Let your heart decide.

The weekend was here and the girls had planned on having a girls' night in at Leah's. Leah appeared at the dorm that evening, swinging the keys to her off-campus place like she was holding the golden ticket to a grand adventure. Sophia and Ivy were already packed, eager to escape the school vibe for a night. It wasn't a long walk to Elmwood, but it felt like a mini road trip—the kind where the air smelled fresher and the evening sun cast a soft, warm glow over the trees.

As they strolled through the quiet pathways, Leah kept stopping every few feet. "Wait, wait, you guys, look at that sunset!" she shouted, whipping out her phone. Sophia and Ivy groaned but still posed next to a random tree, laughing at how ridiculous they probably looked. The glow of the setting sun kissed their faces, and Leah proudly declared, "This one's going straight to Instagram."

"Yeah, just make sure you tag me," Ivy said, rolling her eyes but smiling. "I need all the followers I can get."

Leah snorted. "Girl, if that tree gets more likes than me, I'm suing."

Sophia giggled, enjoying the relaxed vibe, the feel of her steps lighter than they'd been all week. There was something about these walks, the random conversations, and taking silly pictures that made everything else feel far away. It was the kind of carefree moment she needed after a day of racing nerves and awkward hugs.

---

Leah's place was a cute little apartment in Elmwood, decked out with mismatched furniture and colorful blankets that screamed personality. The second they stepped inside, Ivy practically threw herself on the couch, letting out an exaggerated groan.

"This... is... heaven," she said, stretching her arms dramatically. "Why don't we do this more often?"

Leah grinned, tossing Sophia a pillow before flopping next to Ivy. "Because some of us have lives," she said, smirking.

Sophia settled in, laughing as she propped herself up with a pillow. "Define 'life.' Does binge-watching three seasons of a series in one day count?"

"Oh, absolutely," Leah said without missing a beat. "But only if you cry at least twice during it."

As the night went on, the casual jokes turned into those deeper conversations that only happen when you're with people you trust. Leah brought out snacks—chips, popcorn, some weird but delicious dip—and soon enough, the conversation took a turn toward the one thing that had been on Sophia's mind: Sam.(Too bad it's not even his real name)

"So," Leah said, kicking back and wiggling her eyebrows, "are we gonna talk about it, or are you gonna pretend you're not blushing every time his name comes up?"

Sophia's face instantly warmed. "I'm not blushing!"

Ivy, who had been quietly munching on popcorn, raised an eyebrow. "Oh, you are. It's cute though."

Sophia groaned, grabbing a pillow and hugging it to her chest. "Okay, fine. Yes, I've been hanging out with him. But it's not like... I don't know, anything serious."

Leah leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. "Soph, listen. I know you're into him, and he seems... alright. But don't you think it's a bit risky? He's surrounded by girls all the time. That's not me being jealous; I'm just saying, I don't want you to get hurt."

Sophia hesitated, chewing on her lip. "I know he's popular or whatever. But it's not like he's given me any reason to worry."

Leah sighed, her tone softening. "Look, I'm not saying don't have fun. Just... be careful, okay? I've seen this before. The guy with options usually doesn't settle down with the first girl that likes him."

Ivy, ever the calm voice of reason, chimed in. "Or, you could just, you know, let your heart decide?" She shrugged, popping another chip into her mouth. "What's the worst that could happen? You'll either find out he's the real deal, or you'll have a really good story to tell."

Sophia looked between the two of them, their contrasting advice making her head spin. Leah's words rang with a caution she knew she should heed, but Ivy's carefree attitude tempted her more. Maybe Leah was right. Maybe this thing with Ethan wasn't going to last... but part of her didn't want to believe that just yet.

"Maybe I'll take the 'let's see what happens' approach," Sophia said, trying to sound more confident than she felt.

Leah sighed dramatically. "Alright, just don't come crying to me when he inevitably becomes 'just another guy' story."

Ivy rolled her eyes. "You're such a pessimist, Leah."

"I prefer 'realist,'" Leah corrected, smirking. "There's a difference."

---

Later that night, as Sophia lay on the couch, trying to find some semblance of peace, she picked up her phone and hesitated. Her fingers hovered over the screen before she finally texted Sam.(Ethan's alias)

Hey, I'm in Elmwood tonight with the girls.

The response came faster than she expected.

Elmwood? Why didn't you say so earlier? You should stop by tomorrow. I can show you my place.

Her heart did a little flip, and she smiled at her phone, trying to push away Leah's words that still echoed in the back of her mind. It was just an invite. A casual offer. Nothing more.

Maybe I will, she typed back, feeling the excitement building. Her stomach twisted with excitement, but then reality hit—what was she going to wear? She sat up straight, eyes wide with mild panic, her thoughts racing as fast as her heart. "Oh no... what do I wear?" she whispered to herself, rifling through her mental closet inventory. Every option suddenly seemed either too casual or too try-hard, and she definitely didn't want to look like she'd spent hours planning an outfit, even though that's exactly what she was doing.

Leah glanced over at her with a sly grin. "Let me guess... wardrobe crisis because of someone?"

Sophia covered her face with a pillow, groaning. "He wants me to see his place tomorrow but I don't want to look like I'm trying too hard,I also don't want to look like I didn't try at all! Help me, I'm spiraling!"

Ivy laughed, tossing a handful of popcorn into her mouth. "Honestly, just throw on your jeans and a cute top. If he's into you, he won't even notice the outfit—he'll just be focused on you."

"Yeah, but what if it's the wrong vibe?" Sophia whined, sitting up and pulling her legs under her. "Like, what if I wear something too casual and he thinks I don't care? Or if I dress up too much and he thinks I'm obsessed or something?"

Leah smirked, raising her eyebrow. "You are overthinking this, you know that, right?"

Sophia groaned louder, flopping back onto the bed. "I know! But still, I want to look... like the cool, effortlessly put-together girl he thinks I am. Not the panicking mess I actually am."

Leah and Ivy exchanged knowing glances, and Leah rolled her eyes playfully. "Girl, trust me—he's not the type to notice every little thing. But if you're really that stressed, we can help you plan the perfect 'I didn't try but actually I tried really hard' look."

Sophia's eyes lit up. "Please!"

And just like that, the night turned into a mini fashion show, with Sophia parading different outfits for her friends to critique, their laughter filling the room as they threw out goofy suggestions and helped her pick the perfect balance between casual and cute.

On Ethan's end, he leaned back in his chair, running a hand over his braids. He reread the message, already thinking about how he'd tidy up his place—just in case. There was something different about seeing her outside of the usual hangouts. His mind wandered to how she laughed, the way her eyes lit up when she told stories, and how she always seemed to bring an energy he couldn't quite put into words.

He wasn't one for planning, but this time, he wanted to be ready.

Tomorrow was going to be interesting.