THE SUN had long dipped below the horizon, leaving behind a sky painted with hues of orange, as Harper walked out of the café with Elijah. She could still feel the gentle pressure of his lips on the back of her hand, the sensation lingering on her skin, making her pulse race. She glanced over at him, unable to hide the grin that spread across her face.

"Well, Harper," Elijah began with a warm smile that seemed to reach his eyes, "it would seem you and I will be seeing each other more often."

Harper's heart skipped a beat at his words, and she couldn't help but feel the flutter of excitement. "I would like to think so," she replied, her voice light and filled with unspoken promise.

Elijah's smile grew even more charming as he looked at her, and before she knew it, he had gently lifted her hand, pressing a soft kiss to it. Harper's face immediately turned crimson, her heart thundering in her chest as she tried to hide the growing warmth spreading through her cheeks. Elijah chuckled softly, his gaze lingering on her for a moment before he took a step back, turning to leave.

"This can't be good for my heart," Harper muttered under her breath, shaking her head and trying to calm the sudden storm of emotions within her. She glanced up at the sky, which had shifted into vibrant shades of orange and pink, signalling the end of the day. It was then that she realized just how long she had been sitting in the café, talking to Elijah. Hours had slipped by without her even noticing.

Her eyes widened in alarm as a sudden thought struck her. "Oh God! Freya must be worried!" Harper gasped, fumbling to pull out her phone, only to be met with the dreaded screen that flashed 'Low Battery.' before dying.

"You've got to be kidding me!" she groaned in frustration.

Without a second thought, she flagged down a taxi, practically throwing herself into the back seat. The entire ride was a blur of anxious thoughts, and Harper's leg was bouncing nervously, her mind racing as she replayed every moment of her conversation with Elijah. She muttered quietly under her breath, cursing her own nervousness. The driver, no doubt growing increasingly impatient with her restless energy, shot glances at the rearview mirror, his eyes narrowing slightly at her obvious distress.

Seeing his reaction, Harper felt a brief moment of guilt. She tried to still her leg, but it was impossible. The anxiety swirling in her chest kept her on edge. To her surprise, the driver seemed to speed up, perhaps sensing her discomfort, and decided to get her to her destination faster. She couldn't help but give him a small smile, though it was a bit sheepish. It wasn't his fault she couldn't sit still.

The moment the taxi stopped in front of the shop, Harper quickly paid the driver, almost tumbling out of the car in her haste. She muttered an apology to him as she ran toward the entrance of Freya's shop, her heart still racing.

When she pushed open the door, she was greeted by the sound of Freya's voice, laced with worry.

"Freya, you are over-reacting, you know how humans are—

"No! Kol! I'm sure something happened to her—she usually calls me, or leaves notes behind!" Freya's words were tinged with concern, and Harper's ears perked up at the mention of 'Kol.'

She froze for a moment, catching the strange way Freya's voice faltered and how Kol had said humans—like he wasn't human himself.

Her curiosity was piqued, but Harper chose to ignore the odd feeling and rushed in, her breath shallow from running. "Freya! I'm sorry I didn't call! My phone was dead, and get this—I kind of ran into your brother."

Freya's face lit up with relief the moment she saw Harper, rushing over to give her a tight hug. But as she pulled back slightly, her eyes narrowed with confusion. "Wait, brother? Which one?"

Harper chuckled awkwardly, noticing Kol standing just a few feet away. He was looking at her with an eyebrow raised, clearly intrigued, and something about the way he stared at her made her feel like she was being analyzed. Her mind briefly wandered back to her earlier realization—he looked like a younger version of Elijah.

"Oh—um, Elijah," Harper stammered, her face flushing once again, this time from the embarrassment of the situation. Freya's expression softened for a moment, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. Harper didn't notice the way her smile faltered slightly, nor did she see the brief flicker of hope that passed through her eyes. Freya, who had been protective of Elijah for as long as she could remember, couldn't help but wonder if this stranger might be the one who would finally bring him out of his aloof shell.

Before Harper could say anything more, Kol muttered from across the room, "Lucky it wasn't Niklaus."

Harper's head snapped in his direction, her curiosity piqued once more. She caught the tone in Kol's voice, something she couldn't quite place, and the way he said the name 'Niklaus' made it sound as though it wasn't the first time the name had come up between them. Both Freya and Harper heard his comment, and Freya immediately shot him a scolding look.

"Well, anyways," Freya said, redirecting the conversation, "Harper, this is my younger brother, Kol."

Harper's eyes widened slightly as she quickly glanced from Freya to Kol. "The narcissistic brother," she blurted out before she could stop herself. She slapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes widening in horror at the unintentional insult.

