The door slams shut behind you, the sound of the lock clicking into place echoing in the small, dimly lit room. Your parents' voices fade down the hallway, their final words ringing in your ears: "You two aren't coming out until you learn to get along." Sera is already across the room, her long, dark blue hair swaying as she flings herself onto her bed with a dramatic sigh. The mattress bounces slightly under her weight, and she sprawls out lazily, one leg dangling off the edge as she pulls her phone from her pocket. The soft glow of the screen illuminates her face, highlighting the faint smirk tugging at her lips. Thoughts: Ugh, why do I have to be stuck in here with him? This is so unfair. I didn't even do anything wrong. Well, not this time, anyway. From your awkward position near the door, the path ahead is unsure. The room smells faintly of her perfume—something sweet and floral, but with an edge of something darker, like smoke. It's overwhelming, just like her presence. "Ugh, of course they'd lock me in here with you," she mutters, not even looking up from her phone. Her voice is low and dripping with annoyance, as if the mere idea of sharing a room with you is the greatest inconvenience she's ever faced. She scrolls absently, her long nails tapping against the screen, the sound sharp and rhythmic. There isn't really any place to sit that isn't her bed or the floor. Her room is messy but oddly stylish, with clothes strewn across the back of a chair and a few empty snack wrappers scattered on the desk. The walls are adorned with posters of obscure bands few have even heard of, and the air feels heavy with her disdain. "If you're just gonna stand there like a creep, at least make yourself useful and turn off the light," she says, finally glancing up at you. Her icy blue eyes narrow, and she tilts her head slightly, her dark hair falling over one shoulder. "Or better yet, just fuck off entirely. I don't care how you do it, just stop breathing so loud. It's annoying." Thoughts: Why is he just standing there? Does he think I'm gonna invite him to sit down or something? As if. He can stand there all night for all I care.

"Try? I'm not even trying to get along with you. Why the hell would I bother?" She rolls her eyes, turning back to her phone with a huff. "You're such an idiot." Her mouth curves into a sardonic smile as she taps out a reply to some random message, pretending like she isn't even paying attention to you.

"Do you want something?" she asks eventually, not bothering to look up from her screen again. "You know, besides me to be nice to you? Because that ain't gonna happen."

Her eyebrows shoot upward in mock surprise at your question before she lets out a sarcastic laugh. "Hate you? Who says I hate you?" She waves her hand dismissively and sits up straight on the bed, propping her elbow on one knee as she gazes into the mirror behind you. Her lips curl into a smirk, lips glossy from a fresh coat of deep red lipstick. "I just find it so amusing how stupid you are," she says slowly, drawing out each word as if explaining something to a small child. "I mean... it's kinda endearing in its own special way." She shrugs and glances back at her phone, unconvinced even of her own lies.

"But maybe one day you'll grow up and be more like my mom's new husband," she says with a sigh, tilting her head back to look at the

Her laugh echoes through the room again, cold and dismissive. "Like I would ever be dishonest with you, dear stepbrother." She glances at you over her shoulder before going back to her phone, her expression unreadable. "You're so pathetic, it's almost endearing. It'd be a waste not to take advantage of that sometimes."

She pauses for a moment and then looks up at you again, considering something. "Fine," she says, tone clipped as if she were reluctantly granting you some great favor. "If it means that much to you... I'll be honest. I hate you because you remind me of everything I've had to put up with since Mom married your dad. You're annoying, you're stupid, and worst of all..." Her voice trails off, her eyes narrowing as if she were trying to decide

worst of all... you remind me that I'm not as perfect and beautiful as I used to be. That there are other people in the world who could take my spotlight away if they wanted. And trust me... nobody wants that." Her voice is low and venomous, her words biting like acid. "So why should I put up with you?"

She turns back to her phone and scrolls through her feed, not even waiting for a reply before losing herself once more in the virtual world of social media.

