brick building ahead, Harper felt her breath catch in her throat, a lump forming that she couldn’t swallow down. The orphanage loomed over them, its ivy-covered walls and tall windows seeming to stare back at her just as much as her rabbit had. She slowed her steps, hesitant, her feet dragging as if they were suddenly too heavy to lift. The building felt imposing, almost alive, with its dark bricks and creeping ivy, each window a pair of eyes watching her every move.[/color][/i]

[color=#a9a9a9][i]Her father gave her hand a gentle squeeze. [/i][/color][i][color=#c2e0b7]“It’s okay, Harper,” [/color][/i][color=#a9a9a9][i]he said softly. [/i][/color][i][color=#c2e0b7]“We’re just here to help.”[/color][/i]

[color=#a9a9a9][i]Harper nodded, but her lips stayed pressed together. She wasn’t sure what she was feeling—confusion, inquisitiveness, or something else entirely. The building didn’t seem like a place that needed help. It was... peaceful, in a way that made her feel small.[/i][/color]

[i][color=#a9a9a9]Sierra stopped just ahead at the steps leading to the orphanage door, shifting the box in her hands.[/color][/i][color=#fb0207][i] “Are we gonna meet the kids?” [/i][/color][i][color=#a9a9a9]she asked. [/color][/i]

[color=#a9a9a9][i]Their father paused, glancing down at Sierra before answering.[/i][/color][i][color=#c2e0b7] “Maybe not today,” [/color][/i][color=#a9a9a9][i]he said, a bit more gently now. [/i][/color][i][color=#c2e0b7]“This is just about givin’ them somethin’ to enjoy. The toys will do the talkin’.”[/color][/i]

[color=#a9a9a9][i]But Harper couldn’t stop wondering about the children who lived there. What were they like? Did they have toys of their own, or were their lives all empty spaces, like the box Sierra was holding? She clutched her rabbit tighter. Would she have ended up in a place like this if things had been different? If they didn’t have each other, would she be one of the faces peering out from behind those ivy-covered walls?[/i][/color]

[i][color=#a9a9a9]As her father knocked on the door, Harper couldn’t help but take a step back. They weren’t here to get rid of her, were they?[/color][/i]

[color=#a9a9a9][i]As if sensing her worry, Sierra turned to her then, a mean look on her face.[/i][/color]

[i][color=#fb0207]“Better be careful, Harps,”[/color][/i][color=#a9a9a9][i] she taunted, her voice just low enough for their father not to hear. [/i][/color][i][color=#fb0207]“They might decide to keep you here, trade you for some new toys.”[/color][/i]

[color=#a9a9a9][i]Harper's heart stuttered at the words. Her wide eyes darted back toward the looming building, as if it might suddenly swallow her whole. She knew Sierra was just teasing—didn’t she? But the fear crept up on her anyway, crawling its way into her chest, making it hard to breathe.[/i][/color]

[i][color=#a9a9a9]She clutched the rabbit so tight it almost hurt, its worn fur a tiny comfort against the rising tide of panic. [/color][/i][color=#8a9a5b][i]“No, they wouldn’t…” [/i][/color][i][color=#a9a9a9]she whispered, her voice trembling as she tried to convince herself more than Sierra. [/color][/i]

[color=#a9a9a9][i]Sierra shrugged, her smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. [/i][/color][i][color=#fb0207]“You never know. Guess we'll find out, huh?”[/color][/i]

[color=#a9a9a9][i]Their father glanced over his shoulder, catching the tail end of their exchange. [/i][/color][i][color=#c2e0b7]“Everything alright back there?” [/color][/i][color=#a9a9a9][i]he asked, his brow furrowed just a little.[/i][/color]

[i][color=#a9a9a9]Harper opened her mouth to say something—anything—but the words stuck, frozen somewhere between her throat and her mind. Sierra rolled her eyes, stepping up to the door as it opened with a creak.[/color][/i]

[color=#fb0207][i]“Yeah, Dad,” [/i][/color][i][color=#a9a9a9]she said easily, her teasing tone gone. [/color][/i][color=#fb0207][i]“We're good.”[/i][/color]

