Invisible Strings

Chapter 4: Rare Artifacts

"Better?" Isadora asked gently.

Hannah nodded once. "Much."

Isadora grinned and tapped the menu. "Alright. Your first assignment outside of class... Pick something. Anything. My treat."

Hannah blinked. "Anything?"

"Anything," Isadora confirmed, eyes sparkling with mock-seriousness. "But choose wisely. This will define our entire café dynamic for years to come."

That tugged a quiet laugh out of Hannah, who reached for the menu like it weighed more than it should. "You're annoying," Hannah mumbled softly and playfully, giving Isadora an amused smile.

"One of my best qualities, I must say." She said with a smile and proudly, holding a hand against her chest briefly and dramatically.

"Annoying and proud of it," Hannah muttered, shaking her head as she pretended to study the menu.

Isadora leaned forward, resting her chin in her hand, openly watching her. "See, that smile right there? Makes the annoyance worth it."

Hannah's eyes flicked up, startled, then down again so fast her hair fell forward like a curtain. She tried to hide the blush creeping across her cheeks by flipping the menu around. "You're... ridiculous."

"Also true," Isadora admitted, unbothered. "But I make up for it with excellent taste in pastries."

That won her another quiet laugh. Hannah finally set the menu down, shy but braver now, her voice soft. "Fine. Then you order for me. Since you apparently know everything."

Isadora raised a brow, grinning. "Dangerous amount of trust you just handed me there, Vanisher."

Isadora returned, balancing a tray with two steaming mugs, a plate with a flaky pastry dusted in powdered sugar, and... something else. A small dish with roasted vegetables and herbed flatbread, the smell warm and savory.

Hannah blinked. "That's... not coffee or cake."

"Correct," Isadora said proudly as she set everything down. "You need protein. And something green. Otherwise, you'll vanish for real."

Hannah's brows pinched, a tiny huff escaping her. "You don't even know me well enough to-" She cut herself off, biting her lip. Afraid to speak, as if she would get in trouble for talking back. But Isadora enjoyed the banter too much to even think that Hannah was being "rude".

Isadora didn't press. She just tore off a piece of the flatbread, dipped it into the dish, and slid it across the table toward her. "Try it. If you hate it, I'll eat the whole thing myself."

Hannah eyed it like it was some kind of test. Her fingers hesitated as her nose scruched. Then finally, she picked up the bread and took a cautious bite.

The flavor surprised her... Comforting, warm, spiced in a way that made her chest ache like she wanted to both curl up and lean in at the same time. She looked down quickly, trying not to show it, but Isadora's grin gave away that she'd already noticed.

"See?" Isadora teased gently, lifting her mug. "Told you."

Hannah shook her head, mumbling into her cup. "You're impossible." But the faintest smile betrayed her words.

When they finally stood to leave, Hannah found herself wishing the walk back to the car would be longer.

Isadora held the door for her, the bell above it jingling as they stepped out into the cool evening air. The sky was painted in soft purples and fading gold, the town settling into quiet.

"That wasn't so bad, was it?" Isadora asked, nudging Hannah's shoulder lightly as they walked.

Hannah glanced at her, lips tugging into a faint smile. "No... it wasn't bad." She hesitated, then added softly, "It was... nice."

Isadora grinned, hands sliding into her jacket pockets. "Careful, that almost sounded like a compliment."

Hannah rolled her eyes, but the warmth in her cheeks betrayed her. "Don't get used to it."

"Oh, I will," Isadora said with mock solemnity. "I collect your compliments and smiles like rare artifacts."

That earned her a quiet laugh, one that seemed to surprise Hannah as much as it did Isadora. And for a moment, walking side by side under the fading light, it felt like something fragile but steady was beginning to grow between them.

Back at the car, Isadora popped the trunk and set the shopping bags inside. Hannah climbed into the passenger seat, tucking her hands into her lap, still carrying that faint smile from their banterful walk.

When Isadora slid in beside her, without much ceremony, she set something in Hannah's lap.

Hannah blinked down at it... A journal. The same kind she'd lingered over in the shop but never picked up.

"I saw you looking at them," Isadora said lightly, starting the engine. "Figured you might need a place for all those songs and thoughts you're not writing down or saying."

Hannah's throat tightened. She ran her fingers gently across the cover, too moved to speak for a moment. Finally, she whispered, "...Thank you."

Isadora glanced at her, smiling softly. "Don't mention it. Just... fill it."