✧ pretty and witty. ✧

Sully nodded as she spoke, listening carefully despite the rapid flow of her thoughts. “Yeah,” he said calmly, voice even, “Christmas definitely helps. People are happier during the holidays. These kind of trees make a home feel more ready for the holiday season to be celebrated." He paused briefly at her next question, thinking it through. “Uh, some people might have trees all year,” he said slowly, honest and straightforward. “I don’t see it often, but it’s possible. We usually have garden products: soil, tools, gnomes, flowers, vegetable and fruit seeds and all that kind of things we can try and sell during our off seasons." As she went on about her salon, the music, the lights, and the chaos, Sully nodded, listening without interruption. “Right,” he said after a moment, keeping his tone steady. “I can see how that would be a lot at once. Makes sense to have quieter hours for people who need them. And I get it. Chaos can be fun if you like it.” When her gaze shifted to the tree, he followed her lead, adjusting his stance slightly. “Okay,” he said, voice practical. “That one’s a good size. Should fit nicely in front of your salon window. People will see it. It’ll work.” He tilted his head as she rambled about the business card ornament idea, giving her a small, quiet laugh. “Not weird,” he said plainly. “Creative. People notice things like that. Could work.” Finally, when she asked if he’d help carry it to the car when she wanted to pick up, Sully nodded. “Yeah,” he said honestly, steady and calm. “I’ll help. That’s my job. I move trees to cars all day long. Big or small, doesn’t matter. We’ll get it done safely.” Sully noticed the way her hair caught the sunlight through the lot, brunette with those blonde highlights, and how the strands framed her face perfectly. He didn’t say anything, didn’t need to, but he noticed. She looked pretty. "Moving a tree this size is kind of a one-man job. And, I’ll get it secured to the rooftop of your car too. Straps, knots, all that. You don’t have to worry about moving it. That’s my job.”

as he told her how he sold more than just trees, she nodded, it made sense, not everyone had christmas trees up all year long, she probably would, just because she’d forget it was there, but she knew not everyone was like her. "i think i’m a plant assassin," she blurted out, "i once tried to grow lettuce on my windowsill… and i watered it too much and it died," she nodded. "i didn’t bury it because it was already half buried, but it had a nice goodbye before it went straight to the bin," she chuckled, shaking her head at herself. "i had even named it, so i got emotionally attached, but sir green the fourth died anyway," she added, standing next to sully. as she started rambling about her salon, she smiled. "yeah, i get that people don’t like chaos as much as i do," she nodded, "but sometimes even i like when everything goes quiet," she admitted. "i don’t think i ever stop moving, i’ve been told i even twitch in my sleep, i can’t control my energy," she sighed. "anyway," she trailed off, looking at the tree. when he told her he’d help her with it, she smiled. "amazing, i love that i don’t have to do it myself, i’d break my nails," she laughed, "and i don’t think i go to the gym enough to carry a tree that size," she added, humming to herself. she stared at the tree before noticing him looking at her. their eyes met for a second, the corner of her lips lifting into a small smile. "okay, i guess i can move my car closer so you don’t have to carry it too far, and then i can pay you for it," she nodded. before any other thought crossed her mind, she added, "i’ll go get it, don’t move, and don’t sell my tree to anyone else, i’m emotionally attached to it now."

Royalty listened to Nevaeh with the kind of quiet attention that came naturally around his siblings, one elbow resting on the table while he watched her bounce from joke to joke. A smile tugged at his mouth when she bragged about winning a gold medal for ADHD against Casey. “Yeah, I can see the podium now,” he said dryly. “First place: Nevaeh. Second place: Casey. Third place, maybe Coral's little girl." He shook his head with a small laugh, though there was affection behind it. Talking with her had always been easy, no effort, no pretending. When she told him to take his time with the guy he liked, his expression softened a little. Royalty nodded, picking at his own slice of pizza. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “That’s the plan. Just seeing where it goes.” Then the tree conversation started again and he let out a short laugh when she tried to argue while still chewing. “You know most people finish chewing before starting a debate,” he pointed out. But when she dropped into the dramatic movie trailer voice, he leaned back slightly, clearly entertained. “The Silence of the Christmas Trees?” Royalty repeated, raising an eyebrow. “Terrifying. Really. I’m shaking.” He tapped the table lightly. “Plot twist—turns out the trees do moo.” At her comment about not being short, he gave her a look. “Nevaeh,” he said flatly, “you’re fun-sized. Just embrace it.” But when she corrected him, it’s a crush, he noticed the way her tone shifted a little afterward. The joke about people not keeping up. “Hey,” he said gently, leaning forward a little. “You don’t have to tone yourself down for anyone.” His voice stayed calm but firm. “If someone can’t handle how your brain works, that’s on them, not you. You’re not supposed to feel like a zombie just so someone else is comfortable.” He nudged the pizza box slightly with his fingers. “And for the record,” he added, “the right person won’t think you’re too much. They’ll just keep up the best they can.” When she asked for advice, Royalty hummed thoughtfully. “Honestly?” he said. “Just be you. You’re already doing that.” A small smile returned to his face. “And maybe give the guy a chance to get a word in between your twenty-seven thoughts per minute,” he teased lightly. “Quiet people sometimes just take a little longer to jump in.” He shrugged. “But if he’s still around after that,” Royalty added, “that’s usually a good sign.” After another bite of pizza, he spoke again. “And hey,” Royalty added, tone turning warm again, “if things get comfortable between you two, invite him over sometime. We’ll make him feel welcome.” He gave a small shrug. “No pressure, just so he knows he knows who he needs to know around here."

