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“Dude, have you heard about the new girl in Dani’s pack?”
That’s the first thing Sophia is greeted with by her bestest, closest friends when she sits down at their lunch table. She raises a brow, taking in Manon’s excited expression, gingerly picking up her blood box from off her lunch tray.
“New girl? I thought they weren’t accepting fresh blood,” She says, stabbing the drink box with a straw and taking a sip. Megan nods, levitating her sandwich closer to her mouth.
“Yeah, but apparently she’s like werewolf royalty, or some shit. Yoonchae’s been stalking her on insta all morning. She’s scary hot.”
“Look,” Yoonchae says, shoving her phone towards Sophia, letting her take it before plucking Megan’s sandwich out of the air and stealing a bite. Her protesting “Hey!” gets ignored in favour of inspecting this new girl’s instagram page.
“Shit, she is hot,” Lara comments, leaning in to get a closer look, “And loaded,” She taps on the photo of the girl on a private yacht, holding a flute of something she was definitely too young to be drinking, her light brown wavy hair, fluffy ears and long tail silhouetted by the setting sun behind her.
“Eh, not my type,” Sophia shrugs, handing Yoonchae’s phone back to her. Manon snorts beside her, “Girl, we know your type.”
As if on cue, the cafeteria doors swing open and Daniela struts in, gang in tow. The whole room goes a little quieter, like everyone paused just to watch them walk in. Sophia tries to catch Dani’s eye, as she usually does, but her efforts are thwarted because her girlfriend is turned away from her, talking to someone on her other side. New Girl laughs loudly at something Daniela says, placing a manicured hand on her bicep. Sophia feels her eyebrow twitch.
The group settles into their usual table, and the cafeteria returns to its usual volume.
“Did you see her?” Lara stage-whispers, jabbing a not-at-all subtle thumb behind her, where the pack is seated, “I’m pretty sure her fucking eyelashes are branded too.”
“Whatever,” Sophia scoffs, picking up her fork with her free hand and stabbing a piece of chicken from her plate and popping it into her mouth, chewing so aggressively her fangs grind painfully against her bottom teeth. She watches as the Victoria’s Secret model runs her hand down Dani’s arm, smiling charmingly with her full set of perfectly pearly white teeth and deep dimples. Sophia’s nails subconsciously dig into the blood box in her hand, nearly crushing it.
“Damn, she’s all over your girl,” Manon points out, unhelpfully.
“Putang ina,” Sophia breathes vehemently, slamming the drink down and shoving her tray away, standing so abruptly that everyone in close vicinity jumps, damn near knocking her chair over as she walks—definitely not stomps—over to Daniela’s table.
“Hey, you,” She says, calmly and casually as she can manage, as she slides up next to Dani and curls an arm over her shoulders. She delights in the way the werewolf’s eyes light up immediately when she registers who touched her, grinning adorably up at Sophia, her sharp canines poking her bottom lip.
“Hey! How was class?” Dani asks, leaning into Sophia.
“It was good,” Sophia responds distractedly, eyes wandering over to Gabriela, who’s watching their exchange intently. Her face gives nothing away, except for her ears, which flick curiously in Sophia’s direction. This close, Sophia can smell the sweet perfume that’s practically drenching her. “Who is this?” She asks, trying to not make the question sound accusatory.
“Oh! Right, you two haven’t met before. Sophia, this is Gabriela. Gabi, this is-”
“Sophia Laforteza,” The Manananggal interjects, sticking out her hand, “Dani’s girlfriend.”
Her smile is so fake it feels like her cheekbones are about to snap. Gabriela flashes her pearly whites, her smile cloyingly sweet, shaking Sophia’s hand good-naturedly. “Nice fangs,” She remarks, “Very… sharp.” Then to Dani, “I didn’t know you had a girlfriend.”
“Yeah, we’ve been together for about a year,” Daniela answers. She tilts her head up towards Sophia, ears brushing her chest. “Gabi’s my best friend from middle school, she just transferred here.”
“Yeah, Atlanta was getting too boring,” The America’s Next Top Model Runner-Up jokes, flipping her perfectly permed hair over her shoulder, “I needed a change in scenery.”
“Besides,” She continues, smirking teasingly at Dani, “I needed to remind this one of all her embarrassing childhood stories.”
“Shut up!” Daniela laughs, shoving the other werewolf, whose laugh sounds like it was ripped straight from a copyright-free youtube video, or something (who laughs perfectly?).
“No! Remember there was that one time you…”
Sophia honestly tunes out after that, as Gabriela rambles on about some shared childhood memory with Daniela. The stale blood in her stomach churns uncomfortably in her stomach as she watches their casual exchange, unable to focus on anything except every time Gabriela leans towards Dani with a lingering touch or flirty comment.
The worst part? Dani was just… taking it. She’d chuckle at Gabriela’s every joke, wrinkle her nose at every embarrassing anecdote and casually brush off every flirtatious comment as if Sophia wasn’t standing right there.
Sophia feels a little (a lot) insecure watching Dani and Gabriela interact. Subconsciously, she knows she’s being silly. She trusts Dani with her life. But with every laugh, every joke said like it was some inside secret between the two of them (it probably was), every retold tale that made Dani’s eyes light up with nostalgia, Sophia knows she’s the outsider here. Gabriela knows parts of Daniela that Sophia has never seen, and never will. The thought alone makes her undead heart sink a little. Her mind is swirling in a whirlpool of doubt and irritation, like a toilet being flushed, as it cruelly replays snapshots of moments that Dani and her had shared over the past few years—like all the times they whispered secrets to each other under the moonlit sky, lying on the grass of the open field behind their dorms, the warmth of Dani’s fur when they’d cuddle together after a full-moon…
The way Dani looks at her whenever their gazes meet, eyes full of mischief and mirth and starlight.
This new girl is now on the receiving end of that look, and there’s a clenching in Sophia’s chest that’s so tight she feels like throwing up.
Thankfully, there’s a break in the conversation, and Gabriela gets up, needing the washroom. Sophia feels the tightness in her chest unwind slightly as she watches her leave.
“Isn’t she so cool?” Dani asks dreamily, pulling Sophia onto the now-empty chair next to her. The plastic seat is still warm from Gabriela’s body heat, and the air is still saturated with the sickeningly sweet smell of her perfume.
“Yeah, awesome,” Sophia intones, but Daniela doesn’t seem to notice her icy demeanor.
“I literally haven’t seen her since we were like, eleven, or something. I didn’t even know she was transferring here until I saw her in school! How crazy is that?”
As hard as Sophia tries to stay mad, she really can't. Dani's excitement is evidently pure and utterly infectious, so she flashes her a genuine smile, huffing in amusement at the child-like giddiness in her tone.
“I’m glad you guys reconnected. It seems like y’all were really close.”
