As Talan finished up his work for the day, the last bell sounded. He breathed a sigh of relief and went to his locker. He saw Ryan and Alex standing further down the rows, but chose to ignore them. Instead focussing on Davis and his friends. They were bruised and battered from their little skirmish, and by the looks of things ready for payback.

Talan remained calm and gathered his things in his backpack, then made for the exit. As he walked outside, he put on some sunglasses and scanned the grounds for his escort home.

A tap on the shoulder caused him to jump.

“Crap, Aria. You scared me...”

Aria wore the same ripped jacket she always did, and a pair of short shorts. It was another scorching day. But this time her hair was out of it’s pigtails, instead hanging long down her back held together at the top by a headband.

“Expecting a fight?” Aria asked with a smirk.

Talan cautiously looked behind her yet didn’t see any of them. “Yeah, I am actually.”

“Good,” Aria said. “Let’s get going, take me the long way home.”

“Alright,” Talan said. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

Aria chuckled, “If you only knew how long I’ve been doing this. I’ll be fine, and so will you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Aria wrapped an arm around Talan and gently nudged him forward, “Don’t worry about it, just get going.”

As they walked into the same park where the fight took place last time, Talan looked around and wondered if he’d see Babs here at all. He remembered he was supposed to head over to her place later, at least for a little while.

He sat down on a bench and saw Aria come over, she had been hanging back while he walked. It kinda felt like he had his own bodyguard. He chuckled a bit at the idea, he wouldn’t want to get on her bad side. Well, her real bad side.

Aria sat down next to him and crossed her legs, “What’s so funny?”

Talan looked up and shrugged. “Nothing, just thinking about stuff.”

“Like what?” Aria asked with a yawn.

“Just... you’ll laugh, forget it.”

“Well now you have to tell me,” she said with a smirk.

“You’re kinda like a big sister,” Talan said.

As expected, she laughed, “Yeah, that’s funny alright.”

Talan got up and stood in front of her, “At least let me make my case first?”

Aria smirked and crossed her arms, “I’m listening.”

“I dunno, you’re just what a big sister is supposed to be like, right? We get in fights, we tease and mock each other. You call me ‘kid’ and I call you ‘pigtails.’ We don’t always get along, but when we need each other we’re both there. I mean, you’re here now, right?”

Aria shook her head, “There’s some good points in there, but you’re leaving out one part.”

“What’s that?” Talan asked.

“This is for me as well...” she said while her pendant flashed red.

Talan was about to reply when he heard footsteps behind him. He saw Davis and three of his friends approaching from the other side of the park. Talan turned around and balled a fist, but was calmed when Aria stood up and gently rubbed his shoulder.

“Got your girlfriend here to save you this time, Talan?” Davis asked. “Or is this one not as good a fighter?”

Talan growled a curse but was stopped by Aria. She sat him down and produced a music player from her backpack. She gave it to Talan and turned it on.

“Talan, listen closely.” Aria said while looking him in the eyes. “Listen to this, and turn the volume all the way up. Don’t take off the headphones, understand?”

“Why?” Talan asked, he was surprised when Aria squeezed his arm. “Okay, fine. What are you gonna do?”

“Just have a little chat is all,” Aria said. “You can watch, but don’t listen.”

Talan sighed and put on the headset, once the song started playing a loud type of rock music, Aria turned around and walked over to Davis and his friends.

He didn’t know what to expect, but laughed when he saw Aria start to sway her hips a bit when she walked. Then casually toss a hand through her hair. He wasn’t the least bit surprised when he saw Davis’ mouth fall open, his friends’ following soon after.

Aria checked behind her to make sure Talan was doing as he was told. He simply sat there and looked on with understandable curiosity. She continued her gentle, yet assertive humming as she saw the boys start to waver under her influence. She walked closer and added some words, eventually gaining a level of dominance that satisfied her.