nevaeh had tried to medicate herself for her adhd, she gave it a shot for a month a while ago, but the pills made her feel too numb, like they were dulling everything that made her her. sure, they made her less hyperactive, but they also made her someone she didn’t recognize. she knew she could be a lot sometimes, too loud, forgetful, jumping from one thing to another, struggling to focus, but she was tired of feeling like she had to shrink herself just so people would like her. as her brother pointed out how people should chew before talking, she just smiled, cheeks full of pizza. she swallowed before replying. "you saw my vision," she laughed, "people would shit themselves if they went to see that movie," she added, already amused at the idea. "i think i just figured out my halloween campaign this year," she grinned, taking another bite. "embrace it," she rolled her eyes, "i wanted to grow taller, but i guess my body used all the energy on thinking instead," she joked. when royalty told her she didn’t have to tone herself down for people to like her, she sighed softly, it was easy to say, harder to actually believe. she craved connection, not just wanted it, needed it. she was tired of being the third wheel, sometimes the fourth when lennon joined, she wanted her own thing, someone to text late at night, someone to go on dates with. "yeah… that’s true," she nodded. as he gave her advice, she smiled. "thanks, royalty," she said softly, "i needed brotherly advice," she added, dropping the crust back into the box before leaning forward on her hands, satisfied. "invite him over?" she raised her eyebrows, "as in bring him over so i can threaten him?" she laughed. "i will when you bring your boyfriend," she teased, "they’ll get along, they’re both quiet," she pointed out. then her tone softened slightly, curiosity taking over. "have you ever thought about what you want your life to look like with your boyfriend? like, in the future? do you see yourself getting married, him moving here… kids?" she asked, not prying, just following her train of thought.

Sully wasn’t used to people listening the way she was. Most nodded politely when he talked about trees. Most smiled, humored him, and moved on. But Nevaeh actually stayed with him in the conversation, even when she clearly didn’t fully get it. When she dramatically placed a hand over her chest and called him her savior, he let out a quiet laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. He knew he'd probably gone overboard. “Easy,” he said, amused. “I just point you toward the ones that won’t shed all over your salon." At her comment about him selling happiness, though, his smile shifted, softer, less teasing.“I guess… yeah,” he admitted. “It’s not really about the tree. It’s about what people tie to it.” When she said everyone probably came just for that, he nodded. “They do. Or at least that’s what they think. Half of them come in stressed out of their minds and leave arguing about ornaments or the tree types." He huffed a small laugh. “And yeah,” he added when she figured out the seasonal chaos, “December’s insanity. The rest of the year? A lot quieter.” When she stepped closer to shake his hand and he hesitated, it wasn’t reluctance, just surprise. He wasn’t expecting the formality. But he took her hand, his grip warm and steady. At the blue monster comment, he blinked once. “Yeah, I get that a lot,” he admitted. “Disappointing lack of fur, I know. My sister Kitty says that all the time." As she listened to him talk about his grandfather, he noticed the way she didn’t interrupt. Didn’t joke. Just stayed quiet. When she said he helped people, that his grandfather would be proud, h is shoulders eased a little. “Thanks,” he said quietly. “That means more than you probably think.”He didn’t brush it off. Didn’t deflect. He let it sit there between them. Then she mentioned her nail salon. “A nail salon isn’t magical?” he repeated. “People walk in stressed, leave feeling put together. That’s not that different from what I do, really." A small smile tugged at his mouth. “Plus, a hundred types of polish sounds way more complicated than keeping trees alive.” He tilted his head. “You built it yourself. That’s something.” His tone wasn’t teasing now, just steady. Certain. “Don’t downplay that.” He reached up and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose with one finger, a small, habitual movement before he spoke. He turned slightly and pointed toward a tree a few rows over. “See this tree?” he said, gesturing toward it with quiet certainty. “Perfect for a salon." He stepped closer to it, lightly brushing his hand along one of the branches. “Not much shedding,” he explained. “Which, I’m guessing, is important in a place where people are trying to keep tiny wet masterpieces intact.” He glanced back at her briefly before continuing. “Likes to be decorated. Branches are sturdy — won’t droop under ornaments or whatever glitter explosion you’d put on it.” His finger tapped one of the needles thoughtfully. “Christmas-tree green in color. None of that dull, washed-out look.” Then he looked back at her fully. “They come in big and small sizes too, which is helpful." His mouth curved faintly. “Tell me that wouldn’t fit right in.”

