The sun had dipped lower in the sky, washing the city in amber as James guided the car back onto the long road toward the Quest mansion. The passenger seat beside him held the oversized fluffy elephant Blair won, its trunk pressed up against the window, almost like it too had a story to tell.
Blair sat quietly, a soft smile dancing on her lips. Her hair was wind-tousled from the rollercoaster, her cheeks slightly pink from all the laughing. She was leaning against the window, one hand absentmindedly holding the edge of the teddy's ear, the other playing with the bracelet on her wrist.
James glanced at her, then back to the road, but he couldn't stop himself from speaking.
"You're quiet," he said gently.
"I'm thinking," she replied, still looking outside.
"Dangerous thing, thinking."
She gave a soft laugh. "Not as dangerous as rollercoasters with you."
"You loved that ride."
"I almost died, James."
"You screamed louder than anyone there. Including that kid in front of us."
"That kid was eight."
He chuckled. "Hey, it was either scream or throw up. You chose the nobler path."
She turned her head finally, looking at him. That same calm, unreadable look on her face. "Today was... fun."
He glanced at her again, and for a split second, their eyes locked.
"Yeah," he said quietly. "It was."
And then silence again. But not the uncomfortable kind. The kind that sits softly between two people who are just... at ease.
"Thank you," Blair said after a while.
James glanced over, eyebrows raised. "For?"
"For not asking me to explain. Or talk. Or... be okay faster than I actually am."
James shrugged one shoulder. "You don't owe anyone your healing speed, Maybell. Least of all me."
Blair smiled, this time genuinely. "Still. Thank you."
A beat passed. James tapped the steering wheel with his fingers. "You know," he said, careful, "I've never seen anyone slap a guy with such effort before."
Blair groaned and buried her face in her hands. "Don't remind me."
"Are you kidding? That was... iconic. I've never seen Lily look that shocked. Or Cassie look that confused."
"I don't even remember doing it, I just—snapped."
James smirked. "Remind me never to get on your bad side."
"Good," she said, peeking through her fingers, "because you're close."
He laughed.
The mansion appeared in the distance, lights already flickering on inside. James slowed the car.
"They probably think we're still gone," Blair said.
"Let's keep it that way for one more minute."
She looked at him again, head tilted. "Why?"
James looked at her, really looked at her—eyes soft, thoughtful.
"Because this is the first time all day you look like you're not carrying something heavy."
Blair didn't reply. She just held his gaze. And for the first time, maybe ever, she didn't look away.
Not immediately.
Just long enough for James to feel like she saw him too.
Then she smiled faintly. "Let's go."
He parked the car slowly, cutting the engine.
As they stepped out, side by side, their fingers brushed just slightly.
Neither of them pulled away.
---
Cassie's POV
The dining room was tense. Tense in that way where everyone pretends they're fine but no one's touched their drink, and the sound of cutlery scraping on porcelain is the only thing filling the air.
Cassie sat at one end of the table, half-heartedly stabbing her salad, while Caleb and Andrew exchanged lazy remarks about their video game scores from earlier. Maddie was scrolling through her phone under the table. Jazmine looked bored out of her mind, sipping water like it was wine.
And seated directly across from Cassie… were they.
Amanda. And Cole.
Cassie couldn't even look at them for more than two seconds without feeling a wave of irritation crawl up her spine. Amanda had on that calm, performative smile—like this wasn't the most awkward dinner in the history of the Quest household. And Cole looked like he was trying to disappear into his chair.
Lily barely spoke. Dad did most of the talking—light comments, gentle questions, trying to keep things from cracking completely.
But it was all just noise until—
The front door creaked.
Then—footsteps. Light and fast. Followed by… laughter.
Cassie's head shot up. The whole room seemed to hold its breath.
Blair stepped into the dining room first, cheeks pink from the evening chill, hair a bit tousled, and carrying a huge, fluffy gray elephant plushie in her arms. Her smile softened the moment she caught the weight of everyone's stares.
James followed close behind, a relaxed expression on his face and two drinks in hand. He didn't look guilty. He didn't look awkward. If anything, he looked like he didn't care what any of them thought.
Cassie's eyes flicked from Blair to James, to the elephant, and back to Blair.
Where the hell had they been?
Dad stood first. "You're back."
Blair nodded, voice low. "Yeah. Sorry we almost missed dinner."
Lily spoke next, though her tone was tight. "We saved you a plate."
"Thanks," Blair murmured. She moved toward her seat quietly, keeping the plushie clutched close, placing it beside her before sitting. James placed her milkshake in front of her like it was routine.
The tension was suddenly thicker. Even Caleb paused with his fork halfway to his mouth. Jazmine smirked, and Maddie watched them like she was clocking something new.
Cassie didn't say anything.
She just stared.
Amanda leaned slightly forward, smile still sweet and soft like honey with a hidden sting. "Finally got over your fear of amusement parks, huh?"
Blair froze for a moment, fingers tightening around the straw of her drink.
Cassie watched her closely.
