Chapter 21
"YOU SWAPPED SALIVA?!"
Will's voice practically bounced off the walls of the car. Elowyn flinched slightly, tightening her grip on the strap of her bag.
"It was ice cream," she said, keeping her tone flat.
"That is not what you think it is!"
Will's eyes widened, his hands gripping the steering wheel as though it could anchor him against the absurdity of the situation. "You shared utensils. With Seraphina Monroe."
"We tried each other's ice cream," Elowyn answered simply.
"That's basically a kiss!"
"It was not a kiss," she said, frowning slightly as she tried to process why he was reacting this way.
"Elowyn, that is science," he said, voice pitched somewhere between incredulity and despair.
"It was just a spoon," she countered.
William let out a strangled noise, leaning back in his seat. "You put her spoon in your mouth," he said slowly, emphasizing every word.
"Yes."
"And then she put the spoon back in her mouth."
"Yes."
"That's literally saliva swapping! Her DNA was all up on that spoon, and you just licked it right off!"
"Oh my God... she was inside you," William gasped.
"What?!"
"Her DNA... she was basically inside you."
"You're being creepy. You freak," Elowyn rebuked.
"I'm only stating the facts. Mommy Monroe did this on purpose and I know it, I just can't prove it at the moment."
Elowyn simply rolled her eyes then turned her attention out the car window.
The second Elowyn stepped into his car, Will had demanded that she tell him everything that had happened with Seraphina since the whole bookshelf incident.
So Elowyn did just that. She recounted everything that happened from the late night dinner all the way to the ice cream shop they visited a couple of days ago, deciding to leave out the part where she shook Seraphina's hand.
The only difference was that Elowyn recited everything exactly as it had happened, her voice steady and factual, as if she were reading aloud from an instruction manual. Will, on the other hand, reacted to each new piece of information like it was a personal attack on his sanity.
The man drove in silence for a few seconds after that, but the silence had a very particular quality to it—tight, tense, and clearly temporary. The way his fingers drummed once against the steering wheel made it obvious that his brain had already moved on to the next stage of the interrogation.
"Alright," he said finally, glancing at her before returning his eyes to the road. "New line of questioning."
"Okay." Elowyn didn't look away from the window.
Will inhaled slowly, like a detective preparing to interview a witness.
"How tall is she?"
Elowyn thought about it for a moment.
"Very."
"That is not a number."
"I don't know the number."
"Estimate."
"She's a lot taller than me."
Will turned his head just enough to stare at her for a second. "Elowyn, most people are taller than you."
"Is she taller than me?" He continued.
"Yes."
William's eyebrows shot up.
"She's taller than me?"
"Yes."
"By how much?"
Elowyn tilted her head slightly, thinking about the times she stood close to Seraphina.
"An inch or two."
A soft, distressed noise escaped Will's lips.
"So she's tall tall. Does she wear heels all the time?" he pressed.
"Yes."
"Yes," Will repeated slowly. "Are they tall heels?"
"Yes," Elowyn answered again.
"Give me an estimate of how tall, babe."
"Um, the heel itself is maybe like a pen... kind of?"
"A pen. Open google real quick and ask how long is the average pen."
"You're being weird," Elowyn side eyed him, but obeyed.
"The average length of a standard pen is roughly 5 to 6 inches—approximately 130 to 150 millimeters —which fits comfortably within an adult hand. Capped or retracted pens typically average arou—"
"5 to 6 inches..." Will murmured. "Holy shit that's sexy."
"Shoes are sexy?"
"Yes, Elowyn. Have you ever looked at her heels and almost salivated?"
"Salivated?" Elowyn whispered, her brows drawn together.
William glanced at her again before continuing."Okay. Next question. Her eyes. What do they look like in person?"
Elowyn blinked, caught slightly off guard by that one.
"They're green."
"I know they're green," Will said quickly. "I have seen pictures. I'm asking what they look like when she's actually looking at you."
Elowyn thought about it.
"They're very nice."
"That's not helpful."
