sam

The closet had a whole drawer section cleaned out just for her. The bathroom had a green soft bristled toothbrush show up from nowhere, even some of the body products had been placed and stuffed in the under-sink cabinets.

So many items which screamed 'Avalon' were scattered in every corner. Honestly, neither of them had a clue on how some of these items ended up here. They just spawned out of thin air.

Spending the nights at the apartment became a daily thing.. can we even call these "sleepovers" anymore? That's quite literally your roommate, only difference is that.. she's not paying rent.

    By now quite some time has passed since they started hanging around at eachother's places. Let's say.. 3 and a half months. And yet, their favorite spot hadn't changed.

The balcony.

In-between Avalons' studying and Iris's side tasks, they would always end up there. Whether it was for a smoke break or for some fresh air, the reasoning never mattered. The conversations, or lack of them, were what they'd look forward to though.

Suppose the balcony just had its own essence, urging them to open up about the most useless stuff.

Was it because of the weirdly polluted air? Was it the smoke? Who knows. Nobody really does.

12:36 AM

   The air was unusually warm as they stood out in the open. Iris leaning against the railing as Avalon sat beside her, leaving a comfortable gap in-between.

Iris pulled the cigarette away from her lips before blowing the smoke away from Avalons' direction with a quick turn of her head. Flicking the stray ashes off of the tip at the same time.

And just like that, the silence was finally broken from the sound of Iris clearing her throat.

"Y'know. I'm actually kind of hurt you never thought to mention her to me"

"Mention.. her?" She raised her eyebrow with curiosity, "mention who?"

"Your girlfriend."

"Ohhh, my-" She began with a pleased smile and a faint laugh, that is, before it finally reached her and her whole face dropped in confusion, furrowing her brows while she swung her head to look at Iris "what?"

"What, 'what'? Your girlfriend, I genuinely had no idea you had one-"

She immediately interrupted Iris in a baffled tone, cutting her off, "I have a girlfriend?"

Silence

"The girl you walked into the café with two weeks ago? You both were really hitting it off, giggling, bumping eachother?"

"Girl I walked into the café with.." she repeated quietly "what?.." Avalons' lips parted in shock, hopping off of the railing she was sit-leaning on, "Oh my god. My sister!?"

She shouted and stared at Iris with disbelief in her eyes.

Iris was mid-inhale as she heard Avalons' reply, causing the smoke to enter her lungs quicker than intended, which made her burst into a coughing fit. honestly, was kind of a relief to hear that she was absolutely wrong but also.. what..

She covered her mouth with her fist as she coughed into it before waving her palm around "THAT'S your sister!?" She glanced at Avalon, dumbfounded, before letting out one last cough into her curled up hand

"How was that NOT obvious to you?"

Iris let her arm dangle over the railing with the cigarette still in-between her fingers, looking around as a nervous, inaudible laugh slipped through her lips, "..I mean I had never seen her before, you have to give me some credit." She muttered before glancing at her, excuses upon excuses.

She clicked her tongue, "either way- How was dating your first conclusion." She snorted lightly the smile from before appeared on her lips.

"I don't know! You're attractive, she's attractive- anything could've happened." She shrugged faintly, "honestly I'm still shocked you are single in the first pla-"

Avalon had stopped her rambling with a light smack to her shoulder, "don't need to hear you call my sister 'hot' In front of me. And I've mentioned it before, I am not into the idea of dating anyone while I'm still studying."

"Yes, I know, I know. I remember that. And, am I not allowed to compliment your family? You all have insanely good genes, it's actually crazy."

She slowly shook her head as she spoke in a 'disappointed' tone, "You're calling my bloodline attractive to my own face. No shame.. no nothing",

Avalon pulled her lips into a thin line, trying to hide her amusement

Iris put up her index finger before opening and closing her mouth, "I'm just stating what is true, like, I could totally see you and.. your sister, if she wasn't your sister, togeth-", she immediately closed her eyes and rubbed her nose bridge with her free hand, "No. Yeah, okay, no. That came off weird as hell."

Avalon's mouth opened, eyes narrowing as she tried to connect the pieces, unable to believe what she had just heard. She flashed her the most awkward smile mixed with a nod before speaking up, "right.. I think you should.." She gently nudged Iris's hand, which was still holding a half lit cigarette, patting it twice with the back of her hand.

A faint laugh escaped her at the action, her eyes opened at the nudge, carefully removing her hand from her face, "You are free to tell me to shut up instead of trying to silence me with small signals." The nudge definitely worked though and her cigarette certainly had found its way back in-between her lips.

Avalon quickly glanced at Iris's side profile before glancing at the sight of the city below them, "okay"

"Then, please, shut up", she tilted her head slightly to the side before turning around and walking back towards the sliding door but stopping as soon as her fingers reach the handle. She took a quick glance over her shoulder at Iris, who has found her way back to leaning over the railing, free hand tapping her fingertips against the wood.

A lighthearted scoff escaped her, at least someone found this scenario funny.

A few seconds passed before Iris heard her footsteps fully retreat and the door close shut, she exhaled hard, smoke parting from her lips, her demeanor slipped immediately.

Her elbows rested on the handrail and her face was placed into her palms with a groan.