51

The walk home felt different, almost as if the world had shifted just a little. There was a lightness in my step, a sense of calm that I hadn't expected. I couldn't stop thinking about the conversation with Mia. It wasn't just her funny stories about Levi-though those had certainly made me laugh-it was how wrong I had been about her.

For weeks, I'd only known Mia through the lens of my rivalry with Levi, never truly giving her the chance to show me who she really was. She was kind, easy to talk to, and surprisingly fun. Our conversation had flowed effortlessly, and for the first time, I felt like we could actually be friends. I hadn't expected that. I had always seen her as a rival by association, never imagining that we'd have this kind of connection.

As I walked through the quiet streets, my thoughts continued to linger on how much I'd misjudged her. In a way, it felt like a little victory-realizing that I could be wrong about something, about someone, and that it wasn't the end of the world. In fact, it felt freeing. The tension I'd held between us seemed to vanish, replaced by the warmth of understanding and a newfound connection.

When I finally reached my apartment, I set my bag down with a sigh of relief. The silence in my space felt comforting, and I let myself smile as I thought about what had happened earlier. I was already imagining how I would tell Levi everything that had transpired, though, admittedly, I wasn't quite ready to share everything. Maybe I would leave out the part about the "Mom" email. I'd save that for the perfect moment, where it could be dropped in as a funny anecdote, a reminder of how far Levi and I had come.

Mia had surprised me in the best way possible. Not only had she cleared the awkwardness between us, but she'd also shown me that friendships weren't built on expectations, but on genuine connections. I liked that idea-of having someone in my life who wasn't there because of obligation or proximity, but because of mutual understanding. I hadn't realized how much I craved that kind of authenticity until today.

Levi had been right about her-she was good.

________

A week passed, and life continued with its usual rhythms. Then, one evening, I received a text from Mia.

Want to grab coffee? I found this cute café that does amazing lattes. Also, I need to vent about work-Nathan is too nice to complain to.

I couldn't help but smile as I read the message. It had only been a week, but spending time with her again sounded like just the break I needed. I hadn't expected to enjoy her company as much as I had, but there I was, looking forward to seeing her again.

Sounds great. How about inviting Spencer?

Mia's response was quick: Perfect! The more, the merrier!

The day of our coffee date arrived, and I found myself eager to meet up. The café Mia had recommended was just as cozy and charming as she had described. The rich scent of freshly brewed coffee mixed with the sweet aroma of pastries in the air. The décor was quaint, with mismatched chairs and vintage photos hanging on the walls, giving the place an intimate, almost nostalgic feel. It was the kind of place that made you want to stay for hours, lost in conversation or simply watching the world outside the windows.

Spencer was already there when I arrived, scrolling through her phone. She looked up with a teasing grin as I approached. "Late again?"

"By five minutes," I defended, grinning back at her.

Mia appeared a moment later, balancing three cups in her hands like a pro. She walked over with a bright smile, setting the cups down with precision. "Hey!" she greeted us, handing over the drinks. "This is their caramel latte-my favorite-and a hazelnut mocha for backup. Hi, Spencer. I love your earrings."

Spencer looked up from her phone, her eyes lighting up at the compliment. "Thank you!" she said, smiling warmly.

The conversation took off as easily as it had the last time we met. Mia shared the latest misadventures with Nathan, including how he had accidentally set off the fire alarm while trying to cook. She made it sound hilarious, describing how Nathan had panicked, thinking he'd burned down the building. Spencer chimed in with her own stories, including the time Ethan flooded his kitchen by using regular soap in the dishwasher.

"Ethan was knee-deep in foam," Spencer said, laughing. "I couldn't stop taking pictures. He looked like he was drowning in bubbles."

"That sounds like something Levi would do," I commented, grinning at the thought of it.

Mia's eyes sparkled with mischief as she smirked at me. "Levi once sent an office-wide email addressed to 'Mom.' He panicked and called me, asking if I could hack the server to delete it."

Spencer burst out laughing, almost choking on her drink. "Oh, please tell me you didn't let him forget that," she managed between fits of laughter.

"Of course not!" Mia said with a sly smile. "I changed his contact name to 'Mom' on my phone for weeks. Every time he'd call, I'd answer, 'Yes, Levi?'"

I laughed along with them, the image of Levi's face when he realized his mistake too amusing to ignore.

Later, Mia pointed to a photo booth in the corner. "Okay, confession-I love photo booths. We have to take a picture."

Spencer and I exchanged a glance before following her to the booth, both of us secretly excited to capture the moment. The three of us squeezed inside, our bodies pressed together as we tried to fit into the tiny space. We couldn't stop laughing, and the camera flashed several times, capturing all of our goofy expressions. The first picture caught Spencer mid-laugh, while I pulled a ridiculous face and Mia looked effortlessly cute, as always.

When the photo strip printed, Mia held it up with pride. "This is going on my fridge."

"And mine," Spencer added, grabbing a copy for herself.

I smiled and tucked my own photo into my bag, already knowing that it was going to be one of my favorite keepsakes.

As we walked home, the atmosphere felt lighter, like everything had just clicked into place. Mia linked her arm with mine as we strolled down the sidewalk. "Thanks for today. I didn't realize how much I needed this."

"Same," Spencer added, walking on my other side. "It's good to hang out outside of the usual chaos."

Mia laughed, the sound easy and genuine. "I'm glad we did this," she said, glancing between us. "I needed a reminder of what it's like to have fun without worrying about everything else."

For the first time in a long time, I felt lighter, like my world was expanding, not just with Levi but with these new, unexpected friendships. My life felt fuller-brighter, even-and I couldn't help but smile at the thought. It seemed like things were falling into place in ways I hadn't anticipated.