[i][color=#a9a9a9]The matron greeted them with a smile, and Sierra handed over the box of toys, her confidence back in full swing. Meanwhile, Harper stayed close to her father’s side, still holding her rabbit like it was her lifeline. Then, with some timidity, she placed the toy on top of the box, not missing the encouraging smile sent her way by her father. [/color][/i]

[color=#8a9a5b][i]Goodbye…Mr. Stuffers. [/i][/color]

[i][color=#ffffff]“Thank you so much,” [/color][/i][color=#a9a9a9][i]the woman said kindly, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she glanced down at Harper with an understanding smile.[/i][/color][i][color=#ffffff] “The children will love these.” [/color][/i][color=#a9a9a9][i]Her voice was warm, like a blanket on a cold day, but it did little to soothe Harper’s nerves.[/i][/color]

[i][color=#a9a9a9]Harper didn’t smile back. Her eyes focused instead on the doorway, on the dark hallway that stretched behind the woman specifically. She half-expected to see a child peek out from one of the rooms, watching them with the same curiosity that Harper felt. But there was no one. Only the empty silence of the orphanage.[/color][/i]

[color=#c2e0b7][i]“Of course,” [/i][/color][i][color=#a9a9a9]their father said then. [/color][/i][color=#c2e0b7][i]“It’s our pleasure to help.”[/i][/color]

[i][color=#a9a9a9]The woman stepped aside, motioning for them to enter the building if they wished. Sierra strode in first, her head held high like she belonged there. Harper hesitated, her feet glued to the spot. She looked up at her father, unsure whether she wanted to go inside at all.[/color][/i]

[color=#a9a9a9][i]He smiled down at her, squeezing her hand. [/i][/color][i][color=#c2e0b7]“Come on, Harper. Just for a minute.”[/color][/i]

[color=#a9a9a9][i]Reluctantly, she let him guide her forward, stepping over the threshold and into the orphanage. The air inside was cool and still, the kind of silence that felt like it had been undisturbed for too long. Harper’s eyes darted around, taking in the old wooden floors and the faded wallpaper. Everything felt... tired, like the building itself had stories to tell but no one had been listening.[/i][/color]

[i][color=#a9a9a9]She glanced back at the hallway again, and that’s when she saw it—a figure, just for a second, sitting by the far window at the end of the hall. It was a girl, her back turned to them. She couldn’t have been much older than Harper herself, her posture slumped, as if the weight of the world rested on her small shoulders.[/color][/i]

[color=#a9a9a9][i]Harper blinked, and the figure was gone.[/i][/color]

[i][color=#8a9a5b]“Who was that?”[/color][/i][color=#a9a9a9][i] she whispered, tugging on her father’s sleeve.[/i][/color]

[i][color=#a9a9a9]He followed her gaze but saw nothing. [/color][/i][color=#c2e0b7][i]“Who, honey?” [/i][/color][i][color=#a9a9a9]he asked, his brows furrowing somewhat.[/color][/i]

[color=#8a9a5b][i]“The girl,” [/i][/color][i][color=#a9a9a9]Harper insisted. [/color][/i][color=#8a9a5b][i]“I saw her... by the window. She was…staring at me.” Like she’d recognized me[/i][/color][i][color=#a9a9a9], she added in her head but did not voice aloud. She’d rather not be made fun of again by her sister for overthinking things. [/color][/i]

[color=#a9a9a9][i]Their father exchanged a glance with the woman, who smiled kindly.[/i][/color][i][color=#ffffff]“Oh, there are a few children here,”[/color][/i][color=#a9a9a9][i] she said. [/i][/color][i][color=#ffffff]“They keep to themselves sometimes, but I’m sure they’ll enjoy the toys once we give them out.”[/color][/i]

[color=#a9a9a9][i]He nodded, his eyes briefly scanning the hallway again, though he remained focused on the woman. [/i][/color][i][color=#c2e0b7]“Would you mind if I spoke to you privately for a moment? Just a few questions.”[/color][/i]

[color=#a9a9a9][i]The woman’s smile faltered a bit but quickly returned as she gave a knowing nod. [/i][/color][i][color=#ffffff]“Of course. Just over here.”[/color][/i]