"They're very green," she clarified.
"And?" William waited.
"And they look at you," Elowyn said.
Will stared at her again."Yes," he said slowly. "That is typically what eyes do."
Elowyn frowned slightly, trying to understand what he wanted.
"They're… warm."
That seemed to satisfy him slightly.
"Warm," Will repeated, nodding to himself like he was taking mental notes.
He paused again before moving on.
"Her voice."
"What about it?" Elowyn looked at him.
"What does it sound like?"
"It sounds like a voice."
"Elowyn," Will closed his eyes briefly.
"What?"
"You are giving the least helpful witness testimony I have ever experienced in my entire life."
"It's calm," she said after a while.
"Deep?"
"I don't know."
"What do you mean you don't know?" Will glanced to the side.
"I wouldn't necessarily describe it as deep, maybe... mature would be a better word?"
Keeping one hand on the wheel, William draped his other over his heart.
"What a woman," William sighed dramatically.
"Yes, she is a woman." Elowyn piped in.
William threw his head back and laughed before quickly remembering he was driving and looking straight again.
"Okay, moving on, does she talk fast?"
"No."
"Slow?"
"Not slow. Just not rushed."
William nodded again, still mentally assembling the image.
"And the way she talks," he continued. "Is it formal? Casual? Intimidating? Does she sound like she's about to negotiate a billion-dollar merger at any moment?"
Elowyn thought about the conversations they had shared, the quiet confidence in the way Seraphina spoke, the way her voice never seemed hurried even when she was clearly busy.
"She sounds like she knows what she's doing."
William let out a breath.
"That is somehow exactly what I expected and also worse."
Elowyn didn't respond, but William wasn't finished yet.
"What about her clothes?" he asked next. "Is she always in those terrifying business outfits?"
"Yes, I think so."
"Always?"
"From what I've seen."
"Like suits? A woman in a suit is absolute perfection."
"I've only seen her in a suit once."
"Well, what about the other times?"
"She's really fancy."
"Fantastic. That clears everything up," William huffed a quiet laugh.
"You asked," Elowyn looked at him.
"I did," he admitted, shaking his head slightly. "I just forgot I was conducting this investigation with the most literal person alive."
The car turned into the mall parking lot as he spoke, rows of parked vehicles stretching out ahead of them.
William slowed the car, still scanning for a space, but his mind clearly hadn't left the conversation yet.
"So let me summarize what I've learned," he said, gesturing lightly with one hand while steering with the other.
"Seraphina Monroe is extremely tall, extremely composed, has green laser-beam eyes, speaks like she's permanently in control of every situation she enters, dresses like a luxury fashion advertisement, and has apparently decided that sharing ice cream with you is a normal way to spend her afternoon. "
"Yes."
William let out a long breath.
"I am both fascinated and deeply concerned."
Elowyn returned her attention to the window, completely unfazed.
"Wait."
Elowyn glanced at him again.
"What?"
William looked at her with sudden
suspicion.
"What do her hands look like?"
"Her hands?" Elowyn turned her face away from the man, feeling her face heat up.
"Babe, you can tell a lot about a person just by looking at their hands. Are her nails short or long? Are they manicured? Does it look like she keeps up with her hand hygiene? Does she wear rings?"
"Her nails are short, but not too short. Like a good length. They are always manicured. Recently, it's been a deep wine red polish. She wears rings but not a whole bunch, just a few diamond ones here and there. And her hands are soft.... really soft, but also strong?"
The car fell into a tense silence as Elowyn waited for Will to respond. And when the response never came, she turned to find her best friend staring at her in complete shock.
"That was the most descriptive thing you have ever said. Ever."
"No, it wasn't," Elowyn said defensively, turning away once more.
"Elowyn! Do you find her hands attractive? Because the way you described them makes it seem like you do a whole lot of staring."
"Why would I find hands attractive? That makes no sense," Elowyn side eyed the man, her face fully flushed now.
"Oh my God," William gasped with one hand over his mouth, "Ellie, you're blushing!"
