Elena's room smelled faintly of eucalyptus balm and chaos, the kind of chaos that perfectly matched her personality.Books were scattered everywhere, clothes rested in places no clothes should be, and a half-eaten plate of fruit sat on the desk like a forgotten science experiment.
Selene leaned against the doorframe, arms folded, a smirk tugging at her lips.
"You look like the ghost of bad decisions."
Elena groaned dramatically from under her blanket. "It's just a mild flu, not a tragic death scene. Why do you sound like my obituary writer?"
"Because your face looks like it lost a fight with pollen."
Elena peeked out from under the covers, her hair a tangled masterpiece. "At least I still look better than you before coffee."
Selene gasped. "Excuse me, ma'am, this is my natural goddess glow."
"You mean grease, sweetheart."
Elena coughed mid-laugh, then pointed weakly toward the bedside table. "Could you pass me that bowl? The porridge's getting cold."
Selene obeyed with mock formality, lifting the bowl as if it were sacred.
"For my dearest patient, Lady Dramatic Flu."
Elena grinned weakly. "You're such a clown."
"Only for sick people and emotionally unavailable women," Selene said, feeding her a spoonful.
Elena blinked. "That's oddly specific."
"You'd be surprised how common that category is."
They both burst into laughter.
"Mm-hmm." Selene narrowed her eyes, her hand resting on Elena's forehead. "Your temperature could cook an egg."
Elena sighed, closing her eyes as the cool touch lingered. "You're so overprotective sometimes."
Selene smirked. "Well, someone has to babysit you."
"Careful," Elena coughed mid-laugh. "You'll ruin my reputation."
"What reputation? Since when do you have one?"
"The one where I'm elegant, mysterious, and perfectly composed."
Selene rolled her eyes. "Right. And I'm the Queen of France."
Elena chuckled again before her laughter melted into another soft cough. "Okay, fine. I'll admit I'm a disaster today."
"Good girl," Selene said with a grin.
The tension between them melted into easy comfort the kind that only existed between two people who knew each other too well. Selene always knew how to make Elena laugh, even when she felt miserable.
But between the teasing, Elena frowned, tugging at her collar.
"Ugh, it's so hot. Why does this stupid sweater feel like it's glued to me?"
"Because your fashion sense hates you."
"Help me take it off," Elena whined, tugging weakly at the fabric.
Selene sighed, stepping closer. "You know, I charge people for this kind of service."
"Oh please," Elena scoffed. "You'd faint if I actually paid you in hugs."
"That's because your hugs are a near-death experience," Selene shot back, tugging at the sweater.
It didn't budge.
They struggled, laughing and swearing under their breath. The sweater was stubborn and so was Elena.
"Stop moving!" Selene barked, half on the bed now, half laughing, half determined.
"You're pulling my hair!" Elena whined.
"Then stop being dramatic!"
In one final desperate move, Selene climbed on top of her for better leverage, knees braced on either side, gripping the hem like she was wrestling a wild animal.
"Hold still or I'll….."
The door clicked open.
"…Or you'll what?" came a cool, composed voice from behind.
Time stopped.
Selene froze mid-pull. Elena froze mid-giggle.
Slowly, both turned toward the doorway ,where Celestine stood, arms crossed, expression unreadable, one elegant brow slightly raised.
"Oh," Celestine said smoothly, eyes flicking between them. "Please, continue. Don't let my presence kill the mood."
Elena made a strangled noise somewhere between a laugh and a cough. "It's not what it looks like …"
"Oh, I'm sure it's exactly what it looks like," Celestine replied dryly, turning to leave. "Carry on."
And just like that, she disappeared down the hall.
Selene nearly facepalmed. "I'm going to die. Your mom now thinks we're gay and doing nasty stuff under her roof."
Elena wheezed, clutching her sides. "You should've seen your face! I couldn't care less let her think whatever she wants. Honestly, it's not a bad thing. We make a great couple. Such a cute couple, actually."
"This is not funny, Elena!"
"Oh, it's hilarious," Elena said between coughs, wiping tears from her eyes. "You were literally on top of me when she walked in. You looked like a deer caught committing a felony. You had full-on gay panic!"
Selene threw a pillow at her. "You're lucky you're sick or I'd...."
"Climb on top of me again, my love?" Elena teased, raising an eyebrow.
"Elena!"
Their laughter filled the room again, but Selene's mind wasn't laughing. Her heart still thudded fast haunted by that cold, amused gaze. The quiet dominance in Celestine's voice lingered, unsettling her in ways she refused to admit.