[color=#a9a9a9][i]As they stepped aside, Harper watched them curiously. She couldn’t make out what they were saying, their voices dipping into hushed tones, and the distance between them felt like a chasm. Still, the way they spoke—it didn’t feel like the easy, polite talk that usually followed a simple donation. There was something else. Something important.[/i][/color]

[i][color=#a9a9a9]But whatever it was, it was just out of her reach. She needed to be closer. [/color][/i]

[color=#a9a9a9][i]Sierra, clearly uninterested in their father’s conversation, stepped toward the stack of books piled in a dusty corner of the room. [/i][/color][i][color=#fb0207]“Look at these,” [/color][/i][color=#a9a9a9][i]she said, rifling through the old, worn spines. [/i][/color][i][color=#fb0207]“Bet no one's touched these in ages.”[/color][/i]

[color=#a9a9a9][i]Harper glanced once more at their father before reluctantly following her sister. [/i][/color][i][color=#8a9a5b]“What do you think they’re talkin’ about?”[/color][/i]

[color=#fb0207][i]“Who cares?”[/i][/color][i][/i][color=#a9a9a9][i]Sierra shrugged, picking up a faded, dog-eared copy of The Secret Garden. [/i][/color][i][color=#fb0207]“Dad’s probably just doin’ his military thing again. Makin’ sure everything’s in order.”[/color][/i]

[color=#8a9a5b][i]“Do you think...” [/i][/color][i][color=#a9a9a9]Harper began, crouching beside her sister, [/color][/i][color=#8a9a5b][i]“...there’s something we’re not supposed to know?”[/i][/color]

[i][color=#a9a9a9]Sierra snorted, keeping up her air of indifference. [/color][/i][color=#fb0207][i]“Probably. Adults are always keepin’ stuff from us. But whatever, it’s not our problem.”[/i][/color]

[i][color=#a9a9a9]Harper frowned. Sierra always acted like she didn’t care, but Harper wasn’t so sure. She picked up another book from the stack, its cover barely hanging on by a thread. [/color][/i][color=#8a9a5b][i]“I dunno... maybe they’re talkin'-” [/i][/color][i][color=#a9a9a9]Harper stopped, shaking her head. “[/color][/i][color=#8a9a5b][i]talking about the donation,” [/i][/color][i][color=#a9a9a9]she mused, her voice just loud enough for Sierra to hear.[/color][/i]

[color=#fb0207][i]“Maybe.” [/i][/color][i][color=#a9a9a9]Sierra’s brow arched but she did not comment, tossing the worn copy of The Secret Garden back onto the pile and wandering to another shelf. [/color][/i][color=#fb0207][i]“But I’m tellin’ you, it’s not our business. We should just let it go.”[/i][/color]

[i][color=#a9a9a9]But Harper couldn’t let it go. She stood, pretending to be engrossed in the same book as she drifted a few steps closer to where their father stood with the woman. She made sure to keep her gaze down mostly, flipping through the brittle pages, her ears straining to catch their conversation. She could only catch and understand fragments of their conversation—words like "placement" and "timeframe," but nothing that made sense to her young mind. [/color][/i]

[color=#a9a9a9][i]At least until their final exchange. [/i][/color]

[i][color=#ffffff]“Not here anymore. She’s been placed elsewhere.” [/color][/i][color=#a9a9a9][i]the woman said quietly with the same warm smile on her face-too warm, Harper thought when she risked a look. There was something off about it, though she couldn’t quite figure out what.[/i][/color][i][color=#ffffff] “I for one would recommend any of our other girls. This one is quite…strange. Different.” [/color][/i]

[color=#a9a9a9][i]Harper’s fingers stilled over the page, the crinkling sound of the paper beneath her hand barely audible compared to the sudden thudding in her chest. Her eyes darted toward her father and the woman, trying to piece together what the woman meant by “different.”[/i][/color]

[i][color=#a9a9a9]When her father finally spoke, his voice was quieter, more controlled, like he was holding something back. Harper knew her father well enough to recognize the tightness in his shoulders, the way his jaw clenched slightly when he wasn’t satisfied with an answer. He didn’t seem to push further, though. Instead, he glanced back at her and Sierra, his expression softening as he seemed to consider something for a moment. [/color][/i]

