Crimson Desires

The Picnic

The golden hues of autumn bathed Moonridge in a soft, welcoming light, the perfect day for a picnic. Lover and her friends—Speak Now, Red, Folklore, and Fearless—had gathered in the park, their laughter ringing through the crisp air. Blankets were spread out on the soft grass, baskets overflowing with sandwiches, fruit, and pastries. The leaves crunched beneath their feet as they settled down, the world feeling far away from the darker corners Lover had been living in lately.

Speak Now was in the middle of a dramatic retelling of a wild story from the weekend, her hands flying in all directions as Red giggled, eyes sparkling with amusement. Folklore, always the quiet one, leaned back on her elbows, watching the scene with a small smile, while Fearless tapped her foot to a tune playing softly in the distance.

For the first time in a while, Lover felt normal—like a regular girl, spending time with her best friends. She could almost forget the storm of emotions and confusion that had clouded her mind since she met Reputation. Almost.

"Lover, you okay?" Fearless asked, nudging her gently with her elbow. "You've been kind of quiet today."

Lover blinked, snapping back into the moment. "Yeah, I'm fine," she said quickly, forcing a smile. "Just thinking."

Red raised an eyebrow. "Thinking about someone, maybe?" she teased, tossing a grape at Lover.

The blush that crept up Lover's neck was enough of an answer to make all her friends burst into laughter. Even Folklore, who rarely joined in on the teasing, let out a soft chuckle.

"Oh, come on, spill the details!" Red continued, leaning forward with a mischievous grin. "Who is it? You've been holding out on us!"

Lover laughed, shaking her head. "I'm not holding out. It's just... complicated."

"Complicated?" Fearless asked, her curiosity piqued. "How complicated can it be? We can solve anything together, right girls?"

They all nodded in agreement, but before Lover could say anything more, something caught her eye. Her smile faded as she glanced toward the treeline at the edge of the park. Standing there, half-hidden by the shadows of the towering oaks, was a figure she recognized immediately.

Reputation.

She was watching them, her dark eyes locked on Lover from a distance, a silent observer. Lover's heart skipped a beat, the familiar mixture of longing and fear flooding her veins. She could feel the intensity of Reputation's gaze even from so far away, and it sent a shiver down her spine.

"Lover?" Fearless waved a hand in front of her face, frowning. "You spaced out again. What's going on?"

Lover shook her head quickly, tearing her eyes away from the treeline and forcing herself to focus on her friends. "Nothing," she lied, her voice slightly shaky. "Just thought I saw something."

Speak Now's eyes narrowed as she followed Lover's gaze, but all she saw were trees. "Are you sure? You look like you saw a ghost."

Lover's mind raced. She couldn't tell them what was really going on. Not here. Not now. But her heart was pounding, and she couldn't ignore the pull of Reputation's presence. She glanced back at the trees, but Reputation was no longer there. The spot where she'd been standing was now just an empty stretch of shadow and leaves.