“Oh... you boys like your insults, don’t you?” she said, rounding on the one who insinuated she was a slut, “don’t you???”

They merely nodded and smiled, only understanding they were asked a question, and were compelled to answer.

“Yes,” Aria said with a smile, her voice laced with charm and charisma. “But unfortunately for you, I’m not just some girl. Now, here’s what you’re going to do. You’re going to leave Talan alone, and you’re going to apologize to me. Right now.”

“We’re sorry...” the boys muttered in unison.

“Good...” Aria said with an amused chuckle, “Now, one last thing...”

Talan was shocked at what he was seeing, they were bending over and kneeling. Then, no sooner had they got on the ground, they bolted upright and took off at a sprint across the park. As they headed into the fields, Talan took off the headphones and was immediately struck by a wave of pleasure. He heard Aria’s voice on the wind, the gentle humming. He smiled as his eyes rolled back just a little. They drooped a bit, then reopened when he saw Aria walking over to him.

“Aria... you’re so...” Talan began, but stopped when he fell over.

Aria shook her head disapprovingly and picked up her music player. She turned it off and got Talan up. “What did I tell you? Don’t take those off. You want to join them for a little run?”

Talan smiled and fell onto Aria, wrapping his arms around her waist. “Yeah...”

Aria chuckled and shook him a bit, “No you don’t, wake up Talan. Wake up!” she shouted.

Talan snapped out of it and rubbed his head, “What happened? Where is Davis?” he asked.

“They’re going for a run, I told him he needed the exercise.” Aria said while sitting down close to him. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” Talan replied. “I saw them... kneeling? How did you...?”

Aria smirked. She crossed her legs again and put an arm behind him on the bench, “I can be very persuasive...”

Talan chuckled, “I see that, where are they going?”

Aria looked at the fields and saw Davis already about to fall over, “I dunno, whatever is in that direction I guess. They’re gonna go until their feet bleed...” she said with a low chuckle.

“That’s... wow,” Talan said. “I’m not sure...”

“What?” Aria asked, a bit concerned. “You don’t approve?”

“No it’s just... how?” Talan asked. “What did you do to them?”

Aria shrugged and rubbed her pendant, “Nothing, Talan. Stupid boys will do anything to impress a pretty girl, right?”

“I guess...” he said with a shrug of his own. “Well we’d better get back, I gotta head over to Babs’ place later.”

Aria got up and joined him as they started walking, “Don’t be too long, stud. I don’t wanna be bored later. Sonata’s not good at the games you have.”

“Well can’t you teach her?” Talan asked.

Aria sighed, “Some people just can’t be taught,” she said with a playful nudge.

“I guess,” Talan said. “That would explain your current losing streak to me then. Huh?”

Aria laughed, “Careful, Talan. Don’t want to upset your big sis, do ya?”

Talan looked up at her in shock, “Really? No way...”

Aria shrugged, “Let’s say friend, with big sis qualities.”

“Fine by me,” Talan said while looking at the blue sky. ”Fine by me.”

An hour later, Talan pedalled over to the address he was given. It actually wasn’t too far away from his own neighborhood. It was another private community, though a little smaller in size. He wondered if Babs’ parents were into business like his own.

He set his bike down on the grass near her driveway and walked up to the house. He took a deep breath and rang the bell twice, then waited for a response.

Eventually the door opened revealing a drenched Babs.

“Yo, Talan!” she said with a wide grin. “Come on in!”

“Sure,” he said while walking past her.

The house was pretty big, though that was partly because there was so little in it. The carpet was down, as well as some furniture here and there. But it was largely empty. Boxes were stacked in each room, no doubt sorted and containing all the stuff that was supposed to be unpacked there.

“Nice place, very... open,” Talan said with a smirk.

Babs walked up to him and draped an arm around his shoulder. She was a very touchy feely type of girl, not that he minded.

“Yeah, fo sho.” she said. “I haven’t really touched this part yet. But I did start the basement and den.”

