Chapter Text
“Oh, fuck.”
Caitlyn was lost in a feverish daze as she worked, the world narrowing down to the heat between them. She looked up, her cerulean eyes drifting over the girl pinned beneath her. Powder-blue hair was sprawled across the sheets like a crashed wave, framing a face flushed deep with color. Every inch of her pale skin—inked with a storm of clouds—glistened under a fine sheen of sweat.
She looked beautiful like this.
Gorgeous.
Jinx.
Jinx’s head fell back, eyes rolling upward into a heavy haze, her lips parted and swollen—stained a deep, bruised red from the biting of both their teeth.
Caitlyn watched the tension in Jinx’s throat as she tried to swallow a moan, or perhaps a whimper, so she leaned back in. She dipped low, licking with intensity that left no room for restraint. Her tongue moved faster now, lapping at the sensitive heat of her clit—finding that exact, jagged nerve that she knew would finally break Jinx’s composure.
It wasn’t long until Jinx let out the thin, desperate whine she’d been holding back, her composure slipping at last. Her gaze drifted downward, heavy and clouded, finding the person anchored between her legs.
Their eyes locked. A collision of pink meeting blue.
Jinx let out a small, breathy chuckle, the sound vibrating with a mix of exhaustion and triumph. A smirk tugged at her reddened lips as she held Caitlyn’s gaze, her look turning into a silent, daring challenge.
god, she’s so infuriating—ly hot
Caitlyn had to admit, there was something devastatingly sexy about Jinx’s confidence, it sent a fresh surge of heat straight to Caitlyn’s core.
She could feel the heavy, insistent pulse of her shaft straining against her underwear, a dull ache that made her want to reach down and stroke herself just to find a moment of release.
“God, yes… right there,” Jinx breathed, finally breaking their gaze. Her fingers tangled into Caitlyn’s hair, fisting the strands and guiding her head back down, a firm, demanding press against her slick heat.
Caitlyn happily obliged, sinking back into the salt and sweetness of her. She delved deeper this time, her tongue finding that precise, sensitive rhythm again, tasting and pleasuring Jinx exactly where she needed it most.
Her dick can wait, she had other priorities.
This wasn’t at all how Caitlyn had envisioned her weekend, but Jayce had flaked on their trip, and it just so happened that she had bumped into Jinx later that day
Jinx had only asked her to come with her to lunch since her brothers had blown her off but Jinx spent the entire meal testing Caitlyn’s patience, her touch lingering in places that were strictly off-limits for a public booth. The subtle, daring friction had left Caitlyn completely riled up, leading to a frantic midday blur where she’d practically dragged Jinx back to her dorm room.
Jinx clearly didn’t mind the change of plans though. She looked more than happy to be unraveling under Caitlyn’s touch, and Caitlyn, for her part, couldn't imagine being anywhere else.
The original weekend plans were now a distant memory. Caitlyn was already mentally locking the door, quietly deciding she wasn't letting Jinx out of this room for at least a day or two.
“I’m close,” Jinx suddenly rasped. She clutched at Caitlyn’s hair harder, pale fingers tangling deep into midnight blue strands as her back arched off the sheets.
Caitlyn shifted her weight, her hands sliding up to Jinx’s thighs. She gripped them firm, spreading them wider to give herself a better view as she prepared to slide her fingers inside, wanting to feel every pulse as Jinx hit the edge.
*knock* *knock*
“Caitlyn?”
“Shit!”
Caitlyn bolted upright as if she’d been struck by lightning. The sound of her mother knocking on her door turned her blood to ice. She scrambled back, nearly tumbling face-first off the edge of the bed as she lunged for her discarded shirt.
“No—wait!” Jinx cried out, the sudden loss of friction leaving her suspended in a cruel, unfinished ache. She reached out, trying to snag Caitlyn’s arm, but Caitlyn was already in a panicked motion, frantically hopping into her clothes.
“Caitlyn, dear. Are you in there?”
“Fuck,” Caitlyn hissed under her breath, her hands sweeping the floor in a blind panic until she finally snagged her shorts. “Just a minute, Mother! I’m… I’m changing!”
Jinx, who had gone completely limp and was now wearing a deep, frustrated frown, hauled herself upright. She grabbed Caitlyn’s comforter, dragging it over her bare skin to shield herself from the impending intrusion.
“I was really close, you know,” Jinx muttered, the words thick. She crossed her legs—the friction of the movement making her let out a low, pained groan—as she watched Caitlyn move around the room.