focusing wasn’t exactly nevaeh’s strongest skill, so the fact that she was standing there quietly listening to him probably deserved some kind of medal—bronze at least. she was trying, though; she made an effort with people she liked… and in her mind the guy was cute, which might’ve been her very subtle form of flirting, even if she had no idea how long she could keep it up. “well, you’ve got christmas on your side,” she pointed out with a playful grin. “everyone’s happy around christmas, so it makes sense people leave here ready to decorate the tree the second they get home.” she leaned in slightly, lowering her voice like she was about to reveal a secret. “but i have to ask—do people buy christmas trees during the rest of the year? like… do you think there’s one of those chaotic people in town who has their house decorated 24/7?” the idea amused her so much she almost wanted to go find that house just to see if they had fake snow and everything. the random handshake she’d given him earlier hadn’t really been planned—most things she did weren’t—but she’d fully committed to the randomness by now. “you’re welcome,” she said brightly when he acknowledged it. when the conversation shifted to her salon, though, her energy spiked like someone had pulled the pin on a grenade. “oh yeah, it’s the best place,” she said quickly. “my team is amazing and we’ve got music videos playing on screens all day, neon lights everywhere… honestly some people would get super overstimulated.” she shrugged. “that’s why we do silent hours—so people can come in when it’s less… bright.” she tapped her temple lightly. “neuro-spicy myself, so i get it. even if i also kind of thrive in chaos.” when he pointed out a tree, she tilted her head, studying it before wandering closer. “if you think that’s the one…” she said thoughtfully, circling it. then her face lit up. “okay yeah—this is it. we have a winner.” she nodded, already picturing it. “it’s big, but i can totally see it by the salon window so people can see it from outside all shiny and decorated.” her eyebrows lifted as another idea crashed into her brain. “actually—if you want free ads you could give me a contact card and i’d decorate it and hang it on the tree so people notice it—like a tiny business ornament—wait, that might be the weirdest collaboration idea ever.” she stopped suddenly, realizing she’d been talking at full speed. “anyway—uh—would you help me carry it to a car when i come pick it up? i definitely didn’t expect to fall in love with a big tree.”

Royalty was already grinning before she even finished her dramatic “honor” speech. He leaned back, slow clap and all, smooth as ever. “Please,” he said, flashing that easy smile. “You were born chaos. I just got lucky enough to have front row seats.” When she defended her annoying streak like it was a profession, he shook his head, amused. “Oh, I know it’s a full-time job. The dedication? The consistency? Elite level.” He pointed at her slice of pizza. “You don’t clock out. That’s what makes you dangerous.” But when her tone softened about his relationship, so did he. Royalty’s grin didn’t disappear, it just gentled. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “One step at a time. He’ll get there. I’m not in a rush.” His smile turned softer, more private. “When it’s real, you don’t need to force it into the light. It finds its own way there eventually." When she started in on the tree farm horror lore, he stared at her like she’d just personally offended forestry. “The tree does not moo,” Royalty said smoothly, though he was fighting a laugh. “And if those trees start whispering, I’m blaming you. You’re the only one unhinged enough to teach them. Don't become a bad influence on his stock." At the Freddy Krueger comment, he winced dramatically. “Please do not compare your new crush to a horror villain. I’m trying to support you.” Then she described Sullivan and he sounded pretty cute, honestly. “I am not short,” he said calmly, smiling in that dangerously composed way. He listened to the rest, though, really listened. Tall. Broad shoulders. Quiet. Shy. Obsessed with trees. His grin turned sly. “Ah,” he nodded slowly. “You startled him because you're basically his opposite. But I like that he’s quiet,” Royalty added, confidence warm and steady. “You need someone who doesn’t compete with your volume. Someone who watches you like you’re the event. Someone who evens you out." His smile softened again, protective, but never overbearing. “And if he’s shy? Good. That means he’s probably sincere.” He raised a brow playfully. “Just don’t terrorise him too much, menace.” Then, with a wink. "Maybe he'll get on with my boyfriend too. Two shy boys. Is that the sibling preference right now?"

