CHAPTER SEVEN

chapter seven: the emerald letter:

The morning sun poured gently into Aria's room, casting a warm glow across her bed. The clock on her nightstand flashed 9:30 AM, but Aria remained deep in sleep, curled up under the blankets.

She had stayed up late the previous night, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts—her feelings for Ethan, the anonymous letters that kept appearing, and the unsettling feeling that came with not knowing who was behind them. Somewhere between overanalyzing every possibility and staring at the ceiling, she had forgotten to set an alarm.

The door suddenly burst open, and before Aria could even stir, a weight landed on top of her.

"Wake up already!" Lily's voice rang through the room as she bounced onto the bed. "We have like 30 minutes left!"

Aria groaned, her brain still clouded with sleep. She blinked up at Lily, trying to process her words. Then, it hit her.

"Oh my God!" Aria shot up abruptly, her eyes wide. "I'm so sorry, Lily! I totally forgot!"

She flung the covers off and rushed toward the bathroom, nearly tripping over a pair of sneakers on the floor.

Lily smirked, watching her scramble. "One of these days, girl, you're going to forget your own name," she teased. "And you better not pull this on homecoming night, or I swear—"

"Alright, alright, I hear you! I'm sorry!" Aria called over her shoulder as she disappeared into the bathroom.

Lily crossed her arms. "You better be!"

Aria shook her head with a smile as she stepped under the warm spray of the shower. She felt more awake now, the rush of water washing away the last traces of sleep.

Outside the bathroom, Lily stretched her arms lazily. "Anyways, I'm going down," she announced. "I'm gonna have some of your mom's delicious chocolate waffles."

Aria's voice echoed from the shower. "You glutton! You better save some for me!"

Lily chuckled as she headed for the door. "Then you better hurry up!"

With that, she left the room.

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Fifteen minutes later, Aria stepped out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her body. She hurried to her closet, pulling out a flowy blue short gown and pairing it with short black trousers. She slipped on a pair of black sneakers, grabbed her phone, and rushed downstairs.

In the kitchen, her mother was busy stacking new groceries and refilling the ones that had run out. Lily sat comfortably on the kitchen island, a plate of chocolate waffles drizzled with honey in her hand. The two were deep in conversation, laughing at something when Aria walked in.

She folded her arms and sighed dramatically. "Lily, I think we should just exchange mothers, because for some reason, Mom allows you and Ethan to sit on her kitchen island. But when I do it, I always almost lose my arms or my head!"

Lily burst into laughter, nearly choking on a piece of waffle. She jumped off the island and hugged Aria's mother. "That's because we're her sweethearts," she said smugly, shooting Aria a teasing look. "And you, my dear, are just a troublemaker."

Aria gave her an exasperated look while her mother simply smiled, shaking her head.

Rolling her eyes, Aria poured herself some coffee and grabbed a waffle, joining them as they continued chatting and laughing.

After a few more minutes, they finally got up to leave.

"Alright, let's go," Lily said, tossing her empty plate into the sink. "The salon awaits!"

With one last sip of her coffee, Aria grabbed her bag, and together, they headed out for their long-awaited salon day.

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Aria and Lily arrived at The Velvet Chair Salon, a chic establishment known for its elegant ambiance and top-notch services. The salon's interior boasted plush velvet chairs, crystal chandeliers, and a soothing color palette that immediately made clients feel pampered.

As they entered, a friendly receptionist greeted them and guided them to their seats. Soon, stylists began working on their hair while technicians attended to their nails.

They started with a wash and retouch to refresh their hair. Aria opted for a sleek, straight style, while Lily chose soft, bouncy coils that framed her face beautifully. As their hair was being styled, they simultaneously got their nails done—Aria picking a soft baby yellow polish, while Lily chose a deep sea blue shade.

Lily glanced at Aria through the mirror, a playful glint in her eye. "So, girl, any date for homecoming?"

Aria sighed, shaking her head. "Nope, I don't have one. I'll probably just go alone."

Lily raised an eyebrow. "What about your anonymous admirer? Did he ask you?"

Aria shrugged. "Nope, and even if he did, I don't think I'd accept because I don't know who he is."

Lily chuckled softly. "Silly, if he asks you, of course he'll reveal himself. And I'd advise you to accept. I don't know, but I have a feeling he's a good guy."

Aria looked thoughtful. "I don't know, Lily..."

Lily gave her a look of disbelief. "Didn't you say you were ready for a relationship?"

Aria nodded. "Yes, but—"

Lily cut her off. "No buts. Just go for it."

Aria glanced at her friend, and thoughts of Ethan briefly crossed her mind. "Alright, but all this is if… What if he doesn't ask?"

Lily grinned. "Then we'll get you a date."

Aria chuckled. "Fine then."

Minutes later, Aria looked at Lily, laughter in her eyes. "Lily, what if it's a girl?"

They both looked at each other and burst into laughter, clapping their hands.

Lily shook her head, still giggling. "Don't be ridiculous. That's funny."

After their salon treatments, feeling refreshed and looking their best, they headed back home. Before parting ways, they agreed to meet on Monday at school, both excited for the days ahead.

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The Monday morning buzz filled the school halls as students moved from one class to another. Aria sat in her seat, tapping her pen lightly against her notebook as the last period before the break came to an end. The bell rang, signaling the transition, and the classroom erupted with chatter as students stood to leave.

Ethan stretched his arms before grabbing his bag. He turned to Aria with his usual smirk. "Hey, I need to head to training. Catch you later?"

Aria nodded, returning the smile. "Alright, later."

They bumped fists before Ethan slung his bag over his shoulder and walked off with a few of his teammates. Aria stood up as well, making her way through the bustling hallway toward her locker.

As she reached it, she twisted the lock and pulled it open. Just as she did, a small envelope fluttered to the ground.

Her heart skipped a beat.

This one was different. Unlike the previous ones, this envelope was made of emerald green paper, adorned with golden royal designs, intricate swirls and patterns that made it look almost regal. Carefully, she picked it up, fingers brushing over the elegant texture.

Aria's breath hitched as she unfolded the letter, the elegant golden swirls on the emerald paper shimmering under the hallway lights. Her fingers trembled slightly as she read the words, her heartbeat drumming in her ears.

> My Dearest Aria,

I've watched you from afar, admired you in ways I can no longer keep hidden.

Every letter I've written has been a piece of my heart, but tonight… tonight, I finally want to give you all of it.

Would you do me the honor of being my date to homecoming?

No more secrets. No more hiding.

Meet me at the school's flower garden at 7:00 PM.

There, under the moonlight, I will finally stand before you.

And if you'll let me… I will prove that I was worth the wait.

Please, Aria… open your heart.

A shiver ran down her spine. The words were different this time—not just mysterious, but filled with emotion, raw and real.

Her fingers tightened around the paper as a single thought echoed in her mind.

Tonight… I'll finally know who he is.