Aeri bolted upright, her hands fumbling to straighten her black one-piece, tugging it back into place over her hips as she darted across the room. Her bare feet slapped the hardwood, her hair bouncing wild as she snatched her phone off the bed, still buzzing with Sara's call.
"Yes, Sara!?" she said, her voice loud, she was trying to shake off what we'd just been doing.
"Where are you?" Sara's voice crackled through, sharp and impatient. "We've already reached the hotel—me and Daniel are waiting."
"Yes, yes, we're leaving the house right now," Aeri said, her tone rushed as she paced a step, glancing at me with a quick, flustered look. "We'll be there in a few minutes, promise." Her hands smoothed her dress again, like she could iron out the mess I'd made of her composure.
"Hurry up, come on, Aeri," Sara said, a teasing edge in her voice. "Don't keep us waiting all night."
"Yes, yes, just a minute!" Aeri shot back, her words tumbling over each other as she jabbed the screen to hang up, the call cutting off with a soft *beep*.
She spun around, her lips puckering into a pout, and glared at me, her eyes blazing with mock anger. Before I could say anything, she marched over and shoved me toward the door, her hands firm on my chest.
"Now you stay outside until I'm done with my makeup," she said, her voice stern but shaky, still catching her breath from earlier.
"Yes, yes... sorry..." I said, grinning at her, hands up like I was surrendering. Her glare softened for a split second, but she wasn't letting me off that easy.
"Hmph!" she huffed, crossing her arms, then slammed the door shut in my face, the *click* of the latch echoing in the hall.
I stood there, leaning against the wall, a quiet *sighhh* slipping out as I smiled to myself. She was pissed, sure, but that blush on her face—still lingering from my hands on her—told a different story.
I wandered outside, stepping onto the porch, the cool night air hitting my skin as I waited for her, hands shoved in my pockets, the streetlights flickering on down the block.
A few minutes later, the door creaked open, and she stepped out, locking it behind her with a quick twist of the key.
She looked stunning—her black one-piece sleek and perfect now, her hair smoothed back, and a thin white necklace glinting delicate against her collarbone, catching the light.
She turned to me, and I held out my hand, offering it with a grin.
She nodded quick to the left and right, telling me no for it. "We're too early for this," she muttered, her voice low and tense as she started walking ahead. "People around here—what'll they think? Idiot!"
I smiled, falling into step beside her. "Who cares about them?" I said. "Let 'em stare—I've got you, and that's what matters." I glanced at her, catching the way her pout twitched into a reluctant smile, her blush deepening as she kept her eyes ahead, pretending not to hear me.
The taxi rolled to a stop in front of the hotel, tires crunching on the drive, and we climbed out, the night air cool against my skin. I leaned into the driver's window, handing over a money and waved him off with a quick "Thanks, man."
Aeri adjusted her dress beside me, the white necklace glinting under the hotel's fancy lights as we turned toward the entrance. The glass doors slid open with a soft *whoosh*, and we stepped inside, the lobby hitting us with its polished gleam—marble floors, chandeliers dripping crystals, the kind of place that screamed money.
It was beautiful, sure, but before I could take it all in, a loud shout cut through the hum of the crowd.
"AERI!!! HERE! HERE!" Sara's voice boomed, her arms flailing wildly as she waved us over from a table near the bar, her bright red dress glowing under the lights. She was already halfway out of her seat, grinning like a lunatic.
"Hehe, coming!" Aeri called back, waving with a laugh. I followed, hands in my pockets.
A guy in a blue checkered shirt sat there, beside Sara. He looked like he'd wandered out of a college lecture hall—neat hair, mild expression, the kind of dude who probably owned too many books.
Sara leapt up, throwing her arms around Aeri in a dramatic hug. "Hello, Aeri, my babe, my kuchupuchu!" she said, squeezing tight, her voice dripping with that affection they'd never grown out of.
"How are you, my darling?" Aeri said, matching her tone, hugging her back just as hard, their college-days romance flaring up like always.
Sara pulled back, her eyes flicking to me, her grin flattening fast.
"You too, Ezra. Hello," she said, her voice dropping to a dull, straight shot, like she'd rather not bother.
"Hello. Hmph," I muttered, looking off to the side, hands still buried in my pockets. I didn't even try to fake it—Sara and I were oil and water, always had been.
"How dare you look away from me, you kid!" she snapped, her voice spiking loud enough to turn a few heads nearby, her temper flaring like I'd lit a match. She leaned forward, glaring, her red dress rustling as she pointed a finger at me.
I ignored her completely, keeping my cool, staring at some random spot on the wall like she wasn't even there.
Fighting with her was pointless—she'd just yell louder, and I wasn't in the mood. Aeri stepped in quick, resting a hand on Sara's arm.
"Well, well, stop fighting, you two," she said, her tone soothing but firm, a laugh bubbling under it as she patted Sara down like a cat.
"Your baby's grown too much attitude," Sara said, shooting me a side-eye, her lips pursing.
Aeri just laughed, bright and easy, brushing it off. "He's fine," she said.
The guy in blue stood up then, extending a hand toward me. "Nice to meet you, Ezra. I'm Daniel," he said, his voice calm, his smile genuine—straight teeth, warm eyes, a vibe that didn't scream asshole like I'd half-expected from Sara's fiancé. I shook his hand, firm but quick, nodding back.
"Yeah, you too," I said, relaxing a little.
"Let's calm down and have a proper dinner, okay, guys?" Daniel said, his tone easy, cutting through the tension like a peacemaker.
Aeri and I took one side, her knee brushing mine under the table, while Daniel and Sara sat across from us, Sara still huffing a little but settling down.