Chapter 2
The soft golden light of dawn filtered through the quiet streets, painting the world in warm hues. The neighborhood was still waking up—storefronts beginning to open, the occasional cyclist passing by, and the rhythmic chirping of birds blending into the distant hum of morning traffic. The air was crisp, cool against Aurelle’s skin as she stood outside a familiar front door, hands shoved into her jacket pockets.
It had become a habit—Aurelle waiting outside Solenne’s house in the morning, and the two of them stopping by their favorite café before heading to school. It wasn’t something they had ever really discussed; it had just happened naturally, like the rising of the sun.
She exhaled, watching her breath curl into the air before dissipating. She always takes forever.
Aurelle glanced at her wrist, adjusting the golden bracelet that Solenne had bought for them the day before. The threads caught the sunlight, the tiny moon charm subtly glinting in the glow of dawn. She still wasn’t sure why she hadn’t taken it off—it wasn’t exactly her usual style. But for some reason, every time she looked at it, a warmth bloomed in her chest.
Before she could think too much about it, the front door creaked open.
Right on cue, Solenne stepped out, hair still slightly damp from her shower, the scent of lavender shampoo drifting in the air. She was tucking the last button of her uniform blazer into place, her eyes lighting up the moment she spotted Aurelle.
"Punctual as ever," she teased, a lazy smile stretching across her lips as she locked the door behind her.
Aurelle raised a brow. "You say that like you weren’t the one who’s late."
Solenne scoffed, brushing past her playfully as they started walking. "Time is an illusion. What matters is that I’m here now, gracing you with my presence."
Aurelle shook her head, exhaling sharply. "It’s too early for this."
"That’s exactly why you need me," Solenne quipped, her tone light. "Without me, your mornings would be tragically dull."
Aurelle didn’t dignify that with a response, opting instead to pull her jacket tighter around her as they walked down the street. It was an easy routine, one they’d unknowingly fallen into over the years.
Solenne easily fell into step beside her, the soft click of her shoes against the pavement matching Aurelle’s quieter, more measured steps. The streets were calm at this hour, with only a few students lazily making their way toward the school, some in groups chatting animatedly, others yawning, fighting the sleepiness cripping into them.
Solenne hummed, stretching her arms above her head as they strolled. “You know, for someone who claims they don’t enjoy mornings, you sure are consistent with this whole walking-me-to-school thing.”
Aurelle glanced at her from the corner of her eye, hands tucked into the pockets of her jacket. “If I didn’t, you’d probably be late every day.”
Solenne grinned. “How responsible of you. Very boyfriend-like.”
Aurelle nearly tripped over her own feet. “Sol, I swear to God! If you don’t stop right now, I’m really going to leave you”
Aurelle fastens her steps, and Solenne tries to catch up while still laughing at the flustered state of the latter.
-
As always, they took a small detour to Crescent Café, their usual breakfast spot. The bell above the door chimed as they entered, the warm aroma of roasted coffee beans and fresh pastries enveloping them. The café was cozy, lined with wooden furniture and soft yellow lighting.
The morning crowd was already settling in, mostly regulars like themselves. A man in a business suit sat by the window, reading a newspaper. A college student with headphones sipped her latte while scrolling through her laptop. The warm lighting and rustic wooden furniture gave the place an inviting atmosphere, one that Aurelle had grown comfortable in.
The two made their way to their usual table near the window, where the morning light streamed in just right. Aurelle slid into her seat, resting her chin on her hand as she stared outside, watching the world move at its slow morning pace.
Solenne propped her chin in her hand, watching and studying Aurelle. A slow, knowing smile spread across her lips. She then reached across the table, gently taking Aurelle’s wrist and turning it over.
Aurelle blinked, looking up. “What?”
Solenne’s gaze flickered to Aurelle’s wrist, where the golden bracelet she had bought the day before rested snugly against her skin.
"You’re wearing it," she mused.
Aurelle stiffened. “Of course I am. You gave it to me.”
Solenne’s smirk softened into something more genuine. “It suits you.”
Before they could give it too much thought, their usual waiter, Milo, approached with a smirk, not even bothering with a notepad.
"The usual?" he asked, looking between them.
Solenne beamed at him and nodded. "You know us so well."
Milo snorted. "Well, you two are here nearly every morning, sitting in that exact spot, ordering the exact same thing. Hard not to remember."
