Aliana

The room is fizzing the minute I enter.

Not loudly but with warmth like a space that knows it’s about to hold something good.

“Aliana".

Jenna’s voice gets through to everything,

She’s on me before I can even process what’s happening, her arms are wrapped tightly around me, laughing, radiating this level of energy that makes it seem as if it’s been building up all day just for me.

“You look illegal,” she says, pulling just far enough back to look me up and down. “Red? Blonde? Trying to kill people?”

“I have a reputation to maintain,” I say wryly.

She shrieks anyway and hugs me again. “I missed...