Innocently Stolen

Chapter 20

It had been a week since the vending machine debate. The debate that Elowyn will proudly say she won.

She had returned twice since then — the first time with a book claiming the lighting in Seraphina's office was "less aggressive," and the second time because she'd said she didn't feel like going home yet.

Seraphina hadn't asked further questions either time.

Today, she had returned with some very important business to take care of and needed a quiet space to do so.

At her desk, the steady tap of keys filled the office, measured and consistent. Every so often, Seraphina paused to review something on her screen, one hand lifting to take a sip of coffee.

Elowyn sat cross-legged on the floor, tablet propped against the coffee table and her back resting lightly against the edge of the couch. The screen was divided into neat sections — three photos across the top with typed lists beneath each one.

She tapped the first image and zoomed in.

A gray kitten with oversized ears and a crooked tail stared back at her from the screen. Beneath the photo:

Gary

Ash

Melvin

She frowned and typed another.

Static.

"No," she muttered quietly, and deleted it.

She switched to the next photo of a nervous brown dog with one white paw and eyes slightly too large for its face. The intake form was open beside the image.

Male. Approx. 2 years. Found near highway.

Below that:

Scout

Pine

Arlo

She stared at the list like it had personally disappointed her as Seraphina's typing continued behind her.

Scout was circled, uncircled, then Elowyn zoomed into the dog's eyes.

"You're not a Pine," she informed the screen.

The third photo was of two orange kittens that she had finished naming earlier.

Mango and Noodle.

"No one respects a Gary," she whispered, chewing on the inside of her cheek as she looked at the gray kittens photo again.

Her stylus hovered mid-air as she reconsidered everything.

Behind her, the steady rhythm of keys slowed, then stopped altogether.

Seraphina stayed seated at her desk, hands resting loosely near the keyboard, her screen dimming without being closed. She didn't reach for her coffee or her phone. She simply leaned back slightly in her chair and let her attention settle on Elowyn.

On the floor, Elowyn erased Gary with a decisive swipe and replaced it with Shark.

She considered it for a long moment, then shook her head and deleted that too.

Seraphina watched the sequence without interruption — the careful typing, the immediate doubt, the way the girl's posture shifted every few minutes from cross-legged, then forward onto her elbows, then upright again as if a different angle might help her decide.

"I can't rush this," Elowyn muttered under her breath, still focused on the screen.

A faint curve touched Seraphina's mouth at that, but she said nothing.

Melvin was dragged back to the top of the list before the kitten's photo was tapped again, the image zooming in until the darker patch around its nose filled most of the display.

Seraphina remained still, observing the seriousness with which Elowyn approached the task, the way she treated each name like it carried weight.

Only when Elowyn shifted and finally glanced to her right did she realize the typing had stopped.

"You're not working," she said.

Seraphina met her look evenly, still seated. "Not at the moment."

Keeping her eyes on the woman for a moment longer, Elowyn's brows drew together slightly as if she were trying to calculate something that refused to line up.

"Why the look?" Seraphina asked, her tone curious.

The girl blinked once, as though surprised to be called out on it, then turned back to her tablet without answering.

She adjusted the brightness down a fraction and leaned forward again, bringing the gray kitten's photo closer.

Her stylus tapped lightly against the screen as she rewrote Melvin in neater lettering, then underlined it, then erased the line.

Beside her, Seraphina remained quiet for a second longer before speaking again.

"I'm going to Miss Loretta's," she said. "The furniture was delivered this morning."

Elowyn paused mid-tap but didn't turn around this time.

"Okay."

"I want to make sure everything came in," Seraphina continued.

Elowyn shifted her weight, tucking one leg beneath her as she saved the document and closed out of the kitten's photo.

"Would you like to come along?"

The tablet held her attention for a few seconds longer, as though Elowyn were finishing the thought she'd been holding in her head. Then, she set the stylus down carefully along the edge of the case and finally glanced over her shoulder.

"Sure," she said.

Seraphina gave a single nod before standing from her desk.

She reached for her coat, drawing it neatly over her shoulders, then gathered her purse in one hand.

After a brief glance around her desk to ensure everything was in place, she crossed the office toward the girl who was still seated on the floor.

Noticing the woman was waiting for her, Elowyn tried to move faster. She slid her stylus into its case, then put the case in the bag quickly, only to have her wallet slip out of its pocket.

