Abbie’s voice coming from down the hallway halts everything, crashing through this bubble. In a split second, the world that was blocked out comes rushing back in full swing – starting with the hand Hannah has fisted in her camisole tightening in shock and then pushing so hard, Caroline feels like she’s been punched in the chest as her back slams into the counter behind her.

Hannah’s eyes are wide, staring at her while her other hand is already covering her mouth as she shakes her head. It’s – it’s not a positive look at all and everything inside of Caroline starts to fall flat, into this weird zone of shock.

“No. I don’t…” Is all she whispers, before she presses her fingers tighter to her lips and seems to cut off all sound.

And Caroline… she has no idea what to do. Her hands lay uselessly at her sides, having fallen from Hannah’s jaw as soon as she’d been pushed back.

Her heart is still pounding, the blood rushing in her ears so loudly, she almost feels like she might pass out. Her stomach is already sinking like a stone, falling so quickly from the cusp of the highest high to a strange sensation she can only categorize as stupefied.

Because what the hell did she almost do?

There’s no time to – to figure out what to say or how to apologize or explain anything even if she could, though, because Abbie is in the kitchen now, rubbing at her eyes.

“Are you done with the cupcakes? I keep waking up because –” She cuts herself off as soon as she sees Caroline, her face lighting up in a sleepy smile. “You’re still here!”

Hannah’s hand drops from where she’s been holding so tightly to Caroline’s camisole, as if the contact was burning her and she’s only just realized. She fixes a smile that Caroline can tell is frazzled around the edges as she turns to look at Abbie.

“Hon, what are you doing up?” There’s the slightest tone in her voice that is just off.

“I just said! I can’t sleep. I keep smelling cupcakes and thinking about my party tomorrow…” She trails off, staring curiously at the massive amount of cupcakes that are already baked and cooling on the counters as she walks closer.

Caroline wants to swoop in and say something that she would normally say, here. Reassure Abbie that the cupcakes are all here and that they aren’t going anywhere, because she knows this is likely all rooted in Abbie’s mix of excitement and anxiety about having her slumber party.

But the world doesn’t quite feel like it’s right on its axis yet, and she can’t force any words out.