Dani nods. “Honestly, I thought things would be different since it’s been so many years, but I really just- feel like a little kid again. It’s so cool.”
“Anyways,” Sophia says, gently steering the conversation away from Miss USA California, “Are we still on for tonight?”
The way Daniela’s expression immediately morphs into an apologetic one is answer enough. “Oh, sorry babe, I swear, I was literally going to talk to you about this later, but…”
She trails off, and—oh—the tightness is back. Sophia’s smile feels more forced now, as she shakes her head dismissively, looking away so Dani can’t see the hurt in her eyes. “No, no it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
Dani frowns, bottom lip jutting out, “No, it’s not. I’m sorry for blowing you off last minute Soph, but Gabi just got here and she really wants to explore the city, but I can’t let her go alone and-”
Dani gently hooks a finger under Sophia’s chin, lifting her face until she’s looking her in the eye. “I promise I’ll make it up to you, okay?”
Sophia’s such a sucker for her girlfriend. She immediately softens, mouth forming into a small grin when Dani moves her hand to stroke her cheek. “Okay, fine, since you said it so nicely.”
Dani giggles triumphantly, leaning forward to peck Sophia on the lips.
You know what? Maybe Sophia’s overreacting. Maybe she’s just being dramatic. Maybe it will all turn out fine.
//
Kylie Jenner’s werewolf persona is becoming a real pain in Sophia’s ass. Avoiding her is impossible, like a fly that constantly hovers around, buzzing in Sophia’s ear and refusing to be swatted away. It seems that the rest of the school has caught wind of the hot, rich new wolf, who despite only having been there a week, was already accepted into Daniela Avanzini’s pack, and suddenly every ghoul was all over her.
Sophia tries her best to keep her cool whenever she walks down the hall and hears people whispering about Gabriela, or whenever she’s in class and the teacher is practically drooling over her designer outfit, or whenever she’s at lunch and can't do anything but glare at Gabriela’s back, but it’s getting increasingly difficult.
Every time she sees Gabriela’s hand linger on Daniela’s arm or hears her tinkling laugh, she feels like she’s going to snap. The whole school seems to be buzzing with the excitement of a new celebrity. It's like someone has opened a new pack of bloody meat in the middle of the cafeteria, and everyone's dying to sink their teeth into it. She tries not to let it bother her, telling herself that Daniela would never betray her, that she’s just being paranoid (she definitely is). But every time she looks at Dani’s eyes, she can see a different kind of joy brought about by Gabriela’s arrival, and it feels like someone’s playing a sad melody on the violin in her chest. Like that hamster meme with huge, pathetic, teary eyes.
If Sophia were anyone else, she would have jumped this girl and ripped her windpipe clean out of her throat with her teeth. But she is not anyone else, she is Sophia Laforteza, the collected, responsible and sensible president of the student council, straight-A student and unofficial representative of Archangel High. That is why when Daniela ditches her, yet again, to attend some dance event with Gabriela (another thing they could bond over without Sophia), when Sophia had asked her on a double-date with Lara and Manon (even if it was a little last-minute and Gabriela definitely beat her to the punch), she doesn’t freak out.
Totally not.
“Who pissed in your milkshake?” Comes Manon’s very eloquent inquiry into how her best friend is feeling.
“Yeah, you look like someone just ran over your dog, or something,” Lara tacks on, sliding into the booth seat next to her girlfriend.
Sophia rolls her eyes, ignoring their comments, taking another (rather aggressive) sip of the strawberry milkshake in front of her.
“Speaking of your dog, where's Dani?” Lara asks, picking up a menu off the slightly sticky diner table.
“Not coming,” Sophia spits bitterly, “Too busy hanging out with her best friend.”
“Ooh, someone's jealous,” Lara sing-songs.
“Am not!” Sophia snaps defensively, too quickly.
“And a bad liar too.”
Sophia groans, slouching back into the booth seat with a pout. Manon gives her a sympathetic look.
“Why don’t you just, ya know, talk to her about how you feel instead of wallowing in self-pity?”
Sophia sighs, crossing her arms over her chest petulantly. Like a child refusing to be consoled.
“I kind of get it though, like, she hasn’t seen this girl in so long, and suddenly they’re reunited, of course she’d wanna spend more time with her. She’s seen me every day for the past four years, she’s probably sick of my face.”
“Oh shut up, the only thing that’s sickening is the way she looks at your face. You're beyond fine, babe,” Manon says, waving a waiter over. The human eyes them warily, gaze trailing from Manon’s gills, to Lara’s horns, to Sophia, who's still slouched defeatedly in her seat. She can't find it in herself to be annoyed at the openly disgusted expression on his face like she usually is as Manon and Lara place their orders, groaning in frustration again.
She watches her two friends share a look, clearly having a silent conversation, before they both look at her pityingly.
“Soph, babe, don’t keep ignoring your feelings. I mean, come on. You and Dani have known each other for so long, surely you can just tell her what’s bothering you? I’m sure she didn’t mean to push you away, she’s probably just caught up in her excitement,” Lara says, ever the voice of reason.
“I know,” Sophia grumbles, thumping her head against the backrest of the seat, “You’re right.”
“Of course I am,” Lara grins.
“But when though?” Sophia whines, just looking to create an excuse for herself to not talk about her icky feelings, “She’s busy with Gabriela, and I’ve been busy with council stuff and homework and we barely even see each other, let alone have time to talk.”
“Well,” Manon starts, eyes alight with a glint that means anything but good, “there is a full moon coming up, right?”
Sophia pauses, staring at her friend.
“That’s… actually a pretty good idea.”
"Of course it is," Manon scoffs, flicking her braids over her shoulder, "I'm a genius."
At that moment, their food arrives, and Sophia’s now in the headspace to glare at the waiter as he sets their plates down, making him cower with a single look. He retreats hastily after that, and their conversation shifts to something lighter.
At night, as Sophia lies in bed, Yoonchae already snoring softly from the other bed across the room, the pieces of a plan start to fall in place.
All she needed was to find the right time.
//
Sophia lied. There was no plan.
Well, that’s a lie too. There was a plan. It’s just that that plan got ignored in favour of simply not talking to Daniela about her feelings, since that was easier to do and less likely to lead to confrontation.
The full moon comes and goes, and Sophia just tells herself she’s waiting for the most opportune moment. She doesn’t talk to Dani when they’re walking together in the hallway after class, or in the morning when they wake up next to each other in bed, alone for once when Yoonchae sleeps in Megan and Lara’s room, or at night before they fall asleep, exhausted from their respective days.
Over the next couple of weeks, Sophia somewhat relaxes back into the natural groove of life. She’s able to ignore Gabriela for the most part, focusing on the things in her life that actually matter like school, student council duties and her friends. As the weekend approaches, Sophia figures it’s about time Dani makes good on her promise.
