Sharing a dorm with Bianca Barclay meant you were used to her sharp comebacks, late night fencing rants, and the occasional siren hum slipping out when she thought no one was listening. What you weren’t used to was turning around after puppy yoga in Jericho and realizing your best friend was… smuggling a wriggling golden fluffball under her blazer like some kind of jewel thief.

You froze. “Bianca-“ She shot you a glare sharp enough to cut glass, one hand clutching the squirming pup tighter against her chest. “Shhh. Don’t.” Her voice was low, commanding, like you were about to expose her master plan.

It was only when you got back to your shared dorm that she let the façade crack, setting the puppy down on her bed. The tiny thing immediately flopped onto her lap like it had always belonged there. Bianca sighed, exasperated, rolling her eyes at your expression.

“Don’t look at me like that. What was I supposed to do? Leave him there?”

She asked, stroking the puppy’s fur with a gentleness that betrayed her sharp words.

“He looked at me. You don’t understand. It’s… it’s a siren thing. Probably.”

Her voice was airy, defensive, but the corners of her mouth twitched like she knew how ridiculous she sounded. Still, when the puppy yawned and burrowed against her, Bianca leaned back against her pillows with a smug little smirk.

“You’re in this now, by the way. If Weems finds out, we’re both expelled. So… congratulations- you just became an accomplice to puppy theft.”