“You need to get out of here,” Caitlyn whispered urgently, her eyes darting toward the door. She scooped up Jinx’s scattered clothes from the rug and threw them at her.
“What? You’re not even going to let me say hi to your mother?” Jinx asked, her voice dripping with a dry, defiant sass as she tugged her shirt back over her head.
Caitlyn ignored her, splashing cold water on her face in the vanity mirror, her hands shaking as she smoothed down her hair. She looked like she’d just survived a physical altercation, and the agitation was radiating off her in waves while the knocking continued.
“Look at the state of you—us!” Caitlyn hissed, her voice a low-register whisper. “Now get out of here before she sees you.” Her eyes were darting across the dresser, searching for her perfume to mask the heavy, sweet scent of sex hanging in the air.
“How? She’s literally standing in the hallway,” Jinx pointed out with a deep frown, her fingers fumbling with the hem of her shirt as she stood up.
Caitlyn didn't say a word. She just pointed a stiff finger toward the window.
Jinx jaw dropped. “You’ve got to be shittin’ me, Kiramman. After giving me blueballs, you’re making me jump out a window?”
“Don’t be so dramatic, there’s a fire exi—” Caitlyn started, her hand already cranking the window open. She leaned out, expecting the rusted metal of a ladder, but her eyes met nothing but an empty, three-story drop to the pavement.
She froze. She could’ve sworn there was a ladder here.
Behind her, Jinx’s brow arched into a sharp, mocking peak as she watched Caitlyn’s expression morph from panic to pure frustration.
“That was your old dorm, genius,” Jinx retorted, crossing her arms over her chest and leaning back. “The one where you also used to kick me out.”
“Are you okay in there, sweetheart?” Her mother’s voice was closer now, muffled only by a few inches of wood.
Caitlyn squeezed her eyes shut, her heart hammering against her ribs. “Just... hide behind the door,” she hissed, her voice a low-vibrating command. “Get out the second she turns her back.”
“What?! Are you for fucking rea—”
Caitlyn didn’t let her finish. She lunged forward, physically shoving Jinx into the narrow gap behind the door. Jinx stood there stiffly, her arms still crossed in a silent, seething protest, her pink gaze burning a hole through Caitlyn as she watched her smooth the creases out of her shirt.
Caitlyn took one last steadying breath, forced a tight smile onto her face, and pulled the door open.
“Mother,” Caitlyn greeted, her voice pitching up just a fraction too high.
Cassandra didn't move. She stood in the hallway, her designer bag tucked neatly under one arm, her own brow raised in a look of suspicion as her eyes began to scan the room.
“Caitlyn,” Cassandra greeted, her voice a smooth, cultured blade. She tilted her head to the side, peering over Caitlyn’s shoulder with eyes that seemed to miss nothing.
Caitlyn held her breath, praying that Jinx had actually followed orders for once and wasn’t currently standing behind her with a shit-eating grin plastered on her face.
“Do you have someone in there?” her mother asked.
Caitlyn felt a jagged bolt of relief. If she was asking, she hadn’t seen Jinx.
Good.
Instead of answering, Caitlyn stepped aside. Cassandra didn't miss a beat, gliding into the room with the practiced grace of a woman who owned every space she entered.
“What brings you here, Mother?” Caitlyn asked, trying to steer the ship.
Instead of answering, Cassandra performed a slow scan of Caitlyn's dorm room, her gaze lingering on the rumpled sheets of the bed. Then, she turned back and extended a hand toward Caitlyn. Confused, Caitlyn looked down to find her mother holding a single, crumpled sock.
Caitlyn hesitantly took the fabric. “A… sock?”
“Yes, dear. A sock. It was draped over your doorknob,” her mother said, her tone shifting into a sharp, scolding lecture. “I hope it isn't yours. I taught you better than to leave your laundry in the hallway like a common delinquent.”
Caitlyn’s nose flared as the realization hit her.
Jinx. This was definitely her doing.
It was the universal signal for 'don't come in, I'm busy.' Or ‘I’m having sex, fuck off.’
“No, Mother, of course that’s not mine,” Caitlyn forced out, her voice tight. She let out a dry, awkward chuckle that sounded fake even to her own ears. “It’s probably one of the girls next door. You know how they can be.”
Cassandra stared at her for a full, agonizing minute. It was that look—the one she gave Caitlyn whenever she caught her in a lie or sensed a crack in her composure. Her face remained unreadable that made Caitlyn’s skin crawl with discomfort.