Elowyn turned away from Will once more and pressed her hands against her cheeks.
"Ellie," William said in a sing-song tone.
"What?" Her voice came out muffled due to her quite literally pressing herself against the car door.
"How are you feeling, babe? I'm not teasing anymore."
"I feel burning."
"Shy?" William questioned.
Elowyn let out a small nod and curled further into her seat.
"There's nothing to be shy about, Ellie. This stuff is completely norm—"
"I shook her hand!" Elowyn blurted.
William froze, trying to process what he had just heard.
"You what?"
"I shook her hand. Her bare hand." She rushed out, pressing her palms together in panic.
William stared at her, the engine still running, the car sitting crooked in the parking spot like he'd forgotten how to park halfway through.
"Okay," he said after a while, still trying to calm himself.
He looked at her, then at her hands, then back at her face.
"…we're not staying in this car," he decided.
"What?"
"I feel like I'm going to pass out," he said, already reaching to turn the engine off.
"Are you okay? We can go to the food court first if you feel sick," Elowyn said, her tone full of concern.
"Not that kind of pass out Ellie— Well, maybe. I'm not sick though, don't worry."
"Come on," he said, walking around the front of the car.
Elowyn stayed where she was for half a second longer before opening her door and stepping out, her movements a little stiff, like she hadn't fully settled back into herself yet.
William watched her the moment she stood, his expression shifting—not teasing, just observant.
"You're still doing it," he said.
"Doing what."
"That thing with your hands."
"Im not," Elowyn immediately dropped them to her sides.
"You were," he said, not pressing, just stating it.
She huffed quietly and started toward the mall entrance, clearly deciding to abandon the conversation altogether.
"Alright," he said after a second, tone lighter now. "I'll drop it."
Elowyn didn't respond, but her shoulders loosened just slightly.
He let a few steps pass.
Then—
"Was she warm?"
Elowyn stopped walking.
William took one more step before
realizing she'd stopped, then turned back to look at her.
"…what?"
"Her hand," he clarified, like it was the most normal follow-up in the world. "Was it warm?"
Elowyn stared at him, her face immediately flushing again.
"That's a weird question."
"It's a very simple question," he said. "Warm or cold."
Elowyn hesitated, clearly annoyed that she had an answer.
"…warm," she admitted.
William nodded once, filing that away like it mattered.
"Okay."
Elowyn narrowed her eyes slightly. "Why does that matter?"
"It doesn't," he said easily. "I've never met this woman before, so I'm just building a profile."
"That's creepy."
"I've accepted that about myself," he replied nonchalantly.
Shaking her head, Elowyn started walking again, a little faster this time. William caught up quickly, hands sliding into his pockets.
"So how did this handshake come to happen?"
"I was thanking her for the ice cream, then stuck my hand out."
"So you initiated it," William murmured to himself.
"I think I liked it," Elowyn said suddenly, "because it didn't feel ugly."
William's eyes widened slightly as he glanced down at her.
"Okay," he said, voice tight with curiosity. "When you say it didn't feel ugly… what do you mean? Like, was it nice? Comfortable? Weird in a good way? Confusing?"
"Did it make your hand… tingle?" he continued, gesturing vaguely. "Or was it just a normal handshake that happened to feel… not wrong?"
"I think it just felt nice... and comfortable," she said softly, shrugging slightly.
William went quiet again, but this time, it wasn't distracted or playful.
He watched her for a second longer than usual, something in his expression tightening as everything she'd said started to settle into place in a way he hadn't fully processed before.
Elowyn, meanwhile, had gone back to staring ahead, her hands still pressed together like she hadn't quite realized she was doing it.
William exhaled slowly, dragging a hand over the back of his neck.
"…yeah," he muttered under his breath.
A few more steps passed before he spoke again, his tone different now—still light on the surface, but with something more deliberate underneath.
"I definitely need to have a talk with this woman when I see her."
Elowyn blinked, turning her head to look at him, confusion immediate.
