"Alright, spill it," Verena said, flopping down onto the soft picnic blanket with all the grace of a sleep-deprived cat. "Did you miss me so much you started fraternizing with human cologne dispensers, or was it just an experiment in how far your charm can go before someone proposes?"
Beatrice looked up from her teacup, unamused. "That's not funny."
"I wasn't trying to be funny. I was being devastatingly accurate. Don't you think so, eh?"
The two of them sat beneath the shade of a large willow tree behind the academy greenhouse.
It was one of the few secluded areas where neither nobles nor overzealous students ventured—perfect for their long-overdue reunion.
Beatrice set her cup down, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "You've been... absent."
"Ah. Right. That whole 'neglectful friend' thing," She pulled out a small paper bag and offered it like a peace offering. "Peach tarts. Bribery. Accept it."
"Evelyn and Sera talked to you, didn't they?"