"Take your time," Seraphina said quietly, watching as Elowyn tried to force speed into movements that were usually deliberate and exact. After a moment, she stepped forward instead of lingering and took the girl's bag from her hands, holding it open steadily rather than hovering nearby.

Her shoulders eased almost at once. Elowyn hummed softly, relieved at how much simpler it was to organize everything when someone else kept the bag open for her.

Tucking her wallet back into its place and adjusting the tablet so it sat flat against the inside of the bag, Elowyn checked once more that the stylus was secured, then pressed the zipper closed with careful precision.

"All done?" Seraphina asked.

Elowyn gave a small nod and pushed herself up from the floor.

The bag remained in Seraphina's hands while Elowyn reached for her jacket, slipping one arm in and then the other.

As she waited, the older woman's attention shifted briefly to the coffee table. The flowers in the vase had begun to droop, petals curling at the edges, the water noticeably low.

"I'll need to replace those," she murmured under her breath.

Elowyn tugged the hem of her jacket down and caught the zipper between her fingers.

It snagged halfway. She frowned, tried again, guiding the teeth together more carefully this time until it slid smoothly to her chin.

"There," she murmured.

As Elowyn swung the bag over her shoulder after the woman handed it back, it twisted near the top. Seraphina adjusted it with a light grip on the fabric of the strap, lifting it slightly so it settled properly without brushing against her.

Elowyn shifted once to make sure it sat evenly.

Seraphina stepped past her and opened the office door, holding it as Elowyn walked through. Once they were in the hallway, she pulled the door closed behind them and locked it with a quiet click before turning toward the elevator.

?

"You seem perfectly fine right now," Seraphina commented, keeping her eyes on the road.

"I am fine," Elowyn answered, puzzled by the woman's words.

"What happened to the shark and car statistics you were talking about the other day?"

"Well, they still apply, but I'm not in the car with a random stranger."

"Good to know," Seraphina quietly voiced.

"And how's the naming coming along?"

"Okay, I guess. I can't figure out if I like Melvin or Finn better for a grey kitten.

Elowyn tapped her fingers, thinking. "I text Will what he thinks since he was with me at the shelter yesterday, but he hasn't responded."

Seraphina thought back to earlier, when Elowyn showed her the new animals that arrived the previous day.

"Is it the one with the spot on his nose?" She asked.

"Yeah."

And as if summoned, the girl's phone buzzed with a message from William.

"Will chose Melvin. He said the kitten looks like a distinguished gentleman with a complicated past," Elowyn giggled.

She opened the picture again, this time on her phone, and studied the kittens' faces once more.

"He does seem a bit more like a Melvin," Elowyn flipped her phone to show the woman.

"Wait, don't look, you'll kill us," Elowyn rushed out, turning off her phone.

Seraphina let out a soft breath of laughter.

"I'm fairly confident in my ability to keep us alive."

Elowyn narrowed her eyes slightly. "That's exactly what overconfident people say."

"I'm not overconfident," Seraphina replied

smoothly. "I'm experienced."

"That sounds worse."

A quiet smile lingered at the corner of Seraphina's mouth. "You're very dramatic for someone who just told me we were safe."

"We are safe," Elowyn corrected. "Because I stopped you from looking."

"Ah," Seraphina said. "So I owe my continued success to you."

"Yes."

Seraphina nodded once, conceding the point without argument as Elowyn settled back into her seat, satisfied, and unlocked her phone again.

She stared at the kitten's picture, zooming in and out, studying the dark patch on its nose like it might shift under scrutiny.

"The vending machine should be installed in about a week." Seraphina said after a moment.

"Really? That soon?"

"Mhm. Though, I'm having a bit of trouble figuring out what treats I'll have them put...do you think you could help me with that?" Seraphina glanced at the girl with a knowing smile.

"Yes," Elowyn answered eagerly, "I can have the list done by the end of the day."

Seraphina's smile deepened slightly at the girl's immediate enthusiasm.

"I had a feeling you might say that," she replied.

Elowyn nodded to herself, already opening her notes app and beginning to list all the snacks she could think of off the top of her head.

Outside the windshield, the familiar storefronts along the block began to appear. Seraphina slowed the car as Miss Loretta's bookshop came into view, its cozy windows glowing softly against the afternoon light as she guided the car neatly into a space along the curb and turned off the engine.

"We're here," Seraphina said.

Elowyn looked up from her phone, her eyes immediately brightening at the sight of the shop.

