Petals on The Moon || Reyna Ramirez-Arellano x Fem!OC

XIII

───※ ·❆· ※───

Dear Diary,

I was sitting on the front steps of Sebastian and Suki's house, waiting for them. I didn't need anything special. I was just going to tell Suki that her bunk in the barracks had collapsed on top of mine, so I moved her belongings one over. I heard their footsteps approaching around the side of the house, and nearly called attention to myself, but I could hear them talking.

"We need to buy Flirting for Dummies," Sebastian was saying, which was a weird thing to say. "So I can learn how to flirt, and you can learn how to be a good wingman."

"I was a good wingman at the party with Macy," Suki said gently. "I had Reyna's help, though."

"That was a situation where your awkwardness wasn't as detrimental, and you didn't even talk to Macy." I wondered what had gotten this conversation started. It sounded like Sebastian was just slandering Suki. "You just blocked her..." He stopped walking. "That's it! I need to throw another party!"

I felt like I could see Suki's alarmed face. "Please, n-"

"Mom and Felix's anniversary is next week," Sebastian began. "I'm going to convince Felix to take her out of town. I need you to invite Reyna over again. You work best with her."

Suki hesitated. "I don't want her to be bored. I don't have a lot in my room that I think she'd be interested in. Last time, we were researching monsters and the Labyrinth. I don't know if you know, but I'm not a very entertaining girl. I leave that to others." I found it weird that she'd be so worried about me being bored. I don't find her boring at all. I like how quiet and smart she is.

Sebastian suggested, "Just... have a typical girl sleepover." Suki didn't respond. "Y'know... face masks, pillow fights, talking trash about boys." She was quiet. "You know... Suki, have you never had a sleepover?"

"Once." Her voice was low and uncomfortable. "At your last party."

"That doesn't count." I blinked in surprise now that I knew Suki had never really had a sleepover. I guess it makes sense. She was a lonely girl in England, a lonely girl on Lake Superior. I, at least, had my sister. I remember hiding in the chimney with her and playing make-believe games with her as a child. Suki never got to experience something like that. "Alright. Your goal is to invite Reyna over for a sleepover after I encourage Felix to take Mom out. Deal?"

"Okay. Deal."

"Word." It sounded like he gave her a fist-bump or a high five. "Let's get to work."

I decided to stand up and run silently away, then approach the house again, so it'd look like I'd just arrived. Just as I began walking towards it, they rounded the side of the house, and had a bag with what looked like two books.

"Reyna?" Suki stopped dead in her tracks.

"Hey," I said. "I just wanted to let you know that your bunk collapsed, so I moved all of your stuff one over."

She nodded uncomfortably. "Thank you."

Sebastian began walking towards the front door. "I'll give you two a minute." He gave Suki a very direct look, unlocked the front door, and went inside. We stood there silently for a while. Suki had her hands by her sides and looked vacantly at a nearby plant.