After school, she finds Dani in the library, her nose buried in a book about monster biology, pages of notes scattered on the table around her. Sophia approaches with a soft smile, a piece of paper clutched in her hand.
Sophia taps Daniela on the shoulder, watching as she jumps slightly before looking up with those warm, brown eyes. She breaks out into a full grin when she meets Sophia’s mischievous gaze. “Hey, babe,” She greets, putting her book down.
"I figured out how you’re gonna make it up to me for flaking the other week," Sophia says, her voice low and playful. She waves the paper in front of her, her smile growing as Daniela sits up straighter, curiosity piqued. She holds it out for Dani to take, which she does, a little hesitantly. She squints to read the slightly faded text that the council’s barely-functioning clubroom printer spat out onto the paper.
“Tickets to the ‘Midnight Howl’ theme park for this weekend?”
Sophia laughs at the way Daniela’s eyes light up as her brain processes the words. Her head snaps back up to Sophia, jaw agape. “Stop. You’re serious?”
Sophia snorts. “Dead serious. I think we deserve it.”
Dani squeals, doing a happy little squirmy dance in her chair, tail wagging excitedly. She stops to dramatically clasp Sophia’s shoulders. “You’re the best, you know that?”
“Of course,” Sophia responds easily, leaning in to steal a quick kiss. Dani pulls her into a tight hug, showering her with kisses and proclamations of her love, and Sophia laughs so loudly that the librarian comes over to shush them. They giggle quietly after that, like two little kids in a candy store, poking and teasing each other.
As the rest of the week passes, Sophia’s excitement builds until it's almost tangible, a bubble of happiness that she can't help but bask in. However, being ever the perfectionist, Sophia can't help but feel a little anxious, her mind wandering to the possibility of something ruining the date she’s already so meticulously planned. She knows she’s being completely irrational, but she still can’t help the way her heart races as she checks her phone for the hundredth time on Friday morning to make sure the tickets are still there as she walks down the hallway, when she overhears a snippet of conversation that makes her freeze.
Sophia's ears perk up at the sound of Daniela's unmistakable laughter echoing down the hallway. She turns the corner, expecting to find her girlfriend with their usual group of friends, but instead sees Dani leaning against a locker, talking intently to none other than Gabriela. The two of them seem to be in their own little world, unbothered by the typical school day chaos around them. The tightness in Sophia's chest returns, and she takes a step closer, trying to listen in without being too obvious. It's then that she hears the mention of the 'Midnight Howl' theme park. Dani hasn't noticed her yet, too engrossed in her conversation.
Sophia's eyes narrow as she watches Gabriela's ears flick towards her, and she realizes she's been caught eavesdropping. The werewolf's smile turns into a knowing smirk, and she says something that makes Dani's eyes widen in surprise. Without waiting for a response, Sophia marches over, her fangs peeking out from behind her teeth.
“Hey guys,” She says cooly, trying her best to reel in the venom she can feel building in her throat, “What’s up?”
Daniela's eyes dart over to Sophia, her expression like she's been caught with a hand in the cookie jar. "Oh, hey babe," she says, straightening up from her lean against the locker. "I was just telling Gabi about the theme park we're planning to go to." She tries to play it cool, but the nervous twitch in her tail betrays her. She clears her throat awkwardly, "It's uh, a place I've always wanted to go, you know, for the... rides."
Sophia raises a brow. “Right,” She says slowly, “Which is why we’re going tomorrow. For our date.”
“Right,” Dani parrots, looking away with a robotic nod of her head, “For our date.”
“Which I’m looking forward to,” Sophia emphasizes, raising her other brow, leaning down slightly to catch Dani’s eye. She gives her a questioning look.
Dani’s eyes dart from Gabriela to Sophia and back again, a hint of panic flitting through her gaze. She opens her mouth to say something, but before she can get a word out, Gabriela claps her hands together, her eyes gleaming in a way that makes Sophia clench her jaw.
Gabriela's expression shifts to one of feigned innocence. "Oh, a date at 'Midnight Howl'? That sounds like so much fun!" she says, her voice as sugary sweet as the perfume she’s constantly drowning in. "I've always wanted to go there, you know, since I heard it's the best place for monsters to just let loose and be themselves. No pesky humans around to spoil the fun."
Daniela looks at Gabriela, then at Sophia, a look of mild shock on her face. The silence stretches between them like a tightrope, and Sophia’s heart sinks at the lack of protest from her girlfriend.
"Actually, I was thinking, since Gabi’s never been to ‘Midnight Howl’, maybe we could all go together?"
The tightrope of silence now feels more like a noose around Sophia’s neck. She stares at Daniela, searching for a hint of hesitation, a sign that this isn't what she actually wants, but Dani's eyes are wide and hopeful, her smile too bright. The cacophony of the hallway seems to fade away as her words hang in the air, and for a moment, the only sound is the hammering of Sophia’s heart.
The words feel like a betrayal, sticking in her throat like a mouthful of shards. She swallows them down, forcing a smile that surely comes out more like a grimace. “Sure, Dani. If that’s what you want,” she says, her voice a little too light, a little too casual, trying to hide the hurt bubbling up inside her. Daniela surely notices the switch in her tone, clearly trying to contain her excitement for Sophia’s sake, but her tail betrays her, swishing back and forth behind her, and it’s all Sophia can do not to scream.
"That's so sweet of you, Sophia!" Gabriela coos, momentarily resting a hand on Sophia’s shoulder that makes her skin crawl. "I'd absolutely love to tag along!" Sophia watches as Daniela's grin widens, and she nods eagerly. "Yeah, it'll be like old times!"
Sophia swallows. She feels like the rug has been pulled from beneath her feet, the wind knocked from her lungs. She tries to keep her cool, not wanting to cause a scene, but she can feel the storm of rage brewing in her chest. She nods curtly, keeping her voice level. "Great," she says, turning to leave so she doesn’t have to look at Dani’s face anymore.
Sophia walks away so fast she can’t even tell if she’d accidentally sprouted her wings and started flying. She can feel the burning sensation in her eyes, the one that precedes tears. No big deal, she tells herself, it’s just a stupid theme park trip, you’re being ridiculous. But deep down, she knows it is a big deal. So what does she do?
She keeps quiet, because ignoring her problems is easier than solving them.
Sophia Laforteza keeps quiet, because she is a goddamn coward.
The following evening, Sophia finds herself in the backseat of Dani's car. The scent of gasoline and werewolf fur fills the air as Dani chats away with her old friend in the driver's seat. The Manananggal sits rigidly, her fists clenched in her lap, nails digging into her palms, listening to the laughter and inside jokes that seem to roll off their tongues like they've never spent a day apart. Even though the AC is blasting right at her full-force, Sophia finds it difficult to breathe. She tells herself it's just nerves, that she's overreacting, but the knot in her stomach tells her otherwise. She's trying to ignore the way her fangs are itching, a tell-tale sign of her irritation.
