XXIII

Danielle leaned against the railing of her balcony, staring out at the city below. The afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the skyline, but she barely registered it. Her thoughts were still back at Riley's—at the warmth of the Matthews' home, the easy laughter at breakfast, the way she almost forgot she wasn't actually part of their world.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, pulling her from her thoughts. She pulled it out, already knowing who it would be.

Maya🐦

So, was the Matthews' hospitality up to your high standards?

Danielle smirked, shaking her head as she typed back.

Chiron🚗

They didn't kick me out, so I'd say it went well.

Maya🐦

Wow. Must've been your sparkling personality.

Chiron🚗

Obviously. That, and Riley's mom probably felt bad for me.

Maya🐦

Nah. She likes you. Which is weird. Topanga doesn't just like people.

Danielle hesitated for a second, then typed back before she could think too hard about it.

Chiron🚗

Guess I'm just that charming.

Maya🐦

Sure. Let's go with that.

Danielle exhaled a quiet laugh, glancing up at the sky before pocketing her phone.

She wasn't sure why she was still smiling.

After about fifteen minutes of simply watching the view in peaceful silence, Danielle exhaled and pushed off the railing. As much as she liked the quiet, she wasn't the type to sit still for too long.

Sliding her keys out of her pocket, she made her way down the path, where her Bugatti Chiron gleamed under the afternoon sun. The engine roared to life as she slid into the driver's seat, the familiar hum settling something in her chest.

The drive home was smooth, the streets not too busy, allowing her to move through the city with ease. She kept the music low, letting the soft thrum of it fill the space without overwhelming her thoughts.

By the time she pulled into the long driveway of her house, the weight of exhaustion started creeping in again. She hadn't slept well, not that she ever really did, but last night had been different. The unfamiliar comfort, the presence of people who actually wanted her there—it had thrown her off.

Stepping inside, she closed the door behind her and set her keys on the table. The house was quiet, as usual. But before she could head upstairs, she sent a quick text to Izzy.

Elle

going for a nap

A response came almost immediately.

Busy Izzy

Good. Eat something as well.

Danielle rolled her eyes but smiled slightly before heading toward the kitchen.

Danielle grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, twisting the cap off as she leaned against the counter. The silence in the house felt louder than usual after spending the night at Riley's, where there was always some kind of conversation, laughter, or movement. Here, it was just her.

She took a slow sip, her thoughts drifting back to the morning. Breakfast at the Matthews' had been... nice. A little overwhelming, sure, but nice. Topanga had made pancakes, Riley had been her usual bubbly self, and Maya—Maya had just been Maya. Sarcastic, sharp-witted, but softer in the quiet moments.

Danielle had caught the way she looked at Riley with unspoken gratitude, the way she seemed at ease in a home that wasn't hers.

Danielle hadn't realized how much she had missed that kind of warmth until she was in the middle of it.

Shaking off the thought, she pushed off the counter and headed upstairs. As soon as she stepped into her room, she tossed her phone onto the bed and kicked off her shoes. Her body ached from exhaustion, but she knew sleep wouldn't come easy. It never did.

Still, she stretched out on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, willing her mind to slow down. But even with the quiet, the only thing she could think about was a certain blonde and the way she had looked at her when she thought Danielle wasn't paying attention.

Danielle exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair before turning onto her side. The weight of exhaustion was there, pressing down on her limbs, but her mind refused to shut off.

Maya.

She hadn't missed the way Maya kept glancing at her during breakfast, like she was trying to figure something out. It wasn't like Danielle had said much—she had kept the conversation light, deflecting when necessary, but Maya had a way of seeing through people. Through her.

With a frustrated sigh, Danielle grabbed her phone from where she had tossed it. There was a message from Izzy, just a simple:

Busy Izzy

are you back home?

Danielle typed out a quick reply:

Elle

Yeah, just got in. I'm fine.

No more, no less. Izzy didn't press for details. She never did.

Before she could think twice, she tapped into her messages with Maya.

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard. It wasn't like she needed to say anything, but before she could talk herself out of it, she typed:

Chiron🚗

Did you make it home okay?

A minute passed. Then another. Danielle sighed, tossing her phone onto the bed again. Maybe Maya had already crashed—she had looked half-asleep when Danielle dropped her off.

But just as she rolled onto her back, her phone vibrated.

Maya🐦

Yeah. You didn't get lost on your way home, did you, Chiron?

Danielle smirked despite herself.

Chiron🚗

Please, I could drive that route blindfolded.

Maya🐦

Good to know. I'll make sure to test that theory next time.

Danielle let out a soft chuckle, her grip on the phone loosening. It was ridiculous how easily Maya could get under her skin—how even through a screen, she made everything feel a little lighter.

She hesitated, then typed one last message.

Chiron🚗

Try to get some sleep, Shortstack.

Maya read it almost instantly, but didn't reply.

Danielle didn't mind.

For the first time in a while, she didn't feel completely alone.