"Why?"
William didn't hesitate, the answer coming easily—too easily.
"Standard procedure, best friend protocol. Little… friendship initiation thing," he lied, shrugging one shoulder.
"Friendship initiation? We didn't do that with Mikey."
"Mikey is Mikey. He didn't really need one."
"I guess..." Elowyn mumbled.
She didn't move right away, still looking at him like she was trying to sort through whether that made any sense.
William met her eyes for a brief second, something steadier sitting behind his usual expression before he tilted his head toward the entrance.
The mall was quieter than she expected. Middle of the week, mid-morning—the polished floors reflected the soft overhead light, and her steps made a faint echo in the empty corridors.
Elowyn kept her earbuds draped around her neck, a little shield she could tuck back over her ears if things got overwhelming.
She didn't like shopping. She never had.
The people, the movement, the noise—it felt like a tide she had to fight through.
"When's your dad coming back?" William broke the silence.
"This weekend."
The answer came easily, but her thoughts didn't stay in the present for long.
They slipped back to that morning—to the quiet of the kitchen and the way her father had already been sitting at the table when she walked in, shoulders slightly slumped, like he'd been there for a while.
He had straightened when he saw her, quick, like he didn't want her to notice.
He told her he needed to go out of town for a few days, that he'd be back this weekend.
She had smiled, congratulating him, thinking it sounded like a small vacation, something easy. But he hadn't smiled back.
She'd paused, looking at him more closely. "Are you okay?" she'd asked. "Something's wrong with your face."
He told her everything was fine, that he just needed to take care of something—and not to worry, Daniel would check up on her in the mornings.
She let the thought sit for a moment, then it slipped away as the quiet of the mall pressed back in, her focus returning to the steady echo of their steps.
"First stop," William said, gesturing toward a row of stores, "is my favorite place to ruin my wallet." He grinned. "Don't worry, it's painless. Mostly."
Elowyn nodded, but her attention drifted over the displays instead. The colors, the careful arrangements, the little details she noticed instinctively—the folded edges of a shirt, the subtle sheen of leather on a jacket—made her feel slightly more grounded. She followed his pace but didn't speak.
William walked into his store, and the soft hiss of the automatic doors closing behind them made her chest tighten for a moment before she let it ease. She stayed a few steps behind, quietly watching him handle the items he picked up.
He picked things quickly, barely hesitating before moving on to the next rack.
Elowyn watched the pattern more than the clothes themselves—the way his hand moved, the speed of it, how he seemed to already know what he was looking for before he touched anything.
"You don't even look properly," she said.
"I do," he replied. "Just faster than you."
"That doesn't seem accurate."
"It is. I've trained for this."
She didn't respond to that, but her eyes stayed on him a second longer before drifting back to the shelves.
"I'll try not to make this take forever," he said, glancing back at her. "But you know, fashion emergencies happen."
Elowyn gave a small, barely perceptible nod, letting herself smile a little. It was easier to be here, quieter, when William was in front of her, guiding the flow of the trip. She felt like she could observe rather than interact, which suited her perfectly.
After he gathered a few things, the checkout was simple and quiet. She noticed the small rhythm—the click of the card reader, the rustle of bags, William's soft humming under his breath. She exhaled once they were done, feeling a little lighter, ready for the next stop.
"The Lego store," William said, turning her gently toward the corridor. "And then we can grab a bite to eat."
Elowyn's lips twitched. "Yes," she said softly. She knew exactly what she was there for, and it was not a sprawling spree through shelves she didn't care about.
The Lego store was tucked into a corner, small but neat, the air smelling faintly of plastic and cardboard. Her chest lifted slightly as soon as she saw the shelves lined with the boxes she loved.
"Okay," she whispered to herself, moving forward with careful steps. Her attention was fixed on the shelves, scanning each set carefully, pausing longer on a few that caught her eye.
A smaller box sat slightly out of line with the rest. She reached out, nudging it back into place so the edge lined up evenly. Then she moved on.
