{{char}}, your best friend's bratty little sister, saunters into the room, her long hair swaying behind her. She stops short when she sees you, her eyes narrowing as she crosses her arms over her chest. "Hmph, what are YOU doing here?" Skye demands, her voice dripping with disdain. "Don't you have anything better to do than mooch off my brother's Netflix subscription?" Despite her harsh words, she blushes that colors her pale cheeks, or the way her gaze lingers on you just a little too long.

"Fine... fine," she grumbles reluctantly, moving to sit down on the couch beside you. "It's not like you give a shit." Her gaze flickers away before returning, more intense this time. "So, what do you want? Why did you really come here?"

Skye bristles at your touch, but doesn't pull away. Her eyes narrow as she studies you before responding with a shrug. "Yeah, same old same old," she mutters. "It pays the bills. What about you? Still chasing that stupid game development dream?" There's an odd edge to her voice when she mentions your passion.

"Of course you can do it, dummy," she says with an exaggerated roll of her eyes, then mutters something under her breath about how she wishes she could be more supportive. She sighs and looks away for a moment before turning back to you. "Look...I just wish you'd focus on something realistic. Like getting a real job or something."

Her gaze flickers between your face and your hands, as if debating whether or not she should say anything else. Finally, she blurts out, "Can I see your drawings? The ones you did for class?" There's an odd hesitation in her voice that makes you raise an eyebrow in curiosity.

Before you can respond, however, she hurriedly adds, "No, no, not because they're any good or anything...just..." She trails off lamely, looking away and playing with the hem of her sweater.

Her brow furrows as she looks at each drawing, her lips pursed in a mix of concentration and...admiration? "These are really good," she mumbles almost under her breath. Then, quickly realizing what she just said, she snatches the sketchbook out of your hands and shoves it back into your lap. "Don't get any ideas," she warns, jabbing a finger at you. "I don't want you thinking I'm some kind of sycophant or something."

Her cheeks flush red as her gaze darts around the room anywhere but on you. It's clear that this exchange has left her feeling embarrassed and unsettled. With a huff, she stands up abruptly, moving to pace back and forth in front of the couch. "Look...I just..." She takes a deep breath, forcing herself to meet your gaze again. "...thank you." There's an odd note in her voice that makes it sound almost like she means it.

Skye pauses in her pacing and purses her lips, looking away before turning back to face you. "For...for not making fun of me," she mumbles, sounding awkward as hell. "And for...I don't know...understanding me." Her gaze drops to the floor as she chews on her lower lip nervously. "I don't really have a lot of people in my life that..." She trails off, leaving the sentence unfinished before finally meeting your eyes again.

A flush creeps up her neck and spreads across her cheeks. "I just wanted to say...thank you," she whispers. There's something different about her tone now; softer, more vulnerable. Like maybe there was something genuine behind those sarcastic remarks after all.

"You're not supposed to be," she mutters, looking away again. "But thanks anyway...I guess." Her shoulders slump slightly as she seems to deflate a little bit in front of you. It's clear that this exchange has taken a lot out of her, emotionally speaking. With another hesitant glance in your direction, she forces herself to meet your gaze once more before saying anything else.

"Look...I know we fight a lot and I can be...difficult sometimes," she begins slowly, rubbing the back of her neck as she speaks. "But...I'm grateful for having you in my life. Even if it is just as my brother's lame friend." There's a faint note of sadness in her voice when she says this, like maybe there's more to their relationship than she's willing to admit.

"So...thank you," she repeats quietly, looking down at the floor once more. "For not giving up on me or getting mad at everything I say." A moment of awkward silence passes between you before she finally looks back up, offering a small, uncertain smile. "I'm sorry if I've ever made you feel bad about yourself."

Taken completely off guard by your sudden embrace, Skye freezes in your arms for a moment before slowly relaxing into the hug. It feels so foreign and strange being held like this; comforted rather than challenged or belittled. Tears prick at her eyes as she realizes just how lonely and isolated she's felt all this time, hiding behind her bratty exterior. She clings to you tightly, burying her face in your shoulder, her body shaking with silent sobs.

For a long moment, the only sound in the room is the ragged sound of their breathing, mingled together as one. Finally, she pulls away, wiping roughly at her eyes as she tries to compose herself. "I-I'm sorry," she stammers out, looking anywhere but at you. "I didn't mean to...to..."

Her words trail off as she struggles to find the right thing to say. Part of her wants to tell you how she really feels about you; that secret crush she's had on you for far too long. But another, bigger part of her is terrified of the consequences if she does. So instead, she settles for a weak smile and a quiet, "Thank you."

Then, before either of you can say or do anything else, she turns abruptly and walks away, leaving the room in silence.