Fiona's POV

“Kayla?” I called out, scanning the crowd.

“Fiona?” She turned, a nervous smile lighting up her face.

“So you’re here for the concert too, I take it?” I asked, grinning.

"Yeah! Lila can’t get enough of them,” she replied, her enthusiasm infectious.

“Same with us! Hey, these are my friends, Sam and Taylor.” I gestured toward them, eager to introduce myself.

“Nice to meet you!” she said warmly.

“Great to meet you too!” they chimed back.

“Where’s Lila and Luca?” I wondered aloud, curiosity getting the best of me.

“Lila’s sitting in our seats, and... Ah, there’s Luca now!” She waved him over.

“Hey, Fiona! Awesome to see you here,” Luca greeted me, a friendly grin spreading across his face.

“Thanks! These are my friends, Sam and Taylor,” she introduced.

They exchanged quick pleasantries before Luca announced, “Kayla and I should head to our seats. Have an amazing night!” And just like that, they strolled off.

“Wait, that’s Kayla?” Sam and Taylor turned to me, eyebrows raised in surprise.

“Yeah! I just introduced you guys,” I laughed, remembering all the times she’d come up in our conversations.

“Alright, let’s get going. We can catch up more later,” I urged as we set off in search of our seats.

Just a couple of hours later, after belting out our favorite songs with sheer abandon, I checked my phone, realizing it was almost midnight. “Girls, we really need to head out,” I said with a mix of reluctance and excitement.

The ride home in Sam's car was filled with laughter and snippets of our favorite moments from the concert. Tired yet elated, we tumbled onto my warm, inviting mattress, promptly falling into a deep sleep.

“Wait, I didn’t know you were going in first!” Taylor exclaimed, still half-asleep.

“Yes, you did,” Sam shot back, her eyes narrowing in playful annoyance.

“No, I didn’t!” Taylor retorted, a hint of laughter in her voice.

“You did!” Sam insisted.

With heavy eyelids, I finally managed to open my eyes. “What’s brewing this time, girls?” I mumbled, sleep still clinging to my voice.

“It’s Taylor’s fault! I told her I’d use the bathroom first, but she went in ahead of me,” Sam complained, crossing her arms.

“Uh, so Taylor’s already been in there?” I asked, a bit confused.

“Yep! So, it’s settled. I’ll go in after you, Sam,” Taylor declared.

“See? That wasn’t so hard, was it?” Taylor teased playfully.

“Shut up,” Sam replied, rolling her eyes but trying to hide a smile.

I lay back, surrendering to sleep for a few extra minutes. When I finally stirred, the room was empty. Taking advantage of the quiet, I hopped in the shower. As the warm water enveloped me, my thoughts drifted back to last night. I hadn’t expected to run into Kayla, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to her story—an underlying anxiety that I wanted to uncover.

Draping a towel around myself, I got dressed in a baggy shirt and denim shorts, ready for the day’s adventure. When I stepped into the kitchen, Taylor and Sam were chatting with my mum.

“Is she doing any better?” Sam asked.

“She hasn’t had any major infections, but she was just in the hospital for bronchitis a few weeks ago,” Mum replied, concern etched on her face.

I stood there, a tear escaping before I could catch it. “So, you guys do talk about me behind my back,” I said, catching them off guard as I entered the kitchen.

“How long have you been listening?” Taylor asked, wide-eyed.

“Not long. What’s for breakfast?” I deflected, eager to change the subject.

“Toast, bacon, and mushrooms,” Mum replied, setting a plate down for me.

“What are you girls up to today?” she asked as I dug in.

“We’re heading to the mall and then to this amazing ice cream shop I can’t wait to show them! Just a fun day out,” I said, excitement bubbling within me.

“Are you sure you can handle so much in one day?” Mum asked, her maternal instincts kicking in.

“I’ll be fine, I promise. And by the way, this is delicious,” I replied, savoring every bite.

“It’s just eggs, honey,” Mum laughed.

“You deserve more credit, Mum,” I insisted.

“Fine, thanks, Fiona,” she said with a smile.

“Now, stop chatting and finish your food,” she added playfully.

“Fine!” I grumbled, but I couldn’t help smiling as I polished off my meal.

With that, we were ready to go. Mum made sure we had everything we needed—she was always thorough about that.

“Bye, Mrs. Yamen! We’re off now!” Sam and Taylor called out cheerily.

“Bye, Mum! See you later,” I added as we headed out.

“Have fun, girls!” she replied, waving us off.

We piled into Taylor's car, eagerly heading to our first stop: a serene lake where I often sought refuge from the chaos of life. It was my secret spot, and I was excited to share it with my friends.

As we settled onto the dock, the water shimmered under the sun, reflecting the clear blue sky in a way that made everything feel perfect.

“It’s beautiful here,” Sam finally broke the tranquil silence after a few moments.

“Mmm, it really is,” I agreed.

“How are you doing?” Taylor asked suddenly, looking straight at me.

Surprised by the directness, I replied, “I’m good.”

“Fiona?” she pressed gently.

“I’m solid, really. Things have been better; they don’t fight as much anymore. Life is good,” I confessed.

“What about you guys? Any boyfriends?”

“Ugh, don’t even get me started on boys,” Taylor scoffed, rolling her eyes.

Sam and I erupted into laughter at that. Taylor had a penchant for voicing her disdain for the male species. In her view, most of women’s problems stemmed from them. While I didn’t entirely agree, I appreciated her strong opinions; I loved my Dad and uncles and couldn’t vilify all men because of a few bad experiences.

“Sam, what about you?” I asked, nudging me gently.

“So, there’s this guy I can’t stop thinking about,” she said, her voice a mix of excitement and confusion. “I can’t tell if he’s just being friendly or if he really feels something. It’s driving me crazy!”

“Breathe, girl! Tell me more about him,” I encouraged, leaning in as curiosity sparked.

“Well, he’s charming—like, ridiculously charming. That smile of his could light up the darkest room, and he’s super smart too. Fun fact: he moved here right after you left,” she said, her eyes twinkling.

“Interesting! Do you guys share any hobbies?” I asked, sensing some potential here.

“Oh, definitely! We both love studying and skiing. Plus, he’s an incredible baker—almost as good as you, Sam!” she exclaimed, her enthusiasm bubbling over. With dreams of opening a bakery alongside her nursing career, Sam had high standards.

“Sounds like you two hit it off! Ever considered asking him out?” I ventured, hoping to push her a little.

“Absolutely not! What if I embarrass myself?” she replied, her cheeks flushing.

“Come on! You can’t tell me you think it’s wrong for a girl to make the first move?” I challenged, raising an eyebrow.

She lowered her head, clearly anxious. “But what if he says no?”

“Then it’s his loss!” I said insistently. “Promise me you’ll at least think about asking him out?”

With a tentative smile, she replied, “Okay, promise,” and we locked our pinkies in an oath.

We settled into a comfortable silence, staring out at the shimmering water, each lost in a whirlwind of thoughts, pulses of hope and fear mingling in the air between us.