Sugar and Spice

"Um, Mitty, could you pass the sugar, please?"

"Here. Is someone watching the ovens?"

"Well, Ace--"

"Fear not, dear Mitty, for I have taken it upon myself to focus all my attention on the ovens! No cake shall burn under my ever watchful eye."

"Great. Gui, how long did the cupcakes need again?"

"They should be ready by now…"

"Wait, is something burning?"

"Drat!"

Mitty rushed to the offending oven before Ace could get there, her long ponytail whipping Gui in the process. She took out the cupcakes, holding her breath, and shut the oven. They were brown, but not overly so. Passable for someone who might not be paying attention, but not good enough for her.

"Ace, you can eat this batch," she said, putting the tray of cupcakes on the counter.

"How could I have been so foolish?" Ace swooned, hand on his forehead like a disgraced noblewoman. "It is only fair that I suffer for my actions. No one else deserves to eat such poison!"

"Oh, they're not so bad," said Kyra, who was watching the proceedings nearby. "We could just cover them in extra icing."

"No." Mitty glared at her. She wasn't settling for mediocre cupcakes.

"But--"

"No."

Kyra sighed, running a hand through her green bangs. "You run a tight ship in the kitchen."

Mitty went back to her place beside Gui, a bowlful of batter sitting on the counter. "You asked for this," she said, giving Kyra an intense glance before going back to mixing her batter.

Kyra sighed again in defeat. "I did indeed."

***

Several days before, Mitty had been approached by Kyra in the library. She was busy going over some coursework for one of her classes, but even then her mind had been on the moment she'd shared with Alexis. She still felt the girl's head nestled on her shoulder, and smiled giddily down at her work. She might have even giggled if she wasn't in public--

"Something good happen?"

"GAH!"

Mitty almost fell out of her chair. She righted herself and glared harshly at Kyra, causing the rabbit-girl to smile bashfully back. "What do you want?'

"For you to stop looking at me like that," Kyra replied, adjusting her collar. Then, when Mitty didn't budge, "Please?"

Mitty grunted and dropped her glare to her coursework. "So? What is it?"

Kyra sat down on the other side of the circular table. "I just want to chat."

Mitty snorted. She still wasn't used to Kyra's professional attitude. "About what." She tapped her pen on the desk, hoping Kyra would take the hint.

If she did, she didn't say. "How are you getting on? The deadline for your writing assignment is coming up soon, yes?"

"Yes." Mitty had actually finished the entire thing yesterday, finally, after a burst of inspiration from Alexis. Or rather, from the moment they'd shared. Her cheeks tinted at the thought despite her best efforts to stop them. "Got it all done."

"That's great." Kyra smiled earnestly. "And did you end up applying for that internship?"

Mitty raised her eyebrow sharply, warning Kyra to keep out of her business. She tried not to be defensive, really, but it was an automatic response. At least she didn't actually say anything.

"I take it you did. That's good."

"Thanks, teach." Mitty's lips curled around the emphasis.

"Oh. I'm doing it again. Sorry." Kyra adjusted her glasses.

"Since you seem to have made it your mission to keep tabs on me, I think calling you out on it now and then's fair game."

"I'm sorry that's what it looks like." Kyra shuffled uncomfortably in her chair. "I'm just trying to be a friend."

Mitty blinked. We're friends? She almost blurted that out. "I see," she said instead, too dumbfounded to actually formulate a proper reply.

"I just want to know how you're doing, that's all." Kyra rubbed the back of her head, and for once she actually looked like a student, fumbling like everyone else. A very smartly dressed, businesslike student, but a student nonetheless.

Mitty softened a little. "Well, I'm getting on," she replied curtly. She could only soften so much, after all. "But what about you? How's your journalism course going?" Thank Terros I remembered what she actually studies.

Kyra perked up instantly. "Oh, it's good! Just turned in my last assignment."

"So that's how you have time to hang out here talking to me."

"Ha, yes, I suppose." Kyra chuckled sheepishly. "But I'm not doing this to kill time or anything."

"Hmm." Mitty glanced back at her work, trying to plan her next paragraph while conversing with Kyra. She needed to get this done, but even she wouldn't turn Kyra away after her little admission.

"So, um, we're going to have a party on Friday to celebrate the end of the semester," Kyra went on, out of Mitty's focus.

"We?" Okay, maybe I should rewrite this paragraph… 

"The newspaper."

"Ah." Wait, if I just emphasise this in the next paragraph it'll be fine…

"And I'm in charge of catering."