Aurelle hummed, uninterested in the small talk, but Solenne, ever the social one, leaned forward with an amused glint in her eyes.
"That’s called consistency," she said playfully. "It’s part of our charm”.
Milo raised an eyebrow. "Right, charm." He crossed his arms, eyes flickering toward Aurelle. "So, how long exactly have you two been together?"
Aurelle, who had been absentmindedly playing with the bracelet on her wrist, nearly choked on her breath.
"We're not—!"
Milo grinned. "Really? ‘Cause you sure act like it."
Solenne let out a small laugh, clearly enjoying Aurelle’s reaction. "You’re not the first person to say that," she mused.
Milo rolled his eyes but smirked. "Uh-huh. I'll go put your order in. Try not to flirt too much while I'm gone."
Aurelle let out a deep sigh, rubbing her temples. "Why is this my life?"
Solenne took a slow sip of her water, smirking over the rim of her glass. "You do make it easy, you know."
Aurelle shot her a look. "I do not."
Solenne casually gestured toward Aurelle’s wrist. "Oh? So you're telling me wearing the bracelet I got you yesterday isn't suspicious at all?"
Aurelle blinked and glanced down at her wrist. The woven threads felt warm against her skin, familiar, as though they had always been there.
"I—it's just a bracelet," Aurelle muttered, shifting uncomfortably.
"But you’re wearing it," Solenne pointed out, leaning in slightly, her voice teasing. "Even though you acted all nonchalant about it yesterday."
Aurelle cleared her throat, suddenly finding the passing cars in the street incredibly interesting "It’d be rude to just leave it in a drawer."
Solenne chuckled, watching her with amusement. "Mhm. Sure. And I suppose you’re never going to take it off, either?"
Aurelle huffed. "Do you have to analyze everything?"
"Of course." Solenne grinned, taking a delicate sip of her tea. "It’s one of my greatest joys in life."
Aurelle rolled her eyes, but there was no real annoyance behind it. She glanced at Solenne’s wrist, where the matching bracelet sat against her skin, the woven threads catching the light. The star design on it felt oddly fitting—Solenne Astra, radiant and bright like the stars she was named after. And her own? Aurelle Nyx, the quiet, dark night being illuminated by the brightest moon.
The thought made her shift in her seat, something unspoken settling between them.
Their conversation was then interrupted when Milo returned with their food—Aurelle’s black coffee and toast, Solenne’s tea and a flaky pastry dusted with powdered sugar. He gave them one last amused look before heading off to tend to another table.
As they ate, Solenne occasionally made exaggerated glances at Aurelle’s bracelet just to get a reaction. Aurelle tried to ignore her, but the slight upward twitch of her lips gave her away.
-
After breakfast, they continued toward the school, the streets now busier with students. The school gates stood tall before them, and before Aurelle could even brace herself, their friends appeared out of nowhere.
"There they are!" Carason called out, practically sprinting toward them.
"Oh great," Aurelle muttered.
Mavis, Jaime, Mitzi, Soleil and Gaia followed, each wearing varying expressions of amusement and mischief.
"You’re late today," Gaia noted, crossing her arms. "Too busy staring into each other's eyes over breakfast?"
Solenne smiled. "Why yes, we had a lovely morning date. Thank you for asking."
Aurelle turned to her, horrified. "Solenne!"
"What?" Solenne blinked innocently. "We did have breakfast together."
"That’s not—" Aurelle sighed, realizing arguing would only fuel the fire. “It’s just breakfast.”
Mavis waggled her eyebrows. “Breakfast dates.”
Solenne hummed, tapping her chin. “Honestly, they’re not wrong.”
Aurelle gawked at her. “Why are you helping them?”
Solenne shrugged. “It’s funny.”
Jaime practically bounced in excitement. “Oh my god, Aurelle, are you blushing?”
“No.”
“Yes,” Mitzi countered, grinning.
Soleil gasped, eyes sparkling with excitement. "Did you guys hold hands?"
Mavis smirked. "Oh, I bet Aurelle did the ‘protective hand on the small of the back’ thing."
Jaime clutched her chest dramatically. "Ugh, this is better than a romance novel."
Aurelle groaned. "You’re all unbearable."
Solenne turned to her with a teasing smile. "We could give them something real to talk about, you know."
Aurelle’s face went red instantly. "Don’t even joke about that!"
Solenne only laughed, thoroughly enjoying herself. The others erupted into giggles, exchanging knowing looks.
