Chapter 7: Intoxicating Happiness

The morning sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting a soft, golden glow across the room. Calen slowly woke, his head still heavy from the previous night's drinking, the remnants of his worry lingering in the back of his mind. But when he turned to the side, he saw Sienna, already awake, sitting up and smiling at him. She always had that way about her—able to look so serene and composed even after a night of chaos.

"Good morning," she said, her voice soft and sweet, her green eyes twinkling as they met his.

"Morning," Calen mumbled, rubbing his eyes. He took a moment to breathe, the weight of everything still pressing on his chest. But for now, it felt light. Just her presence made the world seem a little easier to face.

They both slipped out of bed, moving around the kitchen together. It was a routine they had long perfected—making breakfast together, enjoying the comfortable silence, with the occasional shared laugh or stolen glance. There was a sense of normalcy, a feeling of contentment in these small moments that they shared, even if everything else seemed to be falling apart.

By noon, they were at their favorite restaurant, a small, cozy place tucked away in one of Aeris’ quieter corners. The food was always incredible, but it was the atmosphere—the intimate, easygoing feeling that came with being there—that made it their special spot. Over a meal of their favorite dishes, they indulged in a few drinks, letting the warmth of the wine relax them.

Calen felt comfortable, the worries of the past few days pushed to the back of his mind. It was easy to be with Sienna like this—natural. They were in their own bubble, just two people enjoying each other’s company. But there was something heavy on his chest that he couldn’t shake. He had to tell her about his job, about the firing that still felt like a raw wound. The fear of how she would react, the dread that she would see him as a failure—it had been gnawing at him since it happened.

He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "Sienna," he began, his voice hesitant, "there’s something I need to tell you."

She looked up at him, her eyes soft and curious. “What’s wrong, Calen?”

“I... I got fired,” he said, his words quiet, unsure. "There was a mistake. Something went wrong at work, and... I’m not with the company anymore.”

For a moment, silence hung between them, thick and heavy. Calen braced himself for the worst, his stomach twisting as he waited for her response.

But when Sienna spoke, it wasn’t what he expected at all. “I’m sorry to hear that,” she said gently, reaching across the table to take his hand in hers. Her grip was warm, comforting. “But I know you. You’ll figure it out. You’ve always found a way. This is just a setback.”

Calen blinked, surprised by her response. He had braced himself for anger or disappointment, maybe even rejection. He had thought that this mistake—this failure—would be the final straw that would make her walk away. But she wasn’t angry. She wasn’t even upset. She was just... there, with him, supporting him.

“Really?” Calen asked, still processing her words.

Sienna nodded, a small but sincere smile tugging at her lips. “Of course. You’re talented, Calen. You’ll bounce back from this. I know you will.”

His mind raced. He hadn’t expected this kind of response—not from her. He’d been waiting for her to leave, for her to turn away because of his failure. It was a part of him that always feared he wasn’t enough for her. But instead, here she was—kind, understanding, supporting him in a way that left him speechless.

Sienna’s gaze softened as she looked at him, her thumb gently rubbing over his knuckles. “You don’t have to go through this alone. I’m here for you, Calen.”

Her words hit him harder than he expected. She cared about him, truly cared. And for the first time in a long while, he allowed himself to believe it.

“You mean that?” he asked, his voice thick with emotion.

“Of course,” she said, her smile widening.

The pride he always carried—his refusal to ask for help—seemed unimportant now. This was different. Sienna wasn’t asking for anything in return. She was just there, offering her support, and it made him feel lighter than he had in days.

They continued to talk, the conversation flowing effortlessly as the hours passed. But in the back of his mind, something shifted. He had always feared that being vulnerable with her would push her away. But now, for the first time, he realized that Sienna didn’t see his failures as a reason to leave. She saw them as something to overcome.

Later, as they finished their meal, Calen felt a sense of calm settle over him. He had feared the worst, but instead, he had found something unexpected. Something he hadn’t known he needed. Sienna’s faith in him—her belief that he would rise from this—was all the encouragement he needed to keep going.