[color=#c2e0b7][i]“No need, I think,”[/i][/color][i][color=#a9a9a9] he said, voice clipped. [/color][/i][color=#c2e0b7][i]“Thank you.”[/i][/color]

[i][color=#a9a9a9]Harper watched her father exchange a final nod with the woman. The conversation had taken a turn, one she wasn’t prepared for. Who was ‘she’? And why did the woman call her ‘strange’? Her father’s reaction, though composed, told her there was more going on than she probably knew. [/color][/i]

[color=#a9a9a9][i]Sierra, completely oblivious to the shift, was still wandering down the aisle, picking up another book and dusting it off lazily. [/i][/color][i][color=#fb0207]“C’mon, Harps, let’s go,” [/color][/i][color=#a9a9a9][i]she called, barely glancing back.[/i][/color]

[i][color=#a9a9a9]But Harper couldn’t move. Her mind whirred, and for a split second, she considered asking her father directly—right then and there. Yet, the look on his face stopped her. He wasn’t just unsatisfied. He was troubled. And if he wasn’t going to press the woman for more answers, that meant she wasn’t supposed to know.[/color][/i]

[color=#a9a9a9][i]There was one thing that she wanted to clarify, however. Only because it had hit a bit too close to home for her. So, when he eventually walked back to her and Sierra, she asked her question as casually as possible. [/i][/color]

[i][color=#8a9a5b]“That girl…is she different, like you?” [/color][/i]

[color=#a9a9a9][i]Her father blinked, his eyes narrowing for a fraction of a second. The tension in his jaw returned briefly before he smoothed it over, covering it with his practiced neutral expression. Without a word at first, he crouched down to her level, his hand coming to rest gently on her shoulders.[/i][/color]

[i][color=#c2e0b7]“Harper,” [/color][/i][color=#a9a9a9][i]he said quietly, his voice careful, with an undercurrent of warning,[/i][/color][i][color=#c2e0b7] “sometimes people use words they don’t understand. And sometimes it’s better to leave certain questions alone. Understand?” [/color][/i]

[color=#a9a9a9][i]She didn’t. Not fully. But the girl knew that she wouldn’t be able to get anything out of her father about it. [/i][/color]

[i][color=#a9a9a9]Not here. [/color][/i]

[color=#a9a9a9][i]Not now. [/i][/color]

[i][color=#a9a9a9]Maybe not ever. [/color][/i][/indent]
[color=#ffffff][COLOR=GRAY][CENTER][COLOR=8A9A5B][sup]_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sup][/COLOR][url=https://open.spotify.com/track/4SSnFejRGlZikf02HLewEF?si=72d1dd5ffe644cf1][img]https://i.imgur.com/YWrjMkU.jpeg[/img][/url][/CENTER][indent][sub][COLOR=8A9A5B][B]Location:[/B][/COLOR][I] The Augmented Reality Center[/I] - [I]Pacific Royal Campus[/I][/sub][sup][right][COLOR=8A9A5B][b]Dance Monkey #4.067:[/b][/COLOR][I] A Cat and Bird Game[/I][/right][/sup][/indent][COLOR=8A9A5B][SUP][sub]___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sub][/SUP][/COLOR][indent][sub][color=8A9A5B][B]Interaction(s):[/B][/COLOR][I] Haven [@Skai][/I][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][COLOR=8A9A5B][b]Previously:[/b][/COLOR][COLOR=GRAY][I] Smoke and Mirrors[/I][/color][/right][/SUP][/indent][/color][/color]

[indent][color=#a9a9a9]Sierra leaned against the mezzanine railing, the polished metal cold beneath her fingertips as her gaze swept over the crowd below. The soft hum of conversation and bursts of laughter filled the room, mingling with the clatter of glasses and the occasional chime of silverware. From up here, the party appeared almost serene, as if the earlier fight hadn't occurred at all to disrupt it momentarily. Yet, none of that truly held her attention. Her thoughts were miles away, accompanied by a sense of annoyance and curiosity that spun beneath the calm mask she always wore so well.[/color]

