The sound of my own voice woke me up before I fully realized what I'd said.
"Ellie? Tristan? What are you two doing out here so early?"
I blinked against the soft morning light filtering through the curtains and pushed the door open wider. And there they were, standing in the hall, close enough for it to mean something, yet far enough to act like it didn't.
Ellie's hand gripped the railing as if it were the only thing holding her up, her cheeks flushed, her eyes wide. She looked like she'd been caught stealing a secret.
Tristan, in contrast, remained inscrutable, calm, and composed. However, his posture was defensive, leaning toward her in a manner I had only seen when he was guarding our family from external threats.
Something's twisted in my chest.
"I couldn't sleep," Ellie said too quickly, her voice trembling just a little. "I was going to get some water."
Tristan added nothing; he only watched me with that heavy gaze of his.
I leaned against the doorframe, pretending to be casual even though I wasn't. "Both of you? At the same time?"
Ellie laughed, though it sounded brittle and cracked at the edges. "Coincidence, I suppose."
I didn't press. Not yet. Instead, I watched them in the silence that followed, the way Ellie refused to meet my eyes, and the way Tristan's jaw tightened as if he was holding back words.
They believed they were hiding something. And perhaps they were, but the truth was already showing in every glance, every pause.
"Right," I said softly, folding my arms. "Well, don't let me hold you up. I just arrived, so I'll likely need a nap after breakfast. Ellie, will you still join me later?"
Her head shot up quickly, her smile a bit too eager. "Of course."
Tristan's eyes darted between us, his expression hard to read.
I walked back into my room, giving one last smile before closing the door.
The moment the latch clicked, my chest tightened. They were lying to me, or maybe lying to themselves, but either way, something was going on between them.
And I wasn't sure if I was ready for the day when it all came crashing into the open.
Alone in her room again, Sophia leans against the door, whispering to herself, "Ellie, what have you gotten yourself into?" At the same time, Ellie, outside, struggles to breathe, realizing Sophia's questions weren't casual at all.