Carson sighed wistfully. "I love this. They’re like a slow-burn romance happening right in front of us."
Before Aurelle could protest further, the school bell rang, signaling the start of the first class.
Aurelle exhaled, relieved beyond words. “Oh, would you look at that!” she said quickly, already walking off. “Time for class, let’s go.”
The others groaned in disappointment but didn’t pursue.
“We’ll continue this at lunch!” Mavis called after them.
Solenne winked at them. “Looking forward to it.”
Aurelle shot her a betrayed look. Solenne just laughed, nudging Aurelle’s shoulder playfully as they walked into school.
This was going to be another long day.
-
Aurelle sat in the middle row of her Literature class, elbow propped against the desk, fingers absentmindedly twirling her pen as she listened to the teacher’s voice drone on about poetic symbolism. Normally, she’d be paying attention—she liked this class, enjoyed analyzing the meaning behind words—but today, her mind was elsewhere.
Or rather, on someone else.
Solenne sat beside her, one leg crossed over the other, her gaze fixed on her notes as she idly twirled a strand of hair around her finger. The faint sunlight from the window caught in her hazel eyes, reflecting golden flecks that Aurelle found herself staring at for far too long.
It wasn’t unusual for them to sit together. They had done so since the start of the school year, but for some reason, it felt different today. Aurelle was hyper aware of every movement—every slight shift, the way Solenne’s sleeve brushed against her own, the way their knees lightly bumped when Solenne adjusted her posture.
At one point, Solenne turned slightly, her eyes flickering to Aurelle’s.
Aurelle froze.
"You okay?" Solenne asked, tilting her head slightly.
Aurelle quickly looked away, gripping her pen a little tighter than necessary. "Yeah. Just… listening."
Solenne smirked. "You’ve been staring at me for a while. Didn’t realize I was that interesting."
Aurelle felt her face heat up immediately. "I wasn’t staring."
"Mhm." Solenne hummed, tapping her pen against her paper in amusement. "If you say so."
Aurelle exhaled sharply, looking anywhere but at her. Why does she have to be like this?
But even after that, her focus wavered. Her eyes still flickered to Solenne without thinking, watching the way she chewed the end of her pen in thought, the way she absentmindedly doodled in the margins of her notes.
She wasn’t sure why she noticed these things. She just did.
And yet, she didn’t question it. Not yet.
Then,
The bracelet.
Her fingers brushed over it absentmindedly, feeling the textured weave of the golden thread wrapped around her skin. She hadn't meant to put it on this morning, hadn't even thought about it, really. It had just been there on her desk, and before she knew it, she was slipping it onto her wrist like it belonged there.
And now, she couldn’t stop noticing it.
Or rather, she couldn’t stop noticing what it meant.
Solenne had bought it on a whim yesterday, her excitement so casual, so effortless, that Aurelle hadn’t thought much of it at the time. Just Sol being Sol—impulsive, charming, impossible to refuse.
But now, sitting here, Aurelle couldn't shake the weight of it.
The bracelet wasn’t just a random piece of string. It was a piece of Solenne. A small, tangible reminder of her presence. And it was stupid, really—how something so simple could make her feel so... aware.
She exhaled quietly, dragging her fingers away from it before she could overthink any further.
The bell rang, breaking the silence of the classroom, and the usual chaos of students rushing to leave took over. Aurelle gathered her things quickly, pushing down the strange tightness in her chest. She was fine. It was just a bracelet. Just a stupid little thing Solenne had bought on impulse.
As she slung her bag over her shoulder and turned toward the door, a familiar presence fell into step beside her.
"That class was exhausting," Solenne groaned dramatically, stretching her arms over her head. "I think my brain actually melted."
Aurelle huffed out a quiet laugh. "You say that every time, and you still score higher than half the class on exams."
Solenne shot her a grin, bumping their shoulders together. "What can I say? Natural genius."
Aurelle rolled her eyes, but she didn’t move away.
As they stepped into the bustling hallway, the space between them felt charged in a way Aurelle couldn’t quite name. It wasn’t new, but she was suddenly hyper-aware of it—the way Solenne walked just a little too close, how their arms brushed every so often. It wasn’t on purpose, probably.
But Aurelle felt it anyway.
And then it happened again.
A fleeting touch.
Solenne reached out, her fingers barely grazing Aurelle’s wrist as she gestured toward something down the hall. It was nothing. A brief, accidental brush of skin.