Kol raised an eyebrow at her, clearly amused by her sudden outburst. "Pardon?" he asked, his voice smooth and curious.

Harper cursed under her breath, quickly pulling her hand away from her mouth. "Sorry, Elijah phrased that," she said, her face now beet red.

Freya turned to Harper, a playful glint in her eyes. "What did he say about me?"

Harper snickered and, though she could tell Freya was teasing her, decided to play along. "He said you're the protective big sister."

Freya smiled at that, a genuine fondness for her brother showing through.

But the moment was bittersweet for Harper, as Freya still hadn't learned the truth about Harper's condition. If she had, would she feel the same way about the girl who had become so close to her in such a short time?

...

For now, though, the atmosphere was light, and Harper felt a moment of peace—something she hadn't felt in a long while. a rare, fleeting sensation she hadn't experienced in what felt like ages.

She decided to take a walk, once Freya and Kol had left.

The world around her, though chaotic and full of life, seemed to fade away for just a brief instant. The bustle of New Orleans, the laughter of strangers, the distant hum of music, and the scent of fresh rain on the pavement all blended into the background as she stood there, her mind at ease for the first time in a long while. It was as though the weight of everything—her sickness, her fear, her loneliness—had momentarily lifted, leaving her to simply exist in the present. A small part of her wondered if it was some sort of cruel trick, this fleeting peace, but for once, she didn't question it. She let herself simply be.

Her heart, however, was a different story. It was still racing, but not from the usual knots of anxiety that often twisted in her chest. This time, the frantic beating in her chest was born from something far more unfamiliar. Something she had tried, and failed, to ignore. The way her pulse quickened whenever she thought about him—Elijah. The way his kiss lingered in her memory, not on her hand, but in her very soul, like a spark igniting something deep inside her. Something she didn't want to acknowledge, but couldn't help feeling.

It had started the moment Elijah had kissed her hand, his lips brushing against her skin with a softness that made everything else in the world seem distant and irrelevant. When he had looked at her afterwards, with that warmth in his eyes—eyes that seemed to see through all the walls she had carefully built around herself—Harper had felt a shift, a jolt deep within her. Something was changing, something she had fought against for so long, and yet here it was, undeniable and raw.

She had always kept people at arm's length, never letting anyone get too close. She had been hurt before, and she was terrified of letting herself feel anything that could bring that kind of pain again. And yet, with Elijah, everything felt different. His presence seemed to ground her, as if his very being offered her something she hadn't realized she needed: connection, warmth, understanding. And in that single moment when his lips had brushed her hand, she had felt it—this spark, this undeniable pull that made her heart beat faster in her chest.

Harper tried to push it away, to reason with herself, to remind herself that she didn't have the luxury of time to entertain these feelings. She didn't have the luxury to feel anything, really. There was so much at stake. So much that could go wrong. She wasn't supposed to fall for someone, not now. Not when she knew her time was running out. And yet, despite her best efforts to deny it, the feeling lingered, refusing to be ignored. Elijah had ignited something inside her, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake the way his smile made her heart flutter or the way his presence made everything feel just a little bit brighter.

She hadn't been expecting it. She hadn't been looking for it. But now, as she walked through the streets of New Orleans, the warmth of his gaze still fresh in her mind, Harper couldn't help but wonder if, despite everything, she was starting to want more. More than just fleeting moments of peace. More than just the quiet solitude of her days. More than just the brief, fleeting hope she allowed herself to entertain when she was with him.

The truth was, she didn't want to be alone anymore. She didn't want to keep pushing people away, pretending she didn't crave connection. But with Elijah, it wasn't just about wanting someone to be there for her. It was about something deeper, something more complicated. It was about feeling seen—really seen, in a way she hadn't felt in a long time. It was about the way he made her feel alive, even when everything else seemed so uncertain.

But as she thought about it, a wave of fear swept over her. Fear of getting too close. Fear of letting her guard down. Fear of what would happen when the time came for her to leave, to fade away, and face the inevitable. Would it hurt too much to say goodbye? Would it be worth it to let herself love, even for a short time?

Harper paused in her thoughts, standing still for a moment as she took in the sounds and sights around her. The warm light of the streetlamps bathed everything in a golden hue, and she could hear the soft hum of a jazz band playing in the distance. The city felt alive, brimming with possibility. And maybe, just maybe, for the first time in a long time, so did she.

Her heart was still racing, but this time it was from something that felt almost good—a spark of hope, of possibility, of something she hadn't dared to allow herself to feel in years. And no matter how much she wanted to push it away, she couldn't. Because deep down, she knew that the moment Elijah kissed her hand and smiled at her, something had changed. Something she couldn't undo. And maybe, just maybe, that was okay.