Echoes of Wonderland

It's a bruise

Red's POV

Wednesday morning

The morning sun filtered softly through the dorm room window, casting a warm glow over the room. Chloe and I lay entwined, our bodies still tangled in the aftermath of the previous night's events. The peace of the morning was a welcome reprieve after the chaos, but beneath the calm surface, a tension simmered.

- Good morning, bae. - she whispered, nuzzling closer to me. I stirred, my eyes fluttering open. A sleepy smile curved my lips as I met her gaze.

- Morning, Chlo. - I murmured, my voice still thick with sleep.

We shared a few more kisses, savoring the quiet intimacy before the day began. Despite the earlier turmoil, there was a comforting certainty in our newfound closeness. We knew the book was safe for now, but the looming threat of Uliana and the unpredictable actions of Ella made it clear that our problems were far from over.As we got ready for school, the reality of our situation settled back in. We still had to navigate the complexities of our lives and face the challenges that awaited us.

In the bustling hallway of Merlin Academy, we met up with Bridget and Ella. The usual school chatter filled the air, but today there was an undercurrent of unease. Bridget was her usual cheerful self, but I could sense the apprehension in Ella's demeanor. She was visibly uncomfortable, her posture stiff and her smile forced.As we approached, Bridget's eyes fell on my neck, and she noticed the telltale sign of a hickey peeking from beneath my collar.

- Whoa, Red. - Bridget said with a mischievous grin. - What's that on your neck?

Chloe's face flushed instantly, and her eyes widened in shock. I could see Bridget piecing it together, a gleam of amusement in her eyes.

- What? - I asked, trying to sound nonchalant but feeling my face heat up. - Oh, just a bruise.

- Is that a... hickey? - Bridget teased, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. - Care to explain?

Ella's eyes widened in surprise, and a playful smirk tugged at her lips. She glanced between Chloe and me, piecing things together. I swear to god I'm gonna kill her! Why would she give me a hickey and don't tell me it's noticible before leaving the dorm!

- Oh my, - Ella said, her tone teasing and knowingly. - It looks like someone had a pretty eventful night. Chloe, how was your night, huh?

Chloe's face turned beet red, and she glanced at me, clearly flustered. We hadn't exactly put a label on our relationship yet, and the sudden spotlight on our personal life made things incredibly awkward, especially considering that Ella and Bridget were literally our mothers.

- Well, uhm. - I began, trying to keep my composure. - It's not what it looks like.

Bridget leaned in closer, her expression a mix of curiosity and amusement.

- Oh, come on, - Bridget prodded gently. - We're all friends here. You can tell us what's going on.

Ella's teasing smile softened into something more sympathetic, though the amusement still danced in her eyes.

- You don't have to tell us everything, - Ella said, her tone more gentle now. - But if you two are together, that's... good to know.

I could see Chloe's discomfort, she knew we had to address this delicately.

- Yeah, we are, - Chloe said, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. - It's still new and... complicated, but we're figuring things out.

Bridget's expression softened, and she gave us a supportive nod.