The music had gotten louder, and the motel room was warmer now.
The old heater Tyler had fixed last winter hummed quietly in the corner, pushing out uneven waves of warmth that made the dusty room feel strangely cozy.
Vinny had taken over the mattress completely, laying on his stomach while shuffling the cards again.
"This time," he announced dramatically, "we are playing a real game."
Tyler snorted.
"You say that every time."
"Because you keep cheating every time."
"I do not cheat."
Cyma, sitting cross-legged beside the coffee table, raised an eyebrow.
"You absolutely cheat."
Vinny pointed at her.
"Thank you!"
Tyler looked offended.
"My own girlfriend betraying me."
Cyma smirked.
"You deserve it."
Kiara laughed from the couch.
For a moment the room felt normal again.
Just the five of them.
No drama.
No rumors.
No one leaving tomorrow.
Just noise, jokes, and the smell of old wood and cheap soda.
After another round of cards and Vinny loudly accusing everyone of conspiracy, Kiara slipped away from the table and walked toward the small hallway that led to the other motel rooms.
Cyma noticed.
She stood up a minute later and followed her.
Kiara was leaning against the doorway of the next room, staring out through a cracked window that looked over the empty parking lot.
Cyma walked in quietly.
"You hiding?"
Kiara glanced back and smiled.
"Maybe."
Cyma leaned against the wall beside her.
The room was still half empty except for an old dresser and a mattress they never bothered moving.
Dust floated in the dim yellow light.
For a moment they both just listened to the muffled sound of the others arguing in the main room.
Vinny's voice echoed faintly.
"I KNOW YOU SWITCHED THAT CARD."
Tyler's voice followed.
"I DIDN'T!"
Kiara laughed quietly.
"They've been arguing like that since the day we met them."
Cyma nodded.
"Some things never change."
Kiara turned toward her.
"Remember when we went to Vinny place for sleep over?"
Cyma blinked.
"When?"
"When Vinny tried to cook noodles in that electric kettle."
Cyma immediately groaned.
"Oh my god."
Kiara burst out laughing.
"He almost burned the whole place down."
"And we left Leo in the rest room for almost three hours."
"And Tyler kept making a jest of him."
Cyma covered her face, laughing now.
"I forgot about that."
Kiara smiled.
"That whole week was chaos."
Cyma nodded slowly.
"That was the week we decided to get here, we stayed up almost every night cleaning up this place "
"Yeah."
Kiara looked around the dusty room.
"Or Conner birthday"
"Your first night"
"Still can't believe it was with Peter"
Cyma laughed softly.
"And Leo kept caused the spark which worked."
"It did."
" I can still remember how we first met"
" Yeah, we sneaked into the bling party and you were there to deliver goods"
" Yep, then we got drunk"
" After my heartbreak"
" The night was chill"
" I still couldn't believe we survived a lot of things together"
" So real, the time Jenna tried to humiliate us at the house party"
" The one she falsely invited us to"
" Can't believe Jenna and Elena dated out friends"
" So cringe, but it's worth it at some point. No more drama queen mode"
" Yeah"
" Or the time we just joined sports and you had to run 99 laps almost everyday cause your coach despises you"
" She really hate my guts"
" And that guys won her a championship trophy, first id I'm not mistaken"
" I'm awesome"
They both chuckled
" You also started off bad at tennis, I mean you scolded and benched on the same day by your team leader"
" Victoria is a handful"
" Girl, you didn't even know how to serve"
" And now I'm one of the best players, son two or three medals already"
" Following your mum footsteps"
" Nah, I wouldn't put it like that"
"I still don't get the whole Jenna and Vinny thing"
" Oh, it's complicated"
" He fell for Victor girl friend before, the find blind girl"
" Cyma, she's deaf not blind"
" You sure, I think it's the two"
" Dani would definitely not forget how you tease him all the time"
" If not for my teasing he wouldn't have gotten Lucas"
" True"
" And when you were using Kelvin to make Peter jealous, you broke the poor guy heart"
" I didn't, I thought I liked him"
" Yeah you do"
They both smiled at the memory.
For a moment the guilt in Cyma's chest eased.
Those days and nights had been simple.
Before everything got complicated.
Before secrets.
Before this strange feeling that something in their group was slowly shifting.
Kiara nudged her shoulder lightly.
"You okay?"
Cyma blinked.
"Yeah."
"You've been quiet lately."
Cyma forced a small smile.
"Everyone keeps saying that."
"Because it's true."
Cyma looked away toward the window.
"Just thinking."
"About?"
Cyma shrugged.
"Stuff."
Kiara studied her face.
"You know you can tell me things too, right?"
Cyma nodded.
"I know."
The guilt pressed against her ribs again.
But she pushed it down.
Not tonight.
Tonight was supposed to be fun.
Tonight was supposed to be normal.
From the other room Vinny suddenly shouted.
"WHERE DID EVERYONE GO?!"
Tyler yelled back.
"They're hiding because you're losing!"
Vinny stormed into the hallway.
"There you two are!"
He pointed dramatically.
"We are starting a new game and everyone has to participate."
Kiara raised an eyebrow.
"What kind of game?"
Vinny grinned.
"The best kind."
"That doesn't explain anything."
"You'll see."
Cyma sighed.
"That's never a good sign."
Back in the main room, Vinny pushed the coffee table aside and sat in the middle of the floor.
Tyler immediately looked suspicious.
"Why are you sitting like that?"
