siennaxcastillo

[siennaxcastillo]

Sienna let out a soft laugh, tilting her head toward Giovanna with a grin that mirrored hers. “Honestly? Same. I half thought it was going to stay one of those things we say we’ll do but never actually commit to.” She uncapped her bottle, taking a sip before setting it down again, her voice dipping a little softer. “Feels… good, though. Like I actually showed up for something instead of just thinking about it. I didn’t realize how much I needed a push until now.” She gave a small shrug, a touch of honesty sneaking through before she added with a crooked smile, “way better than just texting about it while curled up on the couch.”

CLOSED STARTER FOR @siennaxcastillo FT. GIOVANNA & SIENNA

looking at the woman next to her, she grinned. giovanna had been meaning to sign up for this class for a while and to have a friend join her was more than reassuring. after all, these things could be intimidating when facing them alone but luckily, that wasn't something that she had to deal with. "god, i'm glad we decided to do this," she breathed out, pausing to bend down and grab her water, "i know we've been talking about it for a while but i didn't know if this was ever going to make it out of our text messages."

[siennaxcastillo]

Sienna shook her head, her chest tightening as she fought to steady her voice. “Please… don’t call me ‘Miss Castillo.’ Just Sienna. That’s enough.” Her fingers dug into the edge of the chair, knuckles whitening as she tried to rein in the tremor in her hands. “And… no, I don’t have anyone else. It’s just my dad. He’s all I’ve got, so… yeah. It’s all on me.” She took a shaky breath, letting the words spill out even as they made her feel exposed. “I know you’re doing your job, and I appreciate it, I really do. But I need you to understand… I don’t need someone delivering textbook lines or speaking in rehearsed sympathy. I need someone to talk to like a person, not a case. Someone to see the person standing here with all her walls down, because that’s the only way I can even begin to deal with this.”

Her eyes flicked to the glass where her father lay, monitors beeping in the hollow quiet of the hospital room. “I’m not used to asking for help,” she admitted, voice shaking despite herself. “I don’t… I don’t have a family I can lean on. No one to call when it all feels too heavy. So yeah, this—me telling you this, being honest—is hard. But it’s real. And I can’t do this alone. I can’t pretend anymore.” She had friends, and she knew she needed to reach out to them but how many times could she be a burden to them?

She lifted her gaze, letting it meet his, fierce and vulnerable at once. “So please… just talk to me like I’m a human. Don’t talk at me like I’m some case file. I can handle the facts. I can handle the risks. But I can’t handle being ignored or treated like I don’t matter while my dad… while he’s all I’ve got.” A pause, her chest rising and falling rapidly, then a softer whisper, almost to herself, “I’ve kept so much in for so long… I’m not doing it anymore.”

Justin kept his hands folded in front of him over the chart, looking the picture of composure. Sienna's voice was shaking as she plead with him, clinging to the promise of hope he wasn't sure he'd given her.

He didn't flinch, but inside, he felt the faintest tightening in his chest. He knew what that kind of hope sounded like, heard it hundreds of times before from anguished families. He also knew he'd never felt it. When his own father had finally collapsed, Justin hadn't begged anyone for miracles. Instead, he picked up the phone and called emergency services to report that there was a dead body in their home that needed to be removed.

So now, facing Sienna's grief, he felt the hollowness of his own chest echo. Her pain was raw and vulnerable. His was sterile. Nonexistent. His heart an icy tundra that had never truly seen sunlight.

"There is a chance," he continued, tone measured and clinically controlled, "that he may experience memory impairment. It's a risk that comes with any head injury, and seeing that this is not the first event, it's imperative that we observe and assess carefully. At this stage, it's difficult to make any promises when we don't know the cause of fainting."

Justin adjusted his glasses, wondering if he looked as cold as he felt prattling off phrases straight from the textbooks under 'Empathize Without Lying.' "You're not wrong to prepare yourself for the worst. The anxiety you're feeling right now is normal, Miss Castillo," he said, offering his best attempt at sounding human. "Is there anyone you can reach out to right now for support?"

