the fall of red

do it again

"Oh my god, Chloe! What's wrong? Are you okay?" The urgency in her voice filled the room as concern etched itself across her features. Trembling and wide-eyed, Chloe simply shook her head, tears glistening in her eyes. Without a word, she collapsed into the comforting embrace of the other person, seeking solace in their warmth as the gravity of her distress became palpable in the tense air around them.

"Red. Red, you're really here," Chloe cried out, her voice trembling with a mixture of relief and disbelief. She rushed forward, her heart pounding as she pulled the red-headed teenager into a tight embrace, feeling the warmth of her familiar presence. The weight of the past moments hung heavy in the air, and tears streamed down Chloe's face as she held on, finally reunited with the girl she had feared lost.

Red stood there, a curious mix of confusion and surprise washing over her. Just then, Chloe launched herself at her with an overwhelming embrace, the sheer intensity of the hug causing Red's toothbrush to dislodge unexpectedly from her mouth. In a moment, both comical and surreal, she felt the bristled instrument tumble through the air, landing neatly in her hand as if it had a mind of its own.

Red chuckled lightly as she looked at Chloe, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Oh, come on now, what's going on with you? Of course, I'm here, baby?" she spoke, pulling back slightly to take in her expression. The playful tone in her voice hinted at a warm familiarity between them as if they were sharing a lighthearted and intimate moment.

"Of course, I'm so sorry! I just missed you," Chloe said, her warm smile still stretching widely across her face. As she pulled back, the remnants of tears glistened in her eyes, hinting at the emotions she had just experienced. She quickly wiped them away, her cheerful demeanour undiminished by the momentary lapse.

"Chlo...we've been dating for three months now, and in that time, I've only been away from you for more than an hour when I had to attend class. Even then, it was just a brief separation. Not to mention, the only other times I've stepped away were for quick moments, like now when I was just in the bathroom. Are you really okay?" Red's brow furrowed with concern, her eyes filled with intense worry as she studied her girlfriend's expression, hoping to find reassurance in her gaze.

"Yeah, I am... now I really am," Chloe replied, a warm smile spreading across her face. She felt a surge of positivity that seemed to illuminate her entire being. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Red, and she couldn't help but notice how she mentioned their three months together.

"Well, my beautiful girl," Red said with a warm smile, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "We have a whole day ahead of us to explore and enjoy ourselves! What do you think—should we head out and meet up with our friends, or would you prefer a cosy day in our dorm?"

She paused for a moment, allowing Chloe to consider the options. With a playful grin, Red slipped her toothbrush back into her mouth, the minty toothpaste foaming slightly as she brushed her teeth. After a quick rinse, she stepped away from the sink, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, and glanced back at Chloe, eager to hear her thoughts on the day's plans.

Chloe erupted in a sudden, unexpected laugh, which seemed to fill the air around her.

"Friends?" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with genuine surprise. She hadn't intended for her tone to convey such disbelief, but the truth was that she and Red had never really embraced the concept of friendship in their time at Auradon—the idea of having friends felt foreign and almost astonishing to her.

"Yeah? Eliza and Ari?" Red furrowed her brow, glancing back at Chloe with a puzzled expression. Her eyes searched her face as if trying to unravel a mystery, the confusion evident in the slight tilt of her head and the way she crossed her arms.