“Let me guess,” Talan said while looking her up and down. “You’re hiding a gym down there?”

Babs laughed, “Hardly hiding, come on I’ll show you.”

Talan followed her downstairs and couldn’t keep his eyes off her slender, toned figure. She was wearing exercise shorts and a bright pink top to match her hair. He could dig it.

“Wow,” Talan said. “This is... frankly bigger than I expected.”

There were weights everywhere. Some ellipticals, a treadmill, and three punching bags hanging all in a row. Various cycling and rowing machines, and some leg presses. Also two bench presses.

“Yeah, think so?” she asked while moving to stand behind a bench press. She leaned on it and raised an eyebrow. “Figure it out yet?”

Talan shrugged, his mouth still somewhat agape. “You’re a fitness nut apparently. You put this all together yourself? Wowzer...”

“Wowzer...?” Babs replied. “Don’t tell me you’ve never seen something like this before. If you held your own against those idiots, and had the form that I saw, you have to have seen a place like this. Where else could you have learned it?”

“Um.. maybe I watched it all on television?” Talan said with a shrug.

Babs smirked and slowly walked around in front of him.

“The internet?” Talan asked with another, more exaggerated shrug.

Babs stopped in front of him and threw a punch, which Talan sidestepped. Then another that he knocked away.

“What’s the big idea?” he asked. “If we were going to fight I’d have dressed accordingly.”

“You look just fine the way you are,” Babs said. “Care to answer the question? Or do I need to beat it out of you?”

Talan held up his hands for a moment, then slowly backed away. He sat his phone and keys down beside the mat, then teasingly took off his shirt. “We haven’t even had a first date and already with the foreplay?”

Babs’ threw her head back in laughter, “Oh funny, I can tell you’ve never done this before.”

“Done what?” Talan asked while taking off his shoes. “Get into a fight with a pretty hot girl the first time coming to her house? Well, you’d be right.”

“No,” Babs said while putting up her fists. “Successfully flirting with a girl...”

Talan shrugged, “Am I that transparent?”

“Yeah, and I think it’s kinda cute!” Babs said while lunging forward with a kick.

Talan side stepped it again and lashed out with a kick of his own, striking her in the side. With a grunt, she rounded on him and connected a punch to the chest, sending Talan staggering backward. He quickly recovered and went for a leg sweep, but Babs anticipated and jumped over it. She kicked Talan in the stomach and swung another kick at his head, which he ducked. He recovered and caught her arm as she threw a left handed punch. He used her lunge to get in close and tackle her to the ground, pulling one leg out as he did so.

Despite Babs being taller with a longer reach, Talan was still likely stronger. Contrary to his smaller upper body, years of running and cross country had left him with a deceptively strong lower body. It’s explosive power won him the little engagement. He pressed a forearm to her throat and smirked.

“I’m out of practice with this sort of stuff, I’m surprised I beat you,” he said with a chuckle.

“Beat me did you?” Babs asked.

Talan’s face turned to surprise anguish as Babs brought her thigh up, right into his crotch. He groaned a curse and was helpless as Babs’ rolled him over and effortlessly pinned him. Snapping her legs across his neck like a vice and wrenching his arm in an armbar.

Talan tapped immediately as she applied pressure, groaning the entire time.

“You win, you win... that wasn’t necessary... shit...” he said.

Babs rolled next to him and wiped the sweat off her face. “Sorry, dude. I had to fight. I was just dying to. I needed something, anything. It’s been so boring here. I’m glad you put up with it, though. You’re a good sport.”

Talan groaned again and rolled onto his side, “You do this with all your guests?”

Babs laughed, “Only the ones I think are really cool.”

“I see. So you wanted to know what I think about the gym? Let me guess,” Talan began.

“Yeah?” Babs asked.

“Your mom or dad a fitness instructor? Athlete? Something?”

