OVERLOOKED ㅤkotlc

055

We sit at the base of a tree, its snow trunk clawed with gray. Star leaves drift down to rest on the ground, and we absently play with them as we talk.

"Dex?"

I look up at her, but she's still looking down. "Yeah?"

"Do you remember the night before this whole thing started? Before we went on the mission, I mean."

For a second, I don't, but then it comes back to me. "You called me at, like, two, right?" I say, my voice light and teasing. "Not so nice of you, in my opinion."

"Oh? Didn't you come to me at three once?"

I laugh. "That's different."

"Sure."

Rosaleen smiles, then it fades. "I said I trusted you, remember? I mean, it was true, but like, it was based on if I'd go to you if I found Ixora, and I didn't, and I'm really sorry."

Her eyes find mine. There's something piercing in them, like she's waiting for me to lash out at her, like she wants me to. They're as beautiful as ever, but I shy away from them today.

"It wasn't your fault." If I'm being honest, a small part of me is still bitter over it. But it's a part so small that I can hide it without effort.

This moment feels surreal, like if I blink it'll be gone. "You came eventually anyways. It doesn't really matter by now, yeah?"

Her reply is fast and ready, like this is a situation she's played in her head countless times. "Still. I'm gonna keep my promise this time."

I study her, then ask, "Where's all this coming from?" Pause. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah. Everything's okay." She smiles, and it's a smile for me. "Everything's... what was it? Satisfactory but not exceptionally good?"

I laugh at that. "You remember."

"Of course," Rosaleen says, and I realize I'm dumb to think she'd forget that. It's Rosaleen, after all. "Everything's okay. I was just thinking about how hard it must've been. I feel bad."

I take her hand in mine, without thinking, and squeeze. "I've already forgiven you for that."

A kind of relief and frustration flickers on her face. "I'll make it up to you."

You already have, I think, but let silence sit comfortably between us instead.

There's another long pause. Then she says, softly, "What are we?"

My heart practically dies at the way she phrases it, like we've just kissed. She realizes it, too, and the two of us laugh.

It's so crazy how much things have changed since I met her; now she knows my secrets, and I know hers; now I've moved on from Sophie; now we've been through things together.

"Best friends?" I try, even though I've only known her for two months, even though it sounds wrong on my tongue.

Plus, it friendzones me, so I'm almost glad when she considers it and shakes her head.

There's a soft, almost embarrassed smile on her face. "That doesn't sound right. It's... hard to put in words."

"I guess we're just too cool and quirky." I grin. "We're bred different, you know. We're like the exclusive limited edition that eventually gets brought back as limited again, because everyone loved us so much."

I'm holding back a laugh, and after taking one look at her, I can tell she is too.

"Not funny," Rosaleen says, while struggling to hold back her laughter.

Mine slips, and then it's the end of us, and we both laugh at absolutely nothing, for the longest time.

And by the time we're done, my cheeks and stomach hurt, but it's so worth it.

We meet eyes, and again, I'm taken aback by how lovely hers are. I stand up, and hold a hand out to her. "Come on, I wanna show you something."

She tilts her head, so obviously curious, and I try not to tell her all about the magical pool. Because I said show, not tell, didn't I?

Her gaze is disarming, though.

I take her hand (I want to tell her about the way she makes my heart skip a beat; maybe we're ready now? But what if she rejects me? So I hold myself back), and we run to the wisteria tree.

I feel like a little kid right now, with her, and if only we were. But for now, I'll just pretend like we have no burdens, and like we're not trapped in a house of murderers.

The branches dance in the wind, as if its inviting us to come rest in its shade, so I duck inside, gently moving its flowers out of the way to make sure they don't hit her.

"What is this place?"

I grin. "It's a magic puddle."

Rosaleen raises an eyebrow at me, a teasing smirk playing on her lips. "I love how you say that," she says. "It's almost as if you know everything about it."

I laugh at that. "Shut up," I say, but I'm smiling. I turn my gaze to the pond. "Look at the reflections." For some reason, I'm excited to show her this; I wanna hear her talk to me about it; analyze it; I wanna see her get excited about it.

She peers into the water. I do, too.

Slowly, her reflections starts glowing. In it, she's smiling, and she's angelic and ethereal; like an angel or a fairy, or something of the sorts.

I watch, transfixed, as her reflection reaches for my invisible one. Then, when her delicate fingers touch empty space, my own reflection slowly appears.

And I watch as her reflection kisses mine.

Then I realize Rosaleen's looking at me. When I meet her gaze, face burning, she tilts her head. "You're smiling," she says, with a knowing look in her eye. "And blushing."

I shrug. "I guess... I just like what I saw," I say, as warmth touches my cheeks again. God I'm so dumb and obvious. She knows she knows she knows.

I clear my throat. "How about you? What'd you see?"

"I saw... me. I didn't look too happy."

My heart drops. Because of me?

But Rosaleen says, "Then I saw your reflection, and mine looked happier. And..." She inhales a breath and meets my eyes. "Then you—your reflection—kissed me."

˚ ༘ 🌷 ── author's note!

girl help im being acquainted w/ Bigger Words (and idk if i like them or not)

also oooo reflections kissing in magic puddle oooo symbolism oooo hopefully im not rushing this oooo if i do lmk so i know what to add when editing oooo

shdsjds neways this chapter is dedicated to AriaAshtri113!! bro ilysm tysm for all ur comments and votes and support, it means so much to me omg  :,,) & i love talking to u, it's always so fun! <33

with that , i will leave u guys 2 form opinions on this mess, see u on monday!! ( is this considered a cliffhanger bcs if it is thats great :thumbs_up: )