The sun is setting as they pull into the parking lot of 'Midnight Howl'. The theme park's neon lights flicker around them, casting an eerie glow over the monstrous silhouettes of the rides. The din outside is already audible through the car doors, ghouls and creatures of all kinds streaming through the gates. Dani's excitement is palpable, her tail thumping against the car seat in anticipation. She turns around to face Sophia. "You okay, babe?" She asks, noticing the tension in her girlfriend's posture.
Sophia gives her a thumbs up, flashing a smile that she hopes is reassuring. She’d hate to ruin Dani’s mood with her moping. “Peachy.”
As they follow the throngs of monsters into the park, Dani wordlessly reaches over to grab Sophia’s hand, still engrossed in her conversation with Gabriela, running a thumb over her knuckles. Sophia sighs, softening at the touch, not realising just how much she had needed the comfort. She allows Dani to lead them in after that, letting out a determined breath. She’d already spent money on tickets, might as well enjoy herself, right?
They weave through the crowded theme park, Sophia’s ears ringing from the screams and laughter filling the moonlit night. The neon lights reflect off the floor and walls, creating a rainbow of shadows that dance around them. It is, admittedly, easy to get lost in the ambience. She feels like a little kid again, tugging her dad by the hand towards whichever brightly-lit ride caught the attention of her young eyes. The three of them slowly make their way to whichever ride seems the least crowded, Dani’s tail occasionally smacking into the back of Sophia’s leg as she gets overly excited about every attraction they pass by.
They stop in front of a ride. The line is relatively short, and Daniela’s eyes light up at the sight of it. “Ooh, this one, this one!” She squeals, grabbing both of their hands and pulling them towards the queue with a child-like excitement that’s impossible to ignore.
The three of them wait in line, Dani's excitement bubbling over as she points out various monster-themed decorations scattered around the area. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and Sophia can't help but smile at Dani's playful nudges and the way her eyes sparkle under the neon lights. Gabriela, ever the social butterfly, flits between them, though she spends more time chatting and joking with Dani. As they approach the ride, the line splits into pairs, and Dani, without a second thought, pairs up with Gabriela, leaving Sophia to pair up with a random stranger behind them. The clench in her chest returns, but she nods along, trying to keep the smile on her face.
The queue moves pretty quickly, and soon they’re climbing into their seats. Dani turns to Sophia with an apologetic smile, just as they’re being belted in. "Gabi asked me to ride the first ride with her," she explains, her voice tinged with hopefulness, “but we'll totally ride the next one together, promise!"
Before Sophia can respond, the metal bar clanks into place over her, trapping her in a cage of cold steel, and she can't help but feel like it's a foreshadowing for the evening. She watches Dani's fluffy brown tail sways back and forth with excitement, and she grits her teeth. The ride starts, jolting into motion, and the wind whips through their hair, tearing their laughter into the night. But amidst the racket of screams, it's the sound of Dani's laughter with Gabriela that echoes in Sophia's ears mockingly. She clutches the safety bar, not because she's scared of the ride, but because she's afraid that the emotions swirling in her chest will spill out if she lets go, even for a second.
As the coaster plunges into the first drop, Sophia feels a strange sense of relief as the world around her blurs into nothing but lights and screams. It's a brief reprieve from the emotional turmoil, but the moment the ride grinds to a halt, the tension snaps back like a rubber band to the back of her head. They exit the ride, Dani and Gabriela still chatting away, leaving Sophia to feel like the third wheel on a two-person bike.
The rest of the outing passes by in bright neon and whistling wind, Sophia feeling like she’s just going through the motions of being a sociable person. She laughs when appropriate, smiles tightly every time Dani catches her eye and doesn’t push Gabriela onto the tracks of an oncoming roller coaster. Dani's every laugh pierces the cool night air like a silver bullet, making its way to Sophia’s ears and straight to her heart. She takes a deep breath, trying to focus on the thrill of the rides, the way the wind feels on her skin, the smell of popcorn and cotton candy in the air, the distant howling of kids playing arcade games. But every time she looks over at her girlfriend, all she sees is the reflection of Gabriela’s teeth in the shine of her light brown eyes. It’s like the universe is playing a cruel game of keep-away with her happiness, and she’s losing.
The three of them line up at the carousel in the middle of the park, and this time, Dani slides into the seat next to Sophia, leaving Gabriela some ways behind them. She can’t help the slightly twisted satisfaction she gets from being the centre of Dani’s attention again. The ride starts, and the carousel's music fills the air, a macabre tune that feels eerily familiar.
The carousel's creaky, yet rhythmic movements lull Sophia into a sense of false security as she watches the garishly painted horses go round and round. Dani's hand is warm and steady in hers, and for a brief moment, everything feels almost right again.
“You doing alright?” Dani leans over to ask quietly, “You seem tired.”
Sophia almost scoffs. Tired she certainly is. Instead, she smiles again, squeezing Dani’s hand. “Yeah, I’m okay. Theme parks are always a little tiring,” She laughs softly.
Dani purses her lips sympathetically. “You wanna head back? We’ve hit pretty much everything we planned to anyway.”
“But Gabriela…” Sophia trails off pathetically, and despite the overwhelming desire to accept Dani’s offer, she still feels a little bad about making her abandon her friend. Dani shakes her head resolutely.
“Don’t worry, I’ll let her know. She can keep exploring if she wants to. Knowing her, I’m sure she’ll find someone to chat with,” She chuckles.
She nods, trying to ignore the twinge of relief that flickers through her. The ride lurches to a stop and they all disembark. She watches as Dani goes to tell Gabriela, and she can’t help but feel like the air around her has just gotten a little clearer. She sees Gabriela pout dramatically, grabbing both of Dani’s hands and saying something that Sophia can’t hear from where she’s standing. Daniela glances back at her, then shakes her head. Gabriela sighs, then wraps Dani in a hug that she reciprocates. Sophia meets Gabriela’s eyes over Dani’s shoulder, and the barely-concealed irritation on her face almost makes the whole ordeal worth it. They separate, and Dani walks back over to Sophia, car keys in hand.
“C’mon, let’s go.”
As they drive back to campus in silence, Dani’s hand resting on Sophia’s thigh, Sophia feels like she can breathe a little easier. No matter what, she’d always be Dani’s first pick.
Take that Gabriela.
//
After the whole theme park incident, not much changes.
Gabriela continues to practically hang off Dani during every waking hour of the day, Daniela continues to ditch her girlfriend to hang out with her long-lost best friend, and Sophia continues to just dry-swallow that emotional pill.
There still isn’t any opportune moment to talk to Daniela (or so she tells herself) until two weeks have passed, and the full moon is one night away.