She leaned down and grabbed her bag from the floor of the car, and slipped the strap over her shoulder as Seraphina stepped out onto the sidewalk.

By the time Elowyn pushed her own door open and climbed out, Seraphina was already rounding it herself, her hand brushing toward the passenger door.

Elowyn stepped out first, moving smoothly past Seraphina, whose lips pressed into a thin line for just a moment before she followed.

Their footsteps fell in quiet rhythm on the sidewalk as they made their way toward the shop, the hum of the street around them fading slightly with each step.

Reaching the front of the building, the darkened windows and covered shapes inside became clear.

"Miss Loretta mentioned she'd leave it unlocked," Seraphina said, reaching past Elowyn to open the door.

Behind the counter, Miss Loretta looked up from the book she had been reading.

"Well now," she said warmly. "Look who decided to visit."

Elowyn smiled, stepping further inside.

"Hi."

"What brings you here today, sunshine?"

"Seraphina's car," Elowyn answered honestly.

"I can see that," Miss Loretta chuckled, "So, is Ms. Monroe your new bestie?"

"No."

Miss Loretta's eyes shifted briefly to Seraphina, amusement touching her expression.

"Well, surely you at least consider her a friend?"

"Mm," Elowyn's eyes narrowed at Seraphina, who stood there looking down at her with an expectant, amused expression.

"Am I not worthy enough to be your friend, Miss Gray?"

"You want to be my friend?" Elowyn asked, visibly shocked.

"Is that so surprising?"

Elowyn thought about it for a moment. The woman is nice... and she got snacks for the cafeteria.

"I'll think about it."

And with that, the girl turned on her heel and walked away to go inspect the new bookshelves.

"That girl can be so sassy sometimes," Miss Loretta laughed, shaking her head.

"Don't take it personally, dear," the elderly woman turned to face Seraphina, "She's not used to making new friends."

Seraphina smiled, having never intended to take it seriously.

"How did the delivery go?" she asked, glancing around at the shop. "Did everything arrive without trouble?"

"Oh, it went very well," Miss Loretta said. "The men were very polite. Careful, too. Not a single thing scratched."

"They even stayed a bit longer than expected," Miss Loretta went on, "just to make sure everything was exactly where I wanted it."

"That's good."

Movement crossed the corner of Seraphina's vision as Elowyn crossed the shop behind them at a quick but casual pace, heading toward the kitchen while the conversation continued.

A minute later, the girl returned carrying a small plate of walnuts and a plastic cup of water. Without interrupting either woman, she passed the counter and slipped out the front door.

Both pairs of eyes shifted toward the door for a moment.

Outside, Elowyn crouched near the window, carefully setting the plate and cup down before settling back on her heels.

Miss Loretta let out a quiet chuckle.

"They placed the new couch by the window," she said, gesturing across the shop. "I think that corner will be much cozier now."

Seraphina followed the motion of her hand while they continued talking.

After a while the door opened again and Elowyn stepped back inside, brushing her hands lightly together as she walked past the counter once more without comment, disappearing between the tall rows of bookshelves.

Behind the counter, the conversation carried on as though nothing unusual had happened at all.

Until a loud squeal rang out in the shop, echoing off the walls.

Seraphina straightened immediately, the conversation cutting off as her attention snapped toward the shelves.

For a brief moment her mind supplied the worst possibility, but before she could move around the counter, hurried footsteps burst from between the rows of books.

Elowyn appeared a second later, darting straight past them and stopping at the front window.

"Kyle's here!" she announced, pressing closer to the glass to look outside.

Seraphina remained where she stood, confusion briefly replacing the alarm that had seized her a moment earlier.

At the window, Elowyn leaned so close her breath fogged the glass, completely absorbed in whatever was happening outside.

"Kyle," Miss Loretta said, letting out a warm laugh, "he's a squirrel. He lives in the tree out front."

The explanation settled over the moment, and the tension quietly drained from Seraphina's shoulders as she followed Elowyn's line of sight toward the window.

Sure enough, a small squirrel sat right outside the window, stuffing its mouth with the walnuts Elowyn had left.

After a moment, Seraphina finally tore her eyes from the small scene at the window.

Kyle was still busy with his walnuts, oblivious to everything else, and Elowyn remained pressed against the window.

The sight tugged a faint smile to Seraphina's lips, but she let herself step back, shifting her weight as the world outside the window reminded her the shop still had work to be done.

