i-Spy | A Stalker Romance

Chapter 5: La Stella nel Sangue

Stella stood in the doorway of her new apartment, boxes piled high around her, and felt a wave of both excitement and anxiety. This was her place, her sanctuary away from the tumultuous world of her family. Today, with the help of Rei and Sarah, she would finally move in and make it her own.

"Okay, ladies," Rei announced, hands on her hips, surveying the chaos. "Let's get this place in order!"

Sarah, ever the party animal, bounced into the room with a grin. "We should totally christen this place with a housewarming party! It'll be epic!"

Stella laughed, shaking her head. "Sarah, I haven't even unpacked yet. Let's get the basics sorted first."

"But that's the fun part!" Sarah insisted, opening a box and pulling out a bright pink lamp. "Look, decor! This place needs some life!"

Rei rolled her eyes but smiled. "First things first, let's set up the essentials. Bed, kitchen stuff, then we can think about parties."

The trio got to work, with Sarah providing a constant stream of chatter and jokes that kept the mood light. She found a stash of old CDs in one of Stella's boxes and insisted on playing them, much to everyone's amusement.

"Oh my God, Stella! Britney Spears? Seriously?" Sarah teased, holding up a CD cover.

Stella blushed, snatching it away. "Hey, Britney's a legend. No judgment!"

Rei laughed, nodding in agreement. "She's right, you know. 'Oops!... I Did It Again' is a classic."

Sarah suddenly perked up, rummaging through her bag. "Wait a minute! I have the perfect playlist for this!" She pulled out her phone and soon the room was filled with the energetic beats of BTS.

"Oh, you like BTS?" Stella asked, her eyes lighting up.

"Like? I'm an ARMY!" Sarah declared proudly, striking a dramatic pose. "Their music is everything. Their lyrics, their passion... Jimin is my ultimate bias."

Rei laughed, shaking her head. "I'm more of a Yoongi fan myself. His raps are killer."

Stella grinned, feeling a bit more at ease. "I haven't listened to them much, but I love their song 'Spring Day'. It's so beautiful."

Sarah's eyes widened in excitement. "Oh, girl, we are soooooo having a BTS night soon! I'll introduce you to all their songs and videos. It's a whole experience." Sarah went on and on about the group earning laughs from Rei and Stella at her pathetic Korean singing, that a native would have a heart attack upon hearing.

As they continued to unpack, Sarah recounted a hilarious story from her life. "So, get this. Back in high school, I tried to sneak into a concert. Not just any concert, a BTS concert. I had this elaborate plan involving a fake press pass and a lot of confidence. Long story short, I ended up being chased by security and hiding in a porta-potty for two hours. It was epic."

Stella and Rei burst into laughter, tears streaming down their faces. "No way! You actually did that?" Stella gasped.

"Yep," Sarah said proudly. "No regrets. Though, I did miss the concert."

"Classic Sarah," Rei said, shaking her head. "Always living on the edge."

"Come on! I cannot be the only crazy teen here! I'm sure Stella must have had some hilarious adventures too!" Sarah poked Stella. 

"Go on... I know you want toooo..." she cooed. 

Stella smiled, thinking back. "Well, I've never had a fangirl moment, but my cousin Jenna and I once pranked my twin brothers. We made them believe that the house was haunted by setting up these elaborate traps and spooky sounds. They were terrified for days! Duncan and Castor even tried to convince Mom to get the house exorcised!"