HARLOW

I smile as I sit on the couch, my knees tucked into my chest as I read one of my books while Alec plays games on a gaming console next to me. Oz's parents seem really nice and I'm glad that they're the role models for the household. Plus, it's great that they can bring everyone together and I really admire them following their dreams, no matter what it takes.

Karmine asked me if I'd like to go on a walk with him in the garden and he told me to keep quiet about it. I told him I'd love to and he seemed rather happy about it, but he said I'd have to wait until he's done helping Oz pick out his outfit and styling his hair because he's apparently going on a date with Ryker, which I don't think is a great idea. So, as for now, I've been content with hiding away in the living room and working on my studies as Alec keeps me company. I also still need to find Everett sometime to return his journal to him.

"Boomshot!" Alec shouts and I gasp in surprise as I'm shaken out of my thoughts and my reading as he throws his arms up in the air and bounces on the couch, grinning.

My eyes briefly flicker over to the screen to see that he's beaten the next level of his game and I smile.

"Congratulations," I say and Alec turns and grins in response before he goes back to playing.

As I'm still examining Alec, I notice a black rune tattoo that circles around his bicep and I tilt my head with interest, reaching out to gently brush my fingers against the protective wrapping that's around it. He inhales sharply and looks at me with an open expression, his amber eyes scanning me down.

"When did you get this?" I ask.

"Recently," Alec answers, his expression somewhat conflicted. "It...means a lot to me."

"Harlow!" Karmine calls out and smiles as he enters the room, as fashionable as ever in his stonewashed ripped jeans, white v-neck, silver bracelets, dog tags, and light grey beanie. "Would you like to..."

Karmine's eyes land on Alec and his words falter, Alec raising a brow in response.

"...go on a walk with me now? I've finished helping Oz," Karmine finishes, choosing not to mention the garden.

"Sure," I nod and smile, closing the journal and clutching it to my chest as I stand up before I glance back to Alec. "I'll see you around, Alec."

Alec nods in reply, his gaze lingering on me as I leave the room with Karmine. Karmine smiles and talks pleasantly as we head to the garden, him making sure no one else is around as he ushers me down the ladder on the balcony.

"We should be fine in the daytime," Karmine sighs, sounding more like he's trying to reassure himself, "so there's not much of an issue. Besides, I couldn't let you miss out on how beautiful this place is."

I haven't the heart to tell him that I've already seen it, but it does look different in the daytime, so I suppose in a way this will be my first time seeing it in a new light. I smile at him as he climbs down the ladder and drops down next to me, landing elegantly, as expected. We begin to stroll down the main pathway through the garden, walking slowly side by side as we admire the scenery.

"I quite love this type of scenery," Karmine smiles softly as he glances over at the roses. "What about you, Harlow? What do you like?"

"I think it's rather beautiful here too. There's nowhere else I'd rather be," I smile back at him and his smile seems to widen.

"Come, I've set out tea for us in the pavilion," Karmine says and I follow him to the stone pavilion, which has a set of tan outdoor couches and a glass coffee table, flowers and vines winding around the white columns of the pavilion.

Karmine pours the tea for us from a golden colored tea pot into two white cups, each with their own plate, as I sit down on one of the couches.

"I hope you like chamomile," Karmine says as he sits down across from me.

"Chamomile is fine. Thank you," I say and gently pick up the plate, securing the tea cup with my hand as I do so.

"I usually go to the garden in the morning when I'm working on my studies," Karmine smiles as he sips his tea.

"I didn't think you were in college?" I raise a brow out of curiosity.

"Oh, I'm not," Karmine chuckles. "I like studying spiritual textbooks. I love anything to do with the body, spirit, and mind. I also love learning about all sorts of magic and rituals, as well as how to cleanse things, and I also quite enjoy studying auras. What can I say? I'm passionate about it. Well, that and fashion, of course."

"That's really cool," I smile in genuine earnest, wondering if maybe he'll teach me a thing or two someday. I still have to learn more about myself and my supernatural side, after all.

"I could give you some lessons, if you'd like," Karmine says, as if reading my mind.

"I'd love that. Thank you, Karmine," I say.

"Of course," Karmine smiles. "I know full well what it feels like to feel like you don't truly know yourself. I never got the opportunity to learn more about myself until I was older. Lots of people were afraid of me and that's part of why I moved from foster home to foster home. I always kept my true appearance hidden, but people seemed to still fear me."

"I'm sorry, Karmine," I frown. "I wish you hadn't gone through that."

"It's quite alright. The past is the past and I've made peace with it. Besides, now I feel blessed because of Oz's family," Karmine smiles sheepishly. "One day, I accidentally got lost while running away because my current foster parents found out about my true nature and kicked me out in fear, and that's when Oz's parents found me and took me in. They helped me learn more about who I was and to be myself. I eventually realized I didn't have to hide who I was whenever I was around them and that I should always feel free to be myself. Oz's parents even got me to be open about being bisexual. I just...I felt so happy, like I finally had a home. I'll always be grateful to them."

"I'm really glad that they found you and that you grew up in a loving home," I smile softly. "If it's alright of me to ask, do you ever wonder about your birth parents?"

"Yes and no," Karmine frowns slightly. "I'd like to know what happened to them and why I was given up, if that was even the case. I feel like there's always a part of me that'll be missing, the part of me that belongs to them, but I'm really happy with the life I have now. I think...I think this is the way things were supposed to be. I really do. There's nowhere else I'd rather be."

"I'm glad," I smile and Karmine smiles back.

"Eh?" Azusa's eyes widen upon seeing us as he trails into the garden, his footsteps trailing to a halt. "You brought her in here?"

"Azusa!" Karmine's eyes widen and he stands up, his ears drooping slightly. "I promise, it's fine. It's daytime, and—"

"Look, I'm not going to scold you like Oz or Alec would," Azusa sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose, "but you really should be more careful. For everyone's sake."

"What's...going on?" I frown, my eyes flickering between them suspiciously.

I don't know why everyone's so adamant on me not being in here or what that music I heard the other night was, but I'm determined to find out.

"Nothing," Azusa sighs, clearly wanting to change the subject, "just...don't do it again."

"Well, what're you here for?" I cross my arms and raise a brow.

"I'm here to take care of the garden," Azusa says, crossing his arms and raising a brow in return, "and you shouldn't be in here. Get out. Not for me, but for everyone else. I don't need them giving any of us hell if they find out about this."

"Can you at least explain—" I start, trailing off when I see Azusa's expression.

The defiant look on Azusa's face tells me no and I sigh, figuring I might just sneak around and find out myself instead. I know Azusa probably has good reasons, considering he usually seems to have his heart in the right place even if his methods are a bit strange.

"Fine, fine," I sigh and hold up my hands in mock defeat before an idea comes to my mind and I hold back a wry smile, "I'll just go help Oz prepare for his date, I guess."

"Wait— what?" Azusa's expression falters and he uncrosses his arms, his eyebrows raising in surprise. "Oz's what now?"

"Oz is going on a date this evening with Ryker," Karmine informs Azusa, whose right eye twitches in irritation.

"I see," Azusa says through gritted teeth, forcing a smile, "well, I hope he has fun then."

With that, Azusa whirls around on his heel and stomps down the pathway, his hands clenched at his sides as he mutters under his breath something about a "no good incubus" and "damn trickery" the entire way back to the balcony, seemingly forgetting his previous request.

"Oh dear," Karmine frowns, "I wonder what his problem is."

"Yeah, I wonder," I smile wryly, taking another sip of my tea.

Point, Harlow.