31. Brielle

The door bangs open. Callie's there, panting like she's run a marathon, her eyes wide with excitement.

"Get up, Brielle! You have to come with me, like, now!" Her hands are on her knees, her chest heaving as she catches her breath.

I'm still in bed, tangled in sheets that smell faintly of lavender, the morning light casting a warm glow across the room. I blink away the last vestiges of sleep and sit up.

"Callie, what—" My question dies on my lips as she grabs my arm, pulling me up.

"Trust me," she insists, her grin infectious. "You're not going to want to miss this."

She pushes some clothes into my arms, not listening to any protests from me as I quickly get dressed.

Dad's voice carries from the hallway. "Is it Christmas already, or is Callie just auditioning for the role of town crier?" He leans against the doorframe, his smile crinkling the corners of his eyes, a day's stubble shadowing his jaw.

"Very funny, Jim," Callie shoots back, but she's laughing too.

He walks over, ruffling my hair—a gesture that once annoyed me, but now feels like a piece of home I don't want to lose. He presses some bills into my hand. The paper is crisp, fresh.

"Go have fun, kiddo. Congratulations on…whatever has Callie this worked up." His chuckle is warm, wrapping around us like a blanket.

"Thanks, Dad," I say, pocketing the money. There's a part of me that wants to stay, to soak up more of these simple moments, but Callie's eager tug at my sleeve pulls me toward adventure.

"Come on, Brie! We've got a day to conquer!"

And just like that, I'm swept up in Callie's whirlwind.

* * *

We burstinto the nail salon, a bell tinkling above us. The sharp scent of polish and acetone hits me, grounding me in the here and now. Callie practically bounces on the balls of her feet, steering us toward our usual spot.

"Okay, so guess what happened this morning?" she blurts before her butt even hits the chair. Her honey-brown eyes are sparkling with secrets.

"Tell me," I urge, settling next to her, my curiosity piqued despite myself.

"This guy, this absolutely cute guy—like, magazine-model cute—he bought my coffee out of nowhere. And then he asked me out!" Her hands flutter like excited birds, almost smacking the nail technician who approaches with a smile.

"Wow, that's…that's great, Cal." The words feel genuine because they are. She's glowing, and part of me warms just watching her.

"Yup! Can you believe it?" She wiggles her fingers, deciding on a color. Her choice is bold, vibrant—a reflection of the high note in her life.

"Sounds like a fairy tale," I say, choosing a more subdued shade for my own nails.

The nail technician paints a streak of soft pink over my nails, the color almost translucent. I watch the brush glide, each stroke smooth and sure. Callie's voice is a warm hum in the background, her laughter a melody of pure joy.

"Then he says, ‘How about tomorrow?'" She's practically vibrating with excitement, recounting each detail like it's precious.

"Tomorrow?" My voice catches, a twinge in my chest. "That's fast."

"Life's too short for waiting, right?" she says, eyes alight.

I nod, smile. I'm happy for her, I am. But her story's simplicity highlights my own chaos. One guy, one date. Meanwhile, I'm tangled up with three—Conrad, Levi, Grayson. Each of them different, pulling me in separate directions.

"Hey." Callie's voice cuts through my thoughts, her hand warm on mine, pausing the technician. "What's going on with you? You've been…quiet."

"Quiet?" I feign ignorance, but my cheeks heat up under her gaze.

"Come on, Brielle. Spill." Her eyes are piercing, insistent.

A sigh escapes me. The truth bubbles up, ready or not. "I think I'm falling for the professors, Callie. All of them." The words feel heavy, full of a strange gravity as they hang between us.

"Wow." She blinks, then her expression softens. "That's…intense. But kind of hot too?"

"Intense, yeah." My laugh is more of a breath, a release of tension. "I just don't know what it means. For my future, you know?"

"Who says it has to mean anything right now?" Callie's hand squeezes mine before releasing it to the technician again. "Sometimes, Brielle, you just gotta ride the wave."

"Easy for you to say," I mutter, but there's a smile tugging at my lips. Her carefree spirit is infectious—even if figuring out my heart feels like navigating a maze without a map.

"Conrad's class is taking a field trip next week," I say, breaking the silence that had settled between us.

"Really?" Callie perks up, her eyes lighting up with mischief. "You should totally go."

I bite my lip. "Yeah, it could be…nice."

"Nice? Girl, this is your chance!" Callie grabs my hand, making me smudge a nail. We both wince, but then she's grinning again. "To figure things out. And who knows, maybe have some unexpected fun?"

"Fun," I echo, the word rolling off my tongue like something foreign yet enticing.

Callie hops out of her seat as the technician finishes, and I follow suit, the chair squeaking behind me. She's already at the door, bursting with an energy that seems to pull me along.

"Let's hit the stores," she declares, striding down the sidewalk with purpose. "You need to look drop-dead gorgeous for this field trip. And any ‘accidental' run-ins with the other professors."

"Shopping isn't really my thing," I protest half-heartedly, knowing it's futile.

"Today, it is." Callie links her arm with mine.

* * *

In store after store,we dive into racks of clothes, textures and colors blending together.

Callie tosses a slinky dress over the fitting room door, and I catch it, the fabric cool against my skin.

"Try it on!" Her voice is a command wrapped in excitement.

Slipping into the dress, I scrutinize myself in the mirror. It clings in all the right places, accentuating curves I often hide. My reflection surprises me…

"Wow," I breathe out, meeting my own gaze.

"Let me see!" Callie's insistent knocking follows her words.

Stepping out, I watch her reaction—the wide eyes, the open mouth.

"Hot damn, Brie. You're on fire!"

I laugh, a sound that feels light and airy, like the bubbles in champagne. For a moment, the complications of my heart don't weigh so heavy.

"Okay, okay," I concede, twirling once. "Maybe this shopping thing isn't so bad after all."

"Knew you'd come around." Callie beams, her approval wrapping around me like a warm embrace. "Now let's find you a few more options. Conrad won't know what hit him."

"Or Levi or Grayson," I add, a flicker of daring igniting in my chest.

"Or them." Callie winks, and we dive back into the fray of fabrics and possibilities, our laughter mingling with the hum of the city around us.