[siennaxcastillo]

Sienna’s hands had been clenched together so tightly she only realized when her nails left faint half-moons against her palm. She blinked up at Justin, the clinical steadiness in his voice brushing against the raw panic that had been threatening to consume her since the call came in. For once, she wasn’t the composed tech specialist the Kangs relied on. She wasn’t calculating, sharp, or even guarded. She was just a daughter trying to breathe. Her gaze flicked to the glass, to the pale outline of her father framed by wires and monitors. Machines that hummed and beeped in ways that felt almost cruelly indifferent. “Stable,” she echoed, her voice low, the word trembling in her throat as though saying it aloud might anchor it. Promising. Stable. Words that should have reassured her but only made her want something more concrete. Something certain.

“I don’t… I don’t care about the reports or what people will say if it takes too long,” she said, quieter than she intended. Her fingers worried the hem of her sleeve, betraying nerves she’d never let show anywhere else. “I just need to know he’s going to wake up. That when I walk in there, he’ll still know me.” Her voice cracked on the last word, fragile in a way that frightened her. "Because he's...this has happened before Justin. You weren't working that night but...he's had a fall like this before." She drew in a shaky breath, trying to gather herself, but her eyes betrayed her, glistening with a sheen she couldn’t quite blink away. “Please, just… tell me if I should be preparing for the worst, or if I can hold on to the hope you just gave me.” For a woman who’d spent years making herself untouchable in a dangerous world, it was the rarest kind of admission—fear, laid bare under the fluorescent lights.

The fluorescent lights in the trauma wing had always felt too harsh, but they seemed merciless that evening. Justin stood outside the observation room, chart in hand, as he reviewed scans and notes for the fifth time. The patient, Mr. Castillo, had been admitted after a sudden collapse that left him with a head injury. The CT hadn't given him everything he wanted. The labs were slow. The diagnosis wasn’t clear and that, more than anything, had him on edge.

When Justin finally turned from the chart to Sienna, he felt a trepidation he hadn't felt since he was a first year student. He'd seen plenty of anxious family members in the halls of Angel's Rest but Sienna wasn’t just a worried daughter at her father's bedside. She was a Kang associate, one whose importance to the behemoth money-printing machine held more substance than his own.

"Miss Castillo," he said, voice steady. He adjusted his glasses, stalling for half a second longer than he should have. “Your father's stable for now. We're monitoring his neurological status closely. The scans showed some bruising, but no active bleed. That’s very promising."

Promising. A word he'd learned was a mere substitute for anything truly reassuring. Promises in the hospital were like puffs of air, holding no weight.

Justin glanced at the glass where her father lay under the glow of monitors, then returned to her. He could feel the weight of what wasn’t being said pressing against his ribs. If he missed something-- if he failed here-- word would travel faster than any discharge summary. A poor performance. Hundreds of thousands of dollars wasted. An investment with no return.

"We're running additional tests," he added quickly, filling the silence between them. "I don’t want to give you half-answers, but I’ll be the one overseeing his care personally."

He inhaled, forcing his tone into something softer, professional. Less defensive, despite all the anxiety he was feeling then. "If you have questions, I'll answer them as best I can, and if there's anything he needs, you'll hear it from me first."

@siennaxcastillo

[siennaxcastillo]

"Because you can Jordan, out of all people I know--you can." Sienna argued knowing that it wasn't easy for the other to maybe accept this but it was true. Sienna leaned back against the bench, letting Jordan’s words settle before she spoke. “Sounds like you’ve already got your mind made up,” she said lightly, though there was a steadiness in her voice. “And honestly? That’s half the battle. Forrest might make jokes or roll his eyes, but he’ll get it. He’s tougher than he looks with a bucket of popcorn in his hands.” A small smile curved her lips. “Moving out isn’t nothing, though. It’s… big. But the way you’re talking, I think you’re more ready than you want to admit.”