Miss Loretta's warm chuckle drifted through the room again, and Seraphina let it linger in her mind as she moved to the counter, glancing once toward Elowyn, who was now whispering softly to the squirrel, hands pressed lightly against the glass, entirely absorbed.

From the street, a familiar rumble signaled the arrival of the truck. The sound grew louder, and soon the men who had been scheduled to set up the new furniture stepped onto the sidewalk, carrying boxes and tools.

Elowyn immediately shot upright, darting forward a little too eagerly as she made her way to the back door.

Her legs scrambled to keep up with the momentum of her upper body, nearly tripping over the edge of the rug and bumping into a chair. Seraphina and Miss Loretta remained frozen in place, eyebrows raised at the girl's awkward but determined dash.

A moment later, she appeared at the front window, crouching low and gesturing frantically toward the men outside.

Towering and muscular compared to her smaller frame, they paused mid-step, looking down at the girl practically bouncing in place as she "directed traffic.

" Her arms moved in clear instructions, guiding them to the back door instead of the front, careful to keep them from disturbing Kyle.

Seraphina blinked, watching the scene unfold with a mixture of confusion and quiet amusement, while Miss Loretta tilted her head, studying the girl's determined movements. The men, glancing between Elowyn and the front of the shop, adjusted course without question, heading toward the rear entrance.

Elowyn lingered at the window for a few more seconds, hands pressed together in satisfaction, before walking to the back as if nothing had happened, leaving the two women to exchange a look that combined disbelief with quiet fondness.

Miss Loretta straightened as the men walked in, greeting them with a warm wave while Seraphina's eyes stayed fixed on the back door until Elowyn had entered safely. Only then did she finally turn her attention to the men.

After instructing the men exactly where and how to assemble the furniture, Seraphina slipped quietly between the shelves, searching for Elowyn. When she finally found her, the girl was still by the window, hyperfixated on the squirrel outside.

"They're going to start drilling soon, sweetheart," Seraphina said softly, careful not to startle her.

"Okay," Elowyn turned and made her way to Miss Loretta.

"Don't worry about the books dear," Miss Loretta assured Elowyn, knowing what she was going to say, "I already took pictures of all the books so they can be put back exactly how you had them.

Elowyn let out a sigh of relief before turning and walking to the back door of the shop once again.

?

A few minutes passed with Elowyn standing on the sidewalk, hands tucked lightly into the pockets of her jacket as she watched the street. When the back door opened, Seraphina stepped out, glancing around briefly.

"Kyle's not here anymore," she said, raising a brow.

"He finished his snack and went back to his tree."

"You're done already?" Elowyn added.

Seraphina gave a small hum. "I just wanted to make sure everything will be set up properly." She glanced at Elowyn. "Ready to go?"

"Yeah."

Elowyn adjusted the strap of her bag on her shoulder and looked down the street in the direction of Seraphina's parked car, expecting them to head that way.

"I know it's getting colder out, but how does some ice cream sound?" Seraphina asked instead.

Elowyn turned back to her at once. "Ice cream?"

Seraphina smiled. "There's a shop down the block."

Elowyn followed her gaze and spotted the building further down the street.

"We could walk," Seraphina added.

"Okay," Elowyn said, practically vibrating with excitement as they started down the sidewalk together.

The street was calm for that time of day. A few people moved in and out of nearby shops, and a car passed slowly through the intersection at the end of the block before disappearing around the corner.

Elowyn walked easily beside her, her attention drifting from one detail to the next—the window display of a small antique store, the hanging baskets of flowers outside a café, the pattern sunlight made through the leaves overhead.

After a moment, she tipped her head back slightly, studying the branches where the breeze stirred the edges of the leaves.

Seraphina caught the pattern rather quickly.

Elowyn wasn't rushing toward the ice cream shop, nor did she seem particularly focused on where they were going. Her attention moved freely from one small detail to another as though the entire street had become something worth examining.

When a bird cut across the open strip of sky between the buildings, Elowyn followed its path with quiet interest until it disappeared beyond the rooftops.

Seraphina's steps slowed almost without thought. There was no reason to hurry; the shop wasn't going anywhere, and the girl beside her seemed to find more enjoyment in the walk itself than the destination.

Elowyn's attention shifted to the trees lining the sidewalk, watching the way sunlight slipped through the branches and scattered across the pavement in shifting patches.

Seraphina found herself looking up as well, noticing the same quiet movement of light and leaves, the faint reflection of blue sky in a nearby storefront window, the unhurried rhythm of the block around them.