Then, something shifted. Cassandra’s eyes widened almost imperceptibly, and the corner of her mouth twitched into a ghost of a smirk before snapping back into a straight line.
“And do pray tell,” Cassandra started, her voice dropping into a dangerously calm register, “what is Jinx doing here?”
The air in the room seemed to vanish instantly, leaving Caitlyn’s breath snagged in her throat. She stood petrified for a heartbeat before slowly, agonizingly turning toward the focus of her mother’s gaze.
There stood Jinx.
The heavy door had swung shut on its own, stripping away Caitlyn’s flimsy veil of secrecy. Jinx was standing straight now, her hands tucked neatly behind her back, a crooked, guilty expression dancing across her features.
Caitlyn felt a wave of internal fury—why on earth had she thought the "hide behind the door" trick would work? She should have shoved Jinx into the depths of the closet or under the bed until the coast was clear.
Jinx’s laughter sliced through the silence, a bright, jagged sound. “Hey, Mrs. K!” She flashed a wide, beaming smile, the kind of grin Jinx only wore when she was either deathly nervous or thoroughly enjoying the chaos she’d caused.
“Jinx... what exactly were you doing behind the door?” Cassandra asked, her voice tight with a mix of confusion and mounting suspicion. She crossed her arms.
“I, uh—” Jinx’s gaze flickered to Caitlyn, whose eyes were practically bulging as she signaled toward the exit with her pupils.
“I was just heading out! Great seeing you, Mrs. K!” Jinx chirped, pivoting on her heel to make a break for it, but Cassandra’s voice cut through the air, stopping her mid-step.
“Wait.”
The word was a soft command, but it held enough weight to make both girls pivot back instantly. They stood there side-by-side, looking for all the world like a pair of guilty puppies caught tearing up the furniture.
Cassandra’s expression, however, wasn't what Caitlyn expected. There was no flash of maternal fury or the cold sting of disappointment. Instead, she looked almost weary, as if she were viewing a movie she’d already seen several times before.
If Caitlyn squinted through her own panic, she could almost detect a hint of amusement dancing behind her mother’s eyes.
“I was just about to ask Caitlyn to join me for dinner this evening,” Cassandra said, her voice smooth and unbothered. She shifted her gaze toward the powder-blue-haired girl. “Would you like to join us, Jinx?”
A stunned silence fell over the room. The two girls shared a long, confused look. Jinx’s eyes searched Caitlyn’s, waiting for a signal—a subtle shake of the head, a desperate glare, or a plea to decline. But Caitlyn was paralyzed, her brain still trying to reconcile the image of her mother holding a sock with this sudden invitation to a family meal.
Finally, Caitlyn cleared her throat, her voice sounding a bit more grounded as she turned back to her mother.
“Where’s dinner?”
“Oh, a colleague invited me to their newly opened bistro. Since your trip with Jayce was canceled, I figured I’d let you tag along—truth be told, I need a buffer. That councilwoman can be so incredibly obnoxious.” Cassandra rolled her eyes, a weary sigh escaping her as she already anticipated the social fatigue of the evening.
Her gaze shifted back to the blue-haired girl. “So, Jinx. Would you like to come? Perhaps be Caitlyn’s buffer?” There was a subtle, teasing lilt in her voice that made Caitlyn’s pulse spike.
Jinx’s eyes flickered to Caitlyn, still searching for a signal, a ‘no’ or a silent plea. But Caitlyn only gave a light, non-committal shrug. Deep down, she didn’t mind, in fact, she realized she actually wanted Jinx there. So she left the decision entirely in Jinx’s hands.
Jinx, finally reading Caitlyn, turned back to Cassandra. “Thanks for the offer, Mrs. K. Let me, uh, check on my brothers first.” She pulled out her phone, stepping back a pace.
As they waited, Caitlyn finally took a proper look at Jinx, and her heart nearly stopped. Jinx was a disaster, her shirt was creased, her powder-blue hair was a wild nest, and her face was still blooming with a post-orgasmic flush. Then Caitlyn looked down to her pants. Jinx’s top button was undone.
Caitlyn fought the urge to face-palm right then and there. She could only pray her mother hadn’t connected the dots between the doorknob sock and Jinx’s disheveled state.
Before Caitlyn could spiral into a fresh wave of stress, Jinx’s voice broke the tension. “Free dinner sounds great, Mrs. K!”