It’s almost ridiculous how fast her brain tries to argue with that last part, like there’s some rule carved in stone that she’s not allowed to step back. Letting someone else hold things together feels like leaving a door unlocked. “You make it sound like I could actually pull that off,” she says, half teasing but not really. “And yeah… I’m ready. I’ve been ready for a while, just kept finding reasons to stall.” Forrest’s face flashes in her mind, probably grinning with a mouth full of popcorn while she drops it on him. That might actually help. “Alright, I’ll do it. Circus, clowns, the whole lot. If he spirals, I'll leave him there and hope he doesn't find me when he gets home." She's obviously joking with that one.

[siennaxcastillo]

Sienna grinned, settling onto the couch with a soft sigh as she dug her hands into the cushions like they were already old friends. “A sword straight out of a kitchen knife catalogue? I’m sold. Honestly, if the wolf’s thinking about a restraining order, that’s just bonus points.” She tilted her head, eyes gleaming with playful mischief. “Hall of Shame Championship, huh? Alright, but just so you know, my commentary will be brutal. I don’t do half-measures when it comes to mocking terrible covers.” She wiggled into the springs, feeling them groan under her weight, and let out a mock groan. “Ah, yes, the mutiny has begun. But I survive this, I mock with authority. Lead the way—let me judge these abominations in all their glory.” Her voice softened a little as she added, more quietly, “thanks though Rayan… it’s honestly kind of nice, having a silly, safe distraction today.”

“I can do better than wolves and moonlight. There’s one where the guy’s holding a sword that’s clearly photoshopped from a kitchen knife catalogue. And the wolf looks like it’s thinking about filing a restraining order.” He can see her leaning toward the lighter stuff, and that’s a win in his book. Heavy talk can wait. “We’ll make it official. Hall of Shame Championship. Winner gets eternal embarrassment.” He’s already picturing her reaction when she sees the worst offenders, and that’s enough to get him moving toward the back. The couch’s springs are probably plotting mutiny, but it’s still the best seat in the place. He figures letting her pick the champion cover gives her something to own today, something that’s hers instead of just reacting to bad news. “C'mon, I’ll show you the contenders. You can’t judge from the counter, it’s a full experience. And if you survive the couch, you earn the right to mock it too.”

[siennaxcastillo]

Sienna had been chilling on Catriona's couch with Lizeth as they read through every single book the little one owned. Truthfully this was her favourite thing to do with the younger girl so she didn't mind it. And she got to spend time with her best friend so really it was the best of both worlds; even if said best friend was going a tad crazy in planning this birthday party. "Of course, you know Auntie Sienna is always available for babysitter duty." She grinned at her friend before the smile fell at Catriona's question. "Uh--not exactly. He had another fall but I got him one of those emergency buttons so the ambulance came right away and got him to the hospital. I'm waiting to hear more. But this time he actually told me he didn't want to see me for more than half an hour a day." Sienna was hurt by her father's demand, especially since she'd only been around because she cared about him so much but if he asked for her to not be spending all her time there--she'd abide by it. "Not to mention with Gavin missing, I'm just...I don't know what planet is in retrograde right now but it's a lot." Catriona was her best friend, yes but Gavin was also someone who Sienna deeply cared about as well and while she'd been exhausting all the back channels to find something she was coming up empty and that was driving her nuts.

❛ ☾ ◟━ LOCATION: cat's home

❛ ☾ ◟━ TIME: afternoon

❛ ☾ ◟━ STATUS: closed for @siennaxcastillo

Flipping through her planner, Catriona began scanning through the list of tasks that needed to be completed before Lizeth's 2nd birthday. She was her main priority for the past couple of weeks and although it was going to be a small get together, she still wanted it to be a meaningful and memorable milestone for her daughter. Looking over at Sienna, she flashed her a gracious smile and said, "Thanks for coming over and entertaining Liz. I can finally think straight without having to lose track because this little one wants me to karaoke all the time. It's her new obsession, I blame all the famjams my parents made us go to." She's been also meaning to check in on her best friend and so she asked, "How's your father? Is he doing better?"