"Great." Alright, that'll work.

"So I told Gui and Ace and they volunteered to bake for us, provided they also come to the party."

"Mhmm." Mitty made a note in the margin of her work.

"And, well, I was wondering if you wanted to help, too? They could really use you, we've got a lot of people to feed."

"Sure." That should do it--

Wait. What?

"Oh, that's excellent!" Kyra beamed, and Mitty finally looked back up at her as realisation dawned.

What did I just agree to? "Uh, listen, Kyra, I--"

"I'll let them know right away! They'll be so happy to actually get the chance to bake with you, I'm sure." Kyra took her phone out and texted at lightning speed.

"Wait, wait!" Mitty waved her hands and begged the Dragons to freeze Kyra's fingers (just for a second). "I didn't--I wasn't listening, it doesn't count!"

Kyra's phone beeped before either of them could react. She blinked, then slowly turned her phone to face Mitty. Gui had replied with an adorable thumbs up image, and an encouraging little Hurray! beneath it.

Mitty's heart dropped. Damn it. She couldn't possibly say no after seeing that. "Kyra…" she seethed.

"I'm sorry!" Kyra hung her head. "I didn't realise you weren't listening!"

Mitty glared at her. A moment of silence passed between them before another beep from her phone interrupted it. This time it was Ace who replied, but it was a paragraph of flowery prose thanking Mitty, so she didn't read all of it. What did I get myself into?

"Um…" Kyra put her phone away before it could beep again. "At least they're grateful?"

Mitty just sighed deeply.

"Sorry."

Mitty rolled her eyes, thought about giving Kyra more grief, but figured it wouldn't help, so she shrugged instead. So what if she had to help cater for her club's party? It was annoying, but it wasn't the end of the world. Besides, she'd wanted to bake with Gui and Ace. Possibly. Maybe just a little bit. She didn't foresee it being too stressful with Gui there, at least.

Eh, whatever. Baking is baking, after all. "How'd you type so fast?" she grumbled.

"I work at the newspaper," Kyra replied.

"Touché."

***

“Uh, Mitty, I think you’re needed here…” Gui snapped Mitty out of her recollections with a nervous pat on her shoulder. He pointed to Kyra frantically trying to get an oven open, cursing out everything under the sun and then some.

“Wow, what is going on there?” Mitty blinked, her arm frozen mid-stir.

“I thought I would help out!” Kyra pulled at the oven door with the strength of ten beasts. “But I can’t get this damn thing to open!”

Mitty snickered at Kyra’s wildly uncharacteristic panicking. She almost wanted to let her stew, but she wasn’t that cruel. “Careful, you’ll break it,” she said as she approached the oven. Thankfully it was only preheating. She gave the door handle an experimental tug, finding that it was indeed stuck fast. She hummed thoughtfully, examining the sides of the door for any sticky substances. “How old is this oven?”

“Fairly old,” Gui replied from his position at the counter, where he was stirring buttercream icing. “We’ve always had problems with that door.”

“Why hasn’t anyone sorted it?”

“Well, our budget isn’t very big, and a lot of it goes to ingredients…”

Mitty tugged the oven door again. “But you have to maintain your equipment!”

“And we do!” Gui insisted. “But there are a lot of us, so it doesn’t take long for things to wear out…”

Mitty sighed. She could only see one way this could work. She’d dealt with tricky doors once or twice, and it was always an effort to get them to cooperate. “Where did Ace go?” she asked.

The crash of containers alerted her attention to the other side of the kitchen. “I’m here!” Ace replied.

“Dear Freya…” Mitty dragged her hand down her face.

Meanwhile, Kyra was still trying to get the door open. She grunted, drew back, and wiped her forehead. “This is ridiculous.”

“Ace, we need you here!” Mitty called. To Gui, she asked, “How strong are you?”

Gui shook his head, his mouse ears twitching. “Not very.”

Mitty looked at his thin arms. Though so. “Ace!” she shouted again.

Ace appeared, haphazardly carrying a pyramid of plastic tubs that looked seconds from collapse. “I am here!” he declared, then bowed down with a flourish. The tubs shook…

Oh no.

Mitty watched in slow motion as the tubs fell from his arms, sailing majestically through the air only to crash spectacularly to the floor with clatters loud enough to wake the dead.

Everyone stared at the mess on the floor. An oven timer pinged.

“Oh, dear Vacerus.” Mitty did not even have it in her to throw her hands up in frustration. She just turned her head slowly to Ace, her gaze dead and cold. “Help us open this oven.”