"Because," Vinny said proudly, "we are playing Truth or Dare."
Leo groaned from the couch.
"No."
Kiara laughed.
"Yes."
Tyler pointed at Vinny.
"You're just doing this so you can ask stupid questions."
"That is exactly why."
Cyma sat beside Tyler.
"This is going to be a disaster."
Vinny clapped his hands.
"Perfect."
He spun an empty soda bottle in the center of the floor.
The bottle spun once.
Twice.
Then slowly stopped.
Pointing at Tyler.
Vinny grinned.
"Truth or dare?"
Tyler leaned back casually.
"Truth."
Vinny's eyes sparkled.
"Is Cyma the one who asked you out first?"
Tyler immediately looked at Cyma.
Cyma smirked.
"Answer it."
Tyler sighed dramatically.
"Yes."
Vinny slammed the floor.
"I KNEW IT!"
Kiara laughed.
"That actually makes sense."
Tyler shrugged.
"She was very persuasive."
Cyma elbowed him.
"Don't make it sound weird."
Vinny spun the bottle again.
This time it landed on Kiara.
"Truth or dare?"
Kiara smiled slightly.
"Truth."
Vinny leaned forward mischievously.
"What was the most fun night we ever had here?"
Kiara thought for a moment.
Then she smiled.
"The night before our exam"
Everyone looked at her.
"Why?" Tyler asked.
"Because that was the night we stayed here until sunrise."
Vinny nodded slowly.
"Oh yeah."
Leo chuckled faintly.
"That was the night Vinny tried to make pancakes with soda."
"They tasted fine!"
"They tasted like sugar and regret," Tyler said.
Everyone laughed.
Kiara leaned back against the couch.
"That night felt… perfect."
Cyma nodded quietly.
"Yeah."
No drama.
No secrets.
No one leaving tomorrow.
Just them.
For a little while longer, the motel filled with laughter again.
And the night stretched on like it didn't want to end.
The next morning, Kiara had packed and was on her way to the airport. The car hummed softly as Peter drove Kiara to the airport. The city lights streaked past, and Kiara leaned back in her seat, staring out the window, though her mind was buzzing with everything she wanted to say.
"So…" Peter broke the silence, glancing at her with that half-smile that made her heart skip. "You're really leaving today?"
Kiara nodded, biting her lip. "Yeah… I mean, I'm excited to see my dad and everything, but… it's weird leaving all of you behind."
Peter chuckled softly. "We'll survive… somehow."
Kiara turned toward him, eyes sparkling. "Peter… before I leave, I just want to tell you…" She paused, fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. "All the things I've been wishing for us."
Peter raised an eyebrow. "Wishing? Oh no… should I be scared?"
"Very," Kiara teased, leaning closer. "First, I want us to go on a proper public date. Like, no hiding, no sneaking around. Just us… holding hands, walking around, maybe grabbing ice cream or something stupid like that."
Peter smiled, a little amused. "Ice cream. Noted. Anything else?"
Kiara's grin grew wider. "Matching outfits. Like… really cute ones. You know, those ridiculous couple hoodies or those cheesy T-shirts. I want people to look at us and think, 'Yeah… they're adorable.'"
Peter laughed, shaking his head. "Adorable, huh? That's a first."
"Hey, don't you dare interrupt me," she said, pointing a finger at him playfully. "Next… photoshoots. Like, full-on, professional-looking pictures, but also fun ones where we make silly faces. I want memories we can laugh at later."
Peter's eyes softened. "You're serious, huh?"
"Of course!" Kiara said, leaning her head on his shoulder. "I want everything. Every little corny, ridiculous couple thing you can think of. I want it all before we go back to reality."
Peter let out a low chuckle, reaching over to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Alright, then. I guess we'll have to do all of that… eventually. Starting with… whatever you want first."
Kiara gasped dramatically. "You mean you'll do it all with me?"
"Every bit," Peter said, his voice soft. "Even the matching outfits."
Kiara grinned, leaning against him. "And when we take the photos… you promise no brooding, serious face. I want goofy, happy us. No moody Peter allowed."
Peter smirked. "Deal. I'll try to be goofy. No promises about the happy, though. I think you bring that out of me anyway."
She laughed, nudging his arm. "You're ridiculous. You know that?"
"I know," he said simply, his hand finding hers and giving it a gentle squeeze. "But hey… you make it easy."
The car ride passed with playful banter, laughter, and quiet moments where their hands stayed entwined. When they finally arrived at the airport, Kiara's excitement for Mexico was mixed with the bittersweet feeling of leaving Peter behind.
"I don't want to say goodbye," she murmured as he helped her with her bag.
Peter tilted her chin up, his smile soft but confident. "It's not goodbye. It's… see you soon. And when you come back, we'll do all those things you've been dreaming about. I promise."
Kiara's chest warmed, and she nodded, trying to keep her grin from turning into tears. "Okay… but you better not chicken out on any of it. Matching outfits, photoshoots, public dates… every single one."
"I wouldn't dare," Peter said, pulling her into a quick, playful hug before she had to go. "Go have fun in Mexico, Kiara. And don't forget… I'll be waiting."
Kiara laughed softly, standing on her toes to peck him on the cheek. "I'll hold you to that, Peter. Every single promise."
She waved as she walked toward the terminal, her heart full of excitement for the holiday and for all the dreams she and Peter would turn into memories once she returned.
***************
I would continue this book soon, in the meantime you can check out my other books that are out already. Thank you 🤗