As evening fell, Jezel sauntered into the shop, her presence immediately filling the space with a vibrant energy. Aspen greeted her with a warm, knowing smile, her gaze darting between Jezel and Missy with barely concealed amusement. She excused herself, throwing a playful wink at Missy as she departed, leaving the two alone.

"What's got her in such a good mood?" Jezel asked, her brow furrowing slightly as she approached Missy with a curious glint in her eye. She perched herself on the edge of the table, her long legs swinging casually.

"I think she finds my current predicament rather entertaining," Missy replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "I'm hoping it won't cause too much of a problem."

As Jezel settled on the table, Missy found her gaze drawn to the woman's long, smooth legs. She had always appreciated Jezel's appearance, considering her cute in a general sense, but she had never before found herself admiring individual aspects of a mortal in quite this way. Something within her was changing, and she wasn't entirely sure if that was a cause for concern. The pleasant warmth that spread through her as she admired Jezel's form suggested it couldn't be all bad.

Realizing she had become distracted, Missy shook her head slightly and met Jezel's eyes. To her surprise, Jezel was grinning, apparently rather pleased about something. "See something you like?" Jezel asked, her voice taking on a flirtatious lilt.

"Yes, I was admiring your legs," Missy admitted. "I don't think I've ever realized how nice they are, although I'm not entirely sure why I would find legs appealing to look at. I think I have a long way to go to understand why I'm drawn to certain things and not others." Missy tilted her head as she considered this, her ears and tails twitching slightly in contemplation.

Suddenly aware of how far off track she'd gotten, Missy apologized. "I'm sorry, I got distracted. This isn't why I wanted to talk, although I wouldn't mind discussing it with you later to better understand what's happening."

"I don't mind at all," Jezel reassured her, her voice still carrying that flirty undertone.

Deciding that if they were going to make any progress, she needed to take the plunge, Missy blurted out, "I asked Rinale on a date. Aspen said this might upset you and that I should talk to you about it."

Jezel stilled, her movements halting for a brief moment before she adjusted her position. Her relaxed demeanor shifted to something more serious as she chewed on her lip, seemingly contemplating her response. Missy's mild concern ratcheted up a few notches as she waited.

"Wow, you're jumping straight to the big leagues," Jezel finally said, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "She's super hot, being a former goddess of beauty and all. What did she say?"

Relieved that Jezel's reaction seemed far more positive than she had anticipated based on Aspen's warning, Missy replied, "She said she would contact me with the details."

Jezel let out a laugh, her eyes sparkling with genuine amusement. "I can't believe it! From what I've heard, she hasn't shown interest in anyone in years. You really must have made quite an impression."

Though relieved, Missy still felt like she was missing something crucial. "Aspen implied you might be upset. I'm still a little confused about what's going on."

Jezel made as if to poke Missy on the nose but stopped just short, miming the action while making a playful "boop" sound. "She was concerned I might be jealous. If I'm honest, I would be upset if I thought you were going to ditch me for someone new. But at this point, I know you well enough that I'm not worried. Besides, I think it's good for you to get more life experience. How else will you appreciate how great I am if you have nothing to compare me to?" She said the last part while dramatically preening her hair.

"You don't need to worry," Jezel continued, her tone becoming more sincere and reassuring. "As long as you're honest with me and we communicate openly, we'll be just fine. I promise." She paused, considering her next words carefully. "We aren't in a committed relationship, and I'll be honest, the no-touching is really challenging for me. It's not something I'm used to, you know?" Jezel ran a hand through her hair, a hint of vulnerability in her expression. "I'm not really sure what's going to happen long term between us. It's all new territory. I just know that I genuinely enjoy spending time with you, and for now, that's enough for me."

Her excitement began to build as she continued, "I honestly can't wait to hear about how this plays out. She had started to pace back and forth, her animated movements betraying her enthusiasm at the prospect of Missy's upcoming date. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity and a touch of mischief. "You'll have to give me all the juicy details afterward."

Missy felt a wave of relief wash over her, though she couldn't shake the sneaking suspicion that things were only going to get more complicated. Their conversation flowed on to other topics, including the rest of their day after they had parted ways at the food truck. Jezel was both amused and flattered when Missy recounted her interaction with Lily and explained why she had turned her down.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

As the evening wore on, Jezel eventually took her leave, and Missy headed downstairs to prepare for the night. She found Aspen finalizing her nightly routine and greeted her, filling her in on how the conversation with Jezel had gone.

Missy watched Aspen thoughtfully, her mind drifting back to her recent conversation with Jezel. Talking had given her a deeper understanding, and Missy felt their bond had strengthened as a result. Now, as she observed Aspen, a realization struck her. Up until this point, she had been encouraging the faun to play music without ever inquiring about the root of her shyness and reservation surrounding it.