“But the con--”

“Oven.”

Ace relented with a tiny dip of his head and positioned himself by the oven. Since he appeared to be the strongest of everyone by virtue of being a tall Lucive, Mitty figured he was their best shot at getting the stupid door open.

Kyra raised a hand. “You know, maybe we shouldn’t use this oven if it’s this hard to--”

“Hyaaah!” Ace shouted bombastically as he yanked the door open, a blast of hot hair blowing his ponytail. “Success!”

“Never mind.”

Mitty finally felt a hint of satisfaction. She wasted no time in getting the waiting cupcakes into the oven, then allowed Ace to close the door. “Once this is over, we’re getting this fixed,” she said. “Ace, you’re in charge of this oven. Do not--” she jabbed a hand in the air to stop him mid-movement--“do not move from this spot.”

“But the--”

“I’ll deal with the damn tubs! Just focus on the oven.”

A strangely loud snort escaped Kyra. Mitty glared at her, but the rabbit-girl smiled gleefully. For her part, she did at least cover her mouth, but she couldn’t hide the amused curve of her cheeks.

“What?” Mitty grumbled, bending down to pick up Ace’s mess.

“Oh, nothing.” Kyra swayed from side to side, her lop ears swinging with her hair. “Just noticed you said ‘we’.”

“‘We’?”

“Yes, ‘we’. ‘We are getting this oven fixed’.”

Mitty paused mid-pickup, one of the containers clattering once more to the floor, where it seemed it wanted to live now.

“Does that mean you’re joining our club?” Gui asked, his cyan eyes shimmering with excitement.

“I never said--”

“You included yourself in our struggles,” Ace butted in, “how very noble of you to want to help, Mitty! How grateful I am for your assistance!”

“I did not--shut up! Do not interrupt me!” Mitty jabbed warningly in Ace’s direction, but forgot she was holding a container and ended up hurtling it across the room. Completely devoid of emotion, she just watched it fly into a counter and hit the floor.

I give up.

“Um, I’ll just get that.” Gui ducked away to retrieve the stray container.

Mitty went back to picking up the tubs, choosing to ignore the question looming unanswered. She did say she might join the baking club, but only if her internship fell through. She didn’t want to get Ace and Gui’s hopes up… or her own, either. “Kyra, could you please get whatever was in the oven that pinged earlier out.”

“Oh. Sure.” Kyra disappeared to fulfil her duty, leaving Mitty to pick up the stupid containers in peace.

Or so she thought. “Are you truly not interested?” Ace asked quietly. He leaned on the counter by the oven, fiddling with his apron. He sounded nonchalant, but the lack of his usual flamboyant inflection dispelled any notion that this was a casual question.

Mitty was suddenly aware of just how warm the kitchen was thanks to the ovens. “I… I don’t know,” she muttered.

“Is it really so bad to work with us?”

“No.” Mitty sighed. Despite the fact that she was currently paused in a crouching position picking up tubs that Ace had scattered, and that she was having trouble getting everything to work, she couldn’t say she wasn’t enjoying herself. In fact, she was having more fun than she usually did baking alone. She’d done so much alone for so long, she wasn’t used to having others to rely on. It was uncomfortable… but it was nice.

“Then what holds you back?”

I’m scared. “I’ve just got something else possibly lined up,” said Mitty, finally standing up with a collection of containers in her arms. “That’s all.”

Ace narrowed his dark eyes in thought. They were almost hidden by his bangs, but somehow they pierced Mitty all the same. She wondered if this was what she looked like when staring someone down. She could understand everyone’s discomfort.

Then Ace smiled, and swept a hand through his long hair. “Then so be it!” he said, just in time for Gui and Kyra to return. “We shall see how things pan out, yes?"

"Yeah." Mitty safely deposited the tubs onto the counter, ready to package the finished cupcakes.

The group continued baking with only minor hitches. Thanks to Ace, the troublemaker oven was easier to manage, and with Gui and Mitty managing the bulk of the baking, they got everything done by the time the sun sank below the horizon. Thanks to the heat of the ovens and the smell of sugar and baking, the atmosphere inside was rather cosy, a refuge from the darkness peeking through the windows.

Everyone sat on the stools at one of the counters, taking a moment to relax before they had to head up to one of the empty classrooms, where the newspaper club was holding the party. The cupcakes had been packaged and were ready for transportation. They'd made enough for everyone in the club to have at least one, with some to spare for extra attendees.

