Beyond The Envy

"I have a thought," Hester casually interjected, breaking the silence once more. "Oh, have you found a spot for us to grab a bite, Hester?" Carter responded calmly, his gaze fixed on her, while Cara glanced at Hester with a slight tilt of her head.

"She's likely harboring some secret," Hester remarked, her tone indifferent as she shrugged. Cara let out a snort, rolling her eyes. "Are you mocking my theories, Cara?" Hester raised an eyebrow.

Carter let out a soft whistle, subtly distancing himself from the impending banter between the two girls. "Not at all, Hester. I'm just curious about the fantastical secrets you believe that elitist might be hiding," Cara retorted sarcastically. "Well, if she's targeting Carter for being gay, chances are she's hiding something similar," Hester remarked, leaving Carter and Cara exchanging surprised glances.

Carter stifled a laugh while Cara regarded Hester with disbelief. "Do you even hear yourself, Hester?" Cara asked incredulously. Hester emitted a nonchalant hum, shrugging her shoulders. "Hmm, well, I do possess ears, so yes, I suppose I do," Hester replied, prompting Carter to burst into laughter while Cara chuckled, albeit looking away.

"You two are just teasing me now!" Hester accused. "My dear, if you had any idea what you were saying, you'd probably be laughing as hard as we are," Carter responded calmly, wiping a tear from his eye, while Cara continued to snicker to herself, hands tucked into her pockets.

In the distance, Hester caught sight of the charming Dr. Colbar, prompting her to emit a soft hum that drew the attention of her two companions. "Hmm, oh! Look over there, Colbar's at some trendy restaurant," Hester remarked.

Cara nudged Hester gently but firmly. "Dr. Colbar, Hester," Cara corrected, her expression unamused yet neutral. Hester let out an amused chuckle, acknowledging Cara's correction with a playful roll of her eyes. "Dr. Colbar, yes, of course," she said, emphasizing the title with a hint of mischief.

Carter smirked, catching onto the dynamic between the two friends. "Shall we join the esteemed Dr. Colbar for some intellectual conversation over lunch?" he suggested, his tone laced with sarcasm.

Cara shot him a playful glare before turning her attention back to Hester. "I doubt Dr. Colbar would appreciate our uninvited company," she remarked, her lips twitching with amusement. Hester shrugged, her gaze drifting back towards the restaurant where Dr. Colbar was seated. "Well, a girl can dream, can't she?" she said with a wistful smile.

Carter glanced between the two of them, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "Speaking of dreams, have either of you heard about the recent series of strange occurrences in the city?" he asked, his voice lowering slightly as if sharing a secret.

Cara frowned, her brow furrowing in concentration. "I've heard a few rumors here and there, but nothing concrete," she admitted, her curiosity piqued. "Oh, why don't we ask Dr. Colbar about that? Out of everyone here, he's probably got the most connections." Hester suggested, already dragging the twins towards the restaurant.