Lyra paused, noticing the sharpness in Inessa’s words. It wasn’t like her to be so defensive, and the forced smile didn’t escape her either. Something’s up, she thought. For a moment, Lyra’s frustration ebbed, replaced by concern for her friend.
She softened her tone, pushing aside her own feelings for now. “I get it,” she said, her voice gentler this time. “It sucks when you put in so much effort and don’t get the win. Your team did deserve it.” Lyra gave Inessa a small, understanding smile, hoping to ease the tension a bit.
Lyra shifted her weight, pulling her jacket around her a little tighter. “And I know Renlin’s probably just caught up in the win, but…” She hesitated, then took a breath. “I don’t know, it’s just been a rough day. For me. Maybe for you, too?” she added, her tone softer now, more inviting.
She didn’t want to push too hard, but she hoped Inessa would feel comfortable enough to share if something was bothering her. “If you need to talk, I’m here, you know?” Lyra’s attempt at connection was sincere, her prior frustration giving way to concern for her friend.
When Inessa called her “hot,” Lyra froze for a moment, caught completely off guard. She had never really seen herself that way - sure, she could put an outfit together, but hot? That word felt foreign, like it belonged to someone else, not her. She was so caught off guard, that she had totally missed the shaking tone in which Inessa had spoken.
She blinked, trying to play it off with a laugh, but there was a flush creeping up her cheeks. “Hot?” she repeated, the word awkward on her tongue as if testing it. “I mean, I’m usually more of a… cute kind of girl.” She tugged at the hem of her dress, suddenly feeling a bit self-conscious, as if the compliment had placed a spotlight on her.
But as she looked at Inessa, who was grinning and clearly meant what she said, Lyra felt a small, unfamiliar flicker of confidence stir inside her. It was strange, but maybe there was something empowering about the way she looked tonight. “Well, I guess I’ll take it,” she said, her tone softening into something more playful, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Thanks, Inessa. You’re not too bad yourself,” she added with a wink as Inessa was now wearing her costume and had put on the oversized black sunglasses and chunky headphones. The moment Inessa stood up in her pristine white dress, the contrast between their outfits was striking, and Lyra couldn’t help but break into a genuine smile.
As Inessa teased her, Lyra’s eyes lit up in recognition, catching the playful hint. “Oh, please,” Lyra said, her voice warm as she folded her arms with a knowing smirk. “Princess Mia from The Princess Diaries? Of course I know. You totally nailed it, Inessa!” She did a small clap for her friend, feeling some of the tension lift in the room.
“And seriously, you look amazing. Totally giving me ‘post-makeover Mia’ vibes,” she added, her grin widening. Lyra sensed the hidden nerves beneath Inessa’s playful teasing, but she didn’t want to push too much. Instead, she let her praise flow freely, hoping to boost her friend’s confidence. “Honestly, the sunglasses, the gloves? Iconic.”
As they walk toward the party, Lyra could sense Inessa’s shift in energy, feeling a bit of it rub off on her too. Glancing over, she gave Inessa a small smile before speaking. “You know, I wasn’t sure I could pull this off tonight,” Lyra said, adjusting the strap of her dress slightly, her voice carrying a hint of vulnerability mixed with a playful tone. “But honestly, walking next to you like this? I think we’re about to steal the show.”
She took a deep breath, feeling the cool night air on her skin. “Honestly though,” she added, her tone softening a bit, “I’m kind of glad we’re doing this. I need a night to just… let go for a while. No overthinking, no guilt. Just fun. You with me on that?” Lyra’s gaze flicked to Inessa, her smile a little brighter now, but there was a vulnerability in her words - like she needed reassurance that this night could be a chance for both of them to escape the weight they’d been carrying.
Inessa - @Madilfill