Kyra rubbed her arms, wincing. "I think I need more exercise," she said.

Mitty could sympathise; her own arms ached from all that stirring, and her back was complaining just as much. She hadn't worked that hard in a while. But with the tiredness and pain came the satisfaction of a job well done, so she couldn't feel too bad. She undid her ponytail, finally letting her hair spill freely down her back once more.

Only Ace seemed unperturbed, but that could just be due to his cool exterior. "I can refer you to a gym," he said.

Kyra shook her head vigorously. "No thank you."

"Still, we did well," Gui piped up. "I've never made that much before, even with help."

"It's all thanks to Mitty," said Kyra.

"What." Mitty frowned at her.

"Yeah! If you weren't here, we wouldn't have made half of these." Gui beamed. "Thank you so much for helping!"

"Yes, thank you, dear Mitty." Ace dipped his head. "You saved us."

Mitty glared down at the counter and bit her lip to stop its corners twitching upwards. Knock it off, stop being so earnest! "Whatever," she grumbled, turning away so they couldn't see her smile.

"To think someone so scary looking has such a kind heart," Kyra pressed, and by her teasing intonation she knew damn well what she was doing this time.

"Shut up." Mitty wanted to swat her and hide at the same time, so she just settled for keeping her body turned. Inside, however, her heart was cartwheeling.

"Mitty? Are you okay?" Gui asked.

Mitty couldn't bear his innocence. Not even Alexis was that bad. "I'm fine!" she replied, standing abruptly, her stool screeching in protest. "We should go drop these off."

"Drop them off? Are you not staying?" Kyra said, also getting up.

Mitty scoffed. Her, hanging around a bunch of people she barely knew for more than half an hour? Please. She didn't mind any of her club mates, but she couldn't stand being around so much condensed merriment for long. "I just volunteered to cater, I didn't say I'd show."

Kyra frowned. “And why not?”

"Too loud, too many people, too much fun."

"Too much fun?"

"Yes. I don't want to be around drunks and loudmouths."

"Drunks?" Ace echoed in disbelief.

"Loudmouths? The newspaper club?" Kyra's eyebrows reached the heavens. "Mitty, we work in a library."

"Yeah, but the party's not gonna be there."

Kyra’s eye twitched. “Mitty, why are you holding back.” It wasn’t a question.

Mitty’s ear twitched in turn at that accusatory tone. “Why is it your business?”

“Um, guys…” Gui interjected quietly.

“Mitty.” Kyra sighed. “You can’t hide from people forever.”

Mitty bristled, clenching the sleeve of her leather jacket. “And who said I was?” she growled.

“I’d understand if this was a party with people you didn’t know. Really, I would.” Kyra held her ground, her blue gaze firm. “But you spend time with us. Fairly frequently. You know us. And a few of us are your friends.”

Mitty drilled a hole into Kyra with her eyes, irritation rising when she refused to stand down. “So?” she hissed.

Gui’s face fell, and even Ace looked down, and Mitty’s heart went with them.

“Is it really so bad to work with us?”

She winced. There were so many things she could’ve said, yet in true Mitty fashion, she chose the worst possible one. It was easier to put up the mask than admit the truth, even if she came off callous in doing so. That was how things had always been. It had no reason to sting now.

“Think about what you’re saying,” said Kyra, a hint of anger in her voice. Despite the ovens, the room’s temperature dropped several degrees.

“Think about what you’re saying.” Mitty knew she was digging a hole, and yet she could not stop. “Stop needling me. My reasons aren’t your business, and I’d appreciate it kindly if you stopped fucking interrogating me.”

Kyra’s eyebrows rose, but not in surprise. Mitty felt sick seeing the disbelief on her face, because that was how she was feeling, too. “I am trying to be your friend, here.”

“You’re pushing me.”

“Maybe you need it.”

Mitty’s blood boiled. The nerve… the fucking nerve! Yet there was a chill mixing in with the heat of her rage, creating a vile concoction that sat like a lead weight in her gut. She knew that Kyra was right. She was being petulant and nasty to protect herself, and for such a stupid reason.

And yet, she couldn’t back down. “You don’t know anything about me. Just fuck off.”

The scent of sugar in the air was cloying, and the heat stifling. Mitty needed to leave. She would drop off the bags, fulfil her duty, then head home. That way she wouldn’t have to deal with Kyra, or Ace, or Gui, or anyone else she might disappoint. She was volatile, a nuisance, not worth the effort.

