Wanda smothered a yawn with her fingertips, using her other hand to tug a soft t-shirt down into place over the pajama shorts that she was wearing.
The dark of nightfall had cooled everything back off into far more comfortable temperatures, and she had opened her bedroom window a crack so she could enjoy the fresh summer air, the slight push of it through the screen making her sheer curtains billow out like sails.
Outside, the little frogs had started to chirr, starting up a pretty nighttime chorus that echoed around her cul de sac. Most of her neighbors had headed off to bed, although she could hear Steve and Bucky out on Steve's front porch, chatting and laughing about something together quietly, as well as little excited squeaks from Cassie Lang next door as her parents allowed her to chase some fireflies before heading off to bed.
It was a sleepy, calm kind of summer evening, the lush smell of new greenery perfuming the air with a fresh earthiness that was slightly overlaid with the sweet aroma of blooming flowers.
Wanda checked her phone one last time as she crossed to her dresser to plug it in, finding two message notifications waiting for her - one from her parents, and one from Vision.
Vision hadn't stayed for too long after dessert, needing to head back to his own house for the evening and insisting that he had already imposed on their hospitality enough for one night (which they had all protested, of course - he was always welcome as far as her family was concerned), but they had managed to talk him into a couple quick rounds of go fish with them before he headed out, which her younger siblings had been thrilled about.
Vision would have won, of course - her boyfriend had an incredible memory, and had managed to keep track of who had what cards throughout the game with such accuracy that even Wanda was a little surprised - but in the end he'd thrown the match to let a pouting Nate "win" in the final few rounds, much to her littlest brother's excitement.
After that Wanda had walked Vision out to his car to sneak a goodbye kiss while her entire family wasn't watching them...not that it had stopped him from blushing absolutely red over it.
They'd promised to text each other before bed, and then they had parted ways for the evening.
She had gotten some knowing looks from her parents when she'd gotten back inside, of course, (which she very astutely pretended that she hadn't seen) but neither of them had commented outside of an innocent "so did you have fun today" and "make sure to tell him that he's invited to dinner on Sunday, okay?"
Wanda had driven home shortly after that, stocked up on leftover pizza for lunch tomorrow and with the windows rolled down all the way so she could enjoy the breeze the whole way back.
Early summer was her absolute favorite time of year, after all, and she was determined to enjoy every single bit of it.
Like the beautiful night air that was currently curling through her bedroom from the open window.
Wanda swiped open her phone and responded to the quick 'good-night, love you!' text from her parents with a 'love you too! -heart-' message before opening Vision's waiting text and glancing it over.
Wanda,
As usual, it was an absolute pleasure to have spent the evening with you, and I cannot express enough how grateful I am that your family has welcomed me into their home with such kindness and hospitality. Until we next meet, sleep well and dream pleasantly.
Yours, Vision
Wanda shook her head with a breathy laugh as she re-read the incredibly formal text message.
He had quite a way with words. Her replies to him always sounded so quick and silly by comparison.
I always love spending time with you, Vish. And I mean it when I say that we all love to have you over. Mom and Dad adore you, and you're really good with my siblings. They asked me to make sure you knew that you were invited to dinner on Sunday night as well, by the way. Can't wait to see you for the double-date movie tomorrow - meet at the mall around one? Sweet dreams!
Once the message had been sent, Wanda set her phone aside and curled into the plush warmth of her bed, nestling herself beneath the covers comfortably before reaching to retrieve her book from the bedside table.
She'd been working her way back through an old favorite of hers, the slowly yellowing pages soft with wear from having been handled and turned so many times, and the edges of the pages getting that slight near-fuzziness that came with constant touch. But despite how many times she'd read the story, she was always willing to pick it back up again and start from the top. She just loved to let herself get lost in the adventure of it all, even if only to remember how she'd felt as a child when she had first heard it.
Wanda snuggled herself back into the pillows, the cushions arranged at such an angle that she could be thoroughly relaxed but still see the pages if she rested the book on her stomach, and she opened it up to her bookmarked page to read until she drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 14:
The Triumph of the Witch.