“Close,” Babs said. “Mom’s a fitness instructor. Dad’s a bodybuilder with his own business.”

“A what?!?!” Talan asked.

“A bodybuilder, silly. What? I hit you so hard you can’t hear?” she joked.

“I’ve been fighting a bodybuilder’s daughter, fan-freaking-tastic...”

“Chyeah,” Babs said, “When he finds out you’ve been over before he got here, he’s going to pull your head clean off.”

Talan looked at her with genuine worry, which caused Babs to burst out laughing. “You’re hilarious, Talan. You should see the look on your face!”

“You’re crazy,” Talan said as he got up.

“He’s really nice, I already told him about you. He wants to meet you when he finally gets here. But that won’t be until at least a week. Maybe two.”

“Two weeks to live, better make the most of it,” Talan said.

Babs giggled and handed him his shirt, “You’ll be fine, seriously. I’m impressed you handled yourself so well. You clearly know what you’re doing.”

“Well, I haven’t done it in a while. At least a year or two.” he said. “Been wanting to get back at it, but cross country takes a lot of my time.”

“You run cross country?” she asked. “That’s cool!”

“Think so? Surprised you don't think it’s lame or something.”

“Why would I think that?” she asked, genuinely curious.

“It’s what everyone thinks. Ya know, not fun, boring. Shit I hear all the time.”

Babs walked over to him and clasped his shoulder, “Any way to be healthy is okay in my book. Besides, you can fight. You’re cool enough already.”

“Thanks, Babs” Talan said. “I appreciate it.”

“I think you deserve a little something special for putting up with me down here...”

Talan’s heart fluttered, “Y-yeah? Like what?”

Babs giggled, “Let me go shower, then I’ll cook some dinner. You hungry?”

“After that? Yeah a little bit,” he said.

“Great! Go chill in the living room while I freshen up, then you can help.”

“Sounds good to me!” Talan said.

Talan grabbed his stuff and followed her upstairs. He sat down on her couch and looked at the time. Sun was still up, the night was young. He was beginning to think he had a thing for crazy girls.

After helping her with some things, Talan was ordered to sit at the counter while she finished it. Something about pride, he suspected. Talan found it a little odd, but wasn’t about to argue. Lest he catch a blow to the face, or worse.

After she was done, she poured him some soda and decided to just stand and eat.

“Well, how is it?” she asked.

“Really good,” Talan said. “I like sub sandwiches and pasta.”

“Aww, thanks dude!” she said with a delighted smile. “I like em’ too. Back in the city there was this sandwich shop down the street from the gym, man was it amazing.”

“We got some places like that here,” Talan said between bites. “Doubt they’d be as good as that, but they’re enough for suburb food.”

“You’ll have to take me sometime,” Babs said with a wink.

“Of course,” Talan replied. “Not like you’re the type of girl to give me a choice, right?”

Babs chuckled, “Correct.”

After they were done, Talan offered to help her wash the dishes, but Babs declined. Saying she would do it later.

Talan walked into the living room and waited for Babs to join him. She came shortly and took a seat close to Talan, tucking in her one leg facing him. She was wearing clothes similar to Aria. Short shorts and a band tee. Her hair covered one eye at the moment, something Talan found really cool.

“So...” Talan said, “What do you want to do now?”

“Well,” Babs said and rubbed her arm awkwardly, “I don’t have a T.V. with cable or dish hooked up yet, so no dice there. Um... I have a pool, but it’s not filled.”

“Well we could just talk for a bit, or do you find that boring?” Talan asked with some nervous laughter.

Babs huffed, “I’m not all fighting all the time, Talan. Geez. And, yeah, actually there was something I wanted to ask you...”

“What’s that?” Talan inquired.

“Well, you were by yourself when I saw you getting wailed on.”

“Yeah,” Talan replied.

“It’s just... don’t most guys hang out with each other, or whatever? Like, groups and all that? You wouldn’t have been jumped if you were with your friends.”

