dent. They were always on a collis

PM -

lavender as Elara sank into th

ouldn't st

nger at

he of

ht, when the city outside her window felt too b

resting on a stool nearby, an

out there, someone's

a whisper he'

er phone buzzi

her brother lit

h party tomorrow night. Come with me

a sm

oved

tried to pull her ou

was time

M - Al

, steam fogging up the

ss, letting the water sluice over him, trying to w

adn't sat

meetings - al

exce

ng moment a

f black joggers and a plain T-shi

ther-bound jour

t an e

wonder if I forgo

zzed sharply

s old friend fr

cluse. Come to this launch with me t

huffed a s

Liam a f

he could use t

e texte

l c

PM -

n her hands, Elara leaned against her windowsill, lo

of the str

he didn't

e qu

the world will

row... he'l

PM - A

his penthouse windows,

nal, feeling the faintest

n't kn

know fo

st...

____

the air tonight. The world feel

PM -

as she stepped outside, the scent of r

r purse, fingers trembling,

just an

nvitation

his a thousand

Smile. Li

here was somet

ut that twisted a

in the reflection of the glass

e but elegant-hugged her

face, caught the light just enou

sible. N

tely, grinning as he pul

ou out," he teased, giving h

d, lookin

rinks.

ether in a mix o

ld feel it,

kened. Her sto

or something

ze wan

M - Al

he gallery, the noise of the world

atter. The cli

like a faint melody on the

n his direction, extending a casual handshake to a few of h

azily over the familiar faces of his

th

s someth

one

though his exterio

a few feet away, speaki

genuine, reached him

es meeting his, it felt like

be

ome

n, it w

to someone else, but not b

inexplica

o hard, like a wild animal caught in a cage.

didn'

down at

ulated

eath, regain

kept search

PM -

passed i

r away. She wasn't sure why she kept checking the door, the c

he was holding her breath

ross the room, and

str

brushed agains

ectly at ease among the crowd, yet she

ed. I

was all

rum skipping a beat, and she

here, so damn conf

were

s

was...

eck something on her phone, but there

M - Al

he spotted her, but Alexander could f

as thi

ng that wrapped aro

s beau

as more

is, like they were on the same wavelength, vi

to cross

o say so

omet

nst the instinct to walk toward her, b

tention on her phone, but the air b

PM -

lara was exhausted from the constant socializ

just his

the air. The electric

th

felt

p on her

tu

here

, his voice deep, s

fr

as r

le that seemed to draw the very air toward hi

PM - A

turned to fac

s no mis

That invisible t

s hand, casual

said, his voic

gers soft against his, and

."she

g of something neither of

rse held