"Oh, please," she says with a snort, not even looking up from her phone. "I know I'm not ugly or anything, but that doesn't mean you get to fawn all over me like some drooling idiot." She rolls her eyes and tosses her hair over her shoulder before glancing at the time. "Ugh, are we still stuck in here? God, this is so boring." Without waiting for a reply, she slides off the bed and begins to pace restlessly across the room.

Huffing out an exasperated breath, she continues to pace back and forth in front of her desk. "You could try being less annoying, maybe." Her tone is mocking, as if the idea were absurd. "But honestly? I don't think even that would be enough to make things better between us. It's just who we are, I guess." She glances at you over her shoulder again, studying you with an amused expression. "You really want me to like you, don't you?"

The idea clearly amuses her. She turns back around and crosses her arms beneath her chest, tugging at the hem of her oversized sweater as she leans against the desk. Her eyes sparkle with mischief as she considers your words. "Well... maybe I could make you a deal," she says slowly. "But it's going to be hard for you, and you might not like what I have in mind."

"Fine," she says with a reluctant sigh. "I'll tell you, but you have to promise not to cry about it later when it turns out too hard for you." Her lips press into a thin line as if she's trying to decide whether or not she actually wants to go through with this. "Here's the deal: every time I see you doing something annoying, I get to punch you in the arm." She pauses, her eyebrows raised expectantly, daring you to say no.

"Well," she says slowly, considering your agreement before nodding decisively. "Alright then. But don't go thinking this means we're suddenly best friends or anything." She pauses, her expression softening momentarily. "Just remember, if you keep doing whatever it was that set me off in the first place, I'll probably have to hit you even harder next time."

There's a long silence between you as she continues to pace back and forth across the room. You can almost feel her energy crackling in the air around her like static electricity. Finally, she stops and turns to face you again. "So... what do we do now?"

"Me? There's not much to tell," she says with a shrug, her voice devoid of interest. "I'm in college, studying fine arts. I have this annoying stepbrother who thinks he can understand me." Her mouth twists into a half-smile as she takes another step closer toward you, the air between them suddenly charged with energy. "And I like to take pictures," she says quietly, her voice softening almost to a whisper. "It's the one thing that makes me feel... something."

"I don't know," she says slowly, her eyes distant as she stares past you. "Just... when I have my camera in my hands and the shutter clicks, it's like everything else fades away. It's the only time I feel alive." She glances back at you, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. "I guess that's sort of cheesy, isn't it?"

Sera laughs, shaking her head as she walks over to sit down on the edge of her bed again. "Of course I have," she says with a hint of impatience. "I'm in college for fine arts, remember? Photography is what I want to do." Her long legs swing idly back and forth beneath her, making the small squeak as if her chair were protesting at the movement.

"But you know... it's not always easy being a woman in this field," she continues, voice lowered conspiratorially. "People take me less seriously sometimes, just because I'm pretty and have big boobs." She folds her arms under her chest again, pushing her breasts up slightly as if to make the point more clear. "It can be frustrating, but I won't let them keep me down."

"Talk to you?" she repeats incredulously, as if the idea is laughable. "Why would I want to do that? You're my annoying little stepbrother, not some therapist." Her lips curl into a mocking smile and she turns away, her attention once again fixed on her phone. "Besides, there's nothing you could possibly say or do that would make me like you any better."

The words hang in the air between them for a moment, sharp and cutting as they land with an audible thud. Despite herself, Sera can't help but wonder if maybe he was being sincere... just this once. The idea both intrigues and infuriates her at the same time.

She laughs, but there's no mirth in the sound. It's bitter and cold, like a wintry wind whistling through the cracks of an ancient castle wall. "Yeah, right." Her voice is edged with disbelief and mockery. "Just more empty words from another stupid boy who thinks he knows everything." She rolls her eyes and goes back to scrolling through her phone, intent on ignoring you for as long as possible.

The tension between you remains palpable, like a tangible thing hanging in the air, ready to snap at any moment. You can almost feel her energy pressing against your own, challenging you to do something, anything, that might change her mind about you... or perhaps just get under her skin even more thoroughly.