at her brother’s words, nevaeh couldn’t help but laugh. “i could win a gold medal for adhd, casey—no competition,” she bragged dramatically, as if her inability to focus or sit still was a professional skill. “exactly, you get it now. some people say it’s exhausting, but honestly i’m a natural. i’m incredibly good at it.” she grinned, shoulders lifting in an easy shrug. talking with her brother was effortless; she never had to filter herself or pretend to be someone else—just talk, listen, exist. when royalty started talking about his relationship, nevaeh visibly dialed herself down a notch, focusing instead on how happy he seemed. that part mattered. “hey, take your time. no reason to rush things,” she said between bites of pizza. “i’m just glad he makes you happy.” she took a massive bite then, one so big it took her a moment to chew through it. when he insisted trees didn’t moo, she tried to respond immediately but couldn’t speak yet, so she just waved a hand while chewing until she finally swallowed. “he’s the least freddy krueger person ever. like… there’s not a single horror movie he could fit into,” she said thoughtfully before lowering her voice into a dramatic trailer narrator tone. “but we could make one. the silence of the christmas trees.” she cracked up at her own joke. “also, i’m not short—that’s what i say all the time. now you get the feeling,” she added with a playful wink. when he mentioned liking that the guy was quiet, her eyes lit up instantly. “it’s a crush,” she corrected with a grin. then, almost automatically, she added, “or maybe he just can’t keep up.” it was easier to assume things might go wrong before they did; her brain moved too fast, sometimes she was just impulsive in that moment all she did was overthinking. "like that girl i dated, that suggested i should take pills to tone it down, not everyone can deal with this" she shrugged, she didn't like how she felt after taking those pills, she felt like a zomby. “i’ll keep you updated, but don’t expect much. i probably scared him already,” she shrugged, taking another bite of pizza. “but yeah, quiet might be good. i think we’re loud enough for everyone anyway—well, i definitely am.” she casually dropped the crust back in the box; no one would ever catch nevaeh eating a pizza crust unless it was stuffed with cheese. "any advice?"

Royalty rolled his eyes, a fond smile giving him away as he reached out and lightly flicked her forehead. “You are annoying,” he said plainly, then softened immediately, voice warm. “But I love you anyway. Probably more because of it.” He leaned back, glancing at her with that familiar sibling affection. “Wouldn’t be my world without your chaos in it.” When she claimed his past as hers to share, he laughed under his breath and shook his head. “That explains why you tell my stories with so much confidence,” he said warmly. “You’ve been freelancing my trauma.” As she spoke about his relationship, Royalty listened, really listened, shoulders relaxing as she finished. “I know,” he admitted gently. “I hear you. And I promise I’m not lighting myself on fire to keep someone else warm. I’m trying to choose myself and him. It’s a work in progress but I have no doubts." When she brought up the whole coming-out thing, he sighed, but there was no frustration, just honesty. “I don’t know if I could do it forever either,” he said. “But I’m not there yet. He just needs time to figure things out and I'll happily wait and cheer him from the sidelines until I can't anymore." Her pizza bite made him laugh, full and fond. “Slow down,” he said, amused. “You’re not in competition with the slice.” At her memory of their parents, he groaned dramatically. “I didn’t need that visual again,” Royalty said, laughing. “But see? Character development.” Then he leaned in slightly, eyes curious when she started talking about herself. “Nail fumes aside, I am asking,” he said playfully. “I like knowing what’s going on in your orbit.” The tree-farm story made him blink. “He milks the trees?” Royalty repeated slowly. “Nev. That’s either the love of your life or the opening scene of a horror movie.” At her progress comment, he grinned proudly. “Hey,” he said warmly. “That’s huge growth. I’m proud of you. You’re evolving." He took another bite from his slice of pizza. “So,” he said, voice teasing but eager, “what does he look like? What’s his personality like?"