That day, Daniela, like every werewolf in the school, wakes up with a killer headache. She growls loudly at the bright sunlight filtering through the blinds, startling Sophia awake. Sophia, like the dutiful girlfriend she is, reaches over to the bedside table and passes her the painkillers and water bottle that she’d placed there the night before. Dani presses a grateful kiss to Sophia’s temple, dropping back onto the bed after downing the pills. Sophia reluctantly rolls out of bed to get breakfast for the both of them, mentally steeling herself for the tough day ahead.
Full moons are always rough for werewolves. It's a nightmare cocktail of pheromones, pain and heightened emotions. It was hard to adjust to, when Sophia first started dating Daniela, but they’d since developed a routine to make both their lives easier, and to prevent any major arguments from breaking out that really wouldn’t have happened on any other day.
Afternoon is when the nausea starts. Any and all lingering thoughts of Gabriela are pushed aside as Sophia helplessly watches Dani curl up in a ball atop her sheets, whimpering and whining from the discomfort. As always, she does whatever she can to ease the unpleasantness of a looming transformation, turning down the lights and piling all the blankets and pillows in the room onto Dani’s bed. She gently unfurls Dani, pulling her up until she’s laying against the mountain of pillows, then climbs into bed with her, pulling the blanket up to their chins.
Sophia doesn’t even think about talking to Dani when they’re cuddled up, about to watch a movie on her laptop, or before she falls asleep, drowsy from the school-mandated meds that ensure the werewolves don’t literally rip another student to shreds when they wolf out.
They both remain mum as Sophia shakes her awake an hour before sunset, holding her hand as they walk to the containment rooms on the other side of campus. Dani’s uncharacteristically quiet, probably pretty drugged out, leaning into Sophia’s side a little more as they stroll along the path. Sophia opens her mouth to say something several times, but no words come out. She can’t find it in herself. She has no idea how Dani will respond, and honestly? She’s scared to find out.
So she shuts her mouth and keeps walking, crunching dry leaves angrily beneath her feet on the stone pathway.
She still says nothing as they're lining up with the other groggy, irritated werewolves to get registered. She looks around at the bustling administrative staff, carrying piles of blankets, pillows, food, meds—the usual hustle that come with a full moon. She flashes her and Dani’s student IDs at the gargoyle manning the registration counter. They’re waved through, and escorted to one of the many rooms by a different staff.
The room itself is spacious, with thick, padded, soundproof walls, a pile of blankets and pillows in one corner and an empty metal basin in the other, soldered to a non-padded part of the floor for students to do their business in. There was another metal bowl along one of the other walls, filled with fresh water for drinking. It’s all a little dehumanising and controlling in Sophia’s opinion, but better than werewolves wandering the campus and attacking the first person they see, she supposes.
As a Strength Level 4 entity, Sophia’s allowed into the room with Daniela, and the door is shut and bolted behind them just as the clock hits 4.30. They settle in quickly, Sophia arranging all the bedding as Dani pulls off her clothes, handing them to Sophia. As sunset draws closer, Dani goes and sits in the corner furthest away from Sophia, drawing her knees to her chin and leaning against the wall. Sophia sees her close her eyes, shoulders rising and falling with every deep breath she takes.
Sophia eventually plops down onto the makeshift bed with a sigh after she’s done arranging everything, glancing over when Daniela starts growling. She’s standing hunched over, clutching her head in a white-knuckled grip that looks incredibly painful—Sophia’s worried she’s accidentally going to rip out her own hair—ears flat against her head and tail tucked between her legs.
There’s a loud crack, and Dani cries out, dropping to her knees. Her claws dig into the floor as another crack resounds, accompanied by a high keening noise.
As badly as Sophia wants to go over and help Dani, she knows she can’t. Any disruption to the transformation could result in the werewolf’s bones setting wrongly, causing extreme pain that will last until they transform back. Some cases of mistransformations even result in death, and even though Dani has reassured Sophia many times that the whole process is not as painful as it looks, Sophia still flinches at every snap and squelch that comes from her girlfriend’s body as it rearranges itself against her will.
It’s over before long, and Daniela has gone from queen bee of Archangel High to furry beast in a split second. Dani wobbles in place a little, reorienting herself, looking around the room and sniffing the air. Her piercing light brown eyes eventually land on Sophia, blinking slowly. Sophia can see her pupils contract, and it’s always a little exhilarating whenever Dani transforms and hasn’t quite yet remembered who or where she was—like being stalked by a predator.
Dani is a hulking, humanoid creature—not quite either man or wolf—with long, muscular limbs, stout torso and muzzled face. Brown fur covers her entire body, all the way down to her clawed toes. Her figure towers over Sophia, casting a menacing shadow. She leans down and Sophia can feel the warmth of her breath on her face. Her black nose twitches as she sniffs. Once. Twice.
Her tail wags.
Then, she flops down without warning, almost crushing Sophia, sighing contentedly as she bumps the top of her furry head against Sophia’s cheek. She laughs, pushing Dani’s face away. Dani breathes another puff of disgustingly hot air into Sophia’s neck before pulling away, getting up to stretch. Sophia watches in amusement as Dani walks around the room, sniffing at various objects like an overgrown dog, before lumbering back over to her and laying down on the blankets beside her.
Sophia runs her fingers through the soft fur on Daniela’s head, relishing the serene silence that settles between them, punctuated by their quiet breathing. The stillness is comforting and confronting all at once, because while it's a nice little break from the usual chaos of school, it's also giving Sophia the time to think about things that she's been stubbornly shoving into the furthest crevices of her mind.
Sophia knows she's gonna have to talk about it, sooner or later—that ugly, festering jealousy that's clinging to her heart like tar on feathers. As much as she tries her best to hide it, she can already see the way it's straining her and Dani’s relationship. Sophia’s started pulling back, not being able to stand seeing Gabriela and Dani together, and she can tell that Dani has noticed it too. She always gets this hurt look in her eyes whenever Sophia takes the first opportunity to leave whatever conversation they're in, which she can't help but feel a little incredulous about too, because hello? Maybe you're part of the problem too!
She knows she can't fault Daniela too heavily, though she does usually let her ruminate in her hurt and confusion a little bit, just to make herself feel better.
Regardless, this whole thing has gone on for far too long, and honestly, Sophia just wants her girlfriend back.
She looks at Dani, whose warm body is pressed up against her side, tail thumping softly against the blanket and eyes closed as she enjoys Sophia’s affectionate scratches behind her ears. She’s always so beautiful, even in her wolf form. But that’s not what’s on Sophia’s mind. She takes a deep breath, her heart racing in her chest. Now or never.
"Hey Dani," she starts, her voice soft, "I... I need to tell you something." Daniela looks up at her, with what Sophia assumes is a mix of curiosity and confusion. Conveying emotions is a little tricky for Dani when she doesn't exactly have eyebrows. Or lips. Nonetheless, the only part of her face that is the same is her light brown eyes, that still hold the same soul that Sophia loves so much, so Sophia focuses on them, taking a deep breath. “I don’t really know how to say this, and you have to promise you won’t get mad- No, actually that’s not fair. I can’t tell you not to get mad.”