When her gaze returned to Elowyn, Seraphina caught the thoughtful way the girl observed everything around her, as though none of it were ordinary. Almost as if she was experiencing the world for the first time.

"A frog!" Elowyn gasped, running to a nearby tree.

Seraphina stopped right beside the girl who crouched down a few feet away from the small amphibian.

"Look at its little hands!" Elowyn pointed, "It's so cute, right?"

Not once in her life could Seraphina recall thinking a frog was cute. In truth, she had never given the creatures thought at all. Yet here she was, looking down at one while standing beside a girl who seemed utterly convinced that the small blob of green–brown was the cutest thing she's ever seen.

Seraphina bent down next to her, looking at the frog where it sat by the tree. "Hm."

"That's probably where it's going to spend winter," Elowyn gestured to a small hole near the creature.

"I see."

Pushing herself back to her feet, Elowyn brushed her knees lightly as she glanced down at the frog one last time.

"Have a nice day," she said politely, then turned and continued to walk.

Seraphina allowed herself a faint smile, rising to match Elowyn's pace.

"Did you know frogs don't actively drink water?" The girl asked after a few seconds.

"They don't?" Seraphina questioned, keeping her gaze ahead.

"Nope. They absorb water through their skin under their belly."

"Also, do you know the 'ribbit' sound we associate with frogs?" Elowyn continued.

"Yes."

"Well, that specific sound is actually only made by the Pacific Tree Frog."

Seraphina continued walking beside her, hands tucked into her coat pockets, and let herself simply watch. Elowyn practically skipped ahead, her hands pressed together in front of her, a bright smile lighting up her face with every word she said.

A quiet smile stayed on her lips, soft and steady, as she followed the rhythm of Elowyn's excitement. She felt the warmth of the girl's enthusiasm, the way it spilled into the air around them, and she realized she didn't need to respond at all—just listening was enough.

"....it's called the Paedophryne amanuensis, and it's only about seven-point-seven millimeters long..."

Her eyes lingered on Elowyn's animated gestures, the quick little hops of her steps, the sparkle in her eyes. For once, Seraphina didn't feel the need to control or direct the moment; she simply let herself be present, taking in the pure energy of the girl beside her.

Even as Elowyn chattered on, Seraphina's smile widened slightly, a quiet acknowledgment of how alive the girl seemed and how much she enjoyed being the one to hear it.

?

"What would you like?" Seraphina asked once they reached their destination.

"I can buy my own," Elowyn replied.

"I'm paying, darling."

Elowyn went quiet after that, her lips pressing together as she stubbornly refused to answer the question.

Instead, her eyes remained fixed on the menu board above the counter as if studying it very seriously, even though she had already decided what she wanted the moment Seraphina mentioned ice cream.

Seraphina waited for her response for a moment, but as time went on, it became apparent the girl had no intention to reveal what she had chosen.

So, Seraphina made what Elowyn would later describe as the most outrageous claim she had ever heard in her entire life.

"I'm fairly certain my choice tastes better than yours anyway," Seraphina said with an easy shrug.

Elowyn's head turned slowly toward her.

"Well, what's your choice?" she asked, taking the bait without realizing it.

"Vanilla."

Elowyn rubbed at one of her ears, checking that she had heard correctly. "Vanilla? Just… plain vanilla?"

Seraphina nodded once, completely unbothered.

"Mhm. Yours is probably something far too sweet, I imagine. It certainly won't compare," Seraphina egged her on, noticing they were next in line.

"That's crazy," Elowyn scoffed immediately. "Vanilla has nothing on cookie dough. You get the vanilla ice cream and the cookie dough chunks. It's basically a two-in-one."

She crossed her arms, glaring up at the blasphemous woman as if she had just committed some serious offense.

Seraphina bent at the waist so they were eye to eye, a slow smirk forming.

"Thank you for that. Truly."

For a brief moment, Elowyn simply stared at her, confused, before the realization settled in and her eyes widened.

She lunged toward the counter in an attempt to beat her there, but Seraphina's long stride carried her forward first with irritating ease.

Elowyn immediately scrambled for her bag, fingers already digging inside for her wallet. She hadn't even reached the zipper when one of Seraphina's hands moved with startling speed, catching both of Elowyn's sweater-covered wrists and holding them down gently but firmly while she placed the order.

Elowyn looked down at her hands and tried twisting her wrists in an attempt to slip free.