Talan frowned a bit and nodded, “Yeah, well, I may be in the market for some new ones. We’ll see what happens.”

“Do you not have many friends?” she asked.

“Not really, no,” Talan answered. “I had a few, but we’ve had a falling out recently. Besides them I only really have acquaintances. I do things on my own most of the time.”

“Any brothers or sisters?”

“Only child,” Talan said. “Probably comes across in how I act, at least a little bit. You?”

“Me? Oh, I have an older sister, and a big extended family. But they’re far flung across the states. Barely see them anymore. So, um, what made you have a falling out with your friends?”

Talan leaned back and shrugged, “I really don’t know. Well, maybe I do. But it’s... kinda embarrassing.”

Babs smirked, then stopped when she saw the pained look on his face. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”

“Nah, it’s alright. I should be honest.” he said with a deep breath. “So, my parents are currently gone on a business trip and cruise. They’re doing both, one after the other. They’ll be gone for another four weeks at least, maybe more. But before they left, they... hired a girl to come watch the house, and me.”

Babs’ expression quickly turned to one of amusement, “Oh... I see how that could be embarrassing. Wittle Tally Wally has a babysitter, right?”

Talan growled and got up, “Yes, very astute observation.” He walked over to the bay window across the room and watched the sun set below the trees. “Anyway, they’re high school girls. One of them is the guardian, the other is her friend who just hangs around a lot. Thing is, they’re really nice. I actually like them a lot. They’re my friends. But it seems like my other friends got tired of me. They lied to me saying they weren’t going to go out to one of our favorite places. So I go out to get some groceries and what do I find? Across the street, there they are.”

Babs got up and walked over to him, “That sucks, man. Sorry.”

Talan turned around and looked up at her, “Bleh, water under the bridge. They wanted to come meet the girls. Cuz, you know, older girls. I said that it wouldn’t be a good idea so soon, that my parents might not want more people over. I didn’t want to risk getting Sonata fired.”

“Sonata?” Babs asked.

“Yeah, Sonata and Aria,” Talan replied. “Those are the two that are at the house right now. Which reminds me, I should be getting back.”

“Okay,” Babs said while walking over to the door.

Talan got his stuff and turned around awkwardly, “So, sorry about all the bellyaching just now. Probably not the best impression to leave.”

Babs laughed and did something unexpected, she walked forward and pulled Talan into a comforting hug. She smelled of Raspberries, something he loved.

“Don’t worry about it,” Babs said. “From what I’ve learned, where you live is pretty ritzy, right? Makes sense to want a house sitter, and if they can look after a kid? Maybe help with some stuff around the house? All the better.”

“Kid...?” Talan said.

“Kid...” Babs said with a giggle.

Talan went to leave, then turned around. “Babs... real talk, did I fuck up?”

Babs looked at him like he had green slime coming out his ears, “What?”

“Like, I’m pathetic, aren’t I? I should have never said that stuff. You probably don’t want to hang out with someone like me.”

Babs understood after a moment, and put on a serious expression, “The only thing wrong is what you’re doing right now, idiot.”

“Wha? Talan asked, utterly bewildered.

“Little self-pity party?” Babs said, “Come on, you were brimming with confidence most of the night. You fuckin’ fought with me for crying out loud. It’s okay to open up a bit, and I can understand being a bit apprehensive. I’m a chick, and we’re just getting to know each other. Sure, I get that. But on the other hand it was pretty brave. You’ve been interesting and attractive most of the night, only stopping just now. That what you wanted to hear???”

Talan’s jaw dropped, “I- uh, yeah.”

Babs chuckled, she pressed a hand gently to his chest, then gave him a small peck on the cheek.

“I’d say you earned that. If you want to go further you’re gonna have to earn that, too.”

Talan blushed and nodded, “Understood.”

As he walked onto the porch Babs waved goodbye and shut the door. Talan, desperate to say something blurted out, “I’ll text you!”