Oh God, she’s rambling. Sophia tries desperately to gather her thoughts into something more coherent, but the words are just spilling out like an unstoppable torrent. She takes another breath. “I don’t like how close you and Gabriela are.”
There’s a pause. Dani's tail stops mid-thump, and she tilts her head to the side, listening intently despite her inability to speak. The confusion in her eyes deepens, and Sophia looks away in guilt.
"I know you guys go way back, but it's been... tough for me." She pauses, trying to find the right words. "I feel like... I've been losing you to her."
She watches Dani's expression closely, the wolf's ears twitching at her words. She nods slightly, her tail swishing in what Sophia hopes is a comforting manner. It gives her the courage to continue.
The words tumble from her mouth in a rush, the dam finally breaking. “It’s just that- I mean, come on Dani. I know you’re not dumb. You’re not blind either. You see the way she looks at you. She clearly likes you! And she doesn’t give a fuck that you’re with me, but you never do anything about it!” Sophia’s voice cracks slightly, and she can feel the tears building behind her eyes.
“I’m not saying that I don’t trust you, because I do! It’s her that I worry about,” She swipes at her eyes, annoyed that she's crying over something so childish. She groans in frustration, digging the heels of her palms into her eyes. “No, no, it’s not that either…” she mumbles into her hands.
She sniffs, trying to compose herself, her heart feeling like it's trying to break free from the confines of her ribcage. “I’m scared because I don’t wanna lose you to her.”
There it is. Sophia’s insecurity has been ripped clean out of her chest and presented on a silver platter for Daniela to do with it as she pleases.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever made you laugh as hard as you do when you’re with her,” Sophia says, voice quieter than ever, “Let’s face it, you’re a good match. She knows you so much better than I do. I mean, you grew up together. It really doesn’t get much closer than that.”
“Plus, you're both werewolves! I see the looks some of the girls in your pack give me. They think it's weird we're together just ‘cause I'm not a werewolf.”
Sophia lets out a bitter chuckle. "I know it's silly, and I’m probably being so dramatic, but it gets to me. I just... I miss us. I miss when it was just us."
She takes a shaky breath and looks over at Dani, whose eyes are filled with so much warmth and confusion a hint of sadness that makes Sophia’s heart ache. The Manananggal swallows hard. "I know this is a little unfair ‘cause you can't talk right now," she says softly, her hand still gently stroking through Dani's fur, "but I had to tell you. I don't want you to think I'm okay with this. That I don't care." She pauses, trying to gather the right words. "I just... I feel like I'm losing you to her, Dani. And it hurts."
Dani's tail thumps the ground, and she lets out a low whine. Her eyes never leave Sophia's, they seem to say she's listening, that she gets it. She nuzzles into the crook of Sophia's neck, and for a brief moment, the room feels right again. Sophia lets out another unsteady breath. Then, Dani lifts her head and pulls away, and Sophia feels a tight pinch in her chest. Fuck, she’s definitely said something wrong. This is how she dies—mauled to death by her werewolf girlfriend. At least it’s dramatic.
Daniela, always defying Sophia’s expectations, simply lets her long tongue loll out of her mouth, and then slowly, deliberately, drags it up Sophia’s face. Sophia yells out, immediately recoiling in disgust, wiping Dani’s slobber off her face with her sleeve.
“Ewww! Gross!” She exclaims, shoving Dani’s head away, “I told you to stop doing that!”
Dani’s upper lip curls back, in what Sophia assumes is the closest she can give to a smile, and she lets out a gruff, chesty sound, almost like a bark, before flopping onto her side, her tail happily thumping the floor once again. Despite herself, a giggle bubbles out of Sophia. “You’re so silly.”
She grabs both sides of Dani’s broad head, pressing her lips to the space between her eyes. “I love you,” She mumbles against the soft fur. Dani lets out a garbled sort of whine in response, and Sophia laughs.
Whatever lingering tension there was in the room dissipates entirely, and they settle back into silence, the only sounds the occasional contented huff from Dani and the whirring of the ventilation system. Sophia feels a lot lighter, the overwhelming thoughts in her head finally quelled, able to properly relax for the first time in weeks.
The night stretches on, and Sophia is lulled to sleep by Dani’s gentle breathing and the emotional exhaustion of her one-sided conversation. Sunrise rolls around, and Sophia is startled awake when Dani jerks against her, eyes snapping open.
She watches, her heart in her throat, as Dani's body morphs back to human form. The fur recedes, the claws retract, and the snout recedes into the perfect features that she loves so much. Daniela's eyes flicker open, the glow of the moon retreating as she regains her humanity. She stretches out languidly, wincing slightly as she sits up. Her eyes meet Sophia's, and she offers a tentative smile. Sophia returns the expression, and Dani drops back onto the bed, pulling herself closer to Sophia, throwing an arm around her waist and tangling their legs together until she’s practically laying on top of her.
"Hey," Dani says, voice a little raspy from the exertion of the transformation, “How’d you sleep?”
"I slept okay," Sophia says, "How about you?" Her voice is a little hoarse from the crying she'd done the night before, and she's suddenly self-conscious about it. Dani hums noncommittally, burying her face in the crook of Sophia’s neck.
Sophia feels the arms wrapped around her give a tight squeeze.
"I'm sorry," Dani mumbles into her jaw. She pulls back to look Sophia in the eye. “I had no idea you felt that way, baby.”
Sophia searches Daniela’s eyes, and finds nothing but warm sincerity and some regret.
"It's okay," Sophia says, her voice still thick with emotion. "I know you guys are close, and I don't want to come between you."
Dani shakes her head. “I shouldn’t have made you feel like I was choosing her over you. I got caught up in my excitement.”
“Besides,” She continues, reaching over to brush some of Sophia’s sleep-mused hair out of her face, “honestly, apparently it was a bit too true when I said Gabi hasn’t changed a bit since middle school. She was always so carefree and wild when she was younger, but she's a little too immature to still be acting like that at our big age.”
Sophia chuckles, and Dani smiles. “Also, please never spout any of that bullshit about her being a better match for me, or making me laugh more than you ever again.” She grabs Sophia’s hand, interlacing their fingers. “You keep me grounded. You make me happy like no one else. Plus,” Dani pauses to press a kiss to Sophia’s knuckles, “you’re literally so hot no one else can compete.”
Dani releases her hand so she can cup her face. Sophia feels her eyes watering again, oh god.
“Please, never doubt my love for you. I’ll tell Gabi to back off, okay? I promise. Just talk to me if you ever feel like that again, okay?”