But Aurelle felt the warmth of it linger long after.
She swallowed, keeping her gaze forward, forcing herself not to react.
This was normal. This was just Solenne being herself, existing in the space she always had.
So why did it feel different?
The sound of approaching footsteps saved her from her thoughts.
"Aurelle! Sol!"
Two of their friends, Mitzi and Carson, came up beside them, seamlessly falling into step with them.
"How’d the class go?" Mitzi asked, adjusting the strap of her bag.
"Terrible," Solenne repeated with a dramatic sigh.
Aurelle finally found her voice again. "She says that, but she probably would ace if ever there would be a surprise quiz."
Carson snorted. "Classic Solenne."
Aurelle let herself relax as their conversation naturally shifted to other things. The tension from before melted into the noise of their surroundings, but the awareness never truly faded.
And as they walked together toward the cafeteria, Aurelle’s fingers twitched at her side—aching for something she didn’t quite understand.
-
The cafeteria was alive with its usual midday chaos. Students chattered loudly at crowded tables, the clatter of trays and utensils blending with the occasional burst of laughter. The scent of freshly baked bread, warm soup, and greasy fries hung in the air, mixing with the faint aroma of coffee that some students clung to for survival. Sunlight filtered through the wide windows, casting soft, dappled patterns on the tiled floor, a rare moment of warmth amidst the hectic school day.
Aurelle and Solenne walked side by side, the noise fading into a dull hum around them. They had always moved in sync, but today—today it felt different.
Every step, every shift of movement brought them too close.
Their fingers brushed when Aurelle reached for the door first, pulling it open for Solenne without thinking.
A second too long.
Solenne stepped through, murmuring a quiet, “Thanks,” her voice softer than usual.
Aurelle only nodded, her throat inexplicably dry.
They made their way through the crowd, eyes scanning for their usual spot. Their group had a favorite table tucked near the windows, a place where the afternoon sun streamed in and cast golden streaks across their trays.
As they weaved through the maze of students, Solenne stepped closer to Aurelle, their arms barely touching. It wasn’t intentional—not really. The cafeteria was crowded, forcing them to move together, but it didn’t change the fact that Aurelle could feel every shift, every slight brush against her skin.
And then, just like before—
A fleeting touch.
Solenne’s fingers grazed the inside of Aurelle’s wrist, light as a whisper. It was an accident, a simple miscalculation of space, but it sent a jolt through Aurelle’s spine.
She inhaled sharply.
Solenne stilled, as if she felt it too.
For a second, neither of them moved.
Aurelle could feel the warmth of Solenne’s skin lingering against her own, even though they had already pulled apart. Her heartbeat quickened, but she forced herself to school her expression.
It was nothing. Just a brush of fingers.
Except—
She turned her head slightly, just enough to glance at Solenne out of the corner of her eye.
Solenne wasn’t looking at her, but her lips were slightly parted, her eyes locked ahead, unreadable.
Aurelle swallowed.
It was happening again.
That strange, heavy awareness. The kind that lingered in the quiet, in the spaces between words, in the places where their hands nearly met but never quite did.
Neither of them spoke.
Neither of them had to.
Then—
“Aurelle. Solenne.”
The moment shattered.
Aurelle blinked as a tray suddenly slid onto the table in front of her. Gaia had plopped down across from them, a knowing glint in her eyes as she took in the scene before her.
Aurelle realized too late that she and Solenne had stopped walking, frozen in place like deer caught in headlights.
Solenne exhaled, shifting her weight, and slid into her usual seat as if nothing had happened. “Gaia,” she greeted smoothly, though there was the faintest hint of something in her voice.
Aurelle hesitated for just a fraction of a second before sitting down as well.
Gaia, ever observant, tilted her head slightly, amusement flickering across her face. “You two okay?”
Solenne, always quick on her feet, gave her a relaxed smile. “Of course. Why wouldn’t we be?”
Aurelle didn’t dare meet Gaia’s gaze. She busied herself with unwrapping her sandwich, feigning nonchalance. “Yeah. Just hungry.”
Gaia hummed, her gaze lingering a beat too long. Unlike the others, she didn’t tease, didn’t throw out a playful comment. Instead, she just watched. Quietly.
Like she had seen something.
Like she knew.
But then, just as quickly, she turned her attention to her food, saying nothing.
Aurelle let out a slow breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.
