Twisted 𓍼 [complete]

Twenty-Three: California Girls and Nonexistent Sleeves

"CALIFORNIA GIRLS AND NONEXISTENT SLEEVES"
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aka: Conrad dumps deep...

"You told me you didn't play," Nicole said, her voice tinged with something Conrad couldn't place.

Conrad merely nodded in response, his thoughts already drifting to who would soon be returning. Calista had urged him to sort things out with Nicole, pointing out how unfair it had been to use her as a distraction. But despite knowing Calista was right, Conrad really didn't want to use his energy (he had to conserve it) to address everything at that moment.

Sensing his reluctance and the uncomfortable silence stretching between them, Nicole decided to break it again. "What are you doing out here, anyway?" she asked, her tone softening as she reached out to grab his arm. "You should really get in the shade, it's too hot to be standing out here."

"We're scouting," Calista replied for him.

Nicole's grip on his arm loosened, and her eyes flicked toward the girl who had just arrived and handed Conrad one of the waters she'd picked up. Not far behind her, Reed was pushing his way through the crowd.

"Cali, hey!" Nicole quickly regained her composure, greeting the girl whose shirt, to her surprise, matched Conrad's.

Calista could only hope that Nicole would connect the dots sooner rather than later.

"So, you guys are a team?" Nicole asked looking between Conrad and Calista. Her voice was a mix of surprise and still something harder to place.

"Yup, that's why we're wearing matching shirts," Cali replied with a smile that was as prominent as it was sarcastic.

Even Reed, who had joined them just in time to catch the tail end of Calista's remark, felt a wave of unease wash over him. The tension in the group was thick, and it didn't help that Nicole's smile had faded into a quiet, unreadable expression.

Conrad shot Calista a pointed look. Without hesitation, he moved to stand beside her, creating a sense of comfort for her. "We'll see you guys later?" he asked, though it was less of a question and more of a polite way to end the interaction.

Reed and Nicole both nodded in response, but by the time they managed to muster even that small gesture, Conrad and Calista had already turned away, their backs to the pair as they walked off together.

Conrad guided Calista to a quieter spot, away from the crowd, where the noise and distractions faded into the background.

Without a word, he pressed his cold water bottle against her forehead, the chill drawing a deep breath from her as she felt some tension melt away.

"Is someone jealous?" Conrad teased, a smirk playing on his lips as he watched her reaction.

"Hell no," Cali shot back, her voice firm even as she closed her eyes, surrendering to cold sensation Conrad gave her as he moved the bottle to the back of her neck.