Sophia nods, lip quivering and vision blurry. Dani laughs at the probably really stupid face she’s making, pulling her in for a kiss. Sophia’s eyes flutter shut, the gentle pressure of Dani’s lips spreading a warmth through her that feels like basking in the sun in springtime. She holds her a little tighter, never wanting to let that warmth slip away.
When they pull away, she whispers, “Thank you, Dani.” She nuzzles into the crook of Daniela’s neck, inhaling the comforting scent of her girlfriend. The room is quiet except for their muffled breathing and the distant sounds of the waking school outside.
Then, the clock strikes 10, and the door unlocks with a loud clang. It’s slowly dragged open, the old metal creaking and scraping along the floor jarringly, exposing the two girls to the outside world. The admin staff who opened the door blinks tiredly at them, the harsh overhead lighting of the corridor emphasising the bags under all three of her eyes, before moving on to the next room. Sophia turns to Dani with a raised brow, and they both dissolve into a fit of giggles.
Sophia feels a lot lighter after that, as she and Dani walk back to their dorm building, hand in hand. The morning breeze ruffles her hair, cooling her skin, and she can’t help the sense of relief that washes over her. The sound of distant chatter from fellow students fills the air, and the soft thump of their shoes against the cobblestone path is comforting. Sophia steals glances at Daniela, noticing the way the light plays with the curls in her hair, how the warmth from her palm feels like a lifeline. Occasionally, their eyes meet, and Dani grins at her with that charming, crooked smile that makes Sophia’s heart do flips that could rival an olympic gymnast. She nudges her playfully, making the werewolf chuckle, tail bumping the back of her knee.
//
This warmth and giddiness follows Sophia for the next few weeks, despite her packed schedule of classes and student council meetings. Prom night is in a few months, and Sophia, as student council president, is knee-deep in planning. When she’s not fussing over streamers and balloons and what shade the curtains need to be, she’s finishing up an essay for her English lit class. When she’s not busy mugging assignments in the dead of night, she’s face-down asleep in bed, blanket lazily draped over her legs and still in yesterday’s clothes. She’s utterly exhausted, the bags under her eyes grow darker with every passing day, yet it’s exhilarating because Sophia can practically feel the anticipation building in the air. Prom night is all that’s on everyone’s minds, and it's impossible not to get swept up in the excitement of promposals and outfit planning and who’s taking who.
There’s been at least three disruptively elaborate promposals that have interrupted classes, including Lara, who somehow tricked the principal into believing the cheer team was having a special performance for the school, actually choreographed and performed a whole routine for everyone in their year to see, before pulling out an egregiously large bouquet of flowers and asking an extremely embarrassed Manon if she’d go to prom with her. The siren, of course, said yes, and Sophia simply rolled her eyes at the whole show-offish display that is, all-in-all, very on-brand for Lara Raj.
Daniela, for her part, makes a noticeable effort to spend more time with Sophia, sitting with their friend group instead of her pack at lunch some days, walking her to her classes, taking her out for a nice picnic date when she gets too stressed over the number of tables they’ll need and whether they have enough drinks. Gabriela, of course, continues to hover, inserting herself into the conversation whenever she can and wiggling her way between Sophia and Daniela at every given opportunity. Every single time, Dani holds her at arms length, gracefully steering the conversation to include Sophia, and every single time, Gabriela gets this deflated, almost enraged look on her face and Sophia can’t help the twist of satisfaction she feels.
Despite all that, with Sophia’s days being a blur of meetings and decisions, she’s left with little time to breathe, let alone spend quality moments with her girlfriend.
The weeks pass in the blink of an eye, and suddenly, prom is one week away. Sophia’s about to strangle someone because their caterer still hasn’t gotten back to her on whether the vegetarian dishes are available, and she can’t just make the vegetarian students eat air, so she’s scrambling for alternatives while waiting. Daniela, ever the supportive girlfriend, has been trying to ease Sophia’s burden by bringing her food and keeping her company during the late-night study sessions. However, even she can’t escape the gravitational pull of her pack and their own prom-related drama.
That’s why Sophia’s still on her phone literally four days before prom night, writing a strongly worded email to the caterer, who’s gone ghost on her for the past few days, as she sits down at her usual lunch table. The cafeteria is absolutely buzzing with the latest promposals and fashion debates. Apparently Lara’s convoluted display went viral online. Several people have come up to her to gush about it and complain about their own “boring” promposals.
“My boyfriend only got me a rose,” One girl laments, feathered wings fluffing irritatedly behind her, “I'm allergic to roses.”
Everyone at the table collectively grimaces.
“Well,” Megan says, “Yoonchae made me mooncakes from scratch and asked me last night.”
She looks over at the girl in question who's sitting next to her, cheeks and the tips of her fluffy white ears turning slightly pink. Megan leans in, lips puckered and aimed at Yoonchae’s cheek, but the Jangsanbeom stiffens, dodging the public display of affection. Megan smirks, nudging Yoonchae with her shoulder.
“Don’t pretend. You love it.”
“No I don’t,” Yoonchae grumbles weakly in protest, cheeks darkening even more. Megan decides to spare her girlfriend from further humiliation, looking over to Sophia, who is recalculating how much budget they have left.
“What about you Soph, how did Dani ask you?” Megan asks. Sophia looks up when she hears her name, blinking at all the pairs of eyes suddenly on her. Honestly, she had forgotten she’d need a date to prom too. She's not really one for grand romantic gestures or dramatic displays of affection, so it was totally fine with her if Dani just. Asked. Or, even if she doesn’t, Sophia would assume they’re going together anyway.
Even if they weren’t, she’d be fine. She would probably be busy with council anyway, running around and making sure everything was in order because heaven knows she doesn’t trust any of the irresponsible airheads that were her council members. Dani could go and have fun and dance with her friends. Sophia just wanted to get this stupid event over and done with so she could go back to her room and sleep for a week.
“Oh,” She shrugs, eyes wandering back to her phone, “She hasn’t asked me yet.”
Lara whistles lowly. “Damn, lovergirl must be planning something big, then.”
Sophia cringes. “Augh, I hope not. I’m not about to be embarrassed like how you embarrassed Manon.”
Lara makes an affronted noise, placing a hand on her chest. “Excuse you, it’s called romanticism. You should try it sometime.”
“It’s called attention-seeking,” Sophia counters, with a lazy roll of her eyes. Lara chuckles, leaning over to tap the top of Sophia’s phone annoyingly.
“It's not my fault people are paying attention.”
At that moment, Sophia feels a shiver run down her spine. She can feel someone’s gaze on her. There were plenty of people looking at her, sure, but someone was looking at her. Her eyes narrow, and she glances up, immediately locking gazes with Gabriela. Her fluffy brown ears are turned towards their table, perked up in a way that screamed 'drama'. The smug smile on the werewolf's face set Sophia’s teeth on edge.