she was so glad she had royalty—she could be completely herself around him, didn’t have to worry about how fast her brain worked or how impossible it sometimes felt for others to keep up; she didn’t have to waste energy trying to sit still. “i’m glad i’m the chaos in your world,” she placed a hand dramatically over her chest, “it’s such an honor,” she smirked. when he called her annoying, she tossed her hair back. “thanks, but you say that like it’s easy. do you know how hard i work to be this annoying? it’s a full-time job, so next time you try to use it against me, remember the effort,” she burst out laughing. even through the bubbly energy, though, there was a soft spot in her heart when it came to her brother, and knowing he was in a relationship that made him so happy but couldn’t fully show it made her chest ache; she understood that his boyfriend needed time to come out, and that was never simple, and no one could rush that. “yeah, just take it one step at a time,” she said more gently, offering a warm smile. when he mentioned her not talking about periods being character development, she nodded. “you have no idea how hard that was, i genuinely have a problem,” she laughed, taking a big bite of her pizza. “i mean, he doesn’t milk trees,” she added casually, mouth still half full before she swallowed. “he just sells them—but he owns a tree farm, so what do you think he does at night? when the trees start moving and whispering? do they moo? baa?” she giggled. “the love of my life? a horror movie? make up your mind. i don’t know if i’m ready to make out with freddy krueger,” she laughed. “what does he look like… hmm. tall—taller than you, short king,” she teased, even though her brother definitely wasn’t short. “broad shoulders, dark hair, cute face … obsessed with trees, kind of quiet and shy,” she nodded. “i think i startled him a couple of times.”

Sully let out a small, relieved laugh when she admitted she was lost too, shoulders easing like a knot had finally loosened. He hadn’t realised how fast he’d gone until she said it out loud. “Yeah. sorry,” he said quickly, rubbing the back of his neck, a little sheepish. “I, uh. I forget not everyone thinks about trees the way I do.” When she laughed, loud and bright, it caught him off guard in a good way. He smiled, soft, almost shy, but clearly pleased. “I do,” he admitted, straightforward. “A lot. Probably too much.” He gestured vaguely toward the rows around them. “They’re all different. Not just how they look, but how they hold ornaments, how they smell, how long they last. I guess I call that personality.” At her question about the picture, he leaned in again, pointing carefully at the phone without touching it. “The branch spacing, the needle length, the space you have to place a tree. You don't want one that drops pine needles." Her joke about accidentally picking a fig tree made him grin. “I promise I won’t let that happen,” he said, a little more confident now. “I’ll walk you through it." At her comment about the business, Sully blinked, genuinely impressed. “That’s actually really cool,” he said, meaning it. “Both of those. Hard. But important.” He nodded slowly, absorbing it. “Seasonal stuff can be overwhelming, but I like it. It feels purposeful. My products get to make other people's Christmas's more exciting." When she introduced herself and stepped closer, he hesitated for half a second before taking her hand, his grip gentle but sure. “Sully for short, Sullivan if you prefer," he said. “Nice to meet you too, Nevaeh.” A small smile tugged at his lips. “And yeah, it's nice meeting another business owner around this place. It feels like we a few and far between around here." Sully lifted his hand and gestured out across the rows of trees, the motion a little slow, almost careful, like he didn’t want to oversell it. The farm stretched out in front of them. “I took over this place from my grandfather,” he said, voice steady but softer than before. “Nobody else wanted it.” He let his hand fall back to his side, eyes lingering on the trees like they were old friends. “He was a good man,” Sully added plainly. “Put his whole life into this. Figured the least I could do was make sure his effort didn’t disappear.” After a beat, he glanced back at her, a small, genuine smile breaking through. “If I can keep it going and bring people a little happiness again, especially around Christmas, then it feels worth it. I do it for him."