[siennaxcastillo]

"Hmmmm I mean I do love movies where people die," she teased with a grin before nodding as the other mention her favourite ones and so then she felt comfortable enough to share her own favourites. "One of them is definitely 'How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days,' there's just something about Kate Hudson being incredible," she chuckled before nodding at Hayat's comments. "Oh but definitely 'The Princess Diaries' as well, oh and 'The Devil Wears Prada'. Honestly that one reminds me a lot of the life I left behind but..." Sienna trailed off, realizing she was sharing something about her life that she tried to never bring up. "Yes oh my god--I love that idea. Those Netflix rom-coms can be just what the soul needs. Done, we're doing this for sure." A part of her hoped the other wouldn't pick up on her little tidbit about her old life but Hayat was a lawyer--of course she would've heard it.

"You got it. What movies do you secretly love that always cheer you up? I'm talking about the really ridiculous ones where nobody dies and everything works out perfectly." She wiped her nose one last time and tucked the tissue away, already mentally going through her collection of feel-good disasters. "Like The Princess Diaries, both of them, because watching Anne Hathaway go from awkward to royal while eating ice cream in a tiara is basically therapy. And probably 10 Things I Hate About You because Heath Ledger singing on those bleachers could cure depression." This was exactly what she needed right now—someone who understood that sometimes you had to plan your breakdowns like events and then follow them up with movies where people fall in love without anyone getting terminal illnesses or dying in wars. "Oh, and we definitely need some of those terrible Netflix rom-coms where the Christmas baker falls for the city lawyer who comes to save the small town. Pure brain candy."

[siennaxcastillo]

Sienna had to laugh at Arielle's words before nodding, "well it's definitely a good thing that your husband is at least on your side or else I can imagine that being a difficult conversation," she commented before gathering her documents and slipping them carefully back into her laptop bag. "I take it you haven't told your editors that you're planning this shift yet? That must be unnerving."

she couldn't help but to smile. while she knew that she was passing up a good story, she was thankful that the other was seemingly okay with her doing what she thought was best. arielle had to think about both her husband and herself. "i appreciate you saying that. i don't know what everyone's going to think about my shift in departments but i think it's what to be best for me. it's good to hear that someone's on my side. you know, other than my husband."

[siennaxcastillo]

FIN.

She can tell Sienna needs the laugh, which makes it even better ammo. “Alright, but you’re not getting a refund if you choke on your drink,” Violeta says, already grinning. “So I’m supposed to meet this guy about a job, right? Wrong suite. I walk in and it’s wall-to-wall drunk guys in matching shirts, music blasting. Before I can explain, one of them throws a feather boa over me and starts yelling for me to ‘get the party started.’ I’m trying to talk, but they’re waving cash and chanting. Then someone hands me a knife to cut this cake shaped like… well, let’s just say it wouldn’t pass a PG rating. I bailed before the camera phones came out, but not before they made me pose for a group photo. Somewhere out there, I’m in a stranger’s wedding album.” She shakes her head, still amused. It’s good seeing Sienna’s face break into something lighter, even if it’s brief. Feels like a win. “Anyway, I’ve gotta head out before I’m late for my next stop,” she adds, standing. “Don’t let the peanuts win while I’m gone.” She gives a small wave, turning to walk away, already planning to check in later.

complete.

[siennaxcastillo]

Sienna adjusted her pace to match Jordan’s, a small smile tugging at her lips. “I get it,” she said simply. “Wanting something that’s yours doesn’t make you selfish, it just makes you human.” She glanced over briefly. “And yeah… being the dependable one? It’s exhausting sometimes. Feels like people forget you’ve got your own stuff to carry.” She let out a soft laugh at the circus mention. “Well, if there’s ever a time to drop big news, it’s surrounded by clowns and overpriced popcorn. He’ll probably be too distracted by the acrobats to overthink it.” Her tone stayed light, but there was a thread of sincerity beneath it. “Just… don’t talk yourself out of it, okay? If you’re ready, you’re ready. Forrest will just have to adjust.” After a beat, she added, “and hey, maybe it’s time you let someone else be the steady one for a change.”