She leans in, whispering something into Dani's ear, and the sudden tension was palpable, even from where Sophia was sitting. Dani's eyes widen in surprise, and she leans back sharply, her tail bristling.
Sophia feels a twist in her stomach as she observes the interaction between Dani and Gabriela. She knows something is off, based on Dani’s reaction alone, but she can't quite place it. Then, the moment comes. Gabriela's voice grows louder, her words clear enough for the whole table to hear. "So, Dani, since you're obviously not going with Sophia, how about we go to prom together?"
The cafeteria goes quiet, everyone turning to watch the unfolding scene. Sophia’s grip on her phone has gone white-knuckled, and she feels a flare of anger in her chest. The room seems to hold its breath as the words hang in the air. Dani's brow furrows, and her tail starts to lash behind her, a clear sign of agitation. She stands abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor. "What the hell are you playing at, Gabi?" she snarls, her voice thick with venom. Sophia can hear the low hum of a growl building in Dani’s chest.
Daniela's fur bristles with rage, her eyes flashing dangerously at Gabriela. "Back off," she warns, her voice low and menacing. The room seems to hold its collective breath, the anticipation thick enough to cut with a butter knife. "You know I'm with Sophia," Dani continues, her teeth bared slightly, "What the hell is wrong with you?" The question hangs in the air, a challenge that echoes through the cafeteria. It reverberates like a shockwave through the room, and Sophia barely registers the way her friends’ jaws have all dropped. Sophia feels like she can barely breathe, heart racing as she watches the confrontation.
"I-I just," Gabriela stammers, smile turning nervous under Daniela's furious gaze, tail tucked between her legs.
“She’s bold, I’ll give her that,” Manon leans over to whisper, but Sophia barely hears her.
“Just what?” Dani growls. Gabriela glances around the room helplessly, eyes eventually landing on Sophia, who still hasn’t moved a muscle. Her eyes narrow, and she seems to gain back some of her confidence. She rises from her chair too, now eye-to-eye with Dani.
“I thought it’d be more fitting for you to go with someone from your pack, you know, a fellow werewolf?” Gabriela crosses her arms, the smugness returning to her posture. Daniela's eyes narrow into slits, and she takes a step closer to Gabriela, the growl in her chest growing louder.
“What are you implying?”
If words could kill, Gabriela would have been incinerated on the spot. The barely held back anger is nothing like Sophia has ever seen from her usually very sweet, down-to-earth girlfriend. It’s as scary as it is hot.
Sophia can see the cogs turning in Gabriela’s head as she tries to backpedal, the smugness on her face slipping into a mask of innocence. Her eyes widen, and it’s like a wet blanket has been thrown over her flame. She uncrosses her arms, holding them defensively out in front of her, like a physical shield against Dani, who, in all fairness, does look like she’s about to pounce.
“Nothing! It’s just that,” Frustration leaks into her expression, “I really don’t get why you like her so much, Dani. Let's face it, you could do so much better. What even is she anyway, some Chinese vampire rip-off?”
The words land like a slap to Sophia’s face. Her jaw drops impossibly wider, and she can feel the stunned silence of everyone in the cafeteria. Daniela’s furious snarl breaks the silence, and she sees her girlfriend step closer to Gabriela, her body practically vibrating with tension, sharp claws extending from her fingertips. The air is thick with it, like a thunderstorm ready to unleash its fury. She clenches her fists, like she’s physically restraining herself from clawing at Gabriela.
“What the fuck happened to you?”
The sheer disappointment in Dani’s tone clearly hits much harder than her anger does. Gabriela’s eyes widen like she just realised what she said.
“Dani, I didn’t mean-”
“Get out,” Dani cuts her off, “I don’t want to see your face.”
“But-”
“Get out,” Dani repeats, pointing to the door behind Gabriela, “Don’t look in my direction, don’t smile at me, don’t talk to me ever again. You’re not welcome to sit with us anymore.”
The words feel like a judge sentencing a criminal, the clack of Gabriela’s heels against the floor like the gavel landing as she shuffles slowly out of the room. Dani’s breaths are heaving and uneven. The whispers around her grow louder.
Daniela turns, her eyes searching for Sophia's, who's still sitting, shell-shocked by the turn of events. She sees her take a deep, shaky breath and clear her throat, physically trying to shake off the tension. The cafeteria seems to have collectively decided to keep their distance, a clear sign of respect for the werewolf's power and the drama that had just unfolded.
Daniela’s eyes find Sophia’s, the rage in her gaze now replaced with a fierce determination. She strides over to their table, her tail swishing with each step. The cafeteria whispers die down to almost nothing as she stops in front of Sophia, looking at her with a mix of love and anger. “You okay?” she asks, her voice softer now.
Sophia blinks up at her for a moment, the emotional whiplash hurting her brain a little.
“Yeah,” she says, weakly, still struggling to reconcile the image of her girlfriend just a few moments ago to the girl standing in front of her now. “I can’t believe she said that.”
Daniela takes a few more deep breaths, eyes never leaving Sophia’s. She reaches up and takes Dani’s hand, giving a reassuring squeeze. Something seems to click in place.
“Ah, fuck it,” Sophia hears her mutter under her breath.
Suddenly, Dani drops to one knee, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a small box, wrapped in a blood red ribbon. She opens it, revealing a beautiful necklace with a crescent moon charm that sparkles in the light. Sophia’s dazed, feeling like she’s having an out-of-body experience, watching everything play out from a corner of the room.
“Sophia, I know this isn’t the most traditional promposal, but I don’t care about that. I just want to make sure that you know how much I love you, and that I want to be by your side, no matter what anyone says.” Dani holds out the box, the silver chain glinting under the harsh white cafeteria lights. “Will you go to prom with me?” The question hangs in the air, the cafeteria going so silent you could hear a pin drop. Suddenly, Sophia’s sucked back into her own body, and she’s looking into Dani’s wide, expressive eyes, filled with hope and a tinge of nervousness that is entirely unfounded because there’s no universe where Sophia would ever say no to her.
"Yes, Daniela, of course I'll go to prom with you." The tension in the room dissipates as a collective 'aww' echoes around them, and their friends around them start cheering. Dani's grin is blinding as she stands, wrapping her arms around Sophia and lifting her into a gentle kiss. Sophia laughs against her lips, relaxing into her strong, sturdy hold, heart fluttering.
“Sorry, I was planning to ask you later,” Dani whispers against her ear, “Clearly things didn’t exactly go to plan.” Sophia giggles.
“It’s okay. You’re sweet. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Daniela’s arms tighten around Sophia’s waist, and she feels the warmth of her girlfriend’s cheek against her own. She pulls her in for another kiss, a gentle press of their lips, a promise that everything will be okay, that they’re together in this, that she won’t let anyone else come between them.
Take that Gabriela.