#hydesr3

“You made it!” his face cracked into a wide grin. It’d been months since she’d seen him, the last time being when he’d gone home for a school break. 

“Hey Bubbles.” She grinned when he snorted at the silly nickname she’d come up with when they were only 15. 

“I missed you,” Zane said, quickly pulling her into a hug.

“I missed you too.” She smiled. 

“Happy to be away from home yet?” he asked. 

She tried not to roll her eyes, “Gods, I’ve been happy about that for weeks, and I hadn’t even left yet.” 

He laughed, “well you’re here now. You can avoid your family indefinitely” 

“Hmm” she hummed happily, “and I can spend more time with you… without my mother glaring at us from the kitchen.” 

“Hey listen….” Kaeileen had spent a decent amount of time following Zane around back when they were in Arkhelios. He’d always turned them down though, even though he had no problem hanging out with them before Ulyssa had entered the picture. 

“We’re all grown up now, officially away from home….” They continued, and away from Ulyssa….

“I was thinking… we could go out sometime?”

“Look… Kaeileen.” Zane put his hands up, “I like you a lot but…. Not like that.” 

Kaeileen’s face fell, “but I—” 

“Besides, just cause Ulyssa isn’t here doesn’t mean I’m single.” 

Meanwhile, Kaeileen and Zane were too engrossed in their food options to bother Roman. 

Not that Roman would stoop to the level of trying to hang out with Kaeileen again.

Zane… Maybe. He was okay, as long as Ulyssa wasn’t around.