(Post Soundtrack: "Raise Your Glass" cover by Megan Nicole & Jason Chen)
Daiya watched the boy out of the corner of her eye, the one reacting to her dare was an utterly different creature from the one she had first met. Cassus had changed so much, in more than just the sturdy, athletic body he had grown into. She had seen kindness, too, and a determination to have what he wanted. Once, the teen thought that was
someone that she wanted, but the Pool Boy was a complicated question for her to answer.
Even so, part of Daiya still wondered if his answer to her had changed.
She didn't look up at him for a full minute, nearly counting it out in her head. Daiya's thoughts, and eyes, wandered over to Brie. The teen hoped that Cassus would make the connection there, even if neither of them would admit it to each other yet. The corner of her mouth pulled as her best friend sipped at the drink Daiya made, catching the glance sent her way. She pressed her lips together, drawing her eyes up into a mischievous, knowing glance sent back at Brie.
"
You're such a dork, Pool Boy!" Daiya told him, rolling her eyes at the hidden orbs of the capable bounty hunter in front of her. She wanted to snap at him, yell at him, but the teen bit her lip instead. She found a grin as Brie took his arm, relief passing through her lips as a giggle, letting her body relax. An odd realization struck her, seeing Brie and Cassus take a seat on the couch, that it felt right to see them there together. Whatever Daiya had with Cassus, friendship or family, that was enough for her.
As Zephyrr and Das passed her together, Daiya finished off the rest of her beer, saving that unsettling sight for another day.
Daiya let the beat of the music echo through the liquor running in her veins, taking swaying steps toward the drinks again. She wanted to check on Das, who had hurried from the room right after her dare, but the teen felt raw every time she glanced that way. Her lips felt dry already, and her hands demanded something to occupy them once she dropped off the empty bottle. The teen let herself pour the last of the lum into a glass, her eyes growing as high as the liquid as it threatened to overflow the drink tumbler.
"
Aww, feth..." the flustered teen cursed herself, her sluggish eyes dragging themselves to spy another nearby glass. She thought it was unused, but holding it up showed the remnants of some other drink in there. Daiya tipped it back, letting it whet her thirst for the moment until she had both glasses full of the liquor, adding parts of other half-used drinks around to make two of...something. Triumphant, the teen turned with both in hand, taking an experimental sip as she surveyed the room.
All in all, a successful flat-warming party for the two girls.
A grin lit her pink-framed face, as she spied the red hair of one neglected party-goer. Daiya swayed her hips over to his spot on the couch, far enough away to give Cassus and Brie their space, and nestled herself in on his lap again. The teen giggled, holding up a glass for him as payment, taking just a sip of her own before she planted the wet lips on his cheek. They left only a damp outline this time, just bringing out Cartri's natural colors. "
Miss me?"
Daiya waited for Cartri to take his drink from her, then wrapped a free arm around his neck. The party host leaned against her boyfriend, a long sigh escaping her lips. "
This party got fething crazy, fast! Did you see Hex saving us from an explosion?!"
The teen wondered what her roommate was doing with one of the newcomers who had shown up late with Brie and Cassus. Daiya hadn't recognized him at all, but she let it roll off her slender shoulders. That was just what happened at parties, it would only make for a better story later one. The grin wouldn't budge from Daiya's face until she took another sip of her drink. She nudged Cartri to look at Cassus and Brie at the other end of the couch, whispering to him, "
He's got his eyes closed 'cause I dared him to look deep into the eyes of someone he likes most here. And then he let Brie take his hand, don't tell me that's not an answer."
With their game sputtering to a close, Daiya took one more sip, her lips turning sour for a moment, "
No one's dared me yet..."
If anyone could take her mind off her disappointment, it would be Cartri.