She made to pick up a bag, but a tug on her sleeve stopped her. She turned to see Gui looking up at her, fear reflected in his wide eyes. "The party’s not really my thing either," he murmured, "but it's probably the last time I'll get together with everyone before work starts."

Mitty paused. He's right. After this semester, the course of her life would change, for better or worse. And she was throwing this one chance away because it was the comfortable option.

“Is Alexis coming?” Kyra asked icily. “Did you even tell her about it?”

"Well, she…" Mitty didn't have a response. She and Alexis didn't usually attend the club on the same days due to Mitty's work, but they had been together on the day Kyra planned it. Alexis had left early on the basis of finishing her coursework, but Mitty noticed her lack of energy that day. And since Mitty herself had been busy and didn't plan on attending anyway, she'd never mentioned it to Alexis.

She didn’t need that extra kick in the stomach, but it came anyway. Alexis might actually have wanted to come, and she’d almost robbed her of that opportunity because she couldn’t see past herself. “I’ll ask her,” she muttered.

Kyra sighed deeply. She walked past Mitty and took the bags, gesturing for Ace and Gui to pick up the others. “Mitty,” she said as she passed, her voice heavy with resignation, “if you keep pushing people away, before long there won’t be anyone left. Remember that.”

Ace looked evenly at her as he went by; his silence during the entire exchange spoke much too loudly. Gui didn’t even glance at her, keeping his head down. Kyra’s gaze was neutral, the only one to lock eyes with her; then they were gone, leaving her alone with the dread twisting in her chest.

The kitchen suddenly seemed so much bigger than it had before. The quiet was stifling.

Mitty slammed a countertop, ignoring the pain in her fist. Things had gone exactly as she’d wanted, hadn’t they? She didn’t have to attend some stupid party, and she kept her dignity intact. By rights she should be pleased. But she wasn’t dumb enough to believe that for a second. She’d lashed out at someone who just wanted to understand her and disappointed people who actually wanted to be her friend, all for the sake of her pride. But where she’d once shrugged and accepted her lot, maybe even revelled in it, now she only felt disgusted and disappointed.

She dialled Alexis’ number. It might be too late for her, but she couldn’t steal Alexis’ joy just because she’d screwed up.

"Hello?" a chirpy voice spoke through the phone.

"Hi, Alexis."

"What's up? Nobody died, did they? Oh Freya, did someone die?"

"No, Alexis, nobody died." Mitty frowned.

"Oh, thank goodness. It's just that you never call! We usually just text. I thought maybe something happened."

"Well, something is currently happening--it's nothing bad," Mitty had to add before Alexis would worry, "but, uh… What are you doing right now?"

An uncomfortable shuffle on the other end. "Um… nothing, if I'm honest," said Alexis.

"Great." Mitty sighed in relief. "You want to go to a party?"

Silence. Mitty had to check she hadn't been cut off.

"I'm sorry?" said Alexis after a minute.

Mitty honestly couldn't blame her for that one. "The newspaper's throwing a party now and I forgot to tell you." Her ears folded against her head. "Sorry."

"Oh…" A pause. "I'm surprised Kyra didn't tell me."

"I think she was expecting me to say something." Mitty winced.

"Hm." Alexis sighed. "I don't know. It's kind of late."

Mitty looked at the clock on the wall. "It's 6PM."

"But it's dark outside…"

Mitty refrained from asking Alexis if she was a grandma, because she would be using those excuses herself. It was odd for Alexis to do so, though. Mitty expected her to jump at the chance to attend a party. “You don’t wanna go?” she asked.

"It's not that," Alexis replied in a reluctant tone indicating it was, in fact, that. "It's just not a good time."

Mitty frowned. "Alexis, are you moping?"

"What? No! I'm just not in the mood."

Bingo. "So, moping."

Alexis grumbled in defeat. "So? I'm allowed to mope."

Mitty would find the petulance amusing if it wasn't so unlike Alexis. It worried her, in fact. "You're throwing away a chance to go to a party just to sit at home and sulk?"

"I…" Mitty could hear the wince. "They wouldn't want me there."

"They would. Besides, this is your last chance to have fun before work kicks in. It'd be a shame not to go."

"Are you going?"

Mitty bit her lip. She couldn't show her face after such a terrible display. Kyra probably didn't want anything to do with her, and things would just be awkward. But...

"Yes," she said. "I'm going."

"You are?"

"Like I said, last chance. It'd be a shame not to go to a party even once. I guess."

