"Yeah. I - a hug sounds nice." She gets up.

Kaylee stands too; then, hug.

She leans into the hug for a bit, resting her chin on Kaylee's shoulder (she smells nice, which strikes Lianne as somehow oddly unfair, though she's not sure why), then reluctantly disentangles herself and sits on the bed, next to where Kaylee was earlier.

Kaylee sits down next to her.  She's grinning.

Her phone buzzes.  She checks it.

"My mom's asking when I'm gonna be home.  - Jeez, it is getting pretty late.  I - should probably head home soon."  She has the sudden urge to apologize, but - would that be a weird thing to say?

She glances at the clock. "Oh, wow, yeah, it is late. My mom should be able to give you a ride again, if you'd like."

"Sounds good to me.  ...I had a really good time tonight.  Thanks for having me over."  (Gosh, why is sitting next to Lianne making her heart flutter so much?)

"Thanks for coming over! I really like hanging out with you." 

(Lianne is completely oblivious to any heart-fluttering, though only partially oblivious to the warm, fuzzy feeling she gets when around Kaylee.)

"Yeah, me too.  We should do this again.  Maybe I can show you my place?  I don't have any drawings but there's a couple stories on my laptop I've been working on," and then on a wild impulse she adds, "or I could play cello for you."  The image of playing some slow and beautiful cello solo for Lianne is suddenly a very attractive one, for some reason.

"That sounds great! I'll have to get permission from my mom, of course, but she might allow me over on a Friday, since I'd be able to get my homework done over the weekend. Probably not this one, though."

"Well, we'll see each other this weekend during the hunt, right?  So that's okay."

"Yeah! So, should we head downstairs? I can go get my mom if you're about ready to go."

"Yeah, let's."  She texts her mom - "be home soon!" - and they can head down.

And Lianne can fetch her mom. 

Lianne walks with Kaylee to the door and says, "So, see you in class tomorrow?"

"See you then!"

She hesitates, then holds out her arms in a hug-me gesture.  "One for the road?"

Hug!

Hug!

"Bye, Lianne!"

And then, to the car, and home.

Lianne's mom isn't as chatty as she was the last time; she mostly just asks if Kaylee had fun, and if she has any plans to visit again (they'd be glad to have her).

"I had a great time, thanks for having me!  I'd love to come over again some time."

"As long as Lianne's grades stay up, that sounds wonderful. Maybe the two of you could have a study session?"

"Yeah, that's a good idea."

"Well, just let me know when."

"Will do!" Kaylee says, as they pull up to her house.  "Thank you again."

"Anytime!"

She lets Kaylee out at the curb, then wishes her well and drives off.

"Goodbye!"

*

Thursday passes.  Classes remain straightforward and people remain friendly.  She doesn't have anything after school on Thursdays, so she goes straight home, hiding up in her room and practicing her weapon-conjuring.  It turns out she can create ordinary combat knives as well as throwing daggers, though they're a shade trickier.

She tells her parents about "the scouting group that her friend Lianne joined" and that she's interested in joining up as well; if it's all right with them she'll be heading into the city on Saturday.  It is all right with them.

"Have fun!" her dad tells her.  "Say hello to Lianne for me!"

"Dad, you haven't even met her," she says affectionately.

"Doesn't mean I can't be friendly!"

Friday comes.  She's getting jittery, waiting for her first hunt, but it's not exactly nerves.  She's not as afraid as she expected; could be the wish is doing her some good.  Classes pass.  GSA passes; she's quiet.

Finally, Saturday comes around.  She pings Lianne.  'Meet you at the community center?'

'Yeah! I need to finish up here, then I'll be on my way.'