A spark of curiosity ignited within Missy. Perhaps if she broached the subject, she and Aspen could forge a closer connection. There was a chance that understanding Aspen's hesitation might even lead to her being more willing to share her musical talents.

Missy called out to Aspen as the faun was retreating to her room for the evening. "Aspen," she began, her voice gentle yet inquisitive, "I've been wondering... Why don't you play music more often?"

The words had barely left Missy's lips when Aspen froze mid-step, slowly pivoting to face her. The look that flashed across the faun's features caught Missy completely off guard - it was one of pain and grief. In that instant, Missy realized she might have unknowingly stumbled upon a far more sensitive topic than she had anticipated.

Aspen seemed to curl in on herself, her posture shrinking as if trying to make herself invisible. "I'd rather not get into it," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Missy's heart sank, seeing Aspen like this. She immediately regretted asking and wondered if her persistent pestering of Aspen was actually causing more harm than good. The scene reminded her of Jezel after their failed dancing date, and a wave of guilt washed over her.

"I'm so sorry, Aspen," Missy said softly, her ears and tail drooping in remorse. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I was hoping that if I understood, maybe I could help, and you would be more willing to play. It was selfish of me, and I promise I won't ask again." She watched anxiously as Aspen's tense posture relaxed slightly, but tears still threatened to spill from the faun's eyes.

Aspen swallowed hard, her voice thick with emotion. "It's okay." She walked over to one of the chairs and sank into it, her gaze fixed on a spot on the floor, avoiding Missy's concerned look. Missy stood there, feeling off-balance and unsure of what to do or say next.

After a moment of heavy silence, Aspen began to speak, her voice distant as if lost in memories. "My family is famous for our musical talent. My parents and siblings are all professional performers." She tilted her head back, staring up at the ceiling as she continued. "Growing up, it was everywhere. Someone was always practicing or putting on a performance. It was incredible, and I loved it. I wanted so badly to be like the rest of my family."

Aspen's voice grew heavier with each word. "But as I grew older, it became apparent that whatever magic was left in our bloodline had run out. I didn't even have a spark. I couldn't weave music with magic like the rest of my family." Her hands clenched into fists as she spoke. "I refused to let that stop me. I still practiced every day, pouring my heart and soul into every note. I had to believe that somehow I could overcome the circumstances of my birth."

Missy listened intently, her heart aching for Aspen as the faun's story unfolded. Aspen's voice grew more intense, filled with a mix of determination and desperation. "There had to be another way. Maybe I could find some other way to obtain or learn magic, or find a different source. I pushed myself to the point of collapse, but that was the price I was willing to pay. I would not fail or disappoint my family. I would not be the only one who couldn't do it."

Aspen's voice began to break as she continued, tears now flowing freely down her cheeks. "I tried to hide how far I was pushing myself from my family. I truly believed that if I just pushed forward, something would happen. I would somehow make my dream come true." She paused, taking a shaky breath. "That was until one day I collapsed on the stairs. I fell and hit my head pretty hard. It was a miracle I didn't suffer any permanent damage."

As Aspen spoke about her family's reaction, her voice trembled with a mix of emotions. "It was at this point my family realized how hard I was working. My parents sat down with me while I was in the hospital bed and told me that I didn't need to keep pushing myself, that it was okay if I didn't follow in their footsteps. That I could forge my own path and they would support me."

Suddenly, anger and bitterness crept into Aspen's voice. Her nails dug into the arms of the couch as she shook, her words coming out in a rush. "As I stared into their eyes, I saw myself reflected in their pitying gaze. Broke, defeated, a failure. In that moment, I knew they didn't believe in me, they never had. I would never achieve my dream. I would always be a failure." Her voice broke, and she slumped into the seat, all the fight seeming to drain out of her. "I'm still a failure," she whispered, "and nothing will ever change that."

Aspen wiped at her eyes, sniffling softly as she struggled to regain her composure. "I love music, and I hate it. I just can't stay away, no matter how much it hurts. Every time I play, it's like cutting myself open And yet, I can't give it up, not completely. It's a part of me."

She paused, her voice trembling slightly as she continued, "That night when you found me and said that my music was beautiful... For a brief moment, I almost believed my dream might not be out of reach. It was like a tiny spark of hope in all this darkness." Aspen laughed self-deprecatingly, shaking her head as if to dispel the memory. "It was a cruel tease, you know?" Aspen stood up abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor, and left the room without a backward glance. The echoes of her heartbreak lingered in the air, trailing behind her. Her footsteps, heavy with emotion, faded down the hallway, leaving a palpable void in her wake. Missy stared after her, frozen in place, feeling as if something inside her chest had torn itself to pieces. A wave of helplessness washed over her, and she desperately wished there was something, anything, she could do. The silence that followed Aspen's departure was deafening, filled with unspoken words and regret.