Her Home, His Heart | ✓

☆*✿FORTY-TWO (42)❀*★

♪♪You look so innocent,

But the guilt in your voice gives you away...

So don't try to say you're sorry

Or try to make it right

Don't waste your breath because it's too late. ♪♪

ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ [Your love is a lie] - [Simple Plan]

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The silence lasted for just a moment before Petra's frown turned to her signature smile, though her gaze didn't sway from Hermione's hand in Ronnie's.

For the first time since Esmé became accustomed to the smile that made her feel at home, it didn't fool her. She felt the underlying tension behind the smile.

Petra stepped further into the room, slipping past Esmé to stand before the bed. She shook her head; her smile still in place. "Situations really change people, don't they, Esmé?"

Esmé watched Petra closely, unable to reply to her question. It was probing for something at the very least but there was also the way her light cheery tone had dropped low. 

Stiffly by her side, Kian watched with her as Ronnie and Hermione looked away from each other to Petra. Their eyes widened, and they instantly retracted their hands from each other.

If Petra saw this action or realized Esmé didn't reply to her, she didn't show it. Her eyes, still focused there, flickered ever so slightly to Esmé. "One accident happens and suddenly all their hatred for each other is gone. One would think they'd been dating for quite some time, right?"

That question again. Esmé wasn't sure exactly what Petra needed to hear or wanted her to say. She turned to Kian briefly then back to Petra not wanting to keep the silence for any much longer. "Yeah, right?" she choked out hoping she hadn't dug a gave with her response.

But it turned out it did. Petra turned to the duo expecting to see their faces scrunched up in disgust at the thought of them dating but instead, they were looking at each other, having a conversation the others were not privy to.

Kian watched Petra closely at this; her eyes squinted at the duo, flashing with various emotions that had not seen the light of day in those eyes for a long time. He knew the argument brewing was one that needed to happen, but he wasn't ready to let that happen then.

He cleared his throat, cutting through the silence in the room, and stepped forward to place a hand on Petra's shoulder. A subtle reminder of where they were. "Enemies or dating, what is most important is that Hermione, who was screaming a couple of minutes ago, is now..."

"Petra." Ronnie interrupted him, standing up from his seat, and Kian swore underneath his breath, recognizing the determined look in his eyes.

He narrowed his eyes at him and shook his head, but Ronnie looked unfazed at Petra, whose breath had caught up in her throat and face was constricted.

"I'm sorry," he continued. "I didn't mean for you to find out this way."

Kian's hand fell from Petra's shoulders once she scoffed, tilting her head to the side. "What are you talking about? Find out what?"

"Petra."

Two things drew her in at that moment. The first thing was the way he called her name, pleading. The second was the haunted look on his face; it was one she knew as a child all too well.

Her chest grew tight, just like it had all those years ago, and her smile wavered, sensing what was to come. And yet, once again, she couldn't help herself. She wanted to hear it. "Tell me. Go on, what did I miss?" she asked with an edge in her voice.