Bridging the Gap

Delphinia stood near the entrance of the school, her eyes scanning the crowd of children spilling out of the building. Parents milled about, some chatting amongst themselves while others eagerly greeted their children. Delphinia pulled her coat tighter around her, a small smile tugging at her lips as she anticipated Ashton's arrival.

Just as she was about to step forward, a presence beside her made her turn. A woman stood there, partially concealed beneath a large hoodie and dark sunglasses, her head slightly bowed to avoid drawing attention.

Delphinia blinked in surprise before recognition set in.

"Lydia?" she asked, keeping her voice low.

Lydia pushed her sunglasses down just enough to reveal her sharp eyes, a small smirk forming on her lips. "Hey."

"What are you doing here?" Delphinia asked, though the answer quickly became obvious.

Lydia shifted on her feet, her voice softer than usual. "I wanted to pick up Ashton today."