at his words, nevaeh chuckled. she’d never really thought trees could be interesting—if she was honest, the only thing she usually cared about was whether they were pretty or not. but the guy in front of her seemed genuinely fascinated by them, which was fair, considering it was his job. when he admitted he really liked trees, she nodded. as he explained how he saw their different characteristics almost like personalities, she didn’t fully get it, but she listened anyway, nodding along. she could understand it… to a point. at his little promise, she dramatically placed a hand over her chest. “thank you so much. you’ll be my savior,” she declared, clearly overdoing it. when he agreed to help her, she smiled warmly. as he talked about what the business meant to him, she nodded thoughtfully. “you kind of sell happiness, in a way,” she mused. “and you sell one of the most important parts of christmas. everyone and their mother probably comes here just to get a tree.” she tilted her head. “oh, i get it—one month you’re drowning in work, and then it just disappears,” she said. “you probably need a second job for the months you’re not selling charismatic trees,” she added, laughing at her own choice of words. when she stepped closer to shake his hand, she noticed his slight hesitation before he took it. “with that name, i would’ve expected a blue monster, but this is way better,” she blurted out, her mouth clearly moving faster than her brain. she winced slightly at herself. “yeah, not many people would choose this life,” she admitted with a small chuckle. as he talked about taking over the place from his grandfather, she grew quiet, watching him carefully. she wasn’t going to interrupt while he was practically pouring his heart out about it. “you help people. you bring happiness,” she said softly. “i’m sure he’d be proud.” she didn’t know his grandfather, obviously, but it felt like a safe bet. “my business isn’t nearly as magical,” she shrugged lightly. “i own a nail salon. didn’t inherit it from anyone—no legacy, no sentimental story. just… a hundred different types of polish,” she added with a small smile, biting her tongue before she could ramble about anything else.

Sullivan’s mouth curved into a small, unmistakably amused smile at the nickname, the kind that sat there like it had surprised him too. He adjusted his gloves out of habit, even though he didn’t need to. At her admission about never having a real tree, he nodded, not judgmental—more intrigued. “That explains the confusion,” he said, gently. “Plastic trees are good for low effort consistency. Real ones are ... individual. They have personalities,” he clarified quickly, “the leaves are different, the branches point out in certain ways to fill a space." When she admitted she was lost, he let out a quiet huff of a laugh. “They’re not made-up,” he assured her. “They’re just very specific. I forget sometimes that not everyone categorizes trees like I do.” As she stepped closer and showed him her phone, his focus sharpened immediately. He leaned in—not too close—studying the photo like it was a blueprint. “Okay,” he said, nodding slowly. “High ceilings, good natural light, narrow floor space. Customers moving through, not stationary. That rules out anything with aggressive branch spread.” He pointed gently at the screen. “For the salon, I’d recommend a Fraser fir. Symmetrical, strong branches for ornaments, but not overpowering. It smells like Christmas without being too invasive. Also, it photographs well, which seems relevant.” A brief pause. “ Then he straightened, clearly enjoying himself now. This was his thing. He glanced back at her, eyes warm with quiet humor. “I can walk you to the right section on the farm, if you'd like? Also, what kind of salon do you run?” he asked. “I took over this place not too long ago.” He gestured around the farm, matter-of-fact. “It’s seasonal, obviously, but it’s still a business, and there’s a lot more logistics involved than people expect.” He nodded once, a small but sincere acknowledgment. “It’s nice to meet another business owner from around this place."

nevaeh looked at the guy, realizing her confusion wasn’t because she didn’t know anything about trees. “hearing that actually makes me feel way better,” she joked, pressing a hand to her chest like it eased her anxiety about not knowing tree facts. “personalities?” her eyebrows knit together, genuinely lost. “you’re speaking another language right now, i didn’t catch a single thing you said,” she laughed, loud and bubbly. “i can tell you really like trees though,” she added, nodding with a smirk. she watched him scan her screen, amused. “i’m confused—how did you get all that from one picture?” she laughed, turning the phone back to herself; she wasn’t detail-oriented at all, the world usually moved too fast and too slow at the same time for her, so the analysis surprised her. “honestly, that sounds like the tree i want, i feel like i’m on that wedding dress show,” she laughed. “i say yes to that tree.” her mind instantly filled with ideas—how a show like that would be fun to watch at christmas, then a christmas tree makeover popping into her head like a home renovation show—before she lightly shook her head at his question. “yes please, i don’t want to accidentally pick a… fig tree,” she laughed. “seasonal business sounds fun, and christmas is the best part of the year, so you’re basically bringing happiness to people.” she paused, then added, “i own a nail salon,” stopping herself and forcing calm before continuing, “slash, a period product boutique. i’m pretty new at it too, i launched the brand two years ago, but it kind of took over my life,” she nodded, a small smirk on her lips, clearly trying to keep her energy contained. “i mean, for now it’s just nice to see another business owner,” she corrected, then smiled. “i’m nevaeh.” she stepped closer, offering her hand. “nice to meet another business owner.”