Blair looked up, straight at Amanda. Her voice was flat. Tired.
"I'm not doing this. Whatever this is, Amanda—just don't. I'm too tired to pretend we can sort anything out. So… don't talk to me. Please."
Amanda blinked, caught off guard.
The silence was immediate.
Cassie noticed Cole shrink slightly in his seat. Even Jazmine raised her brows.
Blair stood. She picked up the plush elephant again, letting it fall against her shoulder like a pillow.
Then she looked across the table—just briefly—at Lily.
And in that look, there was something quiet. Bruised. And Lily, despite everything, nodded almost imperceptibly.
Blair's voice softened as she mumbled, "Good night."
Then she walked out of the room.
James stood a beat later. "I'm not really hungry either."
He followed her.
The quiet that followed was thick and unreadable.
Cassie felt her stomach twist. Not just at James leaving like that, or Blair's exit—but at the strange way her chest tightened watching them go. Something about how he walked after her. Something about how she didn't flinch when he did.
She glanced across the table.
Amanda was pressing her lips together.
And Lily looked like she might cry.
---
– Blair's POV
"Good night, Maybell," James said, voice low but teasing as they reached the top of the stairs.
Blair gave a soft smile, shifting the plush elephant under her arm. "Night, Covey."
He lingered for a second, watching her walk toward her room before disappearing into Caleb's. The hallway lights dimmed to a golden hue, soft shadows painting the walls. Blair closed the door gently behind her and leaned against it for a moment, finally breathing in the quiet.
Thirty minutes later, she stood in front of her dresser in her favorite navy cotton nightshirt, fresh from the shower, hair damp and loose around her shoulders. Her skin glowed softly under the warm bedroom lighting. She reached for the photo strip they took at the amusement park—the last frame had them laughing so hard their faces were blurry.
She smiled to herself.
Then carefully, she pinned the strip right beside the photo of her and Maddie from the first day of school. Her eyes shifted downward, where a silver-framed photo of her and Cole used to sit. Another with Amanda at a café from middle school.
Blair paused… then slowly picked them both up.
She stared at them for a heartbeat—just long enough to register the past—but without hesitation, walked to the trash bin and dropped them in. The sound they made wasn't loud. But it felt final.
A knock came at the door.
She hesitated. "Come in."
The door creaked open gently—and there she was.
Her mom.
Lily Quest.
Blair blinked, caught off guard. It felt like forever since they'd been alone in the same room without tension, without guests, without Cassie hovering nearby. And without words, Blair rushed into her mother's arms.
Lily's arms enveloped her instantly.
Blair clung to her, face buried into her shoulder.
"I'm so sorry, baby," Lily whispered, her voice already thick with tears. "I should've never brought them here. I didn't think—I was so ignorant. I just wanted peace—"
"No," Blair choked, her voice cracking. "No, Mom. I should've told you what happened. You didn't know. And you're a good mom."
Lily leaned back slightly, her eyes wet. "Really?"
Blair broke the hug just enough to grab her hand and lead her to the bed. "I'm sure."
They sat together, side by side, knees touching. For a second, they just breathed.
"It's been a while since we talked like this," Lily said softly.
Blair nodded. "Yeah… I'm sharing you with Victor now."
Lily laughed lightly, wiping her cheek. "I could say the same about you—with James."
Blair pulled back, her cheeks heating. "Mum, no—James is… we're just friends."
"Okayyy," Lily teased, grinning. "I love seeing you with your 'friend.'"
"Mum."
They both laughed.
It was easy then—talking like they used to. Blair told her everything. How she slapped Cole. How James showed up in the garden. The elephant. The photo booth. The junk food. The moment she felt seen. Lily listened, every now and then letting out a shocked gasp or a soft, proud smile.
They stayed like that for a while, wrapped in the gentle rhythm of memory and healing. Lily brushing strands of hair out of Blair's face. Blair leaning her head on her mom's shoulder.
Eventually, Blair's eyes grew heavy. Her voice faded mid-sentence.
Lily smiled, kissed the side of her daughter's forehead, and stood carefully.
She tucked the blanket over Blair's sleeping form, brushed one last strand of hair from her cheek, and turned off the lamp.
One more glance—at the picture pinned to the frame. At the peaceful look on her daughter's face.
Then Lily closed the door.
Down the hall, Cassie's room was still dimly lit. Inside, Jazmine was curled up on a bean bag, scrolling through her phone, and Cassie was under her duvet talking to Maddie, both mid-laugh.
Lily knocked once before stepping in.
"Maddie, honey, why don't you sleep in Blair's room tonight?" she said softly. "Cassie's already sharing with Jazmine."
Maddie nodded immediately, sensing the warmth behind Lily's words. "Okay, Mrs. Quest. Good night."
Lily kissed Cassie's forehead gently, gave a squeeze to Jazmine's shoulder, and watched as Maddie left with her pillow and phone in hand.
"Good night, girls," she whispered, closing the door.
Then the hallway light clicked off.
And the house fell into quiet.
---