the fall of red

ive never been loved

After a few moments of collecting herself, Chloe gently wiped away the tears that had stained her cheeks. Taking a deep breath, she cleared her mind of the fog of sadness that had momentarily engulfed her. Slowly, she made her way back to the tranquil lake, where the cheerful laughter of her friends echoed through the warm afternoon air. As she approached, she could see the three other girls sitting together on a colourful blanket, their faces illuminated by the sun, clearly enjoying each other's company in a carefree embrace of friendship.

"Hey, Chlo!" Ari exclaimed with a bright smile, glancing over at her friend. "Eliza and I really need to buckle down and study, so we're going to leave you two lovebirds to enjoy your day together."

Chloe felt a twinge of disappointment but forced a smile, not wanting to dampen the mood. She wrapped her arms around Ari in a warm hug, holding on a moment longer than usual. "See you tomorrow?" Chloe asked, her voice slightly wavering as she pulled back.

"Definitely!" Ari replied, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. With that, she turned and began to pull Eliza along, who was dramatically complaining about the studying they had to do. "But I don't want to study!" Eliza whined, her tone light yet exaggerated, as she trudged behind Ari reluctantly. The two of them chatted animatedly as they walked away, leaving Chloe standing there, feeling a mixture of loneliness and longing as the laughter of her friends faded into the distance.

Chloe glanced at Red with a playful smile, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "So, I guess we're heading back to the dorm now," she said, her voice light and cheerful. "How about we make it a movie night?" She extended her hand towards Red, palm up in a charming invitation.

Red looked down at Chloe's hand, feeling a rush of warmth. With a bright smile stretching across her face, she reached out and clasped Chloe's hand.

"That sounds like a solid plan to me," Red said with a smile, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. She tilted her head slightly, concern flickering across her face as she continued, "Are you okay? You seemed to be gone for quite a while." With a warm gesture, Red gently released Chloe's hand and wrapped her arms around the girl's neck, pulling her into a comforting embrace that conveyed support.

"Yeah, I'm feeling much better now," Chloe said, her voice steady and warm. She looked into Red's eyes, momentarily losing herself in their depth. A soft smile spread across her face, one that seemed to light up the entire room. "I'll always be okay as long as I have you by my side." As she spoke, she took a moment to memorise the details of Red's features—the way the sunlight caught the hints of darker Red in her hair, the gentle curve of her lips, and the quiet strength in her expression. It was as if, at that moment, Chloe found solace and strength in her smile, knowing they could face anything together.

"Don't forget your shoes." Chloe smiled, watching as Red looked over and saw her shoes on the blanket.

"I wouldn't want to lose them," Red chuckled, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she deftly snatched the items up. With a playful bounce in her step, she turned and headed back toward Chloe. As they strolled together, the soft glow of the setting sun painted the path to their dorm in warm hues, the air filled with the sound of their laughter mingling with the gentle rustle of leaves.

"You wouldn't. You don't know how long you'd have to wait until someone gave them back. You don't know what could happen to you in the time you wait for them to be returned." Chloe commented as she took hold of her girlfriend's hand.

"Morbid." Red chuckled lightly, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she leaned in and pressed a playful kiss on Chloe's cheek.

"Thoughtful." With a mischievous glint in her eye, Chloe pointed and laughed, her voice ringing with joy as she shared the moment with Red, who was equally amused.