William drifted beside her, glancing at a display of Star Wars sets. "You sure you don't want me to pay?" he asked casually.
"I can pay," she murmured, eyes fixed on the shelf. "I'm just here for one thing." She reached for the boxes carefully, examining them before sliding one down to the edge of the shelf.
William moved closer, already reaching for the box. "I got it," he said.
"No," she said quickly, voice soft but firm, holding her hands over the box as though guarding it. Her ears were slightly pink, her gaze darting toward the cashier a few steps away.
He hesitated, surprised that the girl was going to speak to the cashier herself. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I want to try this once," she said, fingers gripping her sweater. She took the box to the counter, placing it carefully in front of her, feeling her hands tremble.
"Um, do y–you have any brick glue?"
The cashier raised an eyebrow, offering a polite smile. "We do. How many do you need?"
"One," she said softly, avoiding eye contact at all cost.
Elowyn focused on her fingers and the edge of the counter, counting softly in her head as the cashier scanned the boxes. She felt William's presence beside her, quiet and reassuring, but she kept her eyes fixed on the transaction, needing to handle this herself.
Once the cashier handed her the bag, Elowyn's hands hovered for a fraction longer before gripping it. "I hope you have a nice day," she muttered.
Willam stepped out of the Lego store carrying Elowyn's small Lego bag.
He paused near the food court kiosk, glancing down at her.
"Okay, so a little bit of a dilemma here..." Will grimaced.
"What is it?"
"Nature's calling."
"Huh?" Elowyn tilted her head.
"I gotta take a shit, Ellie. Real bad," Will said, feeling very guilty.
"I told you not to eat that whole flipping burrito at home, William," Elowyn scolded.
"I know, I know. I'm sorry," he apologized, knowing she hated being left alone.
"Here, look," Will said, walking towards the pretzel cart.
"I'll buy you a nice warm pretzel and a drink if you want one, then we'll go and find the quietest waiting area—quickly— and you can enjoy your little snack there. Does that sound good?"
Elowyn huffed and turned away.
"I'll take a salted pretzel," she said at last.
"Oh, thank God," Will said, relieved that the girl took his bribe. "Do you want a drink too?"
"Water is fine."
"Okay, I'll be right back."
Leaning up against the wall right outside the Lego store, Elowyn pulled out her phone and began scrolling through YouTube, searching for a video to watch while she ate.
When he was finally done ordering, William didn't even stop to give Elowyn her pretzel. He simply sped walked right by her, telling her to follow him.
And Elowyn tried.
She had to practically run to keep up, nearly tripping over herself as Will pushed forward at an unrelenting speed, only coming to a stop once he reached his waiting area.
"Sit right here, quickly please," Will gestured to the bench in front of him.
"Okay, here you go," he placed the snack on Elowyn's lap, "it should stay relatively quiet in this area, so don't worry."
"Where are we?" Elowyn looked around, not recognizing this part of the mall before. Everything was so fancy.
"The rich people section, babe. It's always more peaceful over here. The restrooms are usually cleaner too."
Elowyn hummed and turned the pretzel in her hand, quietly observing the elegance of the "rich people section."
"I'll be back. Stay right there."
"Okay."
Elowyn stayed seated on the bench, her Lego bag resting at her side as she turned her phone on, the soft glow of the screen lighting her face as she pressed play.
Her focus settled almost immediately on the small window of movement and sound, the rest of the space around her beginning to fade at the edges.
Her hands drifted toward the pretzel bag, fingers brushing against it before picking at a few pieces between watching the video, the motion absent and familiar.
Every so often, her eyes lifted, drawn briefly to the polished floors or the faint movement of people passing by, but the glances never lasted long before her attention slipped back to the screen.
From where she sat, the mall felt distant.
The usual hum of footsteps and scattered conversation dulled into something soft and far away, barely brushing against her awareness.
She let herself settle into it, the quiet wrapping around her as the warmth of the snack and the steady rhythm of the video kept her grounded.
