Eleven

Zora

 "Good luck with the date tonight," Reya said as she pulled up to my house, her hands still gripping the steering wheel. "If you need anything... I'm just a call away."

There was something in her voice—something unreadable—but before I could think too much about it, she turned to face me.

"Thanks," I said, unbuckling my seatbelt. "And thanks for the ride."

A small, almost reluctant smile tugged at Reya's lips. "Don't get used to it."

I laughed, giving her one last glance before stepping out and shutting the door. She waited for a second like she was going to say something else, but then she just nodded and drove off.

I shook off the weird feeling creeping up my spine and headed inside.

"How'd practice go?" Liv called from the couch as I walked in, kicking off my shoes.

I grabbed a water bottle from the fridge before flopping down beside her. "Well, I finally agreed to incorporate fun into the drills, so it actually went pretty well. No arguing this time."

"Damn," Stevie said, strolling in from the kitchen with Marie trailing behind. "You and Reya getting along? What's next, the apocalypse?"

I rolled my eyes, taking a sip of water. "Shut up." But she was right, Reya and I were getting along.

Marie plopped down onto the couch beside Stevie, curling her legs under her. "Okay, but more importantly—how are you feeling about tonight?"

"And don't even try lying about being nervous," Stevie added, reaching for the bottle of wine on the coffee table. "We can all see it on your face."

I scoffed. "I'm not nervous."

Three pairs of skeptical eyes locked onto me.

I sighed. "Okay, fine. Maybe a little. But I'm mostly excited."

"That's more like it," Marie said, nudging my leg. "Here—have some wine. Liquid courage."

I grabbed a glass, pouring myself some as Liv smirked. "So, are you hoping for just a good time, or do you actually like this girl?"

I hesitated, swirling the wine in my glass. "I mean... I like her. I wouldn't be going if I didn't."

Stevie raised an eyebrow. "But?"

I shrugged, playing it cool. "No 'but.' I just—it's been a while since I've gone on a real date, you know? Feels weird."

Marie grinned. "Well, let's make one thing clear—if she doesn't treat you like the absolute queen you are, she's dead to us."

"Damn right," Liv added, clinking her glass against mine.

I laughed, shaking my head. "Noted. Now, help me pick out something to wear before I overthink this and cancel."

Marie and Stevie immediately jumped up, dragging me toward my room while Liv followed behind, already listing outfit ideas.

Yeah... I was definitely nervous. But with them hyping me up, maybe tonight wouldn't be so bad after all.

"How about this?" Stevie said, yanking a black corset top and matching skirt from my closet, holding them up with a triumphant grin.

Marie wrinkled her nose. "She's going on a date, not to a nightclub." She waved Stevie away and started rummaging through my clothes.

"So? Who says you can't dress sexy for a date?" Stevie shot back, tossing the outfit onto my bed. "Besides, if the date goes south, we might as well end up at the club anyway."

"Stevie!" Liv scolded, shaking her head.

Stevie just laughed, completely unapologetic.

"How about this?" Marie held up a gray sweater dress.

Stevie snorted. "And now you want her to dress like a grandma?"

Marie rolled her eyes. "It's cute and classy."

"Okay, okay," Liv cut in, stepping toward my closet. After a few seconds, she pulled out a red dress and held it up. "Now this—this is perfect. Sexy, but not 'let's pop bottles at the club' sexy."

I smiled, instantly recognizing one of my favorite dresses. "Liv, you really do know me too well."

"Finally, some good taste around here," Liv said with a smirk, giving Stevie a pointed look.

Stevie huffed. "Fine, I guess it's a good pick... even if it wasn't mine."

Marie grinned. "Red suits you. And it looks great against your skin."

"Maybe Gabby will even take it off," Stevie teased with a wicked grin.

"Stevie, you are trouble tonight," Liv shot her a glare, but Stevie just shrugged, completely unbothered.

Shaking my head, I grabbed the dress and slipped into the bathroom to change while they picked out shoes and jewelry. When I came back out, Stevie had a pair of strappy black heels in one hand, and Marie was holding a delicate silver necklace with a small bow charm.

"Okay, real question," Stevie said as she clasped the necklace around my neck. "What did Reya say about the date?"

I glanced at her in the mirror. "She didn't say much. Just wished me luck and said she was a call away."