As they stood to leave, Sienna’s hand found his again, squeezing gently. “Let’s go back to your place,” she said with a playful grin. “We can relax, talk more, and maybe drink a little more. I think you deserve it.”

Calen smiled, feeling a warmth spread through him at her words. “Sounds like a plan,” he said, his voice lighter than it had been all day.

And as they walked out of the restaurant, side by side, Calen couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of hope. It wasn’t just about getting through this. It was about having someone by his side who believed in him, even when he didn’t believe in himself.

When they arrived back at Calen’s apartment, the atmosphere was relaxed, almost serene. The tension from earlier in the day seemed to have dissipated, leaving behind an easy sense of comfort. Sienna kicked off her heels at the door and immediately made herself at home, her movements as fluid as if she had always belonged in the space.

Calen wandered over to the small shelf where he kept his music collection, flipping through discs and records. “Anything in particular you want to listen to?” he asked over his shoulder.

“Surprise me,” Sienna replied, her voice light as she moved toward the bookshelf that lined one side of the room. It was a massive collection, brimming with everything from well-worn classics to modern speculative fiction.

Calen chuckled softly and picked out a record—a smooth, mellow jazz album that he knew they both liked. As the first notes drifted through the room, he poured them each a drink.

Meanwhile, Sienna was running her fingers over the spines of the books, occasionally pulling one out to glance at the cover or the first page. Her green eyes sparkled with curiosity, and her pale fingers lingered on the texture of the pages.

“You’ve got quite the collection,” she said. “I don’t think I’ve ever noticed just how many books you have.”

“Too many, some would say,” Calen joked as he set their glasses on the coffee table. “But I like them. There’s something grounding about books. They’re not going anywhere.”

She gave him a soft smile and continued browsing, pausing every now and then to read a line or examine an illustration. Then, as she pulled a slim volume from one of the lower shelves, something slipped from between the pages and fluttered to the floor.

“What’s this?” Sienna asked, bending down to pick it up.

Calen glanced over, his easy demeanor instantly stiffening as he saw what she held. It was a small sketch, drawn in delicate pencil strokes. The lines formed a strikingly accurate portrait of him, his expression caught somewhere between thoughtfulness and exhaustion.

“Oh,” he said, his voice cautious. “That’s just... something a friend made.”

Sienna studied the drawing for a moment, her lips pressed into a thin line. “A friend,” she repeated, her tone neutral but edged with something he couldn’t quite place.

“Yeah,” Calen said, taking a step closer. “Livra. She’s an artist. She drew it for practice, I think.”

Sienna raised an eyebrow, holding the sketch up to the light. “It’s beautiful,” she admitted. “She captured you perfectly.”

“Yeah, she’s talented,” Calen replied, trying to sound casual as he reached for his drink. He took a long sip, hoping the burn of the alcohol would help him navigate this unexpected turn in the evening.

Sienna didn’t say anything for a moment, her green eyes still fixed on the drawing. Then she carefully placed it back between the pages of the book and slid it onto the shelf.

“She must know you well,” she said finally, her voice unreadable.

Calen frowned slightly. “I mean, we’re friends. She knows me, sure. But not like you do.”

That seemed to satisfy Sienna—at least enough for her to let it go. She turned back to the bookshelf, pulling out another book and leafing through it. “You should lend me something,” she said, her tone lighter now. “It’s been a while since I’ve read anything worth recommending.”

Calen exhaled silently, relieved to feel the tension easing. “Sure,” he said, walking over to her. “Pick anything you like.”

As they stood side by side, her eyes scanning the titles and his hand resting lightly on her back, the moment felt ordinary again. But in the back of Calen’s mind, a small knot of unease lingered. Sienna’s reaction to the sketch had been subtle, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that it had left an impression.

Calen knew Sienna wasn’t naive. On the contrary, she was probably one of the sharpest people he had ever met, her mind a web of intuition and logic that rarely missed a detail. If she had chosen to let the drawing go without pressing further, it wasn’t out of obliviousness. It was because she was thinking of something deeper, something she wasn’t ready—or willing—to share with him.

And that thought lingered with him long after the evening’s laughter and conversation had faded into quiet.