A small snort escapes Jordan as she shakes her head. “You make it sound so easy. I guess I just got used to being the one who sorts things out, you know? Forrest acts like he doesn’t need anyone, but then he’s always around. It’s like he expects me to keep things running, even if he’d never admit it.” She glances sideways, trying to read Sienna’s face, but mostly just hoping she’s not coming off as selfish. She wants Forrest to be okay, but she’s tired of feeling like her own plans are always second place. It’s weird, wanting something for herself and feeling guilty at the same time. She wonders if Sienna ever gets sick of being the dependable one too, always the person people count on. “I’m just ready for something that’s mine. Not because I’m running away or anything. Just for once, I want to come first. I'll talk to him. He's dragging me to the circus, figured it's the best time to tell him."

[siennaxcastillo]

She smiled warmly, reaching over to bump Hayat’s shoulder gently. “Absolutely, all three brownie flavours and then some. If we’re diving headfirst into emotional wreckage, might as well go all out—no half measures.” She laughed softly, imagining their disaster weekend already. “And yes to fancy tissues. Regular ones are basically medieval torture devices at this point.” She took a slow breath, her gaze settling on the comforting clutter of the room. “You’re so right, though. It’s wild how much lighter it feels to just let it all out with someone who doesn’t expect you to have it together.” Her voice softened a bit, honest and quiet. “Honestly Hayat, falling apart with you instead of alone? That feels like the best kind of survival.” Her smile lingered, real and grateful. “So, next weekend, we start with the meltdown marathon. Tissues, wine, brownies, and zero judgment. Deal? And then maybe you can tell me what other movies we should have on hand that actually are your favourite guilty pleasures because they make you feel happy, not just--the meltdown ones.”

Hayat raised her own tissue in response, grinning through her leftover tears. "To scheduled emotional devastation with snacks,and honestly, I'm voting for all three brownie flavors because why limit ourselves when we're already committing to a full breakdown," she said, already mentally planning their disaster weekend. "I'll bring the wine and maybe some of those fancy tissues that don't feel like sandpaper because regular ones are just adding insult to injury at this point." She wiped her nose again and settled back into the sofa, feeling that weird relief that comes from crying with someone who gets it instead of trying to hold everything together alone. Lately, this friendship was everything to her—having someone who didn't judge her or try to fix her with cheesy sayings was the best. "And you don't need to thank me for anything because honestly, I needed this just as much as you did. Sometimes you just need someone to fall apart with instead of pretending you've got your life figured out when you definitely don't."

[siennaxcastillo]

She arched a brow, a small smirk tugging at her mouth. “Duct tape and a prayer? Sounds like a solid engineering philosophy, honestly. I’ll have to remember that for the next time my sink decides to betray me.” She leaned against the counter, tilting her head slightly. “You know, you’re not half bad at this whole ‘not making a big deal out of it’ thing. Some people try to fix you with pep talks, but I like the whole… space-to-breathe approach.” She glanced toward the back, then back at him. “I’m tempted to see this infamous couch, but I’m more tempted by the bad book covers. Please tell me there’s at least one involving wolves, a shirtless man, and some very questionable moonlight. Because let's be real, those are the best covers around." Her smirk softened into something closer to gratitude, though she kept it light. “Seriously though… thanks. Even if we end up just roasting terrible design choices for the rest of the afternoon.”

"You're my friend just be yourself, no need to be tough here. If you want to just sit and zone out, that’s cool. No one’s judging.” Rayan keeps his tone easy, not making a big deal out of it. “Stubborn dads are a whole thing. Mine once tried to fix a leaky pipe with duct tape and a prayer. Didn’t end well for the kitchen.” He lets out a soft laugh, hoping to give her a little breathing room. He thinks about how people always try to hold everything together, like there’s some prize for not falling apart. It never really works. He’s not about to pretend he’s got answers for her, but he can at least offer a place where she does not have to fake it. “If you want to crash in the back, go for it. Or we can just talk about dumb stuff. I’ve got a running list of the worst book covers ever printed.” Sometimes distraction is the best he can give, and maybe that’s enough.