That was the truth, but something about the way she said it lingered in my mind longer than it should have. Like she was expecting me to call.

Stevie and Liv exchanged a look.

I turned to them, narrowing my eyes. "What?"

"Nothing," they said in unison, way too quickly.

I gave them both a suspicious glare, but before I could push it further, Marie clapped her hands together.

"Alright, we've got a date to get you to. You ready?"

I took one last look in the mirror and smoothed my hands down the dress with a sigh. "Yeah. I think I am."

"It'll be okay," Liv whispered, squeezing my arm gently. "And just to reiterate what Reya said—we're only a call away too."

I gave her a small nod, my stomach twisting with nerves as I glanced outside. The Uber had just pulled up—I needed to leave now if I wanted to be on time.

"Seriously, thank you guys. For everything." I exhaled, forcing a smile. "Wish me luck."

"You don't need it, but good luck anyway," Marie said with a wink.

"Go knock her off her feet," Stevie added, grinning.

With one last glance at them, I grabbed my bag, took a deep breath, and stepped out the door.

I took one last deep breath before stepping out of the Uber. The restaurant in front of me was a warm glow against the cool night air, fairy lights strung along the patio, and soft music humming through the open doors. It was nice—classy but not intimidating, exactly the kind of place that made first-date nerves settle.

I adjusted my red dress, smoothing out the fabric before stepping inside. My eyes scanned the tables until I spotted Gabby sitting near the window, a glass of wine already in front of her. She looked up just as I walked in, a smile spreading across her face.

"Wow," she said as I approached. "You look incredible."

I felt my cheeks warm, but I played it cool. "Not too bad yourself."

Gabby stood up, leaning in for a quick hug before we sat down. From the moment we started talking, the conversation flowed effortlessly. She was funny, charming in a way that felt natural, and every time she laughed, it was like a little spark of excitement lit up inside me.

"So, hockey player and calculus tutor? Quite the combination," Gabby teased, swirling her wine.

I rolled my eyes playfully. "I wouldn't call myself a tutor. More like someone who's just barely surviving math."

"Relatable," she said with a smirk. "I was always more of a literature girl. Numbers and I do not get along."

"Well, I suck at metaphors, so I guess we balance each other out."

Gabby grinned, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Maybe. Guess we'll find out."

The food arrived, and everything still felt easy—good even. I started thinking maybe this night would actually go well. That maybe dating again, letting myself feel something new, wasn't such a bad idea.

And then, somewhere between dinner and the second glass of wine, everything shifted.

It started small. Gabby's teasing turned into something sharper, the jokes less lighthearted and more like little digs.

"So, you and Reya," she said, twirling her fork between her fingers. "What's going on there?"

I blinked. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, come on," she said with a dry laugh. "I saw the way she looked at you at the party. And you spend so much time together. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you two were a thing."

I frowned, setting my glass down. "We're not. We're just teammates and—friends, I guess."

Gabby raised an eyebrow. "Right. Friends."

Something about the way she said it made my stomach twist.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

She shrugged, picking at the last of her food. "Just saying, it wouldn't be the first time someone 'wasn't a thing' with their 'friend.'"

My grip tightened around my napkin. "If you have something to say, just say it."

Gabby leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "Fine. I just don't want to waste my time with someone who is interested in someone else."

My jaw clenched. "That's not what this is."

"Isn't it?" She challenged me.

I exhaled sharply, trying to push down the irritation bubbling in my chest. This date had started off fun and exciting. Now, it felt like I was being backed into a corner.

"Look," I said, forcing my voice to stay even. "I don't know what you're trying to get at, but I agreed to this date because I wanted to. If I didn't, I wouldn't be here."

Gabby studied me for a moment, then scoffed. "Whatever you say."

The tension sat heavy between us, thick enough to choke on. The spark from earlier? Completely gone.

When the check came, I reached for my wallet, but Gabby beat me to it.

"I got it," she said. "Wouldn't want you thinking I'm some jealous, insecure mess or whatever."

I sighed. "Gabby, that's not—"

"It's fine." She pulled out her card, signaling for the waiter. "This was fun, Zora. But I think we both know this isn't going anywhere."

The words hit harder than I expected. Maybe because I knew she was right. Maybe because a part of me had wanted this to go well so badly.

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. "Yeah. I guess so."

