— give me your breath of love

Zhyan rolled his shoulders, trying to push some of the stain from his muscles, and also trying not to think too much on the fact that it was Sara that he offered the seat to. Not that he didn’t like her, she seemed like a sweet person, a wonderful mother, it was just that he figured she didn’t like him. Which he couldn’t blame her for, he didn’t know how to be a normal person around her and her child. 

“Oh, no, uhm, I think I need distraction,” he admitted as he pushed the pages together, trying to make a normal pile of them. The laptop was still rebooting. He sighed. Then started pressing the space-bar hoping it would make the reboot go faster. He also hoped google drive had saved his draft. Maybe reporter wasn’t a good fit for him after all. “How have you been?” he asked, hoping he wasn’t distracting her from anything. 

— 

Sara had already placed her iPad on the table and was fishing for her pen when the warlock posed her a question. Although she wasn’t expecting them to actually start a conversation with her, at least Sara appreciated the effort. “I’ve been okay.” Which, was her usual response for the question lately. It didn’t mean it wasn’t true, though. “You know, just doing a little bit of this and that.” The younger woman offered him a smile, before averting her gaze to the laptop that he so energetically kept pressing the space bar of. “What are you working on?”

▬

“If it does look good on me, I can take this and we can go for a girl’s night sometime next week? I’d love to go out with wearing something that you helped me choose,” besides she enjoyed being around Sara. Aleyna would easily find excuses to have new friends and cherish their company.

“I might also need some help with a dress for a wedding, I hardly buy fancy dresses, so I’ll definitely need your opinion on this one.” Aleyna didn’t know exactly how it’d be, but the couple meant a lot to her through all this time, so she couldn’t find excuses to decline the invitation and she had to celebrate their love. They were definitely what she thought she once had: meant to be. 

—

Aleyna’s words made Sara feel appreciated, and, in that moment, the younger human realized she had missed that feeling. Not that others treated her badly or didn’t appreciate her, but there was a distinct change between what Aleyna had just done now, and just assuming people appreciated her. “Only if we switch roles later and you pick something for me. Make that happen and you’ve got yourself a hot date with me, missy.” Sara winked, allowing herself to fall back into old habits, before life had turned her into someone who wasn’t this friendly and extroverted. “Oh! There’s a new club that opened up in Birchwood! We could check that one out!” That would be nice. To go out, grab some drinks, dance, have fun...

The mention of a wedding almost made Sara beam in happiness, because ever since she was young, she loved playing dress up and, whenever she had the chance back then, she and her friends would go into stores and try on nice dresses. “Hmm... if you hardly buy fancy dresses, maybe it’d be easier to rent one? We can definitely look around, and if we can’t find anything here, there’s this high end thrift store on Hearthstone Bay... they have all of these designer brands at very accessible prices.” And, before Aleyna got the wrong idea, Sara added up. “I just don’t think it’ll be a good cost-benefit to spend a lot of money in things you don’t normally wear. Plus, I’m way shorter than you, so none of my clothes might be a good fit. Why don’t you try this on and I’ll look around for something for the wedding? Any color preferences?”

— 

“I second that. Or maybe they just never received any, in which case I’d probably be just as cynical.” Liv huffed a short-lived chuckle under her breath, thanking her friend as she took her jacket. She did just as Sara had told her, making herself at home as she took it upon herself to plate the pastries she’d brought. Sara’s question about her witch heritage made her shrug in response, smiling wryly. “It’s… working out, sort of. I’m working on it.” She admitted. “Yeah, um, I’m trying to get an idea of which covens are out there and who could help me get a better grasp of the aura situation.” Her smile grew as she listened to Sara, carrying the plates over to the coffee table. “I’m glad to hear that. The being okay part and the focusing on yourself part.” A pause lingered, Liv had but a rough idea of what was going on from working with Teddy, but she wouldn’t pry, it was entirely up to Sara to raise that topic if she wanted to. “Oh, no, I don’t mind hearing about moms and babies. It’s a nice change from covens and abstract magic. I’m afraid I’m just not as well-versed as you are.” She mirrored her friend’s chuckle. “Well, besides magic, there’s work…” Liv trailed off, unsure whether she should share the chaos that had unfolded in other aspects of her life. With a looming grimace, she breathed a sigh. “And some minor romantic catastrophes.”

