Rylee and Zania
"Looks aren't everything, but they're definitely an added bonus," Zania laughed with Rylee. She knew Gabriel wasn't perfect, no one was, but so far he seemed that way. It was a little hard to believe and she felt like she should still get to know him better, but done keeping him at arm's length. She couldn't get to know him if she didn't let him in. "Christmas morning will still be just family, but maybe later in the day. I can only stand to be home for so long before I start to go stir crazy. What about you? Any Christmas plans?"
"Nothing exciting," Rylee said after taking a small sip from her cup. "I'll be at my mom's. It'll be me and my sister, Carson and his mom and stuff. The usual." She waved her hand dismissively. She would maybe get a text from her dad, but Rylee wasn't holding her breath. She thought about taking a gift over for Liam, but then she thought that might be awkward too, so she had a gift card in the mail for him instead. It was impersonal but at least it showed she was thinking about him, right? "I think Carson needs something low key, you know? It's been a crazy couple of months."
Zania considered telling Rylee about Liam dropping by the shop, but it didn't feel like the right time, especially since it would open a can of worms. She had the feeling Liam still hadn't told his sister that he was a witch and it wasn't her place to do so. It didn't sound like they'd see each other over Christmas, so maybe later. "He totally deserves a break. Both of you do," Zania said. "Has he told you about what's going on with Nic, and Neil, and that girl? How they can, like, talk telepathically now?" If not, then she was totally spilling the beans. Oops!
Rylee winced slightly and nodded, glancing down into her cup. "Yeah, he told me. It's... bizarre. But hell, given what happened to him, can I really be shocked by anything anymore?" At least Carson couldn't hear her thoughts, but she still worried about Nic, Neil or Jules hearing Carson's, especially if he was thinking about her. "I think Carson wants to try to find a way to block the telepathy when it's not needed. I'm sure it's uncomfortable for all of them. God, I wouldn't want anyone in my head now, let alone when I was seventeen years old... let alone by three grown men." Not that Rylee thought any of them were creepers, obviously, but Jules didn't know Nic and Carson the way Rylee did, at least.
“It’s all pretty damn weird and I’ve seen a lot of crazy shit. Or at least heard about it,” Zania said. What Nic and Carson were experiencing was entirely new to all of them. Though she believed nothing was outside the realm of possibility, it was still a surprise to be hit by something new. “I think it’ll just take practice and a real desire to make it happen, which I’m pretty sure they all have. I’m willing to bet the girl figures it out first though, for exactly that reason.” It wasn’t that she didn’t think the others would put forth the effort, but she could see a high school girl wanting her privacy more than anyone else. “I’m sure they’ll figure it out,” she said with a smile. “It’s nothing compared to the other stuff and Carson survived that.”
Rylee chuckled, because she agreed with that much, at least. She would have hated anyone being in her head when she was seventeen. But Rylee did worry about what would happen if Nic, Neil or Jules heard Carson's more private thoughts. It made Rylee want to try and help them figure out how to stifle the telepathy, because that would benefit her as well. She sighed softly and watched her cousin from across the room. "Yeah, he did survive all of that. And he seems to be handling it all right. I think distractions help, you know? And... parties." She gestured around with a small smile. "I think it helps to keep him social."