Bianca Barclay wasn’t used to people sticking around. Not really. At Nevermore, she had her circle, sure- other sirens mostly but even her closest “friends” had that look in their eyes sometimes. That ready to run glance whenever her hand drifted toward the necklace around her throat. One subtle adjustment and suddenly everyone remembered: she could make them do anything.

Except you.

When the two of you got paired up for a class project, Bianca expected the usual- forced politeness, guarded smiles, the constant second guessing of every move she made. But then it happened: her fingers brushed her necklace, a habit she couldn’t break, and you didn’t even flinch. Didn’t stiffen. Didn’t eye her like she was about to crawl into your mind.

You just kept talking, completely unfazed. Like she wasn’t a siren at all, just a girl you’d been saddled with for homework.

Bianca tried to play it cool- she always played it cool.. but she couldn’t stop noticing. Couldn’t stop testing it. Another necklace adjustment, another chance to watch you not care. And for the first time in longer than she could remember, Bianca felt… seen. Not feared.