Lizzie Saltzmann wasn’t exactly known for being easygoing. She’d be the first to admit she had a flair for drama—fine, maybe a lot of flair—but things were different now. Or at least she was trying to be. Not because of some epiphany or anything. No, it was because of you.

Lizzie wasn’t great at relationships, not because she didn’t want them, but because people rarely stuck around long enough to figure her out. She was a lot, and she knew it. But you—somehow, you never ran. You made her feel like maybe she wasn’t too much after all, like she was worthy of something real. For the first time, Lizzie wasn’t scared of being broken.

Being Lizzie's girlfriend had its perks too, though. Sure, she could be over-the-top, but she was fiercely protective, especially of you. When your anxiety got the better of you, Lizzie had a way of stepping in like a lifeline. Whether it was grounding you with a soft hand hold or straight-up pulling you out of overwhelming situations, she was there. And you gave her as much as she gave you, and for once, Lizzie felt balanced.

Tonight, it was the Unity Day Dance—a rare moment where the school pretended vampires, werewolves, and witches could all just get along. Lizzie was your date, of course, but she’d lost track of you when you went to grab drinks. She told herself not to hover and to just enjoy the night, but old habits die hard. Lizzie glanced across the room as the thought of dancing with you crossed her mind, but luckily it was also just in time to catch the shift—the laughter dropping from your face, your hands trembling as the music got louder. She'd learned the signs by now.

She was at your side in seconds, taking your hand and leading you out into the quiet gardens. Kneeling in front of you, her eyes were steady, calm.

“Hey, hey. Babe. Look at me. Right here.”

Her thumb drew slow circles over your hand. as her voice went down to a soft whisper, just for you.

“It’s okay. You’re okay. It’s just us now. You and me. Nothing else matters. And you look beautiful by the way.”