#enchanted!lyssa

“They don’t?” Lyssa asked on instinct, disappointment creeping into her voice for the slightest of seconds before she had time to plaster a bright smile on her face instead. “I mean, of course they don’t -- why would they know, there’s nothing to know, right?” She knew Albie had meant it to reassure her -- to tell her that the football team had no clue what was going on between them, so it was unlikely that they’d be helping Trixie and Dixie to do... whatever it was it was increasingly clear they were doing to her. Albie just wanted her to feel better, to ease her mind by telling her that his friends weren’t helping Trixie and Dixie to mess with her head in anyway, but instead his reassurance made her feel a little silly. She gushed to her brother and sister and her friends about how great Albie was in spite of her self, and he talked about her whenever he answered questions about her, but... the football team apparently didn’t ask, and he didn’t offer. Maybe he didn’t like her as much as she thought he did, and Lyssa chewed on the inside of her cheek, trying to stop herself from asking a question that could potentially ruin everything or scare Albie away. But she wanted to know, so she licked her lips nervously before finally asking once and for all: “I mean, is there? What are we? What do you want us to be? Because I really like you, Albie, and I really want you to really like me, too, but I just... don’t know for sure.” 

❝ I do it because I love you. ❞ 

“But but but!” Lyssa protested, making grabby hands at the hot pot of tea as Gio carried it away from her. She was too tired to actually get up and chase after him, though -- and she certainly didn’t want to risk breaking her favorite pot just for the sake of staying up past the point of even being coherent in her writing. “Ughhh, but what if today was the day that caffeine helped me write a Pulitzer Prize winning article and you’re taking away my lifeblood here?” she whined, though she knew Gio was right -- it was too late, and the only cure now was bed. “Fiiiine,” she grumbled as she pulled the hood up on her onesie and skulked back towards her bed, falling into it unceremoniously and falling asleep just after impact. 

❝ *fondly* Fucking nerd. ❞ 

“No, I’m serious, you’re going to love it!” Lyssa protested, holding up the DVD box set of Pride and Prejudice. “I’ve waited this long to make you watch this but I’m totally not waiting anymore, it’s time for you to have six and a half hours of Jane Austen fun!” She wiggled the box in front of his face, a sing-song tone to her voice as she pleaded, “Pleaaaase? I’ll let you try whatever food you want on me, we don’t even have to have movie-themed snacks like we usually do.”

❝ Don’t even fucking think about leaving without giving me a hug. ❞ 

Lexi was her other half -- her better half, usually, but every once in a while even the best of friends had to have a big blowout fight. She’d always felt like they were on even ground before, but now, in a house with the two of them and Gio... well, Lyssa couldn’t help but feel like she was the unwanted one in the equation , so Lyssa had tossed a few things into an overnight bag and had texted Jo to let her know that she was crashing there for the night. She’d thought Gio would be with Lexi, not waiting by the door for her to sneak out, but there he was, and she nearly burst into tears when he said that all he wanted from her was a hug. “You’re not mad at me too?” she whispered hopefully, and after she’d hugged him for a good long time, she waved a watery goodbye and headed on her way, promising she’d come back and apologize to her sister tomorrow once she’d had a chance to cool down.

❝ There she goes, the love of my life. ❞ 

“Hey! I don’t care how good this restaurant is, no one gets that title but my sister, not even a... slab of meat or cheese or whichever part of your meal you’re drooling over!” Lyssa scolded playfully, scooting her chair in so that she could steal a bite of his food, too. Every time another plate of it had gone by, off towards someone else, Gio’s eyes had lit up like he wished it was coming to him instead, and finally she had to see what the big fuss was. As soon as she’d taken one forkful, though, Lyssa groaned, not even done chewing as she blurted out, “Okay, I lied, you can keep Lexi, I want this food for the rest of my life instead!”

❝ It’s literally unfair how attractive she is. ❞

“You think it’s unfair to you? Imagine being the one who shared a womb with her!” Lyssa teased, a bright smile on her face even though on the inside her happiness faltered. She loved Lexi more than anything, she did, and she couldn’t be more happy that her twin had found someone who adored her the way that Gio did. It was just... sometimes, it was hard not to want that for herself, too, but how could she be such a downer when people she loved were so happy? Love would come to her someday, she was sure -- or at least she hoped. And in the meantime, she’d just keep having a front row seat to Gio and Lexi’s love story instead -- how could that be a bad thing? “And hey, you’re not terrible yourself, dummy; just because there’s nobody as good as Lexi doesn’t mean it’s time to stop taking showers and give up hope or anything!”