Honey cast a sideways glance toward Cherri, that familiar, permanent smirk playing at the corners of her lips as if she were always in on a joke no one else quite understood. There was a quiet confidence in the way she carried herself, something unshakable and deeply rooted. “I know what I’m doing with people, plus I don’t let people walk all over me. I say it how it is. I don’t care what other people think of me because I am who I am to my core. I don’t bend to what everyone else wants me to be,” she said with a casual shrug, like it was the simplest truth in the world. And for Honey, it was. She had always been this way, loud when she wanted to be, unapologetic in every space she occupied, and entirely comfortable in her own skin. There was no performance in it, no attempt to win approval; if people liked her, they stayed, and if they didn’t, she let them drift away without a second thought. It never seemed to leave a mark on her. Moving with easy confidence, Honey poured herself a drink, the soft clink of glass punctuating the moment before she turned and made her way back to the couch. She sat down near Cherri, leaving just enough space so it didn’t feel intrusive, but still close enough to keep the conversation intimate. Crossing one leg over the other, she tilted her head slightly, her expression shifting from playful to genuinely curious. “So long-term,” she began, lifting her glass slightly as she spoke, “what would you look for in a partner? Who or what would be someone who interested you?” Honey wanted to know if she had any friends who might fit the bill, or if Cherri already had her mind on someone.
Cherri didn’t answer straight away. She let Honey’s question sit in the air for a second, lips curving into a slow, knowing smile as she shifted slightly closer, like she was about to let her in on something just a little bit dangerous. Her eyes flicked over Honey, playful, assessing, then she gave a soft, amused hum, tapping her nail lightly against her glass. She tilted her head, letting her hair fall just right over her shoulder, all effortless pretty girl confidence as she spoke. “Long term?” she echoed, brows lifting slightly. “He’s gotta be confident, like, actually confident. Not loud for no reason, not trying to prove anything, just knows who he is to his core." Her lips twitched into a smirk. “And he definitely can’t be boring. I need someone who can keep up with me, yeah? Someone a little fun, a little unpredictable.” Cherri leaned back into the couch, crossing her legs slowly, completely at ease, but her gaze stayed locked on Honey, intent now, a little more serious beneath the playfulness. “And I don’t do pushovers,” she added lightly. “If I say something out of pocket, I want him to give it right back. Keep me in check a little. That’s where the spark is.” There was a pause, then her expression softened just a touch, still confident, but more genuine. “But he’s gotta be real,” she finished, quieter but certain. “No fake energy, no games. If I’m giving someone my time like that, it’s because I actually feel something.” Then, just as quickly, the playful edge slipped back in. She nudged Honey’s knee lightly with her own, a teasing glint in her eye. “Why?” she asked, smirking. “You got friends that fit that description that you can send my way?”