The effort had accomplished nothing. If anything, Seraphina's hold tightened slightly—not painful, just enough to keep her from escaping while she finished speaking with the employee as though nothing unusual was happening at all.

Elowyn tried again, determined.

"Jokes on you," she murmured, still studying the position of her wrists. "I saw a survival video on YouTube once."

She tilted her head slightly, concentrating as she tried to remember the instructions.

"Was it to the left or to the right?"

By the time she decided which direction seemed correct, her wrists were suddenly free. Seraphina had already finished ordering and turned away, walking off without a word, the two cups of ice cream balanced easily in her hand.

Elowyn lingered there for a moment, staring after her before quickly hurrying to catch up.

The woman had already settled at a small table near the window by the time Elowyn caught up, one of the cups placed neatly in front of the empty chair across from her.

Elowyn slid into the seat, accepting the ice cream with a quiet, reluctant motion. Her mouth had drawn into a pout, though she made no comment as she picked up the little plastic spoon and examined the surface of the cookie dough.

Across from her, a soft sound slipped from Seraphina's throat before she could stop it, a quiet breath of laughter.

Elowyn's eyes lifted.

"Are you laughing at me?"

Seraphina rested one elbow lightly against the table, her attention settling on the girl without attempting to hide the smile that lingered there.

"Yes."

Elowyn frowned slightly at that answer and scooped up a small bite of ice cream, though the pout remained.

"There's no reason to pout," Seraphina teased.

"I could have paid for my own ice cream," Elowyn replied, shifting the spoon through the ice cream, looking for all the cookie dough chunks.

"I know."

Seraphina lifted her own spoon, unhurried.

"But I invited you," she continued. "Which means I was always going to pay."

Elowyn considered that quietly, still counting the number of cookie dough chunks in her ice cream.

"Okay," she said after a moment. "But if I were the one who invited you, would I have been allowed to pay?"

Seraphina's spoon paused halfway to her mouth, and a thoughtful hum escaped her as she considered the question.

Elowyn looked up at her. "Is that a yes or a no?"

Seraphina met her eyes, completely unbothered.

"No."

Elowyn's spoon stopped moving as she stared at Seraphina across the table, her brows pulling together.

"That's not fair."

Seraphina took a small bite of her ice cream before answering, entirely composed. "It seems perfectly fair to me."

"How?" Elowyn asked, clearly baffled. "If you invite me, you pay. But if I invite you, you still pay."

"Yes."

"That's not how that works."

Seraphina rested her spoon against the edge of her cup. "You're welcome to try."

Elowyn rolled her eyes. "You would just pay anyway."

"Don't roll your eyes," Seraphina lightly scolded.

Elowyn huffed under her breath, her frustration fading into something more thoughtful as she shoved a big spoonful of ice cream in her mouth.

"You laugh a lot," Elowyn said after a second.

Seraphina's attention shifted back to her.

Elowyn was staring at her ice cream with quiet curiosity, not upset, just working through the thought out loud.

"Like when I said you give off trail mix vibes," she continued, "you laughed. When I sat down here, you laughed..."

She scooped up a small cookie dough chunk and ate it before adding, "...did I say something funny?"

Seraphina studied her for a moment before answering, her gaze steady on the girl across from her.

"You're simply… delightful to be around."

Elowyn's spoon hovered halfway between the cup and the table as she tried to process what the woman had just said.

"Delightful?" Elowyn tilted her head, "That's new."

"Why do you say that?" Seraphina's brows furrowed.

"Mm... you don't think I'm irritating?"

Seraphina's brows remained drawn together for a moment longer as she studied the girl across from her, the question clearly not landing the way Elowyn seemed to expect.

"No," she said, the answer coming without hesitation. "Not at all."

Elowyn shifted slightly in her chair, her attention returning to the slightly melting edge of her ice cream.

Seraphina didn't let the moment pass.

"What made you think I would?" she asked, her voice quieter now, curiosity replacing the earlier lightness in her tone.

Elowyn gave a small shrug, still focused on the slow circles her spoon.

Seraphina watched her for another moment before speaking again, curiosity still present in her expression.

"Has someone actually told you that before?"

Elowyn's shoulders lifted in another small shrug.

"Sometimes," Elowyn casually said as if she was just talking about the weather.

Seraphina waited, but Elowyn didn't elaborate further. Instead, she scooped up another bite of cookie dough ice cream, clearly uninterested in turning the moment into something bigger than it needed to be.

"Sometimes—um..."