“Wonderful,” Cassandra replied smoothly with a small smile. She glanced at Jinx’s rumpled state, then back to her daughter. “Now, Caitlyn, would you mind letting Jinx borrow something from your wardrobe? Something... fresh?”
Caitlyn felt the heat rush to her cheeks. “O-of course, Mother.”
Her mother nodded, satisfied. “I’ll leave you two to prepare. Meet me outside in thirty minutes. I’ll pay the dean a visit while I wait.”
The moment the door clicked shut, leaving them in the sudden, ringing silence of the room, Jinx turned. The guilty-puppy act vanished, replaced by a sly grin.
“So,” Jinx purred, her eyes already dark with mischief. “Should we pick up where we left off?”
Caitlyn only glared at Jinx, stepping into her space and shoving the crumpled fabric she’d been gripping into Jinx’s chest.
“A sock? Really?” Caitlyn hissed.
Jinx shrugged, the corner of her mouth twitching as she fought the urge to laugh. “Hey, it was supposed to keep people out! But I guess that didn’t stop your mother.”
“You’re ridiculous,” Caitlyn scoffed, lightly shoving Jinx aside as she moved toward the closet.
“We have to get ready. My mother doesn’t do waiting.” She began rifling through the hangers, trying to find something decent for an evening dinner with Cassandra Kiramman.
“What, not even a quickie? Come on, you owe me an orgasm.” Jinx drifted up behind her, her fingers tracing a slow, deliberate line over Caitlyn’s shoulders. The touch made Caitlyn’s skin prickle, a traitorous shiver running down her spine.
Caitlyn rolled her eyes, her resolve flickering for a second.
She had considered it—God, she considered it—but the lingering echo of her mother’s voice had effectively killed the mood and made her dick limp. Besides, twenty-nine—twenty-seven minutes was a dangerous game with her mother lurking nearby.
“Come on, Cait. It’ll take the edge off. You’re so tense,” Jinx whispered against the shell of her ear.
Caitlyn’s eyes drifted shut, her knuckles whitening as she gripped the clothes she’d picked out. She loved the way her name sounded on Jinx’s lips. It was a rare occurrence, Jinx usually stuck to her last name or whatever irritating nickname she’d dreamt up that morning.
Hearing it now felt like a targeted strike.
She hated how easily Jinx knew exactly where to press to make her fold.
Determined not to let Jinx see the power she has over her, Caitlyn exhaled a long, grounding breath. She willed the heat in her stomach to settle and tried to ignore the ghost of Jinx’s breath on her neck. She turned around, the word 'no' already forming on her tongue, ready to shut the whole thing down.
But when she opened her eyes, the rejection died in her throat.
Jinx was already kneeling in front of her. Her pink eyes were wide and glowing—filmed over with a look that was equal parts pleading and…predatory.
The sight of Jinx kneeling there sent a fresh, violent jolt of heat straight to Caitlyn’s dick, instantly incinerating any lingering thoughts of her mother’s voice. The image of Cassandra in the hallway was replaced by the visceral, pulsing reality of the girl at her feet.
Fuck.
Caitlyn remained standing, a last-ditch effort to maintain some semblance of control, but the heavy, insistent bulge straining against her shorts made her silence feel like a lie.
Jinx’s gaze dropped, a small, knowing smirk tugging at her lips as her fingers hooked into the waistband of Caitlyn’s shorts. She began to tug them down—slowly, agonizingly—testing the air for a protest that never came. She looked up, searching Caitlyn's face for a flicker of unease, but all she found was a raw, dark anticipation.
There was no hesitation left in Caitlyn’s cerulean eyes, she was simply waiting.
Encouraged by the silence, Jinx finished the job, shucking the denim and lace aside until she was met with the sight of Caitlyn’s heavy, aching shaft, already fully roused and demanding attention.
“Jinx,” Caitlyn rasped, her voice cracking under the sudden surge of tension.
Jinx didn't move. She stayed there, staring a second too long at Caitlyn’s lap before tilting her head back to meet her eyes. She feigned a look of pure, wide-eyed innocence, though the devilish glint in her pink eyes gave her away.
“You want me to stop?” Jinx teased, her voice a low purr. She deliberately tucked her hands behind her back and leaned her head away from Caitlyn’s heat, acting as if they had all the time in the world and she was perfectly content to just... wait.
Caitlyn stared down at her for a full, agonizing minute, the clock on the wall ticking away their thirty-minute reprieve. Finally, she let out a jagged sigh of pure resignation.
Fuck it.
“Hurry up,” Caitlyn muttered, the command barely a whisper.