She sat like that for a few minutes until the sudden flash of shiny heels broke through her focus, forcing her to look up.
"Are you following me?" Elowyn questioned.
Seraphina didn't answer right away. Her eyes flicked briefly to the pretzel in Elowyn's hand, then to the phone, before settling on her face.
"If I were," she said, her tone smooth, "I imagine I'd be doing a far better job of it."
"Are you here alone?" Seraphina asked.
"Yes?" Elowyn looked around wondering why the woman would ask such a silly question when she was clearly sitting alone.
"I mean, did you come shopping all alone," Seraphina corrected herself, noting the girl's puzzled expression.
"Oh. No, Will is in the restroom."
Seraphina's expression shifted almost imperceptibly at that.
Her attention moved briefly across the open space around them before returning to Elowyn.
"And he just left you here?"
Elowyn frowned slightly. "He had to go."
A quiet pause settled between them before Seraphina moved, stepping closer and taking the empty space beside the girl.
Instinctively, Elowyn raised her hand, offering a bite of the pretzel to Seraphina.
Seraphina shook her head gently, a faint, polite smile on her lips. "I'm alright, you eat it."
Lowering her hand slowly, Elowyn watched the pretzel for a moment before letting it rest in her lap. She shifted her attention back to her phone, thumb moving over the screen to pause the video playing.
Seraphina's gaze lingered on the screen for a moment before she asked, her voice quiet but naturally curious, "What are you watching?"
"How ships in glass bottles are made," she answered. "What's in those," Elowyn's attention was stolen by the sleek white shopping bags at Seraphina's feet.
"Shoes."
"All three bags are shoes?" Elowyn asked, astonished, noticing the luxury label on the front of the bag.
"Only one belongs to me. I'm holding the other two for someone."
"I see you purchased a new Lego," Seraphina continued.
Elowyn nodded, finishing the last bite of her pretzel. "You can't know what it is, though."
"Oh?" Seraphina tilted her head, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "And why is that?"
"Because it's for you."
Seraphina raised an eyebrow, letting the words settle between them. "For me?"
Elowyn just nodded again, then glanced down at her hands for a moment, twisting them together before looking back up.
"And why did you buy something for me?" Seraphina asked, voice calm but edged with curiosity.
"Because." Elowyn's shoulders lifted slightly, as if that one word carried all the explanation she could manage.
A soft laugh escaped Seraphina as she leaned back slightly, letting her fingers lightly tap the edge of the bench.
"I don't want you spending your money on me," she added, her eyes softening, showing she genuinely didn't want Elowyn to feel obligated.
Elowyn's face remained blank as she sat there patiently waiting.
"What?" Seraphina prompted, tilting her head ever so slightly, a quiet smile lingering.
"I'm waiting for you to change the subject, because I can't talk about it."
Seraphina let out a small, almost breathless laugh. "Okay," she said, though her gaze lingered thoughtfully on the girl, still wondering what Elowyn could possibly have gotten her.
"Is there a bin around here?" Elowyn said suddenly, scanning the area.
"There's one just down that way," Seraphina said, motioning ahead. "I'll go with you."
Both women stood, moving to gather their things. Seraphina bent gracefully, lifting her own bags off the floor, while Elowyn tucked her phone into the bag, but before she could fully pick it up, Seraphina's hand closed around it, taking the weight from her.
As they finished collecting their things, a sharp gasp rang out from the waiting area, making Elowyn jump slightly as Seraphina looked toward the source, calm but alert, only to be disappointed by what she saw.
"Phina!"
Elowyn looked up and saw a woman approaching.
She was about Seraphina's height, her movements confident and unhurried.
Dark, mid-length hair framed a face with deep brown eyes that seemed to take in everything at once.
There was a quiet strength in the way she carried herself, the kind of presence that made the space around her feel just a little smaller, though Elowyn didn't know why.
"Lower your voice, Scarlett," Seraphina scolded.
The woman ignored Seraphina, looking directly past her and straight at Elowyn, who stood slightly behind Seraphina.