Seraphina remained quiet, watching Elowyn seemingly struggle to put whatever she was thinking into words, until eventually the girl let out a frustrated huff and gave up.

"That hasn't been my experience with you," Seraphina said at last.

Elowyn's spoon slowed.

Seraphina leaned forward, resting her forearm along the edge of the table as she spoke.

"You say what you mean," she continued calmly. "I find that far easier to deal with than most conversations."

Her gaze remained steady on the girl.

"You're not irritating at all."

Elowyn's spoon hovered again, her attention slowly lifting from the cup to Seraphina's face as she tried to determine whether the woman actually meant that.

Seraphina held her look without wavering.

"If anything," she added, "I enjoy your company."

Focusing her attention back on her ice cream, Elowyn felt heat rise to her cheeks in a way that made her hands lift almost automatically. She placed them lightly on her face and pressed gently, hoping the warmth would ease.

After a few moments, she slowly looked back up, only to have her eyes stop once they landed on Seraphina's ice cream cup.

"That—that's not vanilla!" She sputtered in disbelief.

"I'm aware."

"You—"

"Were you going to eventually tell me what you wanted?" The woman raised a brow.

"No," Elowyn crossed her arms.

"Exactly," Seraphina leaned back in her chair, crossing one leg over the other.

"How did you know what to say?"

Seraphina just shrugged, the infuriating smirk that painted her lips made Elowyn want to launch herself across the table and tackle her to the ground.

"What flavor is it?" Elowyn looked into Seraphina cup with slight interest.

"Butter pecan."

"Would you like to try?" The older woman added, seeing the way Elowyn was still staring at her cup.

Elowyn hesitated, she never really liked to try new foods.

"It's good, I promise," Seraphina murmured as she scooped some of the ice cream, holding her spoon near the girl's face.

Elowyn thought about it for a moment before cautiously taking the spoon into her mouth.

"It's okay," the girl said once she pulled back.

"Do you want to try mine?" Elowyn asked sweetly, extending her cup towards the woman.

Seraphina grabbed Elowyn's spoon from her and took a small taste of the girl's ice cream.

"It's good, right?" Elowyn smiled.

"It is. Though I already knew what cookie dough tastes like."

"What?"

Seraphina lifted her own spoon again. "It's always been one of my favorites."

Elowyn stared at her.

For a moment she said nothing, just studying Seraphina across the table as if trying to decide whether she should be annoyed or impressed.

"That was mean," she said after a moment.

Seraphina didn't look particularly guilty.

"And yet," Seraphina replied lightly, "you seem to be enjoying your ice cream."

"…That's not the point."

Seraphina's lips curved slightly, but she didn't push the matter further.

After that, the table fell quiet, the small sounds of spoons against paper cups filling the space between them while the late afternoon light filtered through the window beside their table.

Elowyn's attention drifted briefly toward the street outside before returning to her ice cream.

After scraping the last bit of ice cream from the side of her cup and gathering a final cookie dough piece, Elowyn set the empty container aside. Across from her, Seraphina finished the last of her own with the same unhurried ease she seemed to do everything with.

"Well," Elowyn said, glancing down at the abandoned cups between them, "that was good."

Seraphina hummed in agreement and rose from her chair, collecting the cups and tossing them into the nearby bin before returning to Elowyn's side.

"Come along," she said.

Elowyn slid out of her seat and followed her toward the door. A moment later, they stepped back out onto the sidewalk, the cooler air brushing lightly against their faces.

The street had grown a little darker since they'd gone inside. A few people passed by with shopping bags, and somewhere down the block a car door slammed before an engine started.

Elowyn's attention drifted again, just as it had earlier. She glanced through a shop window as they passed, then up toward the branches of a nearby tree where a pair of birds hopped between the leaves.

Seraphina watched her for a moment before something tugged at the back of her mind.

There had been something she'd meant to ask.

Her gaze shifted forward again as she recalled the moment at Miss Loretta's.

"You stepped outside earlier," Seraphina said after a moment. "When the drilling started."

Elowyn looked over at her.

"Yes?"

"You had your earbuds with you." Seraphina's tone remained casual. "Why didn't you just put those in?"

Elowyn reached up and absentmindedly touched one of the white earbuds resting around her neck.

"Oh." She gave a small shake of her head. "They're not noise-canceling."

Seraphina glanced down at her.

"They only block out lighter noise when I have music playing," Elowyn explained, lightly kicking a small pebble on the pavement, "Like talking or stuff in the background."