The moment the words left Caitlyn’s lips, Jinx wasted no time. She lunged forward, her tongue swirling over the tip of her dick and tracing the sensitive underside before taking the full, pulsing length into her mouth.
Caitlyn let out a low, guttural groan, her head thumping back against the closet door with a dull crack. Jinx increased the pace, the suction drawing a frantic heat from Caitlyn’s core. Her hips bucked instinctively, her body following the rhythm of Jinx’s head as she pulled back and dove in again.
Caitlyn reached down, her fingers tangling deep into those powder-blue strands to hold her steady. Jinx hummed against her, the vibration of her throat sent a jolt of pure electricity through Caitlyn’s nerves.
It felt too good. Caitlyn was dangerously close to forgetting her mother was pacing the hallway downstairs. She wanted to take over, to drive into Jinx’s mouth until she saw stars, but she did owe Jinx an orgasm and they didn't have the luxury of time for another round and eat Jinx out again.
Caitlyn pulled back, her skin slick with a mixture of spit and precome. Before Jinx could protest, Caitlyn hauled her up, pinning her against the wall in one fluid motion. Jinx’s lips were glistening, her breath hitching as Caitlyn leaned in, stealing the air from her lungs with a kiss that tasted of their shared heat. Caitlyn’s tongue pushed deep, swallowing Jinx’s desperate moans.
Jinx whined into the kiss, her body arching as she tried to grind her clothed cunt against Caitlyn’s throbbing cock. Caitlyn matched her, the friction through their layers sending sparks through them both. Caitlyn’s hands roamed downward, pinching Jinx’s nipples through her shirt before fumbling with her buttons. She slid her hand into Jinx’s pants, finding her already aching and drenched.
Caitlyn didn't hesitate, her fingers spreading the slickness, making Jinx let out a muffled, choked cry against her mouth.
Finding her ready, Caitlyn gripped Jinx’s waist and pushed herself inside. Jinx’s head lolled back, her eyes rolling as the kiss broke. Caitlyn buried her face in the crook of Jinx’s neck, sucking and biting on pale skin as she began to thrust—hard, fast, and desperate. Jinx’s nails dug into Caitlyn’s back, her breath coming in ragged stabs.
“I won’t... last long,” Jinx whined, her voice breaking.
“Good,” Caitlyn grunted, hooking Jinx’s legs around her waist and driving upward, pinning her higher against the wall.
“We don’t... have that long.” Caitlyn kept the pace punishing, her own heat building into a blinding pressure until she felt the clench of Jinx’s walls.
“God—fuck!” Jinx cried out, and the internal ripple triggered Caitlyn’s own release, sending them both crashing over the edge together.
The room fell into a heavy, ringing silence, broken only by the sound of their synchronized, ragged panting.
Caitlyn stayed there for a long minute, her forehead resting against Jinx’s. She watched the way Jinx’s pupils remained dilated, her lips swollen and bruised-looking, a single bead of sweat rolling down her temple. Jinx was still clinging to her, chest heaving, slowly coming down from the peak.
In the fading afterglow, Jinx looked... different.
Maybe it was the distance of the last few months, the way their lives had pulled them in opposite directions, but looking at her now, the irritation and the games felt a million miles away.
As much as Caitlyn’s pride hated to admit it, she had missed her. Deeply.
Before Caitlyn’s brain could intervene, before she could even register it, her body moved on its own. She leaned down and pressed her lips to Jinx’s.
This wasn't the frantic, lust-driven collision from before.
It was fleeting. Soft. A gentle, lingering pressure that felt terrifyingly new.
When Caitlyn pulled away, Jinx was unusually still. Her expression was unreadable, the sharp, teasing edge had vanished, replaced by something soft—almost vulnerable. Caitlyn’s eyes widened for a fraction of a second as the weight of what she’d just done settled in her gut.
Panic flared. She quickly set Jinx back on her feet, pulling out and leaving Jinx to let out a small, involuntary whine at the sudden emptiness.
Pink irises met blue.
For a heartbeat, the air was thick with something they weren't supposed to acknowledge.
Then they both looked away.
The silence shifted, turning heavy and stifling. Caitlyn felt the sudden, awkward prickle of skin and could only hope she was the only one feeling the shift in the atmosphere.
“W-we need to get ready,” Caitlyn could only mutter, her voice thick. She turned her back abruptly, unable to look at Jinx for a second longer.
