It had been barely ten minutes since Marina left, and I was still standing there — next to the door — staring at it like it could explain what the hell just happened.
Celestia sat cross-legged on my couch like she hadn't just gone full psychological warfare on my oldest friend. She was sipping tea she made herself, wearing my hoodie, and looking like the villain who won.
I rubbed the back of my neck. "That was… weird."
She didn't look up.
"Marina's been off all day," I added, frowning. "I mean, she's never that quiet around me. Like... ever."
"That's because she likes you," Celestia said simply, like she was talking about the weather.
I blinked. "What?"
She glanced at me then. That look. Calm. Patient. Like I was a child she had to explain crayons to.
> "She likes you, Kai."
I laughed. "No, she doesn't."
> "She does."
"She doesn't. Marina's my friend."
"She likes you," she repeated, slowly, like she was worried my brain had stopped working. "And not in the 'pass me the notes' kind of way. More like in the 'kiss me before I lose my mind' kind of way."
"Okay, no," I said, pacing now. "We've been best friends since forever. She's like—like a sister. Or a brother. Just, you know… a girl one."
Celestia raised an eyebrow. "You call your sister hot?"
"What—No! What the hell?!"
> "She looked at you like she wanted to fight me and kiss you in the same breath."
I waved my hands like that would somehow erase the words. "You're being paranoid."
She stood then alked over, real close.
"I'm supposed to be your best friend," she said, eyes locked on mine.
I blinked. "Wait, I thought you were my girlfriend?"
She shrugged. "Same thing."
"That's not—"
She kissed my cheek, soft, slow. Smirking after. "Do you cuddle your best friend in bed, Kai?"
I opened my mouth. Closed it. Nope. Nothing useful was coming out.
"I'm not mad," she said, stepping back. "Yet. But I am territorial."
"That's not reassuring."
> "And I'm possessive."
"That's worse."
She grinned, wicked and glowing. "But I'm also generous. See, if you stop talking to her — Marina — I'll give you a blowjob."
My brain died.
Literally just full system shutdown.
"What?!"
She winked. "I'm just saying. Loyalty has its perks."
"I—You can't just offer—That's not how this works!"
She kissed me. Quick and firm.
Then walked toward the door, bag slung over her shoulder.
"College prep," she said with a dramatic sigh. "Unfortunately, I still need to pretend to be normal for a few hours."
"Celestia—"
She turned. Blew me a kiss. "Think about it."
The door shut behind her.
And I just stood there, pulse hammering, brain on fire, one thought looping in my head:
What. The actual. Hell.
---
To be continued...