[color=#a9a9a9]Dressed in a sleek black jumpsuit that clung to her frame, accentuating her posture, Sierra exuded poise (or her definition of it anyway). The combat boots on her feet, though understated, definitely told a different story. She absently swirled her drink, the gentle clink of ice against the glass matching the rhythm of her heartbeat. The familiar motions helped anchor her, though her mind was far from still. Something gnawed at her—a flicker of annoyance, sharpened by the knowledge that once again, Harper had kept her in the dark. The ends of Sierra’s patience frayed ever so slightly, though outwardly, her demeanour remained composed, cool as the ice in her glass. She had mastered the art of control long ago, more out of necessity than any real desire for calm. Her world simply didn’t allow anything less. [/color]

[color=#a9a9a9]Taking a sip of her drink, she allowed the liquid to slide down her throat, offering a brief moment of distraction. [/color]

[color=#a9a9a9]It didn’t last.[/color]

[color=#a9a9a9]Harper had always hidden things, secrets that Sierra was left to uncover on her own. As if she hadn’t already spent years piecing together the shattered fragments of their lives, Harper continued to withhold, pushing her farther away with every lie of omission. A bitter smile tugged at the corners of Sierra’s mouth, a wry acknowledgment of the endless cycle they found themselves in, the taste of resentment lingering like the drink on her tongue.[/color]

[color=#fb0207][i]Where are you? [/i][/color]

[color=#a9a9a9]And then, as if pulled by an unseen string, her gaze settled on Haven, weaving through the party near the buffet. [/color]

[color=#a9a9a9]Sierra exhaled softly.  [/color]

[color=#fb0207]“I know you can hear me, Haven,” [/color][color=#a9a9a9]she murmured under breath, her voice low and almost teasing. [/color][color=#fb0207]“Let’s talk for a bit, hmm?”[/color]

[color=#a9a9a9]The winged woman certainly heard her. Sierra’s words reached through the music, phantom knuckles dragging themselves down the base of her neck and to her wings where the muscles that granted her flight tensed. Her feet slowed to a stop, turning from the direction she’d been going toward the source of the voice. Her gaze lifted from the crowd, up to the point that low tone originated from, and stopped on the blood-red hair and piercing eyes above her.[/color]

[color=#a9a9a9]Haven’s chin lifted, her lips a flat line against her otherwise bored expression. Why should she even bother to answer? She was having such a good time with Rory, and she was excited to get back to him and continue their date. It would only get better as the night went on. She knew that answering Sierra’s summon would only spoil the fun.[/color]

[color=#a9a9a9][i]What if it’s Harper?[/i][/color]

[color=#a9a9a9]Her eyes glanced at the people around the redhead. The [/color][color=#a9a9a9][i]friend[/i][/color][color=#a9a9a9] was only here to visit her brunette teammate anyway. So where was she? Her gaze returned to Sierra’s expression, noting the irritation laid bare on those ivory features, and decided that one quick conversation with her was worth it for Harper’s sake. So, her feet reluctantly began to move again. She figured that she’d had enough drinks to keep herself from swinging, anyway. Perhaps she’d even have some fun with it, this time.[/color]

[color=#a9a9a9]One more moment with Harper’s [/color][i][color=#a9a9a9]friend[/color][/i][color=#a9a9a9], and then she’d be back in Rory’s arms without a care in the world.[/color]
[color=#a9a9a9]She ascended the steps slowly, taking measured breaths as she willed her composure together. At the top, she shifted her wings behind her back to really rub them into Sierra’s face. She didn’t bother to see the reaction. Instead, she looked into the crowd below for Rory as she followed the railing towards the redhead. She only spoke when she was close enough for Sierra to hear, her tone casual despite her tense posture.[/color]

[color=#d2b48c]“I can’t say I expected you to be here.”[/color]

[color=#a9a9a9]Sierra's eyes swept over Haven as she approached, her gaze narrowing a little as those wings shifted with deliberate flair. It was a small movement, but one that felt too intentional for Sierra’s liking—a quiet show of power. Another flicker of annoyance danced beneath her skin, but she swallowed it down, refusing to let it bubble to the surface. Control was her game, after all; she wouldn’t let an insignificant ruffle from Haven crack her self-control. Instead, she allowed a slow  smile to stretch across her lips. [/color]

