after the split of the girl group, "aubrey's angels," rising star karianah hayes is thrust into the spotlight, navigating the challenges of becoming a solo artist. with tensions high and old friendships crumbling, karianah's world is turned upside d...
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4:58 pm. 📍mercer hotel, nyc.
We all ended up sleeping in way later than any of us expected. By the time I opened my eyes and checked the clock, it was already past noon. The sunlight peeked through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. I could hear the faint sounds of the city outside, but inside, it was calm—just what we needed after the chaos of the last few days.
I stretched, yawning as I noticed the others slowly waking up too. Ariel was the first to sit up, rubbing her eyes, while Summer groaned and threw the blankets over her head. Mariah, always the late sleeper, was still knocked out, her arm draped over her face.
"Morning... or should I say afternoon?" Ariel said with a chuckle, looking at the clock.
I laughed. "Afternoon routine it is."
We all eventually got up, taking turns in the bathroom to freshen up. After my shower, I felt more awake, and the day didn't seem so overwhelming. Despite waking up late, we still did our usual routine—skincare, hair, a little bit of makeup—like we had all the time in the world.
Once everyone was up and moving, we ordered room service. The food arrived pretty quickly—pancakes, eggs, bacon, fruit platters, and of course, coffee. We sat in a circle on the floor of the hotel room, eating breakfast-for-lunch, laughing about the events of the trip, and half-dreading the journey back home.
By the time we finished eating, it was already 5:20, and we realized we had to pack up for our flight back to San Francisco.
"Can you believe we're leaving tonight?" Mariah said, glancing at the clock. "Where did the day go?"
"I know, right? Feels like we just got here," Summer added, stuffing clothes back into her suitcase. "But I can't wait to get home and sleep in my own bed."
"Same," I said, folding the last of my clothes. "At least we've got a little time before our flight."
We packed up our stuff as quickly as we could, trying not to leave anything behind. Our flight was at 8 p.m., and though we had a little time, it was already creeping up on us. I zipped up my suitcase, feeling a mix of excitement and relief. As much as I loved New York, I was ready to get back to The Bay and figure out what was next.
Time flew by faster than we expected as we scrambled to finish packing and prepare to leave the Mercer Hotel. The energy in the room was relaxed, with everyone focused on getting their things together. But that calm was suddenly shattered when Mariah, who had been scrolling through her phone, gasped.
"Uh, guys, check The Shade Room right now," she said, her voice filled with concern.
I paused, mid-zip on my suitcase, and grabbed my phone. The rest of the girls did the same, the atmosphere in the room quickly shifting as we opened the app and saw what Mariah was talking about. Sure enough, there was a fresh post about us.