Alexis cleared her throat. She seemed to straighten up, for her voice sounded stronger. "Okay, then I'll come."

Mitty smiled, relief flooding through her. "Great. Meet me by the gates and we can go together."

"T-together?"

"Yeah? Do you not want to?"

"No, I do!" Mitty thought she could hear the wind from Alexis' frantic nodding. "Let's go together!"

Mitty gave her goodbye and ended the call. She leaned back against the wall, sighing the weight away. What a mess everything was. But maybe she could make things right. She'd have to swallow her pride and apologise, but despite Kyra's irritating nosiness, Mitty didn't want to stay on bad terms with her.

I can't believe I actually care. She snorted.

Besides, it would be worth it if the party would cheer Alexis up. And right now, that was Mitty's biggest concern. So long as Alexis was happy, she was happy.

Her eyes drifted to the cupboard of ingredients. She still had a bit of time before Alexis arrived. She rolled up her sleeves and got back to work.

***

Mitty found Alexis at the campus gates. The smaller girl stood out in the darkness, her figure illuminated by the street lamps nearby like a spotlight. Tiny snowflakes kissed her face as they fell, and she blew at them idly, cool wisps of her breath dissipating in the air. She looked like a ghost enveloped in the ethereal light of night time snow. Her huddled form was bundled up in a fluffy grey coat to keep out the cold, and her chin was hidden by a red scarf. Rather than her usual purple tunic, she had on a skirt and black tights, her slim legs pressed together to preserve warmth, and her lithe tail curled over them like a blanket.

Mitty trudged through the slush to meet her, a container held close to her chest. "Hey," she said as she approached. She looked Alexis up and down. "Did you dress up?"

"Maybe a little," Alexis replied, smoothing down her skirt. "It doesn't look bad, does it? Oh dear, the tights don't go, do they? I--"

"The tights are fine." Mitty tried not to look too long at Alexis' legs. "You are fine." Her eyes widened the second she realised how that sounded. "I mean, it seems to work. Your outfit. I guess."

"Oh, good." Alexis smiled, seemingly unaware of Mitty's blunder. She looked down at the container. "What's that?"

Mitty's thick tail drew over her legs instinctively. "You'll see," she said, unable to look Alexis in the eye. "Now let's go, it's freezing out here."

They made their way up to the party, Mitty's unease growing with each step. Can't believe I have to apologise. She paused. Actually, I can. On account of who I am as a person. She glanced at Alexis, who was bouncing beside her, no trace of her melancholy from the earlier phone call. At least she seems happy.

Mitty had gotten used to staying on campus late thanks to the newspaper club, but it never quite lost its surreal edge. The yellow light inside, flickering occasionally, provided a stark contrast to the blackness yawning through the halls' large windows, like a ward against the darkness. Most of the classrooms were shut. It felt like a ghost town, with the ghosts being the few tired stray students occasionally wandering the halls.

A steady thump could be heard as they ascended the staircase, accompanied by jovial shouts once they got close enough. Blinking lights were strewn up in hallways, leftovers from Winter's Fest celebrations that no one had the heart to take down, a protection against the eeriness that otherwise pervaded post-6PM university halls.

Their destination shone like a beacon at sea, the only open classroom in a hallway of closed doors. Pop music blasted and lights beamed from the room, a siren call for the campus hedonists. The stench of pizza attacked Mitty's nose, and cheers and jumbles of frantic conversations reached her ears before she'd even set foot in the room.

She hovered outside for a second before turning around. "I'm going home."

"What?" Alexis tugged her sleeve. "But we just got here!"

"Kidding…" Mitty sighed and turned back, slowly. "All right, let's do this."

"We don't have to if you don't want to."

"But I invited you."

"Yes, but you don't seem keen."

Mitty was both grateful to Alexis for giving her an out, and frustrated that she couldn't take it. She couldn't turn away from this without even trying it. "If I'm bored, I'll leave."

Alexis patted Mitty's arm and smiled. "Okay."

Mitty took a step forward, but the door felt like it was on the other side of a tumultuous river, with only a rickety bridge to serve as a crossing. The bridge swayed with each step, and the door loomed ahead like the mouth of a cave. She did not know what lurked in its depths, but she still had time to turn back. She could put everything aside, never cross the bridge, and head home to safety.

A gentle nudge turned her gaze to Alexis, and the bridge vanished. Alexis was still smiling.

Mitty took a step, and entered the room.

