𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.

a deep startle left her as the other approached. she hadn’t seen them coming, hadn’t heard them come in, now she was face to face with them. perhaps it was ella’s own obliviousness that was the cause. either way, she still felt her heart pulsing from the ache of the surprise. “how long have you been there?” she asked, bit breathless.

aj knew their cousin was jumpy, and they probably should have tried to make more noise just for her sake. but they’d been standing there for a little over a minute by the time ella noticed them, so aj didn’t feel all that bad. they raised a brow as they could hear ella’s heart pumping, and offered as much of a smile as aj tended to muster. “chill cuz, take a breath would you?” they took a seat and pulled out their magical history book and plopped it on the table between the two of them. “i don’t know, like a minute? but you’re still gonna help me with this shit right?” aj didn’t find magical history all the engaging, though if they were being honest they never had. they’d been using that block of classes for ten years now to take a well deserved nap, but this year they were barely passing so a little help would go a long way.