Lost in the moonlight, found in the stars.

She sighed as she stepped in front of the full length mirror she'd put up a couple weeks ago. She had thought it would be good for her ever fluctuating self esteem. only half determined to work on it at the time. Cora Ryan, the youngest of the Ryan family children, had just had her 22nd birthday. 4 years ago, when 18 came and went, she'd been in a whirlwind romance since she started senior year. After she'd found her long term boyfriend had multiple partners behind her back during their 3 year relationship, she couldn't remember what had happened after that. Cora had always attributed that to her depression after the whole mess and losing the time she didn't care much to remember. As her mind raced in the anxious moment and small intrusive reminders that rallied through her mind, she forced herself to take a deep breath. Her steps come to a slow stop. the tapping of her heels reminding her how out of place she looks as the piercing green hues of her eyes meet her gaze in the glass. after reaching the mirror of choice hanging on the far wall of her small ensuite she revisited the sighs of frustration. a deep rose pink cocktail dress clung to her curvy form. "Remind me again why we agreed to wear pink?" Hestia growled low in a slight disgust. Hestia had been present for Cora since she was 16, but they couldn't manage to shift on the day it should have been. The little snorts and grunts made Cora laugh a little more before she answered. The smile yanked the corners of Cora's lips to a crescent shape against her fair skin, her giggles settling for now ", Because I'm awesome and Londi needs us..We would want her there if we thought we found our dream job too, so stop whining..." Cora replied in the bonded link between her and the deep gray and red wolf that paced the inner corners of her mind. "you're going to regret this whole thing... you know how much I dislike her.. why be friends with someone like that?" Hestia asked, her voice echoed with a growl pushed behind it, and Cora silenced the link between them. she couldn't deny that her wolf's words rang nothing but the truth. Londi had her issues, but she was the only friend Cora had made that felt like a sister to her, despite how many siblings she had. She'd always felt out of place in the expanse of her family and their successes. with a shrug she wepnt to grab her bag and out to her car. Her mind still swirled with the heavy weight of her racing thoughts as she started the cherry red convertible. pulling into the road with the radio tuned to her favorite station. After a good twenty minutes Cora pulled up to the restaurant her group of friends had agreed to meet at for Londi's celebration dinner. Hestia makes the occasional growl at the recesses of her mind. Cora did her best to keep her smile in place, but she could feel the increasing headache. Her family and friends weren't of the werewolf species at all. She found out herself the first time Hestia called to her. She thought she'd finally lost it while also remembering a warm sensation of peace simultaneously. She walked inside and saw two of their friends sitting at the bar. Jon, who was tall, slim and considered athletic. the blonde curls matching his sister's, the woman sitting next to him, Jenna. She was slim with simple curves and long blonde, soft curls. Her teal cocktail dress in coordinated fashion with Jon's maroon button down and slacks, no doubt by her own design. Once she saw Cora heading in their direction she stood and squeaked, meeting her half way with arms outstretched for an eager hug. Cora didn't hesitate to wrap her arms around Jenna's shoulders with a hum of familiarity. relieved that she knew who'd be here. Her and Londi went to school together and Jenna and Jon seemed to just magnetize to their dynamic duo. "I can't believe it's been so so long!" Jenna squealed finally as she squeezed Cora again gently. "Let me see this dress!" Her excitement almost made the distaste in its color worth it. Jon was short behind Jenna and chuckled at his sister's antics. "Alright, alright. Jenna, give her a break.." He chuckled issuing a playful scowl from Jenna's delicate features. Cora's giggles followed after."How about you show me where to order a drink?" Cora said playfully. wrapping an arm through Jenna's as she bounced in the lead in front of the other two. Returning to their seats with smiles in varying degrees. As they sat back in their seats almost ironically and comically in sync, Jenna looked back at her with a large smile, ordering a fruit inspired Cosmo for her poison of the night. Cora couldn't help the involuntary roll of her eyes that met her smile at the corners. She turned her attention briefly to the bartender and ordered herself a long island iced tea and issued a thank you as they walked away. her attention back on the two beside her. "So, Londi didn't tell me everything, she just said we were celebrating her new job and a surprise? Do you know what it is?" She asks Jenna directly before peaking at Jon to see if his features would answer for them. They both froze. Jenna sipped her cocktail and Jon just seemed to try and avoid her direct gaze. After a few awkward and painful moments. "She didn't tell you anything else?" Jenna inquired, her soft features curious as she quirked a brow in tandem with her words. Cora shook her head and sat back more, the curiosity killing her. Jenna cleared her throat and looked around to see if anyone else had shown up yet and then turned back to Cora "Cora..Sweetie...She got engaged a couple of weeks ago to her boyfriend.." The words struck Cora in the chest, her heart only slightly pulsing with a burning pain. They'd been friends for so long, she didn't know how to process this big of news being withheld from her. She didn't let her body language faulter. simply sat back and smiled. "oh? no, she didn't tell me." Her response was simple, but the crash in Jenna's features further insinuating something else was wrong. "Cora, did she ever tell you who she was dating most recently?" The question is sudden and stirs that burning sensation further into Cora's chest, her lips pursing slightly. "No, not recently. I take it this is something I should have known?" Jon sits forward and clears his throat. His broken eyes only visible in her vision. "Cora, it's Micheal..." The news almost makes Cora start crying right there. Micheal was her ex from a few years ago. he had decided he wasn't ready for a long term commitment. She nodded and set the drink down, a $20 under the glass, getting up she silently walked out to her car. Once inside the driver seat, she watches Londi and Micheal pull up in her silver hatch back. they're happy, giggling and smiling. Cora starts the engine and heads back home. the drive feeling like it spans for ages. their image burned into the painful recesses of her mind. "I told you that you'd regret that...I don't like her.." Hestia growled in the expanse of her thoughts. "I should have listened...I just want to sleep." Cora mumbled both in the link back to Hestia and slightly outloud, her tone numb and hanging in the air. The moment she pulled into the driveway, the drive seemed almost non-existent. she drug herself back to her room and locked the door. letting herself curl into her bed with her duvet pulled over her tightly to her form. she didn't remember the act of actually falling asleep. just the darkness developing around her.