Dinner with her mother was and has always been the same, there is always someone lurking behind her. As one of the city’s most influential councilwoman who’s also running for mayor, everyone’s trying to get on her good side which mostly does the opposite.
The bistro’s owner, Shoola, was proving to be every bit as exhausting as Cassandra had predicted. She had long since abandoned the pretense of hosting, dragging a chair over to wedge herself into their private circle. Shoola prattled on, her voice a relentless buzz of self-importance that Caitlyn knew her mother didn't give a shit about.
Still, Cassandra was a professional. She wore a mask of polite interest, though Caitlyn caught the signs of her mother’s reaching her limit, the twitch of her eyelid and the way her spine had turned into a literal rod of iron.
She would never interact with her again.
Caitlyn had tried to drop subtle attempts for Shoola to take the hint, but the woman was either impressively oblivious or simply just refused to let the opportunity of sitting next to Cassandra Kiramman pass.
She could only sigh and shrug at her mother who still did not give away her irritation at the woman.
The only real relief of the night was Jinx.
She seemed entirely unfazed by what had occurred in the dorm room earlier. As they sat side-by-side awaiting their overdue orders, Jinx’s left hand tapped a rhythmic, bored sound against the glass tabletop, while her right was hidden beneath the cloth, resting firmly on Caitlyn’s lap.
It was classic Jinx.
Her fingers raked slowly up Caitlyn's thigh, a bold caress while she maintained a perfectly neutral expression, nodding along to Shoola’s nonsense as if she were enthralled. Every time the touch got too high, Caitlyn would firmly catch Jinx’s hand and move it back, only for those restless fingers to wander again a moment later.
She’s acting normal, Caitlyn told herself, trying to ignore the way her own heart rate spiked.
It was just a kiss. We’ve done it a thousand times. I’m the only one overthinking this.
Determined to kill the awkward internal monologue and save her mother from further social torture, Caitlyn cleared her throat, cutting through Shoola’s blabber.
“Will the food be taking much longer? My—Jinx hasn't eaten all day,” Caitlyn intervened.
Under the table, she didn't push Jinx's hand away this time, instead, she captured it, lacing their fingers together and giving a firm, grounding squeeze.
“Right! I haven't had lunch yet,” Jinx added instantly, her voice bright as she backed Caitlyn up. “Something to bite on would be nice.”
Both older women blinked, pulled out of their lopsided conversation. Cassandra shot the girls a look of silent gratitude before turning a pointed gaze toward Shoola, who finally seemed to remember she was running a restaurant, not a campaign office.
“Would you mind checking on those orders, Shoola? My daughter and her friend are quite clearly famished,” Cassandra said, her voice dropping into a tone of ice-cold politeness.
It wasn’t a shout, but the sheer authority in it acted like a physical shove. Shoola’s face turned a blotchy, embarrassed crimson as she realized she’d overstayed her welcome. She stammered an apology, finally scurrying off toward the kitchen to harass the waiters and chefs.
Cassandra exhaled, her shoulders dropping just a fraction. “Thank you, girls. I thought she’d never leave.”
When the food finally arrived a few minutes later, Caitlyn realized she was still gripping Jinx’s hand under the table. She dropped it instantly, her skin tingling from the sudden loss of contact, and cleared her throat to mask the heat rising in her cheeks. She stole a subtle glance at Jinx, but Jinx looked entirely unbothered, already digging into her meal with. Caitlyn followed suit, the silence of the table finally feeling peaceful.
Between bites, Cassandra steered the conversation toward their studies. Caitlyn, deep into the grind of Pre-law, found herself surprised when the topic shifted to Jinx.
“I didn’t know you’d shifted majors?” Caitlyn asked, pausing with her fork halfway to her mouth. Jinx had been a dedicated, if not, rebellious, art student for as long as Caitlyn could remember.
Jinx shrugged, leaning back with a casual air. “Art school was suffocating. They were trying to limit my creativity, and honestly, I’m already as good at it as I’m going to get. Engineering is… different. More practical.”
Caitlyn watched her closely, a strange sensation prickling at the back of her mind. Those last words didn't quite sound like they came from Jinx. They felt...heavy.
Before Caitlyn could dwell on it, Jinx’s signature smirk returned, cutting through the brief moment of gravity. “Besides, I’m also great at it,” she joked, flashing a wink at Cassandra. “The professors are going to find they actually need me to keep the curve interesting.”
Cassandra made a surprised laugh, Caitlyn shook her head as a smile crept on her face and the tension of the day finally began to bleed away.
