The classroom is filled with the usual chatter, desks creaking, and the occasional burst of laughter. I sit at my desk, spinning my pen between my fingers, half-listening to my teacher drone on about some historical event I already know. It's weird, having all this knowledge from my past life and pretending I don't.
Sienna is sitting next to me, doodling in her notebook instead of taking notes. I glance at her sketch—a poorly drawn cat with an oversized head.
"You call that a cat?" I whisper, smirking.
She glares at me and flips the notebook shut. "Shut up, Azu."
I chuckle, leaning back. She's always been like this—impulsive, playful, never taking anything too seriously. But beneath all that, I know there's more.
A lot more.
The bell rings, and the teacher dismisses us. As I'm packing my bag, Sienna tugs on my sleeve.
"Meet me after class, okay?"
I raise an eyebrow. "Why?"
She grins. "You'll see."
And with that, she rushes out the door before I can protest.
After School
I wait outside by the school gates, watching students pour out in groups, chatting about plans for the weekend. My phone buzzes. A text from Sienna.
Sienna: Coming in five mins. Don't move.
I sigh. "Five minutes," huh? That means at least fifteen.
Fifteen minutes turn into twenty. Then twenty-five.
Just as I'm about to text her, I hear someone running.
"AZU!"
I look up just in time to see Sienna sprinting toward me at full speed. Before I can react, she leaps—and I barely manage to catch her before we both topple over.
"What the hell, Sienna?" I groan, steadying myself.
She laughs breathlessly. "Sorry! I got held up!"
I set her down, rubbing my temple. "Held up by what? A robbery?"
She grins. "Nah, just had to take care of something. Anyway, come on!" She grabs my wrist and starts dragging me down the street.
"Where are we even going?"
"Secret," she sings.
I let her pull me along, used to her antics by now. We weave through the streets until we reach her apartment. She fumbles with the keys, unlocks the door, and shoves me inside.
The scent of something warm and savory fills the air. My eyes land on the table—two steaming plates of food, neatly set.
I blink. "Wait… you cooked this?"
Sienna shifts nervously. "Well, yeah. I thought it'd be nice to have dinner together. You always eat junk food, and honestly, that's kinda sad."
I stare at the food, then back at her. "Since when do you know how to cook?"
She shrugs. "Since I got tired of spending all my money on takeout. Plus, cooking is fun!"
I narrow my eyes. "Sienna, you think cooking is fun? The same girl who once set instant ramen on fire?"
She huffs. "Shut up and eat, Azul."
I chuckle, grabbing a fork. The first bite surprises me—it's actually good.
"Well?" she asks, watching me expectantly.
I chew slowly, pretending to think. "Hmm… I wouldn't say good exactly—"
Her face falls. "Oh, really? Then tell me, oh great food critic, what's wrong with it?"
I try to hold in my laughter. "Uh, well, you see—"
She glares.
"Alright, alright! It's amazing, okay?"
She grins smugly. "That's what I thought."
We eat together, chatting about school, life, and whatever nonsense Sienna comes up with. It's easy, comfortable—just like it always is.
After we finish, I lean back on the couch, sighing in satisfaction. "That was actually really good, Sienna. You should cook more often."
She scrolls through her phone, barely looking up. "Yeah, yeah. I'm a genius, I know."
I glance at her, watching the way she bites her lip in concentration, the way her fingers move quickly over the screen.
She looks just like Jade.
Before I realize it, I mumble, "Why do I see Jade in her…?"
Sienna notices me staring. A mischievous glint appears in her eyes.
"Hey," she smirks, setting down her phone. "What are you looking at, perv?"
My face heats up. "N-Nothing!"
She walks over, leaning down until our faces are inches apart. Her voice drops to a teasing whisper.
"Are you sure? You looked like you were checking me out just now."
I jolt back so fast I nearly fall off the couch. "No! I'd never do that!"
She pouts dramatically. "Aww, that's too bad."
I scramble to my feet, heading for the door. "Uh—thanks for the food! Same time tomorrow?"
She smirks. "Who knows? Maybe it wasn't a one-time date."
Flustered, I spin around and practically sprint out the door.
Damn it, Sienna.