...When Chelsea woke up, she found that Iris was no longer asleep beside her. Apparently, she had left the same way she had come in. In the place where she had been lying, there was now only a small piece of paper with a message scribbled on it:

"Thx 4 letting me crash here. Gonna sneak in ur window now n then. Dont freak out lol"

After reading the note, Chelsea allowed herself the faintest smile. "How sweet" she thought, before tearing the note into a hundred tiny pieces just to be safe. It would be rather unfortunate if her mother happened to find it.

After breakfast, Chelsea went for her usual walk to clear her head and reflect on everything that had happened. However, her peaceful train of thought soon turned into an argument.

🌕 "...You ruined it."

🌑 "What exactly?"

🌕 "The moment. She was so close, and she was ready for it, but you chickened out like you always do."

🌑 "Shut up. I did not want to kiss her."

🌕 "Okay, I wanted to!"

🌑 "I don't care. You have no say in this, and you never will."

🌕 "..."

🌕 "The day you stop running away and pretending, I'll break out and do everything you've been suppressing for so long. And believe me, there will be consequences."

🌑 "I hate you."

🌕 "I love us."