Fiona's POV

We had just left the lake about twenty minutes ago, and as we trudged along, a heavy silence hung in the air. I could feel the weight of my mood shift like a sudden storm, and I knew the girls had sensed it too. Some days were like that for me; one moment I’d be riding high, and the next, I’d plunge into an unpredictable gloom. But today was meant to be fun, and I had promised the girls a day of adventure—I wasn’t about to break that promise.

“Alright, ladies! Our next stop is the ice cream shop! Are you two excited?” I called out, trying to inject some energy into the moment.

“Yeah,” came their subdued replies.

“What’s with the low energy? We’re about to indulge in ice cream! Let’s see some enthusiasm!” I hollered, hoping to spark some joy.

Their laughter broke the spell of silence, and I grinned, feeling the tension melt away. “Are you girls laughing at me?” I teased, playful sarcasm lacing my voice.

“No way! How could we?” Sam shot back with a smirk.

I couldn't help but feel a wave of relief wash over me. The laughter felt good, lifting my spirits. I was ready—it was time to embrace the fun again and enjoy the rest of the day with my friends.

We were nestled in my favourite spot at the ice cream shop, Macy's, clutching our menus excitedly.

“What are you all getting?” I asked, eager to compare choices.

“Chocolate for me,” Sam replied with a grin.

“I’ll take Vanilla,” Taylor chimed in.

“Then, I’ll have a sugar-free banana,” I said, feeling a sense of relief knowing I could enjoy ice cream in moderation.

“Are you sure you can have ice cream?” Taylor asked, a hint of concern in her voice.

“Yes! They have a sugar-free banana flavour,” I reassured her.

“Oh, that makes sense!” she said, visibly relieved.

“I’ll call the waiter,” I offered, waving over Fiona, the waitress.

“Hello, Fiona! Looks like you’ve got friends with you today,” Elaine, the manager, said cheerfully as she joined us.

“Hey Elaine! We’ll be getting one chocolate, one vanilla, and one sugar-free banana, all in small sizes,” I replied.

“Great! That’ll be £20.50. Your order will be ready shortly,” she noted with a smile before heading back to the kitchen.

A few minutes later, our treats arrived. “Thanks, Elaine!” I beamed, my mouth already watering.

“Enjoy!” she called over her shoulder as we dived into the ice cream.

“This is so good!” Sam exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with delight as she took a big scoop.

“It really is!” Taylor agreed, savouring her first taste.

“So, how often do you come here?” Sam asked, looking intrigued.

“Once a month,” I said, a touch of guilt creeping in. “I wish I could make it a regular thing, but my diet really needs to be on point right now. It’s tough to resist the temptation!”

Even though I was careful about my health, being at Macy’s was like a slice of happiness that I didn’t want to give up. The ice cream was delicious, and sharing the moment with my girls was priceless. A smile spread across my face just thinking about the fun we were having.

“So, Fiona, how do you think I should ask him out?” Taylor asked, suddenly serious.

“I think a sweet note with some flowers in his locker would be cute,” I suggested.

Taylor shot me a dubious look. “Flowers?”

“Why not? Guys deserve flowers too!” I insisted.

“Fine, you have a point,” she conceded.

“Exactly! It’s going to be great! And if it doesn’t work out, then it’s his loss,” I encouraged her, feeling optimistic.

After settling the bill, we were off to our next adventure. But as we left the ice cream shop, I began to feel a little unwell; perhaps I had overdone it. We decided to cut our mall trip short and headed to Forever 21, the only place within our budget.

After two hours of trying on outfits, we left with one bag each, satisfaction written all over our faces. With the mall a bit far from home, it took us about an hour to get back. We finally arrived at 4 PM.

“Mum, we’re home!” I shouted as we entered the house. “I’m heading to the shower, guys!”

“Sounds good! Can you help us with our bags?” Taylor called.

“Sure, one minute!” I replied, grabbing the bags as I jogged upstairs.

Once I was in my room, I changed quickly and dashed into the bathroom for a shower.

Later, we curled up together on the couch, binge-watching our favourite shows and movies. The thought of my friends leaving the next day hit me hard. I could feel the tears welling up as I relived the heart-wrenching moments of *Titanic*.

“I still don’t get why people cry over this movie,” Taylor remarked, unfazed.

“Don’t even start!” Sam and I warned her, and she raised her hands in surrender, laughter in her eyes.

Taylor was definitely the tomboy of our trio. Growing up with four brothers had toughened her up, making it hard for her to embrace her feminine side, while Sam and I leaned into our girly tendencies with gusto—our clothes, hair, and everything else shouted femininity.

“Fine, but we need to get to bed soon,” Taylor said, taking on her maternal role.

Did I mention she was the de facto mom of our group? It was 1 AM, and since they had to leave early the next day, we needed to catch some rest. We reluctantly turned off the TV and settled in.

At 6 AM, I woke up, battling the remnants of acute pneumonia. Thankfully, it was manageable at home. I carefully took shallow breaths with my nebuliser, feeling the Albuterol work its magic. I poured a glass of water, swallowing 2.5 mg of Dornase alfa, and followed with a shot of Cefepime. After my morning routine, it was now around 6:30 AM.

“Morning, Fiona,” Taylor said, peeking into my room.

“Morning, Tay!”

“How are you feeling?” she asked, concern etching her features.

“I’m great! Just really going to miss you guys,” I admitted, my heart heavy.

I unplugged my nebuliser and opened my arms for a hug. “Aww, seriously? You two are hugging without me?” Sam teased, feigning hurt.

“Come here!” I exclaimed, pulling her into our embrace. I genuinely wasn’t ready to say goodbye.

Suddenly, it hit me just how much I had missed them, and the thought of parting was unbearable.

The time finally came for them to leave, and we all teared up. “Take care of yourself!” they urged, and I nodded, tears streaming down my face.

“I will, I promise,” I managed to reply, the words feeling heavy.

“Bye!” they called as they got into the car.

“Goodbye, Taylor! Bye, Sam!” I waved, watching them leave.

I kept waving until the car disappeared from sight, a mix of sadness and gratitude filling my heart.