But the peace was short-lived. As they waited for the bill—which was taking an agonizingly long time. Shoola drifted back toward them like a persistent ghost.
“Everything was to your liking, I hope?” Shoola chirped. The meal had been nice, fresh, the flavors bold, but Caitlyn knew her mother would never be stepping foot in this establishment again.
Cassandra gave a polite, practiced nod, Shoola’s attention was already pivoting toward Caitlyn. “And how are you getting on, Caitlyn? My daughter mentioned she’s in your class. Are the two of you becoming fast friends?”
Caitlyn searched her memory, coming up entirely blank. She vaguely recalled a girl who sat three rows back, but she couldn't even put a name to the face. “Oh, yes,” Caitlyn lied, forcing a polite, empty smile. “She’s lovely.”
Under the table, Jinx’s hand found its way back to Caitlyn’s thigh. Her fingers moved, teasing, creeping higher and higher, trying to bait a reaction.
Caitlyn’s posture went rigid, her spine snapping straight as she tried to shoot a warning glare at Jinx. But Jinx kept her eyes locked on the older women, her face a mask of innocent interest.
“You know,” Shoola chuckled, leaning in closer, her voice dropping into a conspiratorial tone. “I believe my daughter harbors a bit of a fancy for you. But seeing as you’re already quite spoken for, I suppose I shall have to tell the poor girl to look elsewhere.”
The air at the table turned. Caitlyn and Jinx’s eyes widened simultaneously. Jinx’s hand vanished from Caitlyn’s thigh as if the skin had turned to fire, her fingers recoiling into her own lap.
The sudden withdrawal felt like a cold splash of water, leaving Caitlyn feeling strangely exposed. She looked at Jinx in confusion, her heart doing a strange, uncomfortable somersault at the way Jinx had immediately distanced herself.
“We—we aren’t together.” Caitlyn answered, her voice quieter than she intended.
The tension returned tenfold, thicker and more suffocating than it had been in the dorm room. Shoola gave a confused, fluttering laugh, but Caitlyn couldn’t hear it over the sound of the blood rushing in her ears. She didn't look at her mother, and she certainly didn't look at Jinx.
“We’re just friends,” Jinx interrupted, her voice slicing through the silence with a sudden, forced energy. She let out a sharp, practiced laugh that didn't quite reach her eyes. “People always think that because of how close we are, right, Caitlyn?”
Jinx nudged Caitlyn’s shoulder, a silent signal passing between them. Caitlyn snapped her spine straight, shaking off the lingering shock of Shoola’s comment.
“Right! Exactly,” Caitlyn added, her own laugh sounding a pitch too high as she joined the performance. “We’re just that close, people jump to conclusions.”
Both girls put on a united front, a seamless show of platonic solidarity for the two older women. Shoola looked a bit taken-back, her brows twitching as she processed the denial, but before she could dig any deeper, the bill finally arrived.
Caitlyn had never been more grateful to see a piece of paper in her life.
She shot Jinx a small, exhausted smile of thanks as Cassandra settled the tab.
The walk to the car was a blur of cool night air and the lingering scent of expensive perfume and street smog. Now, the three of them were in the leather-scented quiet of Cassandra’s car, the city lights blurring past the tinted windows as they made their way toward Jinx’s dorm.
Caitlyn sat in the passenger seat, the low hum of the engine and the sterile scent of the car’s interior doing little to soothe the static in her brain. Beside her, Cassandra drove with a focused grace, her eyes occasionally flicking to the rearview mirror where Jinx sat.
As they pulled up to Jinx’s dorm building, the streetlights illuminated a sleek car idling at the curb. A woman was perched there, sitting on the concrete with a posture that looked like she’d been waiting for a significant amount of time.
As the car slowed to a crawl to park behind the vehicle, a sharp, hissed breath came from the backseat.
“Fuck,” Jinx muttered, the word barely audible. “Why is she here?”
Caitlyn’s hand was already on the door handle. It was a reflex by now—she always walked Jinx to her doorstep. Her mother had scorched her for it once, watching from the driver’s seat as Caitlyn let Jinx walk off alone. Cassandra had called it "unacceptably rude" and "not at all chivalrous," and Caitlyn had never made the mistake again.
“Wait—Caitlyn. Don’t get out.” Jinx immediately stopped her.
Caitlyn froze, her brows furrowing as she twisted in her seat to look at Jinx. “What?”
“Yeah. I’ll be fine on my own, really.” Jinx said, her voice strained with urgency. She was already unbuckling, her eyes darting toward the woman on the curb.
