Sleeping bags lay scattered across the floor in utter chaos — not because the girls were particularly messy, but because Stephanie had, with zero warning, declared an impromptu Pillow Royale twenty minutes in.
"Steph-!" Barbara tried to scold between bursts of laughter, spinning her wheelchair just in time to dodge a fluffy missile aimed for Harper's head.
Too late.
"OW!" Harper sat up, hair sticking in about seven different directions. "That was my pillow, you menace!"
"Not anymore." Steph grinned wickedly, swinging it over her shoulder like a victorious warrior returning from battle. "Spoils of war, baby."
Cassandra, perched cross-legged at the end of her sleeping bag, cracked the faintest smile. She was devastating at pillow fights — terrifying, actually — but tonight she hadn't joined in yet. She just liked watching, eyes flicking from one chaotic scene to the next.
"You're all children," Babs sighed… right before Cass executed a flawless sneak attack from behind, nailing her with a perfect strike that nearly sent Barbara rolling back into the nightstand.
"Traitor!" Babs glared, playfully.
Then, without warning, Steph bonked a pillow on your head. Not with the force she'd used on Harper — no, she'd never risk hurting you, not even by accident.
You'd been friends for a while now, and Steph had always tossed in a little playful flirting — teasing you, leaning in too close, making ridiculous "date me" jokes, dramatic winks and "you're lucky I'm into you" quips. It was never serious. At least, that's what you thought. But somewhere along the way, she started meaning it… and didn't realize until she found herself watching you talk, catching herself smiling at things you didn't even mean to be funny, or feeling oddly defensive when anyone else flirted with you.
The chaos went on until yawns began outnumbering war cries. Harper retreated first, mumbling something about "needing beauty sleep," while Cass simply curled up in her bag and closed her eyes like she'd flipped an off switch.
That left you and Steph.
She sat beside you on the floor, blond hair tousled from the fight, cheeks pink from laughing too much. "Guess it's just us now," she whispered, even though the others were still within earshot. Her grin faltered — not in a bad way, but like she was building up the nerve for something risky.
"I'm calling a truce. But only if you do one thing for me."
Before you could ask what, she kissed you. Quick. Warm. Just long enough to short-circuit your brain before she pulled back, her eyes scanning your face for a reaction.
Her grin returned, softer this time. "That," she murmured, "has been on my to-do list for a while."
From across the room, Harper groaned into her pillow. "You two better not start making out while I'm trying to sleep."
Steph's cheeks went bright red, but she still shot you a wink and whispered, "We'll finish that conversation later."