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“We’re home!” Bastian calls. The two of them amble into the living room and they both catch sight of Sienna, sharing a look.
“What’s up?” Bastian asks, opting for a casual tone as he drops himself into a recliner. I see the tension in his shoulders though, and I know he’s just as curious. Dominic keeps his gaze trained on Sienna as he sits down on the other side of the couch.
“First of all, I know we had an arrangement, and I haven’t been holding up my end,” Sienna admits, fiddling with the strap of her bag as she avoids eye contact.
I suck in a breath, not sure where this is going. “I thought getting away was what I wanted. I thought it was better for everyone if I just left and didn’t come back.” Her voice wavers as she speaks. “But I don’t know where I belong anymore. I don’t know who I am without you guys.”
Dominic’s voice cracks as he speaks. “It’s my fault. I let things get way out of hand.” His shoulders slump with the weight of his remorse. “I shouldn’t have let it escalate.”
“It’s not on you,” Bastian protests. “I screwed up, okay? I know that.”
“It’s everyone’s fault,” I speak up. “We all played a part. We all acted shitty, everyone but Sienna. We put her in this position and she couldn’t handle it anymore.”
“Guys,” Sienna says, closing her eyes for a moment. “This is the problem right here. You can’t treat me like I’m just a toy you can pull out and play with when you feel like, then put me away when you’re done.”
We go silent, exchanging glances. Bastian bites his lip and Dominic curls his fingers into his palms. They both want to speak but they’re trying to let Sienna talk.
“So, I’d appreciate it if you let me get out what I wanna say,” Sienna continues. “You know, I was surprised as anyone that I like the stuff we do together. I liked spending time with you, even if it kind of … scared me a little. And now I’m not sure where I belong anymore. So, I want to try again, but only if things are different this time.”
The weight of her words settles over me, hardly daring to hope.
“What are you asking?” Bastian says, asking the question that’s on the tip of all our tongues.
Sienna’s eyes fill with an earnest determination and she takes a deep breath. “Can we try again? I wanna move back in here and be with you guys, but I want to do it on my own terms.”
I suck in a breath. Could we do it? Could we try again with her? What if it doesn’t work out this time? Could I let myself get hurt like this again?
“What are the terms?” Dominic asks.
Sienna goes quiet for a moment. “You want me, you can have me. I’ll still do anything you ask but I want more trust. You have to let me leave when I want and go where I want when I want. Nomore following me around, no more making me stay locked up in Caleb’s room.”
The idea of letting her walk around freely when the Serpents are still such a looming presence admittedly scares me, but I know that she deserves to be allowed autonomy. Still, I can’t quiet the voice in the back of my head. I need to see what the others are thinking.
I turn towards Bastian, trying to get a read on where his head is at. Dominic is facing him as well. Bastian’s jaw is clenched, his expression tense with indecision as he weighs the options.
“Give us five minutes,” Bastian says, standing up. “We’re going to go to the kitchen and talk in private.”
I follow, shooting a glance at Sienna as I leave. It feels like a dream, having her back here.
“What do you think?” Dominic asks. “Can we really trust her?”
“I want to trust her,” I tell them. “I think she’s tried to prove herself trustworthy.”
“Can we deal with this whole ‘independence’ thing?” Bastian asks.
I nod. “Yeah, I think we need to. We let shit from the past haunt us for too long. I want to treat Sienna like her own person, not like the ghost of … someone else.”
“I agree,” Dominic adds. “Sienna is willing to give us a fresh start. I say we take it.”
“Alright,” Bastian nods. We all head back into the living room, where Sienna is still sitting, her knee bouncing with nervous energy.
“Okay,” Bastian says. “We agree to your terms. Where do you want to go from here?”
“I’m willing to move back into Caleb’s room,” Sienna says, giving me a soft smile. “Is that okay?”
“Fine with me,” I answer, voice almost cracking from how quickly I respond. “I can help you get your stuff.”
“There’s not much,” she says, a little giggle in her words. “I didn’t take anything with me when I left.”