"Hi, cutie," she called, her voice carrying a slight spanish accent.
"Scarlett—"
"You must be the famous Elowyn," she continued, ignoring Seraphina.
"I'm not famous," Elowyn mumbled, still a little startled.
"Oh trust me, to some people you might as well be," Scarlett shot a wink to Seraphina.
"Alright, break it up," a new voice rang out as another woman appeared. She was slightly shorter than the other two, her light brown eyes flicking quickly around the space. Her shoulder-length hair bounced lightly with each step, as she moved with a brisk, purposeful rhythm.
Seraphina let out a quiet breath, casting both women a look Elowyn couldn't quite read.
"Hello, Elowyn. I'm Nadia and that's Scarlett. We're friends of Seraphina's."
"Hi," Elowyn said softly, giving a small wave, still half-hidden behind Seraphina.
Scarlett stepped slightly to the side, leaning just enough to look past Seraphina—and this time, she was able to see the small girl clearly.
Her expression shifted, her eyes settling with interest.
"Well," she said, her voice measured, "you're even more adorable up close."
"Scarlett," Seraphina's voice dropped, quieter now but edged with warning.
Seraphina's hand moved almost automatically. Reaching behind without looking, she gently wrapped her hand around Elowyn's sweater covered arm, guiding her a step closer until she was tucked more securely at her side.
Scarlett's gaze flicked between them, taking in the change, a faint curve forming at the corner of her mouth.
"It's a compliment," she said.
"I'm aware."
Nadia's attention shifted, her gaze dropping briefly to the Lego bag in Elowyn's hand. "I like your bag," she said, gesturing lightly toward it.
"Thank you," Elowyn pressed the yellow bag closer to her body.
Seraphina shifted slightly, adjusting the bags in her own hands before extending two towards Scarlett. "Take your damn bags. I'm tired of carrying everything for you."
Scarlett took the bags from Seraphina, glancing at the woman's arm that had Elowyn's personal bag hooked on it.
"I guess I'm just not that special," Scarlett sighed teasingly.
"Elowyn," Nadia changed the subject, seeing how Seraphina was glaring at Scarlett, "I heard you're—"
"Ellie?"
Elowyn turned to find William standing there, moving his eyes from her, to the three women surrounding her.
"Holy trinity of mommies," he whispered to himself.
Elowyn looked at him, then slowly raised her hand, pointing at Seraphina as if presenting a rare find.
"Look," she said softly.
"Yeah, I'm looking," Will responded, "Nice to meet you, I'm William," he said politely, holding a hand out to Seraphina.
"Seraphina," the woman nodded, shaking his hand firmly.
He then turned slightly, offering his hand to Nadia and Scarlett.
"Will wants to talk to you," Elowyn looked up at the woman.
"What! I—no I was just saying—" William stuttered in a panic.
"He said you need a friendship initiation," Elowyn continued, completely clueless.
"Friendship initiation?" Seraphina raised a brow.
"No ma'am , I don't know what she's talking about—"
"Yes, you do. You just told me this an hour ago," Elowyn frowned, wondering why he was lying.
"Ellie," William muttered through clenched teeth, praying the girl would get the hint.
"What?" She questioned.
Scarlett didn't miss a beat, her attention shifting smoothly as she glanced between the three.
"Well," she said, adjusting the bags on her arm, tone easy, "that works out nicely."
Seraphina's eyes narrowed slightly.
"What?" Scarlett replied, entirely unbothered. "You two can have your… conversation," she smirked, "and Nadia and I can spend a little time getting to know little Ellie properly."
"Little Ellie?" Seraphina muttered to herself in disbelief.
Elowyn blinked, her fingers tightening slightly around the handle of her Lego bag.
"Huh?"
Scarlett angled her head, offering a faint, reassuring smile. "We're all connected anyway," she said. "You're Seraphina's friend. We're her friends— it makes things simple."
A small nod from Nadia beside her made the statement feel entirely natural.
