In Luna's room, the atmosphere was lively and filled with laughter. Diana tried on outfit after outfit, each one meticulously chosen by Luna, who assessed each look with the critical eye of a seasoned fashion enthusiast. Diana felt a kind of awe growing as she watched Luna move with purpose, her expression shifting from focus to pride whenever a combination worked well.
"Wow, you're so cool!" Diana said enthusiastically, her eyes shining with admiration as she looked at Luna.
Luna's cheeks flushed a little, and she waved her hand as if to dismiss the compliment, though a small smile crept onto her face. "Ahh, stop," she mumbled, trying to maintain her usual calm, but clearly pleased.
Meanwhile, outside in the living room, Daniel and Ava sat together on the couch, a layer of awkward silence hanging over them. Ava had made herself comfortable, kicking off her shoes and grabbing some snacks from the fridge as if it were her own place. She crunched on a handful of crackers, seemingly at ease, while Daniel sat stiffly, his hands resting awkwardly on his knees. He was hyper-aware of every sound in Luna's house, feeling like an outsider who didn't quite belong.
He sighed, fidgeting uncomfortably.
Ava noticed and raised an eyebrow. "Are you bored?"
"Yeah… a bit," he admitted, looking around as if hoping for a distraction.
Ava grinned mischievously, her eyes sparking with an idea. "Follow me," she said, getting up from the couch.
Daniel blinked, confused but intrigued. He followed her through the apartment, Ava tiptoeing in her socks down the hallway with exaggerated stealth. He trailed behind her, feeling both curious and anxious as she led him to a door at the far end of the hallway.
Without warning, Ava flung the door open and burst inside, yelling, "Miraaaa!"
A high-pitched shriek of surprise answered her, followed by laughter and playful squeals. Daniel, curious but unsure, popped his head through the doorway to see what was going on.
Inside, a small girl with midnight-dark hair was play-fighting with Ava, her laughter filling the room as she tried to dodge Ava's playful grabs. Daniel hesitated in the doorway, wondering if he was intruding on a private sibling moment. But Ava, noticing him lingering there, motioned for him to come in.
"Daniel, get in here!" she called, grinning.
He stepped inside cautiously, watching as Ava held the girl at arm's length by her shoulders, a playful grin on her face. "Daniel, meet Luna's little sister, Mira."
Ava turned to introduce Daniel to Mira, but when she looked back, Mira had vanished. Daniel blinked in surprise, then spotted her hiding behind Ava, only her head peeking out. Mira's curious but cautious eyes met his, studying him like he was some strange new creature.
Ava laughed. "Come on, Mira, don't be so shy." She took a step back, leaving Mira exposed.
Mira glanced up at Daniel, her head tilted so far to the side that it almost looked like she was bent at a strange angle. She stared at him with wide eyes, her expression a mix of curiosity and nervousness.
"Hello," she whispered, clutching a big, fluffy teddy bear in front of her like a shield.
"Uh… hi," Daniel replied, feeling a little awkward but trying to give her a friendly smile.
An awkward silence followed, both Daniel and Mira unsure of what to say. Ava rolled her eyes, clearly amused, and plopped down on a chair by the desk, grabbing another handful of snacks. "Come on, Mira, Daniel doesn't bite," she teased.
Slowly, Mira edged her way around her bed, tucking herself into the corner with her teddy bear pressed close. She peeked over the top of it, her gaze flickering between Daniel and Ava. Ava took charge of the conversation, asking Daniel questions about school and bringing up funny memories from their shared classes. Mira observed them both intently, her eyes flicking from one to the other, trying to absorb every detail.
From Mira's perspective, Daniel reminded her a little of her teddy bear—big, a bit awkward, but somehow comforting in his stillness. She found herself relaxing, letting go of her initial shyness.
From Daniel's perspective, Mira had a quiet intensity that reminded him of Luna. She studied him with the same unblinking gaze that Luna had, which made him feel both a little unsettled and oddly amused.
As they continued talking, Mira's curiosity got the better of her. She inched closer, sliding across the bed until she was sitting right next to him. Daniel noticed her shifting closer and tensed slightly, unsure how to react. He stayed quiet, feeling a bit self-conscious but not wanting to make her feel unwelcome. He just watched her out of the corner of his eye, waiting to see what she'd do.
Then, out of nowhere, Mira reached over and grabbed his arm, pulling it toward her and examining his hand with fascination. Her small fingers wrapped around two of his much larger ones, and she held them carefully, her face full of wonder as she stared at his hand as if it were the most interesting thing in the world.
"Your hands are so big," she murmured, her eyes wide with wonder.
Daniel chuckled nervously, feeling a bit strange but unable to pull away without seeming rude. He let her hold his hand, glancing at Ava, who was grinning at him with clear amusement.
Then, in a sudden, heart-melting gesture, Mira went over to her bed, picked up her big, fluffy teddy bear, and handed it to him. She pushed it into his lap, her face breaking into a shy smile as if to say, Here, this is for you.
Daniel held the bear, feeling a warmth spread through him. He hadn't expected Mira to warm up to him like this, and it caught him off guard. He looked up at Ava, who raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the sweet moment.
After a few more minutes, Ava stood up and stretched. "Alright, I think it's time we explore the rest of the house."
Daniel nodded, carefully setting the teddy bear back on Mira's bed. "Goodbye," he said softly, giving her a gentle smile.
Mira beamed and waved as they left, watching them go with a newfound sense of admiration for her sister's strange, quiet friend.