[siennaxcastillo]

She grinned, shaking her head. “A medal and maybe a lifetime supply of non-peanut snacks, please. I feel like I’ve earned it at this point.” The banter came easy with Violeta, and it was strange how much she’d come to rely on that—how much lighter it made the days feel. “And for the record, sitting around trash-talking snacks with you is probably the most stable thing in my life right now, so… sorry, but you’re stuck with me.” Her smile softened at the bit about Christian. “Honestly? You deserve ‘good’ more than anyone else I know. So really it’s not weird to want it to last—it just means it matters.” She hesitated, her fingers curling loosely around her drink. “And… thanks. For saying that about my dad. It’s easy to feel like I’m not allowed to make space for my own stuff in the middle of all his, but you make it feel… less selfish.” She straightened a little, sensing the shift in Violeta’s tone. “Now, this bachelor party story? You can’t just dangle that and not deliver. If I don’t laugh so hard I cry, I’m demanding a refund.”

“I'd give you a medal for continuing to put on the peanut act, I promise. That’s real dedication,” Violeta says, shaking her head with a half-grin. "No need to thank me for being here, alright? I like being here, even if we’re just sitting around talking trash about snacks.” She leans back, letting her voice stay light, but she clocks the way Sienna’s gratitude sits just under the surface. It’s weird, feeling wanted like this. She’s not used to it, but she’s not gonna run from it either. “You know, the Christian thing? It’s wild. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, but for once, it’s just… good. Freaks me out how much I want it to stay that way.” She pauses, thinking about how Sienna’s dealing with all this uncertainty. "Don't feel bad about worrying about your dad, it's not selfish. It’s just life being messy. You’re allowed to want something steady when everything else is chaos.” She glances over, debating what’ll actually help. “Alright, distraction time. Want to hear about the time I accidentally crashed a bachelor party and got mistaken for the entertainment? It’s embarrassing, but you’ll laugh, promise.”

[siennaxcastillo]

"'Ma'am'?" Sienna let out a small laugh, shaking her head. "Too proper for me." She tilted her head slightly as he asked if she was sure about seeing him somewhere before. His face definitely rang a bell—someone she’d passed more than once. And given how much she tended to keep to herself, it must have been somewhere that mattered. Then his comment clicked the pieces into place. "I do," she said, nodding before clearing her throat. "I’m guessing you do too? That’s probably why you look… familiar." Her gaze drifted briefly around the hospital garden, taking in the quiet corners and worn pathways. "Not many people end up here just to stretch their legs," she added with a faint smile. "Hence the curiosity."

How was he supposed to say he lost his client? It was both embarrassing and defeated the entire purpose of being Lucian's bodyguard. "just stretching my legs, ma'am. Nothing else to it." Her last comment made him turn his head, wondering if perhaps he knew her somehow. "You sure about that?" But as he finally got a good look at her, the wheels in his head started turning. She was right. There was something familiar about her. Where did he know her from? It took a minute, but once it clicked, it made sense why he vaguely recognized her. "You work for Thomas Kang." It wasn't a question. He knew this. It was fact.

[siennaxcastillo]

Sienna kept pace beside Jordan, the steady rhythm of their jog offering a strange kind of clarity. The quiet between their steps made room for thoughts to unfold—maybe too many. At the mention of buying a house, her brows lifted in surprise before a slow smile pulled at her lips. “That’s a huge step Jordan,” she said genuinely, glancing over at her. “Like… actually planting roots, not just passing through. I think that’s something to be proud of.” She meant it too. So many people never reached that kind of milestone.

But then came Forrest’s name, and Sienna’s expression shifted—still thoughtful, but laced with something softer. “I get that. He does this… Forrest thing, almost..you know? She exhaled, brushing a loose strand of hair from her cheek. “But I don't completely disagree with you—he might be putting on more of a show than he lets on.” She paused briefly, then added, “but that’s not entirely your burden to carry, Jo. Wanting to build something for yourself doesn’t mean you’re leaving him behind. If anything, it might give him the nudge to figure out what he wants, too. You’ve always been the one people orbit around—it’s okay to take up space for yourself now.”

closed starter : @siennaxcastillo !!

where : water side park !!