“No need to bother. Thanks for the dinner, Mrs. K!”
Before either of them could protest, Jinx was out of the car. She leaned over to Caitlyn’s window, pressing her face near the glass and waving a hurried, manic goodbye with both hands. It was a clear distraction, a physical barrier meant to keep Caitlyn’s eyes on her and off the person waiting for her.
Then, she turned and walked toward the stranger. The woman on the curb stood up slowly, her arms crossing over her chest as she watched Jinx approach. Even from the car, Caitlyn could feel the shift in the air—the comfortable, messy tension of their evening replaced by something cold and unfamiliar.
Caitlyn watched them through the tinted glass, her brow furrowing as she tried to make sense of the scene. The woman was taller than Jinx, though she didn't quite reach Caitlyn’s height. She had cropped, reddish-pink hair and a small tattoo under her left eye—a dark mark Caitlyn couldn’t decipher from this distance. She wore a crimson varsity jacket from a different university, her posture stiff and authoritative as she appeared to be scolding Jinx.
“Who is that?” Cassandra asked, her voice tinged with maternal curiosity as she followed her daughter’s gaze.
Caitlyn shrugged, forcing her expression to go neutral. “I don’t know,”
She turned back to face her mother, offering a small, practiced smile. “Let’s go home, Mother. I wouldn’t want you to be driving too late at this hour.”
Cassandra nodded without protest, shifting the car back into gear. As they pulled away, Caitlyn stole one last glance through the side mirror. The stranger had turned her head, her own brows furrowed in a deep, suspicious look as she watched the luxury car disappear into the street.
The drive back to Caitlyn’s dorm was quiet for a few minutes, the clicking of the turn signal the only sound between them. Then, Cassandra spoke.
“So, you and Jinx aren’t together?” her mother asked, her tone conversational but pointed, seeking confirmation of the denial at the bistro.
Caitlyn’s face went instantly hot. She felt the sudden weight of her mother’s nosiness like physical pressure. “What? No, Mother. We’re just friends.”
Silence stretched for a long minute. Then, a short, clipped, “Huh.”
“What does ‘huh’ mean?” Caitlyn asked, her voice defensive.
“Well, that’s unfortunate,” Cassandra mused, her eyes fixed on the road. “I told your father you’d likely be introducing us to someone soon.”
Caitlyn crossed her arms over her chest and slumped back into the leather seat, trying to hide her agitation. “I could introduce Shoola’s daughter, if you’d like,” Caitlyn teased, hoping to deflect the heat.
Cassandra’s face immediately contorted into a frown. “I’d rather you date a street rat, Caitlyn, than have me become in-laws with that woman.”
Caitlyn let out a genuine laugh, the tension breaking for a brief moment. But her mother wasn't finished.
“Though, I must say,” Cassandra added, a subtle, teasing glint in her eyes, “I didn’t know you were in the habit of engaging in such... intimate activities with your ‘friends.’”
Caitlyn’s laugh instantly died, her smile disappearing, her face turning into pure horror and felt it turn a shade of red that rivaled the stranger's jacket.
“Mother! I swear, I will jump out of this moving vehicle if you don’t drop the subject right now.”
Cassandra let out a rare, short laugh, the sound echoing in the car. “Well we wouldn’t want that, do we? consider it dropped.”
The car finally glided to a halt in front of Caitlyn’s dorm. Caitlyn reached for the door handle, ready to escape the interrogation, but her mother’s voice, cool and authoritative, stopped her one last time.
“Caitlyn.”
Caitlyn paused, her hand hovering over the latch. She didn’t turn around, but she could feel her mother’s gaze on the back of her head.
“Be careful,” Cassandra said, her voice dropping into a rare, quiet register that wasn't for the public or the voters.
It was just for her daughter.
“The lines you’re drawing—They’re thinner than you think. Don't let yourself get caught in a mess you can't walk away from.”
Caitlyn’s grip tightened on her bag, her heart giving a dull, uncomfortable thud.
“I'll be fine, Mother,” Caitlyn managed to say, though her voice lacked its usual conviction.
Cassandra sighed, a small, weary sound. “Just... take care of yourself. I'll call you this weekend.”
Caitlyn gave a stiff, silent nod and stepped out into the night air. She stood on the sidewalk and watched the red taillights of her mother’s car disappear around the corner, leaving her alone with the quiet hum of the campus and the lingering, unsettled heat of a day that had changed everything.