Chapter 15

Lily throws her backpack onto the floor of her room and flops face-first into her bed. After a muffled groan into her pillow, she rolls over, grabs her phone, and starts rapidly texting.

Lily (texting Sanguinella):

Bro
I just had the most awkward car ride of my life
With Astera
Like????

A few moments later, the typing bubbles pop up, then disappear, then return. Finally:

Sanny🩸 :

ooooOOOH??? 👀👀👀
What happened what happened

Lily:

I asked what he does outside of school
He said “sports”
Then I asked if he’s dating anyone or interested in anyone
And this man IMMEDIATELY changed the subject 😭😭

Sanny🩸:

😭😭😭 omg he deflected huh
That’s shady af
You think he’s hiding something?? 👁️👁️

Lily:

That’s what I’m SAYING
Like…
He’s always polite, always a little distant

But I swear I caught him looking nervous for a second

Sanny🩸:

He’s the captain of the Blooming Fire Guard right?
That’s lowkey so poetic
Like he’s literally blooming and hiding fire at the same time 😭

Lily:

STOPPPP THAT’S TOO ACCURATE

Sanny​​🩸:

Okay but real talk
You think he likes someone?? 👀
Or is he just… like that?

Lily:

I don’t know…
Something tells me it’s someone he’s not supposed to like
Maybe someone in HQ? Maybe…

Sanny🩸:

…Maybe Eris?

Lily

GIRL BYE 😭😭😭

Sanny🩸:

I’m just saying… the plot thickens

Lily:

My life is not a drama anime
…right???

The typing bubbles pop up again.

Sanny🩸:

You’re literally the Universal Princess
Your life is LITERALLY a drama anime with eldritch space gods

Lily (laughing out loud in real life):

You got me there