Jordan's trainers hit the pavement in a steady rhythm, matching her breathing as they jog through the quiet streets. The morning air feels crisp against her skin. "I've been thinking about buying my own place," she says, glancing over at Sienna. "Like actually buying a house instead of just renting forever." The thought's been rattling around her head for weeks now. She's got the money saved up, finally managed to build something stable. But every time she imagines packing up her stuff, this weird guilt creeps in. "What's crazy is I'm worried about leaving Forrest on his own. I know he's always making jokes and acting like everything's brilliant, but sometimes I think it's just a front. Maybe he's lonely and that's why he's constantly winding me up, trying to get me to talk more." The decision is still pending as they jogged on.

[siennaxcastillo]

She let out a laugh that was half amusement, half resigned agreement, wiping under her eyes with the back of her hand. “Oh, we are definitely toeing the line between genius and unhinged, but honestly? I think that’s our sweet spot.” She reached over to grab another tissue, holding it up like a toast. “To scheduled emotional devastation—with snacks.” She leaned her head back against the couch cushions, letting herself breathe for a second. “Honestly, though? A sad, gooey dessert sounds like exactly the kind of emotional support I can get behind. Bonus points if it comes fresh out of the oven and makes the kitchen smell like therapy.” Glancing at Hayat with a smirk, she added, “You bring the wine, I’ll bring the brownies—fudgy? Caramel? Existential crisis-flavored?” Then in a softer tone, she continued. “I know we joke about it, but I really needed this too. The crying, the comfort movie spiral, the you part. So thanks—for not making me feel weird about falling apart a little.” Sienna didn't make a habit out of falling apart but with everything going on with her dad's lack of a diagnosis, Gavin missing, she was beginning to feel like all the anchors in her life were drifting and having Hayat to lean back on along with some of her other friends, felt like the only way to cope.

Hayat wiped her nose one more time and grinned back at her. "Oh we're definitely unhinged, but I'm totally okay with that," she said, already feeling excited about their planned emotional destruction. "And yes to the warning labels! They should put those on every Nicholas Sparks adaptation too. Like a little disclaimer that says 'will ruin your mascara and make you question all your life choices.'" She tucked her feet under herself and grabbed another tissue just in case. The dessert plan was already making her mouth water and they hadn't even picked what to bake yet. "I vote for something with chocolate because if we're going to cry ourselves into oblivion we might as well do it with really good food. Maybe those brownies with the gooey center that are basically just acceptable ways to eat chocolate soup." She couldn't help but laugh at how seriously they were planning this whole thing—most people didn't put this much thought into their breakdowns but here they were making it into an event.

[siennaxcastillo]

She let out a soft laugh, curling her legs up beneath her on the couch like she was settling in for a very dramatic plan. “Okay but thank you for validating the emotional warfare part—because seriously, that movie should come with a warning label. Like, "may cause uncontrollable sobbing, long-distance yearning, and an immediate need to journal under the stars.’” She reached for another tissue and dabbed under her eyes, still sniffling from Marley & Me, though clearly trying to recover her dignity. “But I’m so in. Next weekend, it's happening. Tissues, wine, maybe a weighted blanket so we don’t dissolve into the floor afterward. And I fully support a 72-hour recovery period—I'll even bake us something sad and gooey to eat while we cry. Emotional damage deserves dessert, it’s just science.” She bumped Hayat’s shoulder gently, grinning now. “You realize right, we’re either completely unhinged or extremely well-adjusted for being able to schedule our meltdowns like this.”

"Oh god, don't even get me started on that one," Hayat said, letting out a shaky laugh while wiping her face with another tissue. "A Walk to Remember is like emotional warfare disguised as a romantic movie. I'm already a mess from this dog movie and you want to add Mandy Moore crying to the mix?" She couldn't help but smile despite still feeling all raw and exposed from her own tears. That movie always hit wreck her when she was already feeling everything too intensely, and right now she was definitely in that headspace where any mention of tragic love stories would probably set her off again. "You know what, yes. Let's do it. Next weekend maybe when I've recovered from this current emotional breakdown. We can stock up on tissues and wine and just embrace the fact that we're apparently masochists who enjoy torturing ourselves with fictional heartbreak. Just so you know, I'll likely be out of it for about three days after watching it because it'll be on my mind.