Chapter 15: Confessions and Confusion
The night was quiet when they returned to Sienna’s place. She’d insisted on bringing Garner and Farrah over, at least for the night, so they wouldn’t be alone in the aftermath of the rescue. The police had set up security around the house just in case, but it was still a fragile, strange feeling being back in the calm after the storm. 
Farrah had quickly fallen asleep in the guest room, utterly exhausted. Now, it was just Sienna and Garner, standing out on her back porch under the stars, taking in the quiet.
Garner leaned on the railing, staring into the distance. He seemed lost in thought, his expression a mix of relief, exhaustion, and something else that Sienna couldn’t quite place. She shifted beside him, stealing a glance at his face, noticing the slight smile he wore as he gazed into the night.
“Penny for your thoughts?” she asked, her voice soft in the stillness.
He chuckled, glancing at her with a warmth that made her heart flutter. “I was just… thinking about how crazy everything’s been. I don’t even know where to start.”
“I get it,” she replied, nodding.
“It feels like life’s turned upside down overnight.”
“More like a tornado,” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. “But… I don’t know, I feel like I’ve learned a lot about myself in all this.”
Sienna tilted her head, intrigued.
“Oh? Like what?”
He turned to face her fully, his expression growing serious.
“Like how strong I can be for the people I care about. And… like how much I care about you.”
Sienna’s cheeks flushed at his words. She looked down, suddenly shy, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her sweater.
“I… I care about you too, Garner. More than I thought I would. I mean, it’s not like we knew each other that well before all this happened…”
“Right,” he replied, his voice barely a whisper as he took a step closer. “But somehow, I feel like I’ve known you forever.”
They stood there in a lingering silence, just inches apart. The cool night air wrapped around them, but neither seemed to notice. Garner’s eyes were gentle, looking at her as though she were something fragile and precious.
Sienna cleared her throat, feeling the weight of the moment.
“Garner, I—”
But before she could finish, he closed the small gap between them, his lips meeting hers in a soft, tentative kiss. It was as if time slowed down, every worry and every fear melting away as they shared that quiet moment under the stars.
When they finally pulled apart, both of them were blushing, their faces filled with surprise and wonder.
“I… I didn’t plan that,” Garner stammered, his voice breathless.
“Me neither,” Sienna replied, biting her lip to hide her smile.
“But I’m not exactly complaining.”
He laughed, rubbing his forehead.
“I… I don’t know what to say. I mean, I like you, Sienna. A lot. But… with everything going on, I don’t know if now is… well, the right time.”
Sienna nodded, her cheeks still warm. “I get it. I mean, everything’s a mess. And there’s so much to figure out, with Farrah, and Barron… and my powers.”
Garner looked at her with an understanding gaze.
“It’s like… we’re in the middle of a storm, and we’re trying to hold onto anything that makes us feel… normal, I guess.”
Sienna let out a soft laugh. “Yeah, that’s exactly it. But maybe we don’t have to put a label on it right now. Maybe we can just… take things one step at a time?”
He smiled, his expression softening. “I’d like that.”
They shared another quiet moment, the tension between them easing into something warmer and more comfortable.
Just then, the patio light flickered, and both of them glanced at it, startled.
“Did… did you do that?” Garner asked, raising an eyebrow.
Sienna laughed, shaking her head. “Nope. The light’s just old and a bit temperamental. But don’t worry, I’m not developing any weird light-controlling powers. At least, I hope not.”
He laughed, and the sound was a welcome relief from the heaviness of the past few days. “Thank goodness. I think one power is enough for anyone.”
“Agreed,” she replied, leaning against the railing beside him again. She stole another glance at him, her heart still fluttering from their kiss. She hadn’t realized just how much she wanted this, how much she’d wanted him, until now. But a part of her was still afraid, unsure of what the future held.
“Do you think… things will ever calm down?” Garner asked quietly, his gaze fixed on the night sky.
She sighed, her own expression thoughtful. “I hope so. But I think it’s going to get worse before it gets better. Barron won’t stop, and Anjo and his team are going to have a hard time taking him down.”
Garner nodded, his face growing more serious. “But whatever happens… I want to be there. For Farrah. For you.”
Sienna felt a surge of warmth at his words. “You don’t have to do this alone, you know. We’re in this together.”
He gave her a small smile, and it was as if a weight had lifted from his shoulders. “You know, I’ve always been the one protecting people. Farrah, my family… but with you, it feels different. Like… maybe I don’t have to carry everything by myself.”
“You don’t,” Sienna said, her voice firm. “I know we haven’t known each other for very long, but I’m here for you. I mean it.”
Garner reached out, taking her hand in his. His touch was warm, steady, and filled with a quiet strength that made her heart skip a beat.
“Thank you, Sienna,” he said softly. “For everything.”
They stood there in comfortable silence, their hands entwined, feeling as though they were the only two people in the world.
After a while, Sienna broke the silence, her tone light and teasing. “So… our first kiss, huh?”
Garner chuckled, his cheeks flushing. “Yeah… that was kind of unexpected.”
“Unexpected but… nice,” she replied, giving him a shy smile.
“Definitely nice,” he agreed, squeezing her hand gently. “Even if we’re both totally confused about what’s next.”
She laughed, her eyes sparkling. “Confused is putting it mildly. But maybe we don’t have to figure it all out right now.”
“Yeah,” he said, nodding. “One step at a time.”
As they gazed up at the stars, Garner pulled her a little closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. She leaned into him, feeling a rare sense of peace amidst all the chaos. Whatever lay ahead—Barron, her visions, the dangers they’d face—they knew they’d face it together. And for now, that was enough.
They stayed like that for a long while, holding each other under the night sky, finding comfort in the simple, quiet presence of each other.