The moment had passed, the tension slipping back into the usual rhythm of their lunchtime conversations.
And yet—
As the others arrived, filling the space with laughter and chatter, Aurelle could still feel it.
The quiet, unspoken thing between her and Solenne.
Like a spark waiting to catch fire.
-
At their usual table near the window, Solenne sat with her friends, but her mind wasn’t on the conversation buzzing around her. Instead, her attention kept drifting to the girl sitting across from her.
Aurelle was quiet as she absentmindedly poked at her food, her gaze slightly lowered, lost in thought. The soft glow of the afternoon light caught in her dark hair, giving it a deep, silken sheen. Her expression, calm yet distant, was unreadable as ever.
Solenne had seen that look before—a quiet sort of focus that made Aurelle seem entirely unreachable. It was something she admired about her best friend, how she could be so still yet so present at the same time. Aurelle didn’t fidget, didn’t fill silences with unnecessary words. She simply existed, steady and composed, like an anchor in a world that never stopped moving.
But today, something else caught Solenne’s eye.
The bracelet.
The golden hue woven threads wrapped snugly around Aurelle’s wrist, stark against her pale skin.
Solenne had bought it impulsively the day before, drawn in by the intricate craftsmanship and the way the colors—navy-blue and gold—seemed to reflect them both. The vendor had spoken of the bracelet’s meaning, how the intertwining threads symbolized constellations, the unbreakable bond between stars and the moon.
She had meant it as a small, passing gesture. A simple trinket.
But now, seeing it on Aurelle—actually worn, as if it belonged there—Solenne felt something warm bloom in her chest, something that curled at the edges of her thoughts and refused to be ignored.
She had expected Aurelle to forget about it, maybe toss it onto her desk and never think about it again.
But she was wearing it.
It was such a small thing, and yet Solenne couldn’t shake the feeling that it mattered.
"You’ve been staring at me for a while," Aurelle’s voice broke through her thoughts, quiet yet sharp with awareness.
Solenne blinked, only now realizing just how long she had been caught up in her own head. A slow smirk crept onto her lips. "Can’t help it. You look cute when you’re all serious like that."
Aurelle’s eyes snapped up to meet hers, and for the first time that day, she looked genuinely caught off guard. "I’m not being serious. I’m just eating."
"Exactly," Solenne teased, propping her chin on her hand. "You make even eating look intense."
Aurelle rolled her eyes, though the slight pink dusting her ears betrayed her. "That’s ridiculous."
"Didn’t think you’d actually wear it," Solenne admitted after a beat, her voice softer now, less teasing.
Aurelle looked up, quite taken aback. “Huh?”
“The bracelet, I mean” Solenne said while still staring at the bracelet.
Aurelle exhaled through her nose, looking at her as if trying to gauge if this was another one of her playful remarks. "It’s comfortable. And you picked it out, so…"
She trailed off, as if that explanation was enough.
But to Solenne, it was anything but simple.
Her fingers twitched against the edge of the table as a strange, unfamiliar weight settled in her stomach. The words "because you picked it out" echoed in her mind, looping back around in ways she didn’t entirely understand.
Aurelle wasn’t sentimental—not in the obvious, grand way. But she was deliberate. She didn’t do things without reason, and she certainly wouldn’t wear something every day just because.
Solenne glanced down at her own wrist, where the matching bracelet sat snugly in place.
Aurelle had noticed it yesterday, of course. Had even raised an eyebrow at how easily Solenne had bought them both without hesitation.
"You’re impossible," Aurelle had muttered at the time, shaking her head.
"And yet, you put up with me," Solenne had shot back, grinning.
Now, sitting across from Aurelle, watching her idly run her thumb along the bracelet, Solenne felt something shift.
It was subtle, unspoken.
A quiet understanding.
She bit the inside of her cheek, forcing down the ridiculous urge to smile like an idiot.
"You’re staring again," Aurelle murmured, flicking a glance at her.
Solenne smirked, tilting her head slightly. "Maybe I just like what I see."
Aurelle stiffened, and for the first time in a long time, Solenne saw her truly flustered. It was rare—Aurelle was composed, unreadable, the kind of person who never seemed to react too strongly to anything.
But now, her fingers twitched against the bracelet, her jaw tightening slightly before she exhaled through her nose. "You’re impossible."
Solenne laughed softly, the warmth in her chest growing just a little stronger.
And for once, she didn’t argue.
