𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓪𝔂 𝓘 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓭 𝔂𝓸𝓾

ོ༘₊⁺☀︎₊⁺⋆.˚

The sunlight streamed through the pale curtains of Emberyln's room, warm and golden.

It fell in soft angles across her vanity table, catching on her hairbrush, her favorite perfume bottle, and the creamy fabric of the tea party dress that was carefully draped on the back of her desk chair.

Her room smelled faintly of lavender from the lotion she'd just used, her playlist playing softly in the background—some summery acoustic song that felt like a slow exhale.

She stood in front of her mirror, slipping one final pin into place as she finished her hair: soft, beachy curls pulled half-up with a pearl pin.

She turned slightly, admiring the dress again.

It was vintage-inspired, ivory-toned with blush undertones that looked warm and soft against her skin.

The bodice had a corset-like structure, delicate seams running vertically with an almost invisible elegance.

It was flattering, sweet, and grown-up all at once—like something a modern-day Grace Kelly might wear to tea.

The skirt flowed gently around her knees, neither too stiff nor too frilly. Just perfect.

"Okay Emberyln - You're gonna sip tea and fake laugh like you were born to do it," she said to herself with a firm nod staring into the mirror . "You are giving elegance. You are giving poise. You are giving—"

Creaaaaak.

She froze mid pep-talk, head snapping toward the door.

Footsteps. Bare ones. She leaned behind slowly, peeking her head just barely out into the hall.

Conrad walking toward his room with damp hair, beads of saltwater still clinging to his chest, and board shorts slung low on his hips.

A towel hung around his neck, lazily tossed there like it wasn't doing anything. He looked freshly ocean-kissed and casually gorgeous in the most annoying, effortless way.

"What happened to you?" Emberyln asked, eyebrows raised.

He looked over, pausing mid-step like he hadn't realized anyone was watching. "My mom caught me before I even dried off. Said I was doing my portrait today. Told me to 'go make myself presentable' before she gets the paints."

She laughed. "You look like someone dragged you out of a GQ Beach Edition and threw you into colonial art class."

"That might've been her plan," he said with a half-smile.

Conrad lingered where he stood, shifting his weight slightly like he wasn't in any rush to go.

His gaze flicked toward her door, then back to her. "Is that the tea party dress?"

Emberyln instinctively moved to block the view, spreading her arms like a protective wall. "Hey—don't look! It's bad luck to see it before the event."

He cocked an eyebrow. "I'm pretty sure that's a wedding thing."

"Well," she said, lips curving into a smirk, "better safe than sorry. I don't need your bad juju ruining my debut into high society."

He grinned, and then, without warning, leaned just the slightest bit to catch a glimpse past her shoulder.

"Conrad!" she swatted the air between them. "You are so annoying !"

"And you are so beautiful ," he said, softly. Not teasing. Just true.

She froze, mouth parted slightly. Her heart did this weird little skip thing, like it wanted to leap straight up into her throat.

He didn't stop there.

"I mean—wow, Em," he added, voice quieter now. "You always look good, but this is... different. You look like someone out of an old movie. Like the part right before everything changes."

Her breath caught, caught off guard not just by the words, but the way he was looking at her—like she wasn't just pretty, but like she mattered.

She tried to brush it off with a laugh. "Okay, you clearly inhaled too much saltwater."

He smiled, but didn't look away. "Nope. I'm serious."

She didn't know what to say to that. For a second, they just stood there—her in the doorway in her tea dress, him still damp from the ocean, that invisible pull between them stretching taut.

"Go change before your mom comes up here with a hairdryer and an attitude," she finally managed, voice lighter now.

He nodded slowly, still holding her gaze for just one more heartbeat. "You'll kill it today."

"I better," she said, lifting her chin. "I practiced my fake laugh and everything."

His lips twitched. "I like your real one better."

She opened her mouth—maybe to tease him again, maybe to say something else entirely—but then:

"Emberlyn!" Jennifer's voice rang up from downstairs, loud and unmistakably exasperated. "Everyone's in the car waiting for you!"

Emberyln winced, then gave Conrad a small smile. "Showtime."

"Don't trip on your poise," he said, backing toward his room.

"Don't get paint on your abs," she shot back.

And with that, she closed her door gently behind her, her heart still fluttering way too fast for something that was just a compliment.

Right?