Shooting star

morning after

Adeline's POV

The morning after the party found Adeline Sinclair nursing a mild headache and a lingering sense of contentment. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt so relaxed and carefree. As she sat at the kitchen table, sipping on a cup of coffee, her phone buzzed with a text from Hadley.

Hadley: Breakfast at our spot? Need to debrief about last night 

Adeline smiled, grateful for the opportunity to catch up with her best friend. She quickly replied, agreeing to meet at their favorite local restaurant. After grabbing her keys and wallet, she headed out the door, the fresh morning air helping to clear her head.

When she arrived at the restaurant, she found Hadley already seated at their usual booth, a plate of pancakes in front of her. Adeline slid into the seat across from her.

"Morning, sunshine," Hadley said, taking a sip of her orange juice. "How's the head?"

Adeline chuckled, rubbing her temples. "Slightly better, thanks. How about you?"

Hadley shrugged. "A little tired, but nothing a good breakfast can't fix. So, spill. How was the party last night?"

Adeline grinned, the events of the previous evening flooding back to her. "It was... interesting. Beau ended up saving me from this guy who wouldn't take no for an answer."

Hadley's eyes widened with interest. "Beau Kennedy? What happened?"

Adeline recounted the encounter with Josh and how Beau had intervened, her admiration for the basketball captain evident in her voice. "It was just nice to know she had my back, you know?"

Hadley nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Sounds like things are heating up between you two."

Adeline felt a flush creep up her cheeks. "I don't know about that. We're just friends."

"Sure, just friends who save each other from creepy guys at parties," Hadley teased, taking a bite of her pancakes.

Adeline rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile. "Anyway, after that, we ended up talking on Jenna's dock for a while. Beau told me why she doesn't drink."

"Huh, I didn't know that," Hadley said, her gaze flicking to Adeline with interest. "That must have been a pretty vulnerable moment for her."

"Yeah, it was," Adeline agreed. "But it felt... nice. Like we were really connecting, you know?"

Hadley smiled, reaching across the table to squeeze Adeline's hand. "I'm happy for you, Addie. You deserve someone who gets you."

Adeline squeezed Hadley's hand back, feeling a rush of gratitude for her best friend. "Thanks, Hadley. I'm just taking it one day at a time."

As they finished their breakfast, Adeline couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. She hadn't told Hadley about the full extent of her feelings for Beau, about how she couldn't stop thinking about her. Hadley was the only one who knew Adeline liked girls, and she wasn't sure if she was ready to share this new development just yet. But as she looked at Hadley's supportive smile, she knew that when the time was right, she could count on her best friend to be there for her, no matter what.

Just as they were about to leave, Adeline heard a familiar voice behind her. She turned to see Beau and Eden entering the restaurant, and a smile spread across her face. It seemed like fate had other plans for their morning.

Beau's POV

Morning sunlight streamed through the windows of our favorite breakfast spot, casting a warm glow over the table. As Eden and I settled into our booth, I couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over me. The events of the previous night still lingered in my mind, and the prospect of spending time with Adeline and Hadley only added to my excitement.

"Morning, you two," I greeted them with a smile as they approached our table.

"Hey, Beau," Adeline said, her smile brightening the room. "Mind if we join you?"

"Of course not," I replied, gesturing for them to take a seat. "Pull up a chair."

As Adeline and Hadley settled in, the conversation flowed easily between us. We talked about school, our upcoming classes, and the soccer team's upcoming home opener game, which Hadley seemed particularly excited about.

"I can't wait for our first game," Hadley exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement. "We're going to crush it."

"Definitely," Adeline agreed, a determined glint in her eyes. "We've been training hard, and I think we're ready to show everyone what we're made of."

I nodded in agreement, feeling a surge of pride for Adeline and her team. "I'll definitely be there to cheer you on. It's going to be an epic game."

"Actually," Adeline said, her gaze meeting mine, "the basketball team's support would mean a lot to us."

Eden and I exchanged a glance, and I could see the excitement mirrored in her eyes. "Count us in," I replied with a grin. "We'll be there to cheer you on, loud and proud."

Adeline smiled, a warmth spreading through her gaze. "Thanks, Beau. It means a lot to us."

A thought occurred to me, and I couldn't help but voice it. "Hey, what if we showed our support by wearing your jerseys?"

Adeline's eyes lit up with excitement. "That's a great idea! We can give our away jerseys to the basketball girls of our choice for them to wear during the game."

"That sounds perfect," Hadley chimed in, her smile wide. "It'll be a great way to show our solidarity."

As we finished our breakfast and said our goodbyes, I felt a surge of excitement for the days ahead. The home opener game was just around the corner, and I couldn't wait to see Adeline and Hadley shine on the field. And as I watched them go, I knew that no matter what the future held, I would always be there to cheer them on, every step of the way. I just hope Adeline lets me wear her jersey.