{Elira}
~**^**~
The rooftop was strung with lanterns that gave off a warm, golden glow. Tables were spread across the terrace, so under open sky, so tucked beneath soft white canopies that swayed gently in the breeze.
From where we stood, the view stretched wide: ESA’s towers in the distance, the city lights beyond shimring like scattered stars.
"Wow," Juniper breathed, her eyes wide.
"It’s gorgeous," Cambria agreed softly, already scanning for an empty table.
Tamryn, as always, was composed, though her lips curved slightly as if she secretly approved. Nari, however, grabbed my arm with excitent. "Elira, imagine dining here every week. Don’t you think we deserve it?"
I laughed, shaking my head. "If you’re the one paying, Nari, then yes."
She rolled her eyes but let go.
A hostess led us to a table near the edge, where the city view spread like a painting. The five of us slipped into our seats, still buzzing with energy from the day.
nus were passed around. I scanned mine, a little overwheld by the variety—grilled ats, seafood platters, delicate vegetarian dishes, things I’d never even tasted before. My stomach rumbled softly.
Juniper leaned over, pointing at one of the desserts. "Look at this! Moonberry parfait. I need it. It’s fate."
Cambria chuckled. "Order your main al first before planning dessert."
Nari was already flagging down the server. "I will have the spiced lamb skewers with the golden rice," she declared confidently, "and the parfait."
The rest of us made our orders, and soon tall glasses of chilled fruit mocktails arrived. The sweetness was refreshing against the warmth of the evening air.
As we waited, the chatter turned playful.
"Tomorrow," Nari said, twirling her straw, "we should absolutely make this a habit. New rooftop every month."
"Do you even study?" Tamryn asked dryly, sipping her water.
"Don’t ruin the mood," Juniper said with a grin. "Let her dream."
The food arrived soon after, plates steaming and fragrant. I picked carefully at my grilled chicken and vegetables, but every bite was rich with flavor. Around , the others dug in eagerly, laughter spilling between mouthfuls.
It was Juniper, of course, who broke into dreamy talk. "Can you imagine bringing your mate here? The lights, the view... it’s so romantic."
Nari sighed dramatically. "Yes. If only Tamryn’s brother wasn’t taken. He would’ve been perfect for ."
Cambria laughed, and even Tamryn rolled her eyes.
I smiled faintly at their gushing, but inside, Selene stirred.
"You’re not swayed, are you?" she teased gently.
"Of course not," I answered her silently, surprised that she was speaking with , though my chest ward. "Lennon and Rennon... no one could compare."
Images of them rose in my mind—tall, striking, their gazes steady and fierce. They weren’t here with , yet the mory of their presence filled more surely than the al before .
Handso wasn’t enough. It was the way they had chosen , even when I felt like no one worth choosing.
But I left Zenon out of it. Our relationship was awkward, and I was still trying to understand him.
"Good answer," Selene murmured with a soft chuckle, retreating again into the quiet corners of my mind.
I blinked back to the table. Nari and Juniper were still arguing over which desserts to order.
The glow of the lanterns bathed my friends in gold, their laughter mingling with the music drifting through the night.
For a mont, I leaned back in my chair, the city sprawling beyond us, and let myself savor it—the food, the warmth, the easy companionship.
By the ti we finished our dinner, the rooftop lights had dimd into a softer glow, and the city was wrapped in velvet night.
Laughter still echoed from nearby tables, but for us, the excitent of the day had begun to settle into a quiet, satisfied contentnt.
As we stood up to leave, Tamryn casually announced, "Kaelen said he will co pick us up."
Nari nearly squealed, earning a quick glare from Tamryn, but her grin didn’t fade. Cambria and Tamryn exchanged quick, knowing looks as if they’d secretly hoped for this.
We descended in the elevator and stepped outside the restaurant’s entrance just in ti to see Kaelen’s sleek black car pull up.
He stepped out briefly to greet Tamryn, then gave the rest of us a polite nod before sliding back into the driver’s seat.
"Co on," Tamryn said in her usual calm tone, ushering us toward the car.
The ride back to campus was smooth, the city lights streaking past the windows. Kaelen didn’t talk much, but when he did, it was polite, warm even—asking if we enjoyed our outing, whether the food was good, if we’d had fun at the park.