Royalty snorted, already shaking his head as she went full dramatic. “Please,” he shot back, amused. “You’ll always be important to me. Boyfriends come and go, hopefully not this one, but annoying sisters are forever.” At her smirk, he laughed. “Wow. Dragging my past like that already? Bold.” He leaned forward, elbows on the table. “And noted—you’re not evil, you’re just… strategically observant.” His grin widened. “Honestly, I respect it.” When she demanded everything, he lifted his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay, relax,” he said, laughing. “Everything is a lot. But I like that you care.” His tone softened slightly as she did, and he didn’t dodge her question. “Yeah, we mostly see each other at my place,” he admitted. “And… I’m okay with it. I think.” He shrugged, honest but calm. “It’s not ideal, but it’s where he’s at, and I get that. We also hang out at parties, or, you know, in my car,” he said with a little grin, the teasing in his tone obvious. “But never at his parents’ place—so public spaces only. Keeps things… manageable.” He shrugged lightly, eyes meeting hers, a little mischievous but still open. “It’s weird, not being able to just be around him wherever I want, but I want to make it work." He met her eyes, steady and sincere. “I won’t lie—it’s hard sometimes. I’d like him to just exist with without thinking about who’s watching.” Then he gave a small, confident smile. “But I’m not going to let it hurt me. If it ever feels like too much, I’ll say something. I promise.” Royalty reached for a slice of pizza, grabbing it casually as he shrugged one shoulder, a small, confident smirk playing on his lips. “Look,” he said, taking a bite and then speaking between chews, “I know what it’s like to be in the closet. He deserves his own time to come out. I’m not gonna ever rush that on anyone.” He set the slice down for emphasis, eyes meeting hers with calm sincerity, still carrying that easy, teasing energy. “So yeah, we keep it low-key where he feels safe. That’s all that matters.” He took a casual bite, watching her reaction. “What about you?” he asked, eyes glinting with playful curiosity. “Seen any cuties out and about lately?”

nevaeh squinted at his last words. “i’m not annoying,” she shook her head. “i bring you food and i share my energy with you, that’s love,” she pointed out. “your past is mine to share,” she winked, kneeling on the floor to dig through the plastic bags. she opened the pizza box and glanced at her brother. “strategically observant… evil, different sides of the same coin,” she shrugged, then sank down onto the floor. “but i want everything,” she added simply. at home, she didn’t have to keep herself calm or bottle up her energy. she looked at her brother as he talked about his relationship, nodding, biting her tongue while waiting for him to finish. “okay, that’s good,” she nodded. “i’m happy you care about this guy, but you need to care about yourself too,” she said gently. “and i don’t know if it’s selfish, but you also need to think about whether you want to live like that forever if he never comes out.” she took way too big of a bite, sitting there listening while trying not to choke on the pizza. “yeah, of course, i get it,” she promised. “not everyone needs to be caught by their father and stepmother making out on the couch,” she chuckled, mouth still full, the memory still painfully embarrassing. “you sound so sweet, i’m getting diabetes,” she teased, finally swallowing. “about me? i think i’m inhaling way too many nail products,” she laughed, then laughed even harder at his question. “oh, so now you’re asking me?” she raised her eyebrows. “the other day i met this guy while i was shopping for a tree for the salon,” she mused. “he owns a tree farm, he milks the trees, takes them out for walks,” she chuckled. “he was undeniably cute,” she added. “hey, and i didn’t explode and tell him about periods, that’s progress.”

Sully blinked when she spoke to him, clearly needing a second to register that the greeting was meant for him. “Oh—hi,” he said, voice gentle and a bit careful, like he was choosing each word individually. He pushed his beanie up with two fingers. “Um. Yes. I work here. I own this place. Christmas trees are… kind of my thing." He followed her gaze across the lot, nodding slowly as she explained. “Two trees,” he repeated, more to organise his thoughts than to confirm. Sully nodded along, then stopped, realising he’d skipped an important step. His eyebrows knit together briefly as he recalibrated. “Sorry—before I start walking you places,” he said softly, “I should probably ask what kind of tree you want.” He cleared his throat, shifting his weight. “Because there are… a lot of kinds. Like, a lot a lot. People think a tree is just a tree, but that’s—uh—incorrect.” A small, apologetic smile flickered across his face. “Not in a bad way. Just… factually.” He gestured vaguely around them, warming up now. “We’ve got Fraser firs, Noble firs, Douglas firs, the list goes on and on, really." He rocked back on his heels, realising he was rambling. His ears tinted slightly pink. “What kind of Christmas trees were you thinking?”

