Who We Are (A Zodiac Story)

POV: Sagittarius

"Hell yeah! Winter break!" Taurus shouts, his booming voice echoing through the living room as he strides in, his bulky duffle bag slung casually over his shoulder.

We all erupt into a chorus of excited cheers, ready to begin our much-needed winter getaway. It's around 3 a.m., the early morning darkness casting long, shifting shadows across the floor. We've been anxiously waiting in the dimly lit living space for Capricorn's final inspection before we can finally pile into the van.

Amidst the revelry, Aquarius' clear, lilting voice cuts through the din, her brow furrowed in contemplative curiosity. "Isn't it a little weird the shadows haven't been attacking any of the realms lately?" she asks, her eyes looking between the group.

I can't resist the urge to throw my hands up in the air, my body thrumming with unbridled excitement as I bounce up and down on the plush sofa. "Who cares? It's my motherfucking birthday!!!" I shout, my voice rising to a gleeful, triumphant shriek.

Capricorn's steely gaze instantly snaps in my direction, his expression one of barely contained exasperation. "Get the hell off, your birthday ended days ago," he grumbles, as he continues meticulously counting us, like a shepherd tending to his flock of wayward sheep.

"So glad that's over," Scorpio chuckles, his laced with a hint of playfulness. "Now we can all stop pretending to be nice to you," he teases, flashing me a roguish grin.

I glare at Scorpio with mock annoyance, trying to bite back the smile tugging at the corners of my lips. I give a dramatic huff and leap off the couch, my feet hitting the floor with a resounding thud.

Quickly, I scan the room, my gaze darting from face to face as I search for the familiar figure of my girlfriend, Gemini. I'm determined to make amends before we set off, as I don't want any lingering awkwardness or tension between us on what's supposed to be my own birthday trip.

Finally, I spot her in the middle of the room, her head tucked into the hood of her sweatshirt, effectively hiding her from view. "Gemini," I call out, trying to catch her attention.

Before I can say anything more, Capricorn's commanding voice rings out, demanding our focus. "Make sure you have everything," he says, his steely gaze sweeping over us with an unwavering intensity. "Taurus, load up the van."

With a lazy groan, Taurus effortlessly gathers all the bags and suitcases, stacking them in one muscular hand as if they weigh nothing, and heads outside to stow them away.

"Babe," I murmur, my voice soft yet tinged with a hint of trepidation as I gently tap Gemini.

She glances at me over her shoulder, her hood falling back to reveal her furrowed brow and guarded expression. "Oh, I'm your girlfriend now?" she asks, her tone dripping with a sarcastic edge that sends a pang of guilt through my chest.

I frowned slightly, my heart sinking at the underlying tension in her words. "So maybe I was a little harsh," I concede, my voice laced with a hint of remorse.

Gemini scoffs, her eyes narrowing as she fixes me with a pointed glare. "A little?" she retorts, her arms crossing defensively over her chest.

Swallowing hard, I try to explain myself, "I want us to enjoy this trip together," I say, my gaze pleading. "Can't we at least do that?"

She rolls her eyes, her expression etched with a mixture of exasperation and hurt. "I'm supposed to pretend like you didn't just threaten to break up with me?" she asks, her voice tinged with disbelief.

"I didn't mean that," I quickly interject, my words tumbling out in a rush. "People say stuff out of anger sometimes," I mumble, hoping it might help my case.