“You better!!” came the answer from the other side.

Talan burst out laughing, the butterflies in his stomach flying with such force they could carry him home. He grabbed his bike and took to the street. Aria and Sonata would be so proud.

Talan arrived back at his place and opened the garage door. He parked his bike against the wall and shut both doors behind him. He sighed and went upstairs, wondering where they were. He assumed Aria would be here as well.

After not seeing them, Talan walked into the dark living room to an unnerving site. There, Aria was passed out on the couch, with Sonata in a similar state across the room in a chair.

“Hello, Talan...” a voice cooed from a dark corner.

A red glow emanated from the darkness, revealing Adagio. She slowly got up and walked toward him.

“Adagio... what are you doing here?” he asked.

“Oh I just dropped by for some practice, you know, the usual.” She said with a casual wave of her hand. “This one seemed to take a lot out of them, in more ways than one.”

“Are they alright?” Talan asked. “They don’t look so good.”

“They’re fine,” Adagio said. “Let’s allow them to rest for now. I was thinking you and I could take a little walk, what do you say?”

“Uh, why?” Talan asked.

“I just want to talk for a bit, is that so bad?” Adagio asked innocently. “I promise I won’t eat up your night. Siren’s honor...” she said while putting her hands to her pendant.

Talan waited a moment, then decided it would probably be alright. “Fine, what do you want to talk about?”

“You’ve been spending a lot of time with my girls lately, haven’t you?” she asked while walking with him to the street.

“Yeah, you already know that,” Talan said.

“Yes, I do. Which brings me to the question, have they been acting strange around you?”

“Strange how?” he asked.

“Fluctuations in their voices, deep sounds coming from seemingly nowhere?” she began. “Vibrations in their pendants, violent mood swings, glowing red eyes?”

“Glowing what?” Talan asked. “That’s ridiculous.”

“So that’s a ‘no’ to all of the above, I assume,” Adagio said. “Alright, fine.”

“Are you angry because they’re staying here instead of spending time with you?”

Adagio looked down at him and chuckled, “No no, of course not. If my girls want to spend some time to themselves, I perfectly understand. We’ve been around each other for many years. Some space is good every now and then. Besides, I can plan our songs and routines better when I’m by myself.”

“Makes sense, I guess,” Talan replied.

Adagio looked at the stars, then back to Talan. “Tell me, are you friends with Aria and Sonata?”

“Yeah, I am,” Talan said. “And they’re friends with me.”

“How nice to have friends,” Adagio said. “Have they invited you to the Battle of the Bands?”

“Yeah,” Talan said. “Why?”

“As much as I’d like to have another adoring fan there cheering me on, I think it’s best if you didn’t show.”

Talan stopped there and laughed, “What? Why? Even after I listened to your demos and practice?”

Adagio smiled and gently placed a hand on his shoulder, “I know you did, and I’m grateful. It’s just that this is really important to me, and to the girls. If you’re there, they might be... distracted...”

“That’s ridiculous,” Talan said while turning to walk away. “I won’t even be near the front, you won’t even notice me.”

Talan’s eyes opened wide when Adagio’s hand closed around his forearm like a vice. Intense pain shot up his arm as he whirled around to find glowing red eyes bearing down on him. Her breath was labored and low, like that of a large beast. When she spoke, it was as if three or four different voices did so at the same time.

“Just remember, I warned you...” she said with a laugh while stepping backward into a whirlwind, then vanishing.

Talan awoke in his living room. He jolted upright and looked around to find the same state as when he left. Dark, with Sonata and Aria passed out. Did he just do that with Adagio? Or did he just imagine it? He walked to the front door and noticed it was closed. He wasn’t wearing his shoes. It must have been some weird dream.

He looked around the house, realizing there was an oddly creepy vibe with it being so quiet. He turned on the kitchen light, which allowed some to shine into the living room. He made sure the doors were locked, then decided to wake up the girls.