-
The air was cooler than the day before, a soft evening breeze rustling through the trees that lined the sidewalk. The sky above them was painted in deep hues of violet and orange, the last traces of sunlight melting into the horizon. It was the kind of quiet evening that should have been comfortable, the kind they had walked through countless times before.
But tonight—
Tonight felt different.
Aurelle and Solenne walked side by side, much like they always did. Their steps were measured, perfectly in sync, their shadows stretching long across the pavement. But unlike before, the silence between them wasn’t the usual easy kind.
It was charged.
Thick with something neither of them wanted to name.
Aurelle wasn’t sure why.
Or maybe she was.
She was hyper-aware of every little thing—how their arms brushed just slightly when one of them shifted, how she could hear Solenne’s breathing over the soft hum of the city, how the bracelet on her wrist felt heavier than it had this morning.
Solenne had noticed it too.
She hadn’t said anything about it, but her usual teasing was absent, replaced by something quieter. Her fingers toyed with the bracelet she had bought them, twisting it absently as they walked.
Aurelle swallowed.
It was happening again.
That strange, almost unbearable feeling from earlier. The weight of a lingering glance, the ghost of a touch that never quite landed.
She wasn’t sure when she started noticing it.
Noticing Solenne.
The way her laughter felt like sunlight, the way her presence settled into the empty spaces of Aurelle’s life so naturally it was almost terrifying.
Almost.
Solenne then let out a soft sigh beside her, shifting the books she carried in her arms. "You’re quiet today," she observed.
Aurelle blinked. "I usually am."
Solenne huffed a small laugh. "Yeah, but this is different."
Aurelle didn’t respond immediately. She wasn’t sure what to say. She wasn’t sure she trusted her own voice.
Solenne tilted her head, peering up at her. "Did something happen?"
Yes.
But also—nothing at all.
Aurelle shook her head. "Just thinking."
Solenne hummed, but didn’t push. She never did, not unless Aurelle was ready.
And maybe that was the problem.
Because for the first time, Aurelle wasn’t sure she wanted the space Solenne always gave her.
She wanted—
She glanced at Solenne from the corner of her eye, only to find Solenne already looking at her.
Aurelle’s breath hitched.
Something flickered in Solenne’s gaze—soft, unreadable, yet burning all the same.
Aurelle quickly looked away, focusing on the sidewalk beneath them, but her mind was spinning.
Her hands clenched at her sides, but then, without thinking, she moved.
Her feet shifted closer. Her body positioning itself between Solenne and the road, like second nature.
Solenne noticed immediately.
She always did.
Her lips quirked up, barely there, but Aurelle caught it.
A breeze rolled past them, ruffling the hem of Solenne’s skirt, catching in the strands of her hair. She brushed them back absentmindedly, and Aurelle had to resist the urge to do it for her.
The thought alone sent heat creeping up her neck.
This wasn’t normal.
This wasn’t normal, and yet it felt like the most natural thing in the world.
Neither of them spoke.
The quiet stretched, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was thick with something unspoken, something neither of them could put into words.
The walk felt longer than usual.
Or maybe it just felt… heavier.
Like they were toeing a line neither of them had realized they had drawn.
And then—
Solenne came to a stop at the gate, turning to face Aurelle fully. The warm glow of the porch light cast a halo around her, making her look softer, somehow. Almost untouchable.
"We’re here," Solenne said softly.
Aurelle exhaled, only now realizing she had been holding her breath.
Solenne’s house stood before them, bathed in the soft glow of the evening. The porch light flickered on as if sensing their arrival.
Aurelle cleared her throat, shifting her weight. “Well. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Solenne didn’t move just yet. She lingered, one hand resting lightly on the gate, her gaze steady.
“…Yeah. See you tomorrow.”
Aurelle nodded, forcing herself to turn away before she could overthink it.
She had only taken a few steps when—
“Aurelle.”
She stopped.
Turned.
Solenne was still standing there, watching her with that same quiet expression. Then, before Aurelle could ask why she had called her name—
Solenne smiled.
Soft. Gentle. Almost… affectionate.
“Goodnight.”
Aurelle swallowed.
She nodded once, her voice quieter than she intended.
“…Goodnight, Sol.”
She turned before she could do something reckless, something irreversible.
But as she walked away, she could still feel Solenne’s gaze lingering on her.
Still feel the tension settling deep into her bones.
The weight of that smile lingering far longer than it should have.