AO

By Saturday evening, Destiny has finished the entire novel. Standing before her bedroom mirror, she hardly recognizes herself. Her red silk dress clings to her curvy figure, highlighting her wide hips, thick thighs, chest and backside. The hem rests above mid-thigh, while a slit rises along one leg and the deep neckline reveals more than she normally dares to show. After showering and shaving, she styles her brownish-black hair, applies smoky makeup and puts on gold jewelry. She replaces her glasses with contacts, steps into red heels and finishes with a warm cherry-and-vanilla perfume. When Hange and the women arrive, Sasha’s mouth falls open. “Is that really Destiny?” Destiny nervously pulls at the dress. “I knew it was too much.” Mikasa shakes her head. “It isn’t too much.” “It might be too much for Levi’s blood pressure,” Annie remarks. Destiny blushes. “Levi won’t be there.” Hange exchanges a secret look with Pieck. “Probably not,” Hange says. At the nightclub, Destiny initially remains in the safety of their private booth. Once she has relaxed, Historia and Sasha convince her to join them on the dance floor. A dark, seductive song begins playing. Hange steps behind Destiny, placing both hands on her shoulders. “Let me ask you something, real slow.” Destiny immediately recognizes the teasing tone. “Don’t.” “When Levi touches you, do you ever feel anything?” “He doesn’t touch me.” “Not even in your imagination?” Destiny’s cheeks burn. Pieck leans closer. “That silence sounded like a confession.” “I hate all of you.” “No, you don’t,” Sasha says. “Now tell us what you thought about while reading Hange’s book.” Destiny drinks the rest of her cocktail. “Levi.” The women fall silent. Hange cups a hand behind their ear. “Who?” “Levi,” Destiny repeats. “What about him?” Destiny closes her eyes. “I imagined Levi as the man in the book.” The women erupt into delighted cheers.