Daylight - Paige Bueckers

i've never done this before

February 17th, 2024

Naomi's POV:

The house was buzzing with pre-night-out energy, music pumping through the Bluetooth speaker while everyone rushed around the living room and kitchen, fixing their makeup and trying to decide on outfits. My room was a mess—clothes strewn everywhere, mirrors smudged with fingerprints from quick touch-ups—but I didn't care. That's just how nights like these were.

I was standing in front of my mirror, carefully swiping on mascara, when Sarah popped her head in from the hallway.

"Yo, how much longer are you gonna take?" she asked, half-joking. "We've been ready for ages."

"You could help me figure out my hair if you're in such a rush," I shot back, flashing a grin. Sarah was one of those people who could throw on anything and look perfect, while I always felt like I needed to spend an extra thirty minutes just to catch up.

Cassie walked into the room next, holding up two pairs of earrings. "Gold hoops or studs?" she asked, not waiting for an answer before trying them on in the mirror behind me.

Maggie was lounging on my bed, scrolling through her phone like she wasn't about to hit the dance floor later. Everyone was in their usual spots, a kind of unspoken routine whenever we were getting ready for a night at Ted's.

"So, what's the deal with you and Nika?" Alex asked suddenly, walking into the room and plopping down next to Maggie on the bed. Her voice was casual, but I could see her glance at me in the mirror, her eyebrows raised. She wasn't the only one curious.

I blinked, pausing mid-brushstroke. "What do you mean?"

Sarah, who had just finished fixing her eyeliner, chimed in from the doorway. "Don't play dumb. Everyone saw the kiss last time."

I felt a familiar warmth creep up my neck as the memories of that night flashed in my mind—Nika and I, after Ted's, that kiss that felt more than just friendly. "I mean, yeah, we kissed," I said, playing it off with a shrug. "But I don't know... it's complicated."

Maggie sat up now, interested. "Complicated how?"

I let out a small sigh, setting down my mascara and turning to face them. "It's just—ugh, I don't know. Nika's my friend, right? We've always had that kind of playful thing going on, but after we kissed, it felt... different."

Cassie nudged me lightly. "Different how?"

"Like, not just a friendly thing anymore," I admitted. "I can't stop thinking about it, but I don't know if she's feeling the same way or if it was just a drunk, in-the-moment thing for her."

Alex was grinning now, clearly enjoying the drama. "Girl, if she kissed you again after New Year's, it wasn't just a one-time thing."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, but you know how Nika is. She's always messing around, flirting with everyone."

"Not like that," Alex said, shaking her head. "She's different with you. We've all seen it."

Sarah hopped onto the bed next to Alex, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, you two have some serious chemistry."

I bit my lip, glancing down at my hands. They were right, and a part of me knew it, but there was still that hesitation. I wasn't about to dive into something without knowing where Nika stood.