..Out of the Blue ..💙

45.whip

Breakfast Table - 15 Minutes Later

Grace had already laid out some toast, cut fruits, and pancakes, humming around in the kitchen like she hadn't just walked in on her daughter stark naked with another woman.

Monica, in a black silk robe, sat down stiffly, trying not to make eye contact with her mother. Zoya followed, still wearing Monica's oversized tee, hair a mess, and a suspicious red mark trailing along her neck she hadn't noticed yet.

Athena was already sitting, smugly sipping from her juice box like a 40-year-old judge at a court trial.

"You're late," Athena announced pointedly.

"We're adults, Athena," Monica said flatly, reaching for coffee.

"You still said 8:30 sharp, Mama. It's 9:05. And you," she turned to Zoya, "were supposed to help me with my sock drawer. Where were you?"

Zoya froze mid-chew. "Uhhh..."

Monica nearly choked on her coffee trying not to laugh.

Grace turned from the stove, her voice overly casual. "Oh, I'm sure they were very busy. Sorting... bed linens. Very passionate work."

Zoya turned tomato red. Monica glared daggers at her mother. Athena, thankfully, didn't catch on-yet.

"Well," Athena said, crossing her arms. "Next time, you both better wake up earlier.

Zoya leaned over, whispering, "She gets that from you."

Monica muttered, "God help me."

Grace just chuckled, sipping her tea.

Athena took a bite of pancake, then looked up innocently. "Also, mom? There's a weird bug bite on your neck. You should get it checked."

Monica immediately coughed hard.

Zoya widened her eyes, finally realizing the "bite" wasn't a bug.

Monica murmured under her breath, "I told you not to leave marks that obvious..."

Zoya grinned, popping a grape into her mouth. "Oh, please. Consider it a keepsake."

Grace chimed in again, ever so delighted, "At least it's not on the kitchen table this time."

Monica stood up. "I'm going to pretend this breakfast didn't happen."

"Don't forget your bite cream, dear!" Grace called after her, laughing.

Athena blinked. "What bite cream?"

Zoya quickly shoved a pancake into her mouth.

"Long story, kiddo. Very... long story."

---

Zoya stepped into the classroom, sunglasses on, hoodie up, hair tied strategically to the side to cover everything. She thought she'd nailed the art of subtlety-until she felt J's eyes narrow like a laser.

As she sat beside him, he leaned in slowly, theatrically inspecting her neck.

"Bestie," he whispered, lips curling into a grin, "I swear to Gaga, if I see another lovebite, I'll tattoo Monica Mittal's name on your forehead myself."

Zoya hissed through her teeth, yanking her hoodie higher. "It's not visible, is it?"

J tilted his head. "Only to the blind. And maybe bats. And even they would sense the gay panic aura you're emitting."

Zoya groaned, sliding down into her seat.

---

[Texting: Zoya 🐾 & Monica 🖤]