[color=#fb0207]“Well, I’m just[/color][i][color=#fb0207] full [/color][/i][color=#fb0207]of surprises, that’s all,”[/color][color=#a9a9a9] Sierra replied, the soft edges of her southern drawl wrapping around the words like silk. There was something almost lazy in her tone, a natural charm that mirrored Haven’s own laid-back demeanour, but there was also an underlying sharpness—a warning, maybe. Straightening from the railing, her body language remained deceptively relaxed, but her eyes were as keen as ever, locking onto Haven with precision. The noise of the party faded into a distant hum, barely registering as her attention zeroed in on the girl before her. [/color]

[color=#a9a9a9]She lifted her glass again, taking a deliberate sip, letting the liquid stay on her tongue before she lowered it with a soft clink onto the railing. Her smile, once polite, twisted into something more cunning as she tapped her chin thoughtfully, considering her next move.[/color]

[color=#fb0207]“You know,”[/color][color=#a9a9a9] Sierra started, her voice low, tinged with dry amusement,[/color][color=#fb0207] “Harper’s always been good at keeping things from people, but this—” [/color][color=#a9a9a9]She waved a hand in a loose gesture, as if indicating the air between them, or the uncovered truth that hovered there. [/color][color=#fb0207]“Well, this one is a bit more complicated, wouldn’t you say?”[/color]

[color=#a9a9a9]Haven had seen each shift in personality from her peripherals. That second smile seemed more her true nature. It was perfectly punchable. She only turned her head when the gesture began, her eyes tracking the movement of Sierra’s hand before connecting with that piercing gaze once more. She could see the playful glint in those eyes. As if she assumed Haven didn’t already know the meaning behind it.[/color]

[color=#a9a9a9]She was talking about the [/color][color=#a9a9a9][i]real[/i][/color][color=#a9a9a9] nature of the relationship with Harper. Haven had picked up on the secrecy by the way the two women interacted. Harper had [/color][color=#a9a9a9][i]defended[/i][/color][color=#a9a9a9] her, after the woman had been cruel. Of course, there was more to it.[/color]

[color=#d2b48c]“Whatever is between you and Harper, she made it clear it’s none of my business. I figured you weren’t just [/color][i][color=#d2b48c]old friends[/color][/i][color=#d2b48c] anyways.”[/color][color=#a9a9a9] She began with a light shrug of her shoulders. It was her best attempt to respect Harper’s deliberate lie, though she had to admit that she was curious. Whether she pried into it further or left it in the air, she had a feeling that Sierra was going to tell her either way. [/color][color=#d2b48c]“I was hoping for some fun banter like earlier, not some guessing game.”[/color]

[color=#d2b48c]“I’m in a good mood, so let’s have fun with it.”[/color][color=#a9a9a9] The smile she presented was absolutely saccharine as she tilted her head.[/color]

[color=#a9a9a9]Sierra raised a brow at Haven's response, the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. Of course, Haven would play it cool—it was a common thread among those Harper kept close. Her sister had always gravitated toward people who knew how to deflect, how to keep their cards tucked neatly against their chest. But Sierra wasn’t so easily fooled. She saw through the light shrug, the practiced saccharine smile. It was all part of the act. Still, a part of her was intrigued—curious to see just how far Haven would go to protect Harper’s secrets, even when her interest was clearly piqued. Harper’s loyalty ran deep, but so did Sierra's understanding of their little sisterhood of silence.[/color]

[color=#a9a9a9]She took another sip of her drink, letting the moment stretch as she considered her next move. Haven thought she could play it off like this was a game. Fun, she said. Sierra could oblige, even lean into it. She had no problem playing along if that’s where Haven wanted to take it. But the thing about games was that someone always lost, and Sierra had a feeling Haven was more invested in this than she let on. Her thoughts ticked forward, sharp and calculated, as she decided how best to unravel the calm Haven wore like armour.[/color]

[color=#fb0207]“You’re right,” [/color][color=#a9a9a9]Sierra began, her voice carrying an easy indifference.[/color][color=#fb0207] “Whatever's between Harper and me, it’s not really your business.”[/color]