“Sonata...” he said while gently shaking her, “Sonata... wake up, it’s me.”

“The waves are too high...” she whispered, “Ponies will be hurt...” 

Talan slowly backed away. Her voice was similar to the way Adagio’s sounded in the dream, or whatever that was. Several voices echoing at once.

He bent down and shook her shoulder, “Sonata, get up. You’re scaring me...”

Sonata opened her eyes and found the adorable boy hovering over her, “Hey, Talan... what happened? I feel so... exhausted...” she said with a stretch.

Talan sat down and helped her sit up, “Adagio was here, I think. She said you practiced and worked so hard you passed out.”

Sonata’s eyes shot open, she noticed Aria on the couch and balled her fists, “That’s not what happened.”

Talan didn’t like the anger creeping into her voice, “Are you okay?”

“No, I’m not,” Sonata answered. She quickly got up and walked over to Aria. She put a hand on her cheek, then shook her head. “Stay here with her, I have to go.”

“What?!” Talan asked. “Where? What’s going on?”

Sonata grabbed a light jacket and went into the kitchen for a moment. Then walked to the door and put on her shoes, “No time, stay with Aria. I’ll be back.”

Before Talan could say anything more, she was out the door and gone. He watched her drive away in confusion. Maybe she was going to see Adagio, or something else.

Talan returned to Aria and realized she was completely out. Talking with her or nudging her wasn’t going to do anything. He decided to wash up, then at least make sure she was comfortable. Sonata probably wasn’t going to be gone too long, so he figured he’d just wait for her. He wasn’t tired anyway.

Hours later Aria awoke to a quiet house, and comforting warmth. She couldn't remember much other than practicing, then becoming very tired all of a sudden. She remembered Sonata rushing over to her, then seeing her collapse as well. A vision of Adagio looking down at them came to her mind, and with that, fury.

Aria snarled in rage, letting her primal instincts take over for a brief moment. But her rage was quieted by the next sight that greeted her. She realized she was covered in a fluffy blanket, with a teenage boy asleep at her side.

Aria laid on her side against the arm of the couch, her legs tucked in covered by the blanket. Talan was asleep on them, and showed no signs of waking. A gentle, caring smile crept onto Aria’s face as she slowly removed herself and stood up.

Seeing no signs of Sonata, she walked around the house just to make sure she wasn’t there somewhere. Upon entering the kitchen, she saw a note.

“This is getting out of control, I can’t believe she did that too us. Used her voice on us, on you. I’m going to talk to her right now. This can’t go on, not if we want to win the battle and go home. Stay with Talan, Aria. I’ll be back soon.”

Aria cursed, Sonata was being protective again. They’d have a lot to talk about when she got back. She was right, they had to get on the same page before the battle. For that reason, she would restrain herself from giving Adagio a piece of her mind.

After clearing her head, she silently walked back into the living room. Sure enough, Talan was still sound asleep. Aria pulled the blanket out and gently covered him. She turned around to go upstairs, then stopped.

She thought back to their earlier conversation, and the big sister thing. Aria remembered her first home, the vast coral reef. Beautiful, but desolate. Nothing but fish, starfish, and crabs. Some eels here and there, and maybe an octopus. Nothing like her, they had all moved on and left her behind. She lived there alone for years, fending for herself. Too afraid to go into the deep, for fear of the many large predators there. It wasn’t until the one summer that Sonata arrived with some others that she really had a friend, or companion of any kind.

Aria went back into the living room and took off her jacket. She could still hear faint whispers of Adagio’s voice on the air, which meant she stuck around after making the the two of them pass out. Aria wasn't about to let Adagio come back and find Talan all by himself. Especially after her little threat out by the pool.

Aria sat down in her former spot with another blanket. She sighed and ran a hand through Talan’s spiked hair, “Big sis, huh? You know, I think I could get used to that. Like you said, we don’t have to be alone.”