"But louder noises? That just goes straight through them," she added with a small grimace.

Seraphina nodded slowly, filing the information away as they continued down the block together in silence.

"You can be my friend," Elowyn said unexpectedly.

"Is this because I bought you ice cream?" Seraphina chuckled.

"Partially."

"Partially, huh?"

"Mhm."

Seraphina glanced at her. "So… the other part is?"

Elowyn shrugged. "I don't know."

"You don't know, or you don't want to tell me?"

"Um, I don't know."

"Alright," Seraphina chuckled once more.

"You know you're the third friend I've ever made," Elowyn said after a while. "First was Will, then Mikey and now you."

"Who's Mikey?"

"Well... he's actually my brother's best friend, but I consider him my friend too. And I'm pretty sure he likes me better anyway," Elowyn giggled.

"So you stole your brother's best friend?" Seraphina teased.

"Kind of. He comes over sometimes when I spend the night at Dan's, and the three of us play games all night."

Seraphina glanced down at her. "How did you meet them?"

"Both of them?"

"Mhm."

Elowyn thought about it for a moment.

"Will was preschool," she said. "We were four."

Seraphina waited.

"I didn't speak much then, so he gave me a cracker and just started following me around."

"One day, he showed me a dinosaur he had in his backpack," Elowyn added.

Seraphina's brow lifted slightly.

Elowyn shrugged. "Mine was better, though."

"Oh?"

"His was a triceratops and mine was a stegosaurus. We argued for like an hour about which one would win in a fight," Elowyn said. "Then he tried to trade me his apple slices for my goldfish crackers."

Seraphina smiled. "Did you accept?"

"Of course not."

"And the friendship survived?"

"Yeah. He just kept sitting next to me everyday."

Seraphina let a quiet moment pass before asking, "And Mikey?"

"Oh." Elowyn adjusted the strap of her bag. "Dan brought him home once when I was fourteen. He was in college then."

"They were setting up a game in the living room, and I asked if I could join."

"I beat Mikey four times," Elowyn said matter-of-factly.

Seraphina's mouth curved faintly.

"He said the controller was weird," Elowyn continued, "but Dan checked it and said it was fine."

"I imagine that didn't improve his mood."

"No," Elowyn said. "Then Mikey said it didn't count because I probably practiced beforehand."

"And did you?"

"Yes, but that doesn't change anything," Elowyn said plainly. "I still won."

Seraphina gave a soft breath of laughter.

"After that, we started arguing about something else," Elowyn went on.

"What was that?"

"Whether dinosaurs looked cooler with feathers."

"Mikey said feathers make them less scary. I completely disagree, though," Elowyn continued. "Feathers make them faster."

"I'm not sure that improves the situation," Seraphina indulged the girl.

"Exactly," Elowyn replied. "A giant lizard running at you is bad. A giant feathery lizard running at you is worse."

"Mikey just said it makes them look like angry chickens," she added.

"And your response?"

"Chickens are already terrifying," Elowyn said, "so that actually proves my point."

"Don't tell me you're afraid of chickens..."

"Of course I am! They're aggressive losers."

Seraphina's lips pressed together in an attempt to contain the laugh that threatened to escape. Her eyes sparkled with disbelief at Elowyn's blunt verdict on chickens being losers.

"Anyway, we looked up a bunch of stuff after that," Elowyn continued. "Animal facts and videos, things like that."

Seraphina listened as Elowyn gestured lightly while she talked.

"Dan kept telling us to focus on the game," Elowyn added, "but we were busy figuring out if octopuses could escape a locked room."

"And could they?"

"Yes," Elowyn said. "Very easily."

Seraphina seemed unsurprised.

"Ever since then, Mikey started bringing an extra controller whenever he comes over."

"So that's how you ended up with three friends."

"Yeah," Elowyn murmured, stopping abruptly just as they were about to reach Seraphina's car.

"Is everything alright?" The woman asked.

"Thank you. For... you know... everything. Especially the ice cream," Elowyn extended her hand towards the woman, heart beating wildly—she wasn't used to the directness of skin-on-skin contact, even something as simple as a handshake.

Seraphina glanced down at the small, trembling hand and smiled, wrapping her own hand around it with a gentle, steady grip.

"You're welcome, Elowyn," she said softly, giving it a reassuring squeeze. The warmth of her hand lingered, a quiet, unspoken connection between them as the evening light touched the street around them.