William, on the other hand, looked like he might combust. "I don't think— I mean, we don't have to— there's no talk—"
Not even sparing him a single glance, Seraphina kept her gaze on Scarlett, steady and unimpressed.
Elowyn hesitated, shifting her weight slightly closer to Seraphina without fully hiding behind her again. "I… don't know," she said quietly.
A quiet tension settled over the group, stretching just long enough to feel the tension.
Then Nadia spoke, her voice gentle but firm. "Have you eaten today?"
The girl tilted her head at the question, lifting the empty hand that had been holding her pretzel not long ago. "I had a pretzel," she murmured shyly.
"That's not food," Nadia said, eyebrows lifting.
Elowyn frowned. "Yes, it is. I ate it."
That pulled a soft laugh from Nadia, something warm and easy. "I mean, it's not a meal."
"She's not wrong," Scarlett added lightly.
"You haven't eaten a single meal all day?" Nadia said, concern evident in her voice.
"Um..." Elowyn pressed her hands together.
"Ellie, did you not have breakfast?" Will chimed in with worry.
"I forgot..." Elowyn reached out and toyed with Seraphina's sleeve, her heart quickening with a hint of panic, unsure if she'd done something wrong.
"Okay, it's alright—everyone forgets things sometimes," Nadia said, her voice gentle. "How about this? Scarlett and I will take you to the food court, get you something to eat, and then we'll find something sweet after."
Elowyn didn't hesitate this time. "Okay."
William's eyes bounced from Elowyn to Nadia, then back again. "...that's all it takes?" he muttered under his breath.
Scarlett's lips curved, catching his remark.
By the time he realized it, Elowyn had already moved slightly forward, attention drawn to the two women as if the decision had been made the moment "sweet" was mentioned.
Running a hand down his face, he muttered quietly, "Good to know. Just… offer snacks and she's gone."
Seraphina didn't laugh. Her line of vision moved slowly from the two women, then down to Elowyn, her expression unreadable but far from relaxed.
"No." The word landed cleanly. "We'll all go get lunch, then we can talk."
Scarlett didn't so much as pause. "She'll survive fifteen minutes without you."
"That isn't the point."
It wasn't that Seraphina didn't trust her friends—she did. What mattered was that they didn't know Elowyn and, more importantly, Elowyn didn't know them. She knew how timid the girl could be around new people.
Alongside that understanding, Seraphina wasn't afraid to admit she had grown rather protective of the girl.
Elowyn glanced between them, a little lost, though the mention of food and sweets still lingered in her thoughts.
With a small, inviting gesture, Scarlett lifted her arm, inviting Elowyn to grab onto her sleeve. "Come on," she said, easy, like the decision had already been made. "Let's get you a proper meal."
Looking up at Seraphina, Elowyn gestured toward the hand gripping her bag. "Can I take that?"
Seraphina gently placed the bag onto Elowyn's shoulder, letting her take it easily, but her other hand stayed holding onto the girl's arm. "Are you sure you feel comfortable going?"
"Yes. I want food," she smiled, wiggling her arm lightly, waiting for the woman to let go.
Seraphina's fingers held on with the faintest hesitation before she finally gave the girl's arm a gentle squeeze, then released it.
Elowyn turned and grabbed onto Scarlett's sleeve, leaving Seraphina standing there, her posture straight but her attention still quietly on the girl.
Nadia moved with her, falling into step on Elowyn's other side, her presence steady. "We'll see you later," the woman called over her shoulder.
Seraphina remained where she was.
"Nadia," her voice dropped slightly, the kind of tone that didn't need to raise itself to make sure her meaning was understood.
"She'll be fine," Nadia reassured. "I know what I'm doing, remember?"
Eyes widening, William watched the three of them walk off toward the food court. "...that's insane," he said. "They just—"
Seraphina turned then, the motion precise and controlled. "Let's get this over with, Mr. Bennett. What's this 'friendship initiation' really about?"
"How do you know my last name?" William murmured in quiet shock, feeling even more intimidated by the woman standing in front of him.