neveah smiled at his words; it would have been embarrassing if he didn’t actually work there, she would’ve laughed at herself because it had happened before. “amazing, christmas-trees-king, then i definitely need your help,” she smiled, warm and playful. at his next words, she was caught off guard, she’d always been one of those people who thought trees were just trees; she’d grown up with ugly plastic ones and, if she was honest, she saw them as decorations for a month and nothing more. “i think i’m one of those people, i’ve never had a real one,” she chuckled, “the one at my workplace is a pink plastic christmas tree wrapped in silver tinsel, so…” she laughed. when he started listing the trees he owned, she found herself completely lost. “okay, i have no idea what you’re talking about, those sound like made-up words to me,” she laughed. “i’m looking for one for my salon slash store and one for my place, they don’t need to be huge,” she mused, pulling out her phone and stepping a little closer. “this is my salon,” she added, showing him the space as she scrolled through her instagram until she found a promotional picture she’d posted not long ago. “i don’t know if you, wood-king, could recommend the best one to fit in here,” she smiled, conveniently not mentioning the ornament shaped like a tampon she’d already bought after seeing an unhinged tree online—he was cute, and that little voice in her head told her some details were better left unsaid.

“Ah, you wound me, little sister,” he teased, lifting a hand to his chest dramatically, mimicking her earlier gesture, though with a bit more flair. “Forgive me for inviting my boyfriend over to my place for a little bit." He chuckled, knowing exactly how she would react to his little jab. It was one of the perks of having a younger sibling who could both dish it out and take it in stride. As Nevaeh walked deeper into the living room, Royalty followed, giving her space but still maintaining that relaxed, charismatic air. “Way too good for this world? Wow, Nev,” he said, shaking his head with mock disapproval, though the smile never left his face. “So egotistical… but in, like, the nicest possible way.” He chuckled to himself as she set the bags down on the table and grabbed a pillow. When she settled onto the floor, he couldn’t help but shake his head, his smile more affectionate than teasing. Royalty glanced down at the food she was unpacking, the scent of garlic bread and pasta making his stomach grumble in response. He looked back at her, eyes narrowing slightly in mock suspicion. “Italian, huh? I do love my Italians” he said, rubbing his chin like he was deep in thought. “I’m down,” he said, voice easy and warm. “What do you want to know about him? He’s cute. A little younger than me. Super sweet." Royalty’s grin softened a little as he added the next detail, leaning back on one hand and looking at Nevaeh with that easy, teasing warmth he always carried. “He’s also… not out."

“i thought it was family over boyfriends, now i know i’m the second choice… i’ll die single and without my family because you’ll be too busy swallowing your boyfriend’s tongue,” she said dramatically, rolling her eyes at her own words. as she sat down, she smiled at his reply. “if you don’t say i’m the best, i have to tell myself so i can believe it,” she smiled, placing the bag on the table and starting to unpack everything. “is that a reference to an old italian boyfriend?” she smirked. “people shouldn’t tell me things about their relationships because i use them against them, maybe i’m not bad, maybe i’m just evil,” she laughed. she opened the pizza box and set it on the table, then, before answering his question, grabbed a slice and took a huge bite. “what do i want to know? everything, royalty, for the love of god, i want to know everything,” nevaeh laughed. but when he said he wasn’t out, her eyes softened. “so you haven’t seen each other outside your place,” she trailed off. “are you okay with that?” she asked gently. “i guess it’s hard not being able to be around the guy you like in public…” she set the slice back on the cardboard. “you’re not going to get hurt because of that, right?”

From the living room, Royalty heard the sound of the front door opening, followed by Nevaeh’s voice carrying through the house. He glanced up from his spot on the couch when she shouted again. A small smile tugged at his mouth — only Nevaeh ever came in that loud and that comfortable in his house. Royalty chuckled, shaking his head. “In the living room! He left this morning - might be back later though,” he called back. “So no excuses — get in here and share." He sat forward on the couch, elbows resting on his knees, drumming his fingers lightly against his thighs in an easy rhythm. “What you brought me?” he called back, a hint of amusement in his voice. "It better be something good."

at the sound of royality’s words nevaeh smiled. “oh, what a subtle way to tell me you’re kicking your family out because your boyfriend’s coming,” she shook her head; she would’ve taken a hand dramatically to her chest as if she were wounded, but both her hands were full. she walked deeper into the living room. “i’m supposed to share after this? i’m way too good for this world,” she smiled. she headed to the table, set the bags on top of it, grabbed one of the pillows from the couch, and sat on the floor. “i got cheese and garlic bread, sodas, and pasta from the best italian restaurant in this city,” she nodded, starting to take everything out of the box. “i want company and a good update on your boyfriend as payment—are you down for the payment?”

MADISON BAILEY as IZZY Maintenance Required (2025)