No one turned to look at her. No spotlight shone on her, and the music didn’t stop. Everyone was as engrossed in their conversations as ever. Mitty heaved a sigh of relief, then pushed through the crowd, Alexis following behind her.

The classroom tables lined the walls, various snacks and drinks laid out like a buffet, with paper plates and cups for serving. The room felt a lot smaller than usual, with plenty of students mingling like a herd of cows. The majority of the newspaper club was here, including a few extras who’d likely been invited by the members, like Ace and Gui. There were probably only twenty students max, but to Mitty, that was twenty too many. She was pressed in on all sides, so she hurried to stand by one of the walls to avoid suffocation.

Curiously, the smell of the usual party drink was absent, and everyone was much less rowdy than expected. No one was naked, nothing was hanging from the ceiling that otherwise shouldn’t, and most importantly, no one was being violent. It seemed Kyra had been right in her assessment about the newspaper club after all; despite the loud music and shouting, they were generally tame, at least compared to the horror stories she’d heard about campus parties. I can’t tell if that’s sad or sweet.

She thought Alexis was with her, but when she turned to speak she saw the girl had been apprehended by some members of the club and was happily chatting with them. Mitty tugged the sleeve of her jacket, a curious cocktail of irritation and satisfaction brewing inside her. She had invited Alexis here to have fun, after all, and she was more of a social butterfly than Mitty, though that bar was rather low.

Mitty looked down at her container. It looked like it would have to wait.

She stood awkwardly against the wall, an introvert without a pet to spend time with. She only had herself, as no one dared to approach her. Though her club mates respected her work ethic, she wasn’t exactly buddy-buddy with any of them. Her isolation might have had something to do with the glare she shot at anyone who looked at her, but that defence mechanism was damn near impossible to shake at the best of times, let alone when she felt like prey in a room of carnivores. Still, once she caught herself doing it, she looked down, doing her best to mould her face into something that wasn’t five seconds away from killing someone.

She heard Alexis laughing and perked up, watching her chat with one of the members. She smiled despite herself, but the smile was wiped from her face the instant she spotted Kyra by one of the buffet tables, talking with Ace and Gui. She clutched her container and took a deep breath. It wasn’t like Alexis was going anywhere. What time better than the present?

Her stomach lurched as she stepped forward, begging her to stay still, but she ignored it. In fact, she couldn’t give herself any respite, because she knew she’d buckle if she did. So she pushed through the students, trying not to murder them with death glares, to approach Kyra. The cupcakes they baked were almost gone, with only a few of them left on the table.

Gui and Ace saw her first and their conversation halted, giving her curious glances.

Kyra turned to face her, her eyes wide. “Oh, Mitty, you actually came.”

Mitty tugged at her sleeve. “Yeah.”

A cheer cut the air as some familiar pop song came on. Mitty winced at the volume, but she did not leer at the offender.

“Is Alexis here?” Kyra asked.

Though the room was warm with all the students, Mitty felt Kyra’s frost. “Yes,” she replied. “She’s… somewhere around.”

“Well, I’m glad you managed to tell her.”

Mitty flinched.

“Kyra…” Gui murmured.

“So how’s the party?” Kyra asked. “Or--wait, sorry. I shouldn’t pry. None of my business, right?”

Mitty clenched her sleeve, fingers digging into the leather. Somehow she’d expected--or rather, she’d wanted--Kyra to take the high road, but that would make things too easy for her. “Look,” she began. “I shouldn’t have--” she bit her lip. She scowled at the floor, hugging her container against her chest.

She took a deep breath. “I shouldn’t have said that. I just find it hard to deal with anyone wanting to know me.”

“Clearly,” said Kyra.

“Look, you do pry!” Mitty snapped. “You don’t back off even when I ask you to!”

Apology’s going great, Mitty.

“I suppose I do,” Kyra replied, and to Mitty’s surprise, actually looked away. “I just want to get closer to you."

Mitty’s brief anger couldn’t simmer at that. It was touching that someone would actually want to know her, when she knew it wasn’t to make fun of her. “I know,” she said quietly, or as quietly as she could manage with a party happening around her. “Which is why I’m sorry I lashed out. But at the same time, you’ve got to respect my boundaries.”

“I was just worried I’d never get past them. Not like Alexis seems to have.”

Mitty’s face flushed crimson. Was she that obvious? Then the rest of Kyra’s sentence set in, and her shame faded. “I just… need time,” she muttered. “I can’t deal with… stuff like that right off the bat.”