—

“Wow... if they’ve never received any edible gifts, then they must have lived a sad life.” But, coming from a life of privileges, Sara tended to be a little naive, and even biased sometimes, about how life in general worked. She was, however, trying to change that. The things that had happened to her in the last two years had been enough to open her eyes about a lot of things. “Have you been able to find a coven yet?” Sara asked as she brought a tray with two mugs, coffee spoons and both sugar and sweetener, for Liv to have the liberty to choose however she wanted to have her coffee. “Do you think there would be anything online that might help you? Like, trying to google things about aura reading?” Of course, there was a high chance that Olivia had already tried that, but... at least Sara was trying to help. Picking her own mug of coffee, Sara took a seat beside her friend on the couch. “Yeah, it’s been a nice change. I think I was reluctant to let it happen...” Which, could be translated to her not thinking she deserved these things, but now Sara was doing a much better job at handling her grief. It even felt like she wasn’t grieving anymore. “Oh!” The younger woman chuckled. “I’m not well-versed at all. I’m still learning a lot, too. But you’re my guest here, so I’d rather focus on you. Like your magic and... if you’d like to talk about it, those minor romantic catastrophes. Maybe I could help?”

—

“Edible gifts, even. The best kind.” Olivia added with a light-hearted chuckle, discarding her coat and shoes and she walked into Sara’s living room. “It’s been a while. I’m good, things are a little less tense at work lately so I’ve been dedicating myself to learning about my magic.” Which didn’t exactly mean she had a clue what she was doing just yet, but she was working on getting a grasp of her ability. Or at least a fraction of it. One step at a time. “If I ever turn down coffee, assume I’m compromised.” Liv jested as she set down the bag on the kitchen counter. “How are you? How’s Binnie?”

—

“Whoever said that edible gifts aren’t the best... well, they’re lying.” The petite brunette chuckled softly as she waved her friend further into her house, offering to take Liv’s jacket to hang it. She was quick to add some water in the coffee maker and left it there, before returning to the living area to join Liv. “Oh, right! You’ve mentioned something about your witch heritage. How’s that working out? Are you having some help or... I don’t know... something?” Sara was much well-versed in the whole werewolf world, judging by the people who surrounded her. Except for Laurel and Nick, she didn’t think she knew any other witches. None that she could remember at the moment. Thinking about werewolves made her want to ask Liv about Teddy, but she didn’t. She forced herself not to. It was the right thing to do. “I’ve been okay.” And, for the first time in a while, Sara actually meant it. “I’ve been focusing on myself lately, too. I started volunteering at Sacred Haven, so that’s been nice. Binnie’s okay! He’s actually napping now. We went on a picnic with the moms from his baby class, so he came back exhausted.” She chuckled. “But I don’t think you want to hear about moms and babies. What have you been up to lately? Besides working on your magic, of course.”

+

It was Sara. 

Knowing who it was on the other end of the interaction was enough for Selin to immediately calm down and come to her senses. Leaning all her weight onto one side of her leg, the she-wolf crossed her arms and cleared her throat as she casted her gaze downwards and took a moment to take a breather. Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply and huffed an exhale before glancing back up to meet the other woman’s gaze. “Hi.” she greeted, going off of Sara’s intentions for being here. When her best friend hit her with what felt like a million dollar question, Sel immediately blurted out, “—I don’t know.” 

At times, her own solitude was the answer to everything. Shutting down and completely being tied to only herself and her own sentiments was sometimes the way to go. However, because of Sara’s efforts and the fact that the other had seen her at her lowest low, the question of being alone or not was a hard one to answer. Sighing heavily, she shook her head and replied with, “You can stay.” She found comfort in her presence after all as Sara was one of the few people who could get her out of a rut.

“Sorry, there’s been a lot on my mind.” Before she could beat her to it, the athlete shrugged and added, “Not sure what to tell you, but I’m sure I’ll be alright…I mean what’s the worst that can happen to me?” Probably death, which she was always open to. However, she preferred not to disclose that and instead, tried to steer the conversation onto a positive note. “Are you out here for a break? It’s nice no?…Very serene…peaceful even.”