We didn't say much after that. Just an awkward goodbye before I stepped outside, pulling my phone from my bag.

Marie, Liv, and Stevie would probably still be up. Maybe one of them could come get me.

I dialed Marie first. No answer.

Tried Liv. Straight to voicemail.

Stevie? Nothing.

What are they doing?

Frustration burned in my chest as I scrolled down to the one name I didn't expect to call tonight. The one person who had said, without hesitation, that she was only a phone call away.

I hesitated for half a second before pressing call.

The phone barely rang twice before she answered.

"Zora?" Reya's voice was sharp with concern. "What's wrong?"

I exhaled, tension draining from my body at the sound of her voice.

"Can you pick me up?"

"Of course. Send me the address."

Reya's response came without hesitation, steady, and certain. The call ended before I could say anything else.

I stared at my screen for a moment before typing out my location with trembling fingers. My chest felt tight, my throat closing up as I fought to keep my breathing even, to stop the sting in my eyes from turning into full-blown tears.

I wasn't about to cry over this. Not over a girl I had half a date with.

The night air was cold, wrapping around me as I stood outside the restaurant, arms crossed tightly over my chest. I hated how hollow I felt—like all that excitement, all that hope I had before the date had been ripped out of me and replaced with something bitter.

Minutes passed, dragging slower than they should have. Every passing car had me glancing up, and when Reya finally pulled up to the curb, I let out a breath I didn't even realize I was holding.

She barely put the car in park before I climbed in, shutting the door behind me. The warmth of the car hit me instantly, but it was nothing compared to the warmth in Reya's gaze as she turned to look at me.

She didn't say anything at first. Just let the silence settle, let me breathe.

"You okay?" she asked after a moment, voice softer than I'd ever heard it.

I nodded, though it didn't feel entirely true. "Yeah. Just... ready to go home."

She didn't push. Just nodded and pulled back onto the road, the hum of the engine filling the space between us. I focused on the passing streetlights, on the rhythm of my own breathing.

It wasn't until we hit a red light that she spoke again.

"Do you wanna talk about it?"

I hesitated, then let out a slow sigh. "It just didn't go the way I thought it would."

Reya kept her eyes on the road, but I could tell she was listening—really listening.

"She was great at first," I continued. "Funny, easy to talk to. I actually thought... I don't know. That maybe this could go somewhere. But then, out of nowhere, it just shifted."

I shook my head, gripping my hands together in my lap. "She started making these comments, acting like I had something going on with you just because we spend a lot of time together. It was like she was looking for a reason to make me the bad guy."

Reya's hands tightened on the wheel, jaw clenching slightly. "That's ridiculous."

I let out a humorless laugh. "Yeah, well. It is what it is."

Silence settled again, heavier this time. I expected Reya to change the subject, to tell me that Gabby wasn't worth my time or that it was just one bad date and I'd get over it.

But she didn't.

Instead, she exhaled softly and said, "For what it's worth... you deserve better than that."

Something about the way she said it made my stomach flip.

I turned my head, watching her in the dim glow of the dashboard lights. Her face was unreadable, calm but serious. Her grip on the wheel was still a little too tight and her lips pressed together like she was holding something back.

And for some reason, I wanted to know what.

The rest of the ride was quiet, but it didn't feel awkward. Just... full. Like something unspoken hung between us, stretching wider with every second.

When Reya finally pulled up in front of my house, I reached for the door handle but hesitated, turning to her instead. "Thanks for picking me up."

She nodded. "Anytime."

I should've gotten out then. I should've said goodnight, shut the door, and left it at that.

But I didn't.

Instead, I sat there, caught in the weight of her gaze. The air between us shifted, just like it had in the car that night after practice when—

Reya moved before I could finish the thought.

Soft, hesitant, her lips brushed against mine. Just for a second. Just long enough for my breath to catch, for my heart to stutter in my chest.

And then, just as quickly, she pulled away.

The silence that followed was deafening.

She swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Sorry, I—"

"Don't be," I said, my voice steadier than I expected.

For a moment, neither of us moved. Then, slowly, I reached for the door handle again.

"Goodnight, Reya," I murmured before stepping out of the car.

I didn't look back as I shut the door. Didn't let myself think too hard about what had just happened.

But as I walked up to my front door, fingertips brushing against my lips, one thought echoed loud and clear in my head.

This changed everything.