Skating day, Lucille's Pov

Lucille woke up to the sound of her phone vibrating against the wooden nightstand. She groggily reached over, eyes barely open, and checked the screen.

》Antonio: Bro, do we really have to dress like vampires?

Lucille blinked a few times before remembering.

Right. The plan.

She smirked, sitting up and stretching.

》Cillicule: Yes. Stop being a baby about it.

She scrolled through the group chat, seeing a mix of complaints, laughing emojis, and Fiona trying to keep the peace as usual.

It had been a last-minute idea, but one that felt important. If Asha was a vampire—and Lucille wasn’t saying she was, but she probably was—she didn’t want her to feel weird or singled out. People could be cruel. She didn’t want that for Asha.

Also… she just wanted an excuse to see her again.

Lucille flopped back onto her bed, staring at the ceiling.

Her phone buzzed again. This time, it was Asha.

She sat up immediately.

》Ashanty: Sounds fun. Count me in.

Lucille exhaled, realizing just how tense she’d been waiting for that response.

Her thumbs hovered over the keyboard for a moment before she typed:

》Cillicule: Cool :) Can’t wait. It's at ■■■■ ■■ ■■■ at 8 PM.

She stared at the message longer than necessary, wondering if the smiley face was too much.

Whatever. It's too late now.

She shoved her phone under her pillow and got up to start her day.

---

Afternoon – Prepping for the Plan

Lucille spent most of her morning overthinking.

She paced her room, scrolling through Asha’s contact, re-reading their messages as if they’d reveal some hidden meaning.

She barely knew Asha, not really. But she wanted to. Needed to.

She had no idea what this feeling was. It was… suspenseful. Like an itch under her skin.

A crush? Probably. But it felt like something more.

It felt like a pull.

Weird. Just focus on today.

She shook off the thought and focused on the plan.

By 3 PM, she was out with Fiona, scouring party stores for fake fangs and clip-on elf ears.

Fiona, as usual, was suspicious.

"So," Fiona drawled, flipping a pair of plastic vampire teeth between her fingers, "you wanna tell me why you’re actually making us do this?"

Lucille shrugged. "I told you. It's just a theme. Figured it'd be funny."

Fiona arched a brow. "Uh-huh. And this has nothing to do with the fact that you've been acting weird since you met that girl?"

Lucille didn’t flinch. "I have no idea what you’re talking about."

Fiona smirked, tossing the fangs into the basket. "Sure you don’t."

Lucille ignored her.

By the time they got everything, it was already pushing 6 PM.

She rushed home, threw on a black hoodie, slipped in her fake fangs, and ruffled her hair in the mirror.

Not bad.

Her phone buzzed.

Asha: "I'm on my way."

Lucille grinned.

---

Evening – The Rink & The Unraveling

Lucille arrived first, along with Fiona, Antonio, and Emilio.

Her eyes kept wandering to the entrance, trying really hard not to look like she was waiting for someone.

Fiona noticed, obviously.

"You’re staring at the door like a sad dog," she whispered.

"Shush," Lucille muttered.

Then—Asha appeared.

Lucille felt her breath catch for just a second.

She looked… different. More put together. Her black hair fell over her face just right, her dark clothes giving her an effortless cool.

But there was something else.

Lucille couldn't put her finger on it, but Asha seemed tense—like she was holding something back.

Still, when their eyes met, something inside Lucille jolted.

That pull again.

Lucille lifted a hand, waving her over. "Hey, you made it!"

Asha hesitated, just a fraction of a second, then nodded.

"Wouldn’t miss it for the world," she said.

Something about the way she said it made Lucille’s stomach flip.

And then they stepped inside together, and the night began.

Lucille had no idea how deep she was sinking.

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