Chapter Five - A New Bond

The late afternoon sun spilled through the tall windows of Vivienne's living room, dust motes dancing lazily in the warm golden light. The room was a cheerleader's haven—walls plastered with colourful posters of squads mid-stunt, pom-poms resting on a nearby chair, and a Bluetooth speaker quietly humming a playlist of upbeat pop songs. It was the perfect setting for what Vivienne had promised would be "the easiest cheer routine ever."

Vivienne was practically vibrating with energy, bouncing lightly on the balls of her feet, her blond hair pulled back into a tight ponytail that swayed with her movements. She clapped her hands with a bright smile, eyes sparkling with excitement. "Alright, Harper! Ready to learn the new routine? I promise it's super simple. You'll pick it up in no time."

Harper stood by the doorway, arms crossed, her whole posture radiating reluctant skepticism. Her dark hair hung in loose waves, slightly messy as if she'd just rolled out of bed. Her lips twisted into a half-smirk, one eyebrow raised in that familiar expression of amused annoyance. "Easy for you, maybe." she said dryly. "You actually know what you're doing. I'm just here to make a fool of myself."

Vivienne giggled, undeterred by Harper's grumpiness. "No way! Trust me."

Harper snorted softly, the corner of her mouth twitching into a reluctant smile. 

Vivienne stepped forward with a dramatic flair, swinging her leg up into a perfect high kick followed by a sharp punch into the air. "Like this! See? Easy, right?"

Harper rolled her eyes but tried to mimic the move, her kick barely clearing ankle height and her punch lacking any real conviction. "Yeah, I'm killing it." she muttered sarcastically.

"You're doing great for a beginner!" Vivienne encouraged, clapping her hands again with infectious enthusiasm.

She laughed softly, stepping closer to adjust Harper's stance with gentle hands. "You know, even grumpy grandmas can be a lot of fun. You just gotta let yourself enjoy it a little."

Harper sighed, folding her arms again, but this time there was less resistance in her posture. "Fun isn't exactly my default setting." she admitted quietly.

Vivienne's smile softened, her voice dropping a notch to something almost gentle. "I get that. And you don't have to tell me all your lore yet, you're not ready to. Just know I'm here. No pressure."

Harper looked away for a moment, her gaze flickering to the sunlight pooling on the floorboards. Something unreadable crossed her face—pain, maybe, or just weariness—but then she forced a small, genuine smile. "Thanks, Viv. For... putting up with my nonsense."

"Always," Vivienne said with a wink, nudging Harper's shoulder playfully. "Now come on—one more time. Kick, punch, and cheer loud!"

Harper groaned, but the hint of a smile tugged at her lips as she raised her leg in a half-hearted kick, her voice joining Vivienne's in a muted, playful cheer.

After several more attempts at the cheer routine—Harper's grimaces and exaggerated eye-rolls making Vivienne laugh until she nearly doubled over—Vivienne finally threw her hands up in mock defeat.

"Alright, you win." she said, gasping for breath, "Your knees are clearly stronger than my pep."

Harper flopped dramatically onto the couch, limbs splayed out like a starfish, the soft cushions swallowing her tired frame. She let out a long, exaggerated groan that somehow carried just the right amount of playful misery. "Thank God. I thought my ancient hips were about to give out."

Vivienne grinned, the bright sparkle in her eyes undimmed by their clumsy workout. She bounced up and disappeared into the kitchen for a moment. When she came back, she held a big bowl of popcorn, buttery and warm, and two glasses of juice.

"Snack time!" she declared, handing one box and a handful of popcorn to Harper.

Harper caught them, her fingers brushing against Vivienne's. She noticed the lightness of the touch and the easy smile that came with it, something unforced and genuine. She felt a flicker of something unfamiliar—a cautious warmth she wasn't used to.

The two settled on the couch, the dim light from the window painting lazy patterns across the carpet. Harper curled her legs up, her posture softening, the usual armor she wore around others starting to slip.

For a while, they just ate and listened to the soft hum of a movie playing somewhere in the background. The silence between them was peaceful, not awkward—an unspoken comfort building in the quiet.

Harper's gaze drifted to the popcorn bowl, then to Vivienne's relaxed expression, the way she fiddled absentmindedly with a loose thread on her sleeve. After a beat, Harper took a breath—a little heavier than usual—and let her voice break the quiet.

"You know..." she began, voice low and rough like gravel, "I'm not really on speaking terms with Harriet."

Vivienne blinked, surprise flickering in her eyes but never crossing into judgment. Her smile softened into something gentle, curious but careful.

"Oh?" she said, voice warm and easy. "Sibling drama?"

Harper shrugged, shoulders tense for a moment before she let them fall. Her fingers twisted a stray popcorn kernel nervously between them.

"Yeah. Typical family stuff I guess." she said, voice tight like she was holding something back. 

The words hung between them, fragile and heavy.

Vivienne shifted closer, the scent of her floral shampoo faint but comforting. She nudged Harper lightly on the shoulder with a quiet reassurance that needed no words.

"Hey.." Vivienne said softly, "I get it. Families can be messy. You don't have to tell me everything if you don't want to."

Harper's eyes flickered up, meeting Vivienne's gaze—steady, patient, without any pressure or pity. It was the first time in a long time someone had offered her space like that.

"Yeah." Harper murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. For once, she let herself relax into the feeling, the tightness in her chest loosening just a little.

Vivienne smiled, warm and genuine, like sunshine breaking through clouds.

"We all carry stuff, right? Doesn't mean you have to carry it alone."

The simplicity of the statement struck Harper more than she expected. She swallowed hard, the lump in her throat easing as she gave a small, almost shy smile.

"Maybe I'll tell you more someday." she said, voice softening, the edge of sarcasm gone for now.

Vivienne's grin widened, lighting up her face. "I'll be here when you're ready. We're friends, right?"

Harper nodded, feeling something fragile but real bloom inside her. For the first time in a long time, she felt like maybe, just maybe, she wasn't so alone after all.