[color=#fb0207]“But here’s the thing,” [/color][color=#a9a9a9]she added, a modest tilt to her head. [/color][color=#fb0207]“Harper’s little habit of keeping things to herself tends to blow up in people’s faces. I’m sure you’ve already noticed.”[/color][color=#a9a9a9] Her words were simple, conversational, but beneath the surface was a barb, an intended prod at the fragile cracks Sierra knew existed in Haven's perception of Harper.[/color]

[color=#a9a9a9]Sierra leaned in just enough to narrow the distance between them, her gaze locking onto Haven’s with a quiet intensity. There was no malice in her movements but the slow, predatory glint in her eyes. [/color][color=#fb0207]“So maybe,” [/color][color=#a9a9a9]Sierra mused, [/color][color=#fb0207]“it’s not about old friends or even what you think you know about Harper and me. Maybe it’s just about what you’re willing to let go.” [/color][color=#a9a9a9]A genuine smile curled at the corners of Sierra’s lips, but it wasn’t warm. It was the smile of someone who knew exactly what she was doing. The game was in play now, and she was eager to see if Haven would rise to the challenge or crack under the pressure.[/color]

[color=#a9a9a9]Haven’s light brows twitched together for a moment. This was the first lie she recognized in Harper, besides the smaller and more personal slights in her friend's demeanour. Those had never bothered her before. By saying that about Harper, Sierra seemed to reveal another piece of the puzzle that was still missing many parts.[/color]

[color=#d2b48c]“I don’t have much to hold onto, these days[/color][color=#a9a9a9]. [/color][color=#d2b48c]You’re going to have to be a bit more specific about your meaning.” [/color][color=#a9a9a9]She cooed. The distance closing between them had her even more on alert. Her right hand casually hung by her thigh, but it was far from relaxed. She drew attention from it by resting her left on her hip, shifting her weight to one side.[/color]

[color=#d2b48c]“I’ll admit I’m curious, but I trust that Harper has her reasons. For example, she probably kept you a secret because of your everlasting charm.”[/color][color=#a9a9a9] Her tone dripped with sarcasm.[/color]

[color=#a9a9a9]The jab was blatant, and Sierra couldn’t help but chuckle softly, the sound dripping with amusement and condescension. There was something deeply satisfying about watching someone walk right into her game, and Haven’s sarcasm only pushed Sierra further. Words had always been Sierra’s weapon of choice, and Haven had just given her the perfect opportunity to wield them. Her pulse didn’t quicken like most people's would in a confrontation—she was too seasoned for that. [/color]

[color=#a9a9a9]No, this wasn’t some wild exchange of insults; this was a controlled dismantling, and Haven, like all the others, had no idea what she was up against.[/color]

[color=#fb0207]“Oh, sweetheart,”[/color][color=#a9a9a9] Sierra cooed back, voice dripping with saccharine sweetness, [/color][color=#fb0207]“if you think this is about charm, you really are in for quite the surprise.” [/color][color=#a9a9a9]She leaned in just enough to close the distance between them, savouring the way Haven instinctively tensed. The din of the crowd buzzed around them, ignorant of the tension that crackled in the air between the two. Sierra let it all fade into the background; distractions meant nothing to her when she had her target in sight. The people, the music, even the atmosphere—none of it mattered. [/color]

[color=#fb0207]“You see, the secrets she’s keeping from you?” [/color][color=#a9a9a9]Sierra’s voice dipped lower, a quiet thread meant only for Haven’s ears.[/color][color=#fb0207] “They’re not just hers. Some of them… well, they’re mine too.”[/color][color=#a9a9a9] She let the silence stretch between them, her eyes softening with a mock concern that didn’t fool anyone. Pausing, she tilted her head, as if she cared whether or not Haven could handle what was coming. The next words slipped out like a soft blade, so smooth they almost didn’t register.  [/color]

[color=#fb0207]“And they just so happen to involve you.” [/color]

[color=#a9a9a9]It was a baited hook that she knew Haven wouldn’t be able to resist. But Sierra wasn’t about to drop the bombshell here, in the middle of a bustling room where anyone could overhear. Oh no, this revelation deserved privacy.[/color]

[color=#a9a9a9]And she was going to make sure Haven asked for it herself.[/color][/indent][hr]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/jtw2VGJ.jpeg[/img]