The others responded eagerly, their voices bubbling over with details of the day.
I mostly listened, smiling faintly at their chatter, my gaze shifting now and then between Tamryn and her brother.
There was sothing in the way she leaned toward him, her voice softer whenever she answered him. Even her usually guarded expression was more relaxed. Kaelen’s presence seed to ground her. I had never seen Tamryn this way with anyone else.
When we reached the school gates, the guards let us through without question—clearly Kaelen was recognized. He drove us straight back to the dormitory block and parked at the curb.
"Thanks for today," Cambria said as she unbuckled her seatbelt.
"Yes, thank you!" Nari added brightly.
"Really appreciate it," Juniper chid in, flashing him a playful smile.
Even I nodded and said softly, "Thank you for the ride, Kaelen."
He inclined his head, his lips curving in that polite, composed smile. "You’re all welco. Rest well."
We climbed out of the car, our voices overlapping as we waved him off. But my eyes lingered a mont longer on Tamryn, who bent slightly toward the window to exchange a few last quiet words with her brother.
Sothing passed between them—unspoken understanding, a closeness that ran deep.
When Kaelen finally drove off, Tamryn straightened and walked toward the dorm entrance without looking at any of us, as if nothing unusual had just happened.
But I couldn’t shake the thought. Tamryn’s bond with her brother was clear, steady, almost protective. So why did she seem... distant over the phone with her mother that ti she was helping with mathematics?
The contrast made curious—unsettled even.
As I followed my roommates back inside, laughter and chatter filling the corridor again, I tucked the question away in my mind.
Soday, I would piece together Tamryn’s puzzle. But for now, I was simply grateful for the warmth of this day, for the unexpected joy of belonging.
---
By the ti we reached our floor and walked down the familiar hallway, our chatter had softened into that cozy tiredness that cos after a long, full day.
Tamryn unlocked the door, and we spilled inside with the ease of girls who had learned each other’s rhythms—shoes kicked off in corners, bags dropped by desks, and sighs of relief as we all flopped into the comfort of our shared space.
"I swear," Juniper said dramatically as she collapsed onto her bunk, "today was another best day I’ve had since joining ESA. The park, the food, that rooftop... everything was perfect."
Cambria nodded, weaving her fingers through her hair. "It really was. We needed this."
Nari, of course, was already pulling out her phone. "And I’m going to make sure everyone online knows just how perfect it was. My blog is going to explode with tonight’s pictures."
"Do you ever take a break from that?" Tamryn asked dryly, but there was no real bite in her voice this ti.
A beat later, Nari gasped so loudly we all turned toward her. Her eyes widened as she stared at the screen. "Fifteen new followers! Just now!"
Her excitent was infectious. I laughed as she kicked her feet in the air. "I knew my blog was going to be a hit!"
Juniper cheered, clapping her hands together, while Cambria leaned against the bedpost with a fond smile. Even Tamryn’s lips curved slightly before she looked away.
"Congratulations," I said warmly, my chest filling with the sa quiet joy I felt at dinner.
As the laughter died down, I slipped my hand into my small purse and brushed the leftover folded notes there. I had taken it from the bulk money Alpha Cyprus had passed to the morning I left for ESA as a student.
Earlier, I had been nervous about dipping into it, but without that stipend, I wouldn’t have been able to keep up with my friends today, wouldn’t have been able to join in fully.
I carefully put the money back into its envelope and tucked it away in my drawer. My heart ward as I whispered silently, ’Thank you, Alpha Cyprus.’
His thoughtfulness reached further than he probably realized.
Because of him, I didn’t have to feel left out today. Because of him, I could laugh, eat, and simply be part of this small circle without worry.
By the ti I straightened, the others were already gathering their toiletries and heading for the bathroom in pairs, giggling and trading stories.
One by one, we returned, fresh-faced and dressed in soft sleep clothes, the air filled with the mingled scents of soap and lavender lotion.
Soon, the room quieted as everyone climbed into their bunks. Juniper, ever the drear, sighed as she curled beneath her blanket.
"I wish Monday would be just as beautiful as this weekend. Wouldn’t that be nice?"
A soft chorus of sleepy murmurs answered her, mine among them.
I lay back on my pillow, listening to the even breaths of my roommates as the dorm slipped into stillness.
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