—

If Sara didn’t know better, she would probably let the voices in her head trick her into thinking that Selin was making the utmost effort into allowing the other woman to remain in her company. It wasn’t like that. She told herself. It was not like that. They both had gone through a lot in their lives, from what it seemed, and they hadn’t even reached their thirties yet. Selin more than Sara had--though, this was not a competition. And it would not be turned into one.

Upon hearing there was a lot in her friend’s mind, Sara nodded slowly. She understood the feeling. It was overwhelming sometimes. Not to be able to shut one’s brain off. Placing her shoes on the sand, Sara brushed her hands behind her dress and held it close to her body as she sat down on her converse shoes, not really caring about getting grains on her clothes, but not making an effort to get them dirty either. “Is it something you’d like to talk to me about?” She offered instead. Sara knew how it easy it was for Selin to shut everyone out. To mistake her lonesome for independence. They often argues about that. Her therapist had taught her ways to offer help without actually overstepping anyone’s boundaries, so that was what she often tried with Selin.

The woman’s questions made Sara nod. Her eyelids fluttered closed while a cool breeze hit her face, causing the woman to wrap her cardigan closer to her body. “I am. The seaside here reminds me of home, for some reason.” And she bit her tongue, before saying anything about thinking of moving back to San Francisco. It was just an idea, not a decision made. “I’ve just been feeling nostalgic lately.”

—

Yasmine had watched puzzled as the young boy headed in her direction, before clinging to her calf and giving it a soft squeeze. While innitially startled, her body growing stiff, her eyes softened and allowed her hands to gently go to the toddlers shoulders. “Hey there little guy,” before she had time to continue, a woman she presumed to be his mother ushered to where they were situated by the fountain. “Don’t worry about it.” she replied with nonchalance, giving the boy a warm smile before moving to his mother. “Not at all. I understand how toddlers can be. My sisters used to be the worst at wandering off.” Yas dismissed, moving her hands to her slide into her back pockets. “How old is he?”

—

It annoyed Sara, how everyone seemed to be better at dealing with wandering children than she was. Granted, it was none of these people’s fault. It was something she needed to work on--no, it was something she was working on, but of course, it would take her some time and effort to be able to overcome it. “He’s eighteen months.” She replied with a smile on her lips. “And getting faster with each month.” She chuckled. “Are you okay? I hope he didn’t bother you that much. If he did, we apologize.”

―

“I’m giving you plenty of support. But we have to keep each other humble, right?” Mateo asks with a laugh. “Otherwise we’ll develop big egos and I’m not sure the world will be able to handle it.” His voice trails off, before bursting out into laughter again at her comment. “Not that I think we’re going to become artists overnight. Not at this rate.” 

He’s cut short from his thoughts, as he extends his own clay splattered hand towards her. “Mateo.” They both seem to have the same idea turning towards their vases. Absently, he wonders if he had time left in the class to start over or try to salvage it somehow. The longer he looks at it, the fonder he grows. It’d be such a shame to completely scrap what he was doing, wouldn’t it? With the new resolve to try and make it be a functional vase, he picks up again where he left off. “You couldn’t tell that it was my first time?” Mateo casts a teasing glance over at Sara before returning to the swirling clay in front of him. “It is. If it makes you feel any better I was paying attention but it clearly didn’t help me. I usually have much better control over a pencil or paintbrush.”

—

Sara allowed a soft chuckle to escape her lips at the man’s quip. Despite her best efforts to remain in a sulky mood, it seemed like just being around people was enough to keep the brunette away from her own thoughts. She refrained from mentioning her own art, because he had just mentioned egos, and well... Sara didn’t think she had a big one. Extending her hand to him, the brunette also bowed her head while shaking his hand. You couldn’t tell it was my first time? The question steals another chuckle from her, to which, and Sara continues with a light nod. “I could... but that was me trying to be nice. See? We can still do that without blowing each other’s egos.” The instructor looked over at their direction and Sara felt like she was being scolded, just like in her school days. It reminded her of classes with Selin, and how inseparable they used to be. “Same.” She breathed out, not really knowing if the man would be able to hear her. “Do you... want to grab a coffee afterwards?” Sara shifted her gaze from the instructor to Mateo, then back to her own work.