“I understand. I’m sorry I’m pushy.” Kyra sighed. “And I mean it. I’m not always aware when I cross a line.”

“It’s f--wait, I’m the one apologising here!” Mitty protested. “You don’t have to!”

“And yet, I have.” Kyra smiled.

Mitty groaned. “Let me get mine out."

"I thought you did?"

"Not just for that." Mitty glanced at Ace and Gui, but their careful eyes were hard to meet. "I know it looks like I hate you guys, but I don't. I'm sorry for being such an ass."

"I didn't think you hated us," said Gui, "but… it did hurt a little when you dismissed us."

"Sorry." Mitty winced. "That sucked. I didn't mean to… but I still did it, so. Yeah. Sorry."

"Hmm." Ace frowned. "Flattering to know we are not hated."

Mitty wanted to sink into the floor. "No, you're not. I actually… really…" She swallowed, squeezing her container and frowning at the floor. "I like you guys, okay?"

"Awww, Mitty…"

Mitty's eyes turned wide as saucers. Oh no. She wasn't...

"Mitty…"

She was. "Don't…"

"Mitty!"

"Oh dear Vacerus, Alexis, stop!" Mitty whirled around to see her blue-furred friend giggling through a mouthful of cupcake. "You saw nothing, okay? Nothing!"

"Okay, I didn't see it." Alexis grinned. "But I heard it!"

Mitty's loud groan overpowered the music.

"Hello, Alexis." Kyra smiled pleasantly. "Glad you could make it. Are you enjoying yourself?"

"Hi, Kyra." Alexis' tail wagged. "Yes, very much so." She turned to Ace and Gui. "And hello!"

Gui waved while Ace bowed. "Greetings," said the Lucive.

Alexis blinked, then her face turned red. "I-it's okay, you don't have to bow! I'm not royalty!"

"Alexis…" Mitty had to introduce everyone before Ace made things awkward. "This is Gui, and that's Ace. They're my… f-friends…" she glanced at them to see Gui's eyes light up, and she relaxed, "from the baking club."

"Oh, how lovely to meet you!" Alexis shook Gui and Ace's hands like an overexcited businessman.

"Likewise, my dear!" Ace declared, meeting Alexis' handshake with gusto, a TV presenter on steroids. "You are a friend of Mitty's?"

Alexis' body flew like a flag from Ace's fervent handshake. "Y-yes," she spluttered once he let go. "We met in writing class."

"Are you part of the newspaper club too?" Gui asked.

"Yes. That's how I know Kyra." Alexis' tail wagged so much it hit Mitty. She almost grabbed it on reflex. Whatever mood had gripped Alexis before the party seemed to have completely vanished, much to Mitty's relief.

Alexis finished off her cupcake, a little bit of pink frosting still on her lips. Mitty tried not to look. "Did you bake these?" Alexis asked.

"Oh, yes!" Gui nodded excitedly. "Do you like them?"

"They're delicious!"

"Mitty helped," Kyra added with a little smirk.

"I didn't--"

"That's so nice of you, Mitty!" Alexis interrupted her with a grin. "You did this for the party?"

Mitty didn't have the heart to tell her she'd essentially been tricked into it. "Um, yeah," she mumbled.

Alexis gave her that perfect little smile, and her heart skipped a beat. Stop being so cute, damn it! "Well, great job, all of you." Alexis looked around at the students dancing and chatting with one another, plastic cups and empty plates in hand. "Looks like the party's a success."

Mitty looked at Alexis' happy face and smiled.

"I think it's about time we had some fun of our own," said Kyra. She looked at the empty whiteboard at the front of the room. "Who wants to play Pictionary?"

"Um…" Alexis shuffled awkwardly. "Can I join?"

"Oh, I assumed you were already a part of this. Sure!"

Alexis beamed, and Mitty's heart melted.

"Oh, man, Pictionary?" Gui mumbled. "I can't draw to save my life."

"Even better," said Kyra with a mischievous grin.

"I cannot wait for you to bear witness to my wonderful art skills," Ace said as the group made their way to the whiteboard sans Mitty, who felt rooted to the spot.

"Sure," Gui sighed.

"Oh, Ace, are you an artist?" Alexis asked.

"But of course!"

"Mitty?" Kyra turned to see Mitty wasn't with them. "Are you joining us?"

Mitty slowly uncurled her tail around her legs, unaware it had even wrapped itself there. Her heart leapt a little and she hugged her container. It could wait a little longer.

"Coming," she said, and joined her friends at the whiteboard.