She needed to explain. She had to.
"I should go," Selene muttered, standing abruptly.
"You're going to chase her down, aren't you?" Elena teased, smirking.
Selene sighed. "I can't let her think… oh, never mind."
She left before Elena could say another word.
---
Downstairs, the air felt colder.Quieter.
Then she saw her.
A tall redheaded woman sat casually on the kitchen counter, one leg crossed over the other. Her laughter was soft, melodic the kind of sound that made heads turn. Trouble wrapped in silk.
Celestine stood beside her, posture relaxed, expression lighter than Selene had ever seen. They were talking closely too closely and something in Selene's chest twisted painfully.
She froze by the stairway, unseen.
The redhead leaned forward, her hand brushing Celestine's arm. Their voices were low and intimate.Selene's stomach knotted.
So she has someone.
Of course she does. Why wouldn't she?
Her throat went dry. She didn't even know why she cared but she did.
Without another glance, Selene turned and left before either of them could notice her.
---
By the time she reached her dorm, the city was quiet, soaked in amber streetlight.
She sank onto her bed, staring at the ceiling her mind a storm of Celestine's voice and that redhead's laugh.
Her phone buzzed.
~ Callie: "Hey, still on for tonight? I can come by around eight if you're okay with it."
Selene blinked, smiling faintly despite the weight in her chest.
~Selene: "Yeah, come by. Bring that genius brain of yours."
---
At exactly 8:04, a soft knock echoed through her door.
Callie stood there—oversized sweater, messy bun, glasses slightly askew. Cute didn't even begin to describe her.
"You look…" Selene began.
"Nervous?" Callie guessed.
"Adorable," Selene corrected, smirking when Callie blushed.
"Wow, flirting right from the door? At least let me sit down first," Callie said, stepping in.
They spread their books and laptops across the table, diving into research.
Selene tried to focus she really did but between Callie's laughter, her sharp eyes, and the echo of Celestine's voice, her brain was chaos.
At one point, Callie leaned closer, pointing at the screen. "You missed a citation here."
"I didn't miss it," Selene said, lips twitching. "I was testing if you'd notice."
"So basically, you depend on my genius," Callie teased.
"Exactly. I'm just here for moral support and charm."
"More like distraction," Callie muttered, rolling her eyes.
Selene grinned. "You think I'm distracting?"
Callie opened her mouth, then shut it again, cheeks flushing pink. "You know what? Focus."
The night went by with laughter, gentle bickering, and soft silences that stretched too long to be innocent.
When they finally finished, Callie stretched with a satisfied sigh.
"Wow. We actually did it."
"Teamwork and questionable humor," Selene said, saving the file.
Callie tapped her pen thoughtfully against her lip. "You never told me… got a boyfriend?"
Selene raised an eyebrow. "Why? You volunteering to apply?"
Callie laughed softly. "Maybe I am."
"Maybe," Selene echoed, pretending to focus but failing miserably.
Callie hesitated, her tone softening. "Could you… ever fall for a girl?"
Selene looked up, eyes steady, unreadable. "Only time can tell."
"That's such a frustrating answer," Callie huffed, crossing her arms.
"Patience is a virtue," Selene teased.
"You're infuriating."
"And you're adorable when you're annoyed."
That earned her another blush.
Callie stood, stretching again. "I should go before I turn into a pumpkin."
Selene followed her to the door. "Thanks for the help. Seriously you saved my grade."
"Anytime," Callie murmured, smiling. Then, before Selene could respond, she leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to the corner of her lips quick, uncertain, trembling.
Selene froze.
Callie's cheeks were scarlet. "Goodnight."
And then she was gone, her footsteps fading down the hall.
Selene stood there, hand hovering over her lips, heart pounding like a drum she couldn't silence.
She didn't know what that meant or what she wanted it to mean only that something deep inside her had shifted.
---
Later, after submitting the project via email, her phone buzzed again.
~ Elena: "Feeling a bit better. How'd the project go?"
~Selene: "Productive. Confusing. Kind of nice."
~ Elena: 😂 "Confusing is your love life's default setting."
Selene chuckled softly, typing back:
"You have no idea."
She closed her laptop, leaned back in her chair, and let the quiet swallow her whole.
Torn between the ghost of Celestine's cold smile
and the warmth of Callie's shy kiss.
One too cold.The other too new.And Selene ,caught somewhere between fire and frost.
And maybe… just maybe, she was about to get burned.