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y/n waited in her room, listening intently to every sound echoing through the apartment. minutes turned to hours, and she anxiously watched the clock tick, fidgeting with the edge of her blanket. her parents were taking their time, lingering over breakfast, moving through their morning routines at a maddeningly slow pace. she could hear their muffled conversation in the kitchen, the clink of plates, the hum of the kettle. it seemed like they'd never leave. but finally, after what felt like an eternity, she heard the sounds she'd been waiting for—the distinct sounds of packing up or more specifically; the jingling of keys & the heavy footsteps heading toward the front door.
barely able to contain her excitement, y/n slipped out of bed and tiptoed to the top of the stairs. she positioned herself against the railing, trying to look casual as she leaned over to observe her parents' final preparations. "where are you guys going?" she asked, feigning indifference as she lazily leaned her shoulder into the rail.
her mom paused, glancing at her with an expression that was more scrutinizing than usual as if she could sense her daughter's impatience. "out." the older woman said curtly, eyes flickering over her things. In her hands, she held a few items that spoke to a day of errands—her phone, a leather-bound notebook, and her keys.
y/n could also see her father fussing over his wallet and phone, patting his pockets to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything. "we won't be gone for long though," he added, mustering up the energy to at least try to give the h/c-haired girl a small smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes.
y/n's stomach twisted with anticipation, even as she forced herself to nod along, still watching them with wide eyes. this was her chance. her heart was already racing with the thought of the little door waiting in the living room.
but her mother wasn't done.
she turned her gaze sharply toward y/n, an eyebrow raised in warning. "that doesn't mean you can have any company over," she said pointedly, her tone laced with suspicion. y/n resisted the urge to roll her eyes—her mother had a knack for making her feel like a child, especially when it came to her friends. it was clear that the warning was specifically about wybie, and y/n felt her patience wane. she could almost laugh at how unnecessary it was; she didn't need company—she had her own plans. y/n was just about to mumble her usual, halfhearted 'sure, whatever,' when her mother cut her off, her voice growing stern. "and that door," she said, gesturing with a stiff finger toward the living room, "is to remain locked." y/n's eyes followed the direction of her mother's pointed finger, landing on the small, mysterious door. her stomach dropped, though she managed to keep her expression blank.
she could still feel her mom's eyes boring into her, daring her to question it. instead, she simply murmured, "...okay," though the words barely registered in her own mind. her gaze lingered on the little door as her mother continued to lecture her, the words blurring together. she couldn't focus on what was being said—she only knew she had to get them out of the apartment. her parents finally turned their attention to their bags, double-checking their things one last time, making sure they hadn't left anything behind. y/n watched, antsy, her foot tapping softly on the wooden floor, her fingers drumming against her side as she waited for the door to close.
