Evaline:

If someone had asked me yesterday what a "girls' day out" looked like, I would have said something simple. Maybe brunch. Maybe shopping. Maybe gossip while doing face masks.

I would not have guessed… whatever this was.

Because apparently, Mallory, Ria, and Selene's idea of a girls' day out included:

Leaving home at ten in the morning.

Driving to Mapleton Town.

Watching a movie that made all four of us combust with laughter and tears.

Eating lunch at a tiny-but-fancy restaurant where Ria almost cried because her dessert "looked too pretty to eat."

Shopping until our feet begged for mercy.

Having dessert again at a cozy bakery because Selene said the universe would implode if we didn't try the chocolate mousse.

And then...

"Camping night!" Mallory announced with her usual enthusiasm, her arms thrown wide as our car rolled to a stop on the cliff.

I blinked, slightly dazed.

"Camping," I repeated. "As in… outdoors?"

"Well, not completely outdoors," Selene said, pointing ahead.

That was the moment I saw the two camping vans parked at the cliffside.

These were the camping vans that were spacious enough for all seven of us, equipped with tiny kitchenettes, adjustable lights, heating, and... thank the moon goddess... comfortable beds.

We weren't "roughing it."

We were "softening it."

I laughed as I climbed out of the car.

And then my laughter grew, because three familiar figures stepped out of one of the camping vans.

Kyros.

Rowan.

Noah.

"Oh goddess, finally!" Noah exclaimed the moment he spotted us. He practically sprinted toward me, arms wide. "Do you have any idea how much suffering I endured knowing you were enjoying a whole day without me?"

He wrapped me in a hug that lifted my feet off the ground.

I smacked his arm. "We literally spoke on the phone three hours ago!"

"Three hours," he repeated dramatically. "That's practically a millennium."

I shook my head but couldn't hold back the smile.

Kyros approached next, grabbing Ria and me at the same time and pulling us into a big brother–like hug.

"You girls look exhausted," he noted, raising a brow.

"We shopped," Ria replied with a deadpan expression. "For four hours."

"That explains it." Kyros chuckled.

Then Rowan stepped forward.

I didn't realize how much I had missed him until I hugged him.

"It feels like it's been forever," I murmured.

"Just eight days," he said, patting my hair. "But yeah… I missed you too."

Warmth bloomed in my chest.

Even though I saw them often and we texted every day, being with them in person always felt different.

Like stepping back into a safe, loud, chaotic piece of my past.

We moved toward the camping vans, the cliffside air brushing cool wind across my face. The scene was stunning - the cliff overlooked a vast forest, stretching endlessly under the late afternoon sunlight.

Below us, the trees rustled like they were whispering secrets. Above us, clouds gathered... dark and heavy, hinting at rain.

Mallory clapped her hands.

"Alright, girls, duty calls! Time to set up the fire!"

Ria groaned. "Teach me again how not to burn my eyebrows off."

"You only burned them once," Noah said supportively. "And honestly, it wasn't that noticeable."

Ria punched his shoulder.

I laughed as I pulled out my phone to message my mates before joining the chaos.

Reached Mapleton Cliffside Camping Site, and the boys are here too.

Signal might get weak if it rains. Will call later.

Within seconds, Oscar texted back.

Send pics, sweetheart. I miss you.

Next text came from Kieran.

Have a great time and look after yourself.

I smiled and pocketed my phone, warmth blooming in my chest. Even with all their possessiveness and jealousy, my mates always made my heart feel full.

"Eva! Are you helping or daydreaming?" Selene called.

"Coming!" I jogged toward them.

We gathered around a metal fire ring, and with some teamwork... mostly Kyros, honestly... we got the fire going.

Soon, the scent of marinated chicken filled the air.

The sky grew darker, not just with evening shadows but with incoming storm clouds.

The wind picked up, cool and comforting.

"Why does grilled chicken taste better outdoors?" Mallory wondered out loud.

"Because air seasoning exists," Noah declared with complete confidence.

Rowan snorted. "That's not even a thing."

"It is now."

Our laughter merged with the crackling of the flames.

I sat cross-legged on a blanket, a plate balanced on my knee, savoring the warmth of both the food and the people around me.

Roasted chicken.

Spicy corn.

Warm bread.

Selene's mother's homemade dip.

And the faint rumble of thunder in the distance.

Perfect.

Absolutely perfect.

After dinner, we gathered all the plates and cleaned up.

The sky fully darkened now.

"We should head inside before it rains," Ria said.

"Agreed," Rowan replied.

We split into two groups - girls in one van, boys in the other.

The soft pitter-patter started just as we closed the door.

Light at first.

Gentle.

Almost musical.

I made myself comfortable on the bed in the back corner of the van, plugging in my charger and flopping onto my stomach.

"Want to call the babies?" Mallory asked with a teasing grin.

"Only one baby," I corrected, smiling.

I opened the video call.

Oscar's face appeared instantly, his eyes brightening.

"Finally!" he said. "We all have been waiting."

He then turned the camera and Lioren's face filled my screen.

My heart melted into a puddle.

"Oh sweetheart…"

I kissed my fingers and pressed them to the screen.

"How's my little boy?"

He giggled.

Oscar leaned closer. "Just missing you."

"I miss you guys too," I said softly.

We talked for few more minutes before I ended the call.

The rain had grown louder by now.

Stronger.

Steady and soothing.

The soft orange lights inside the van made everything feel warm and calm.

Ria was already half-asleep.

Selene was writing something in her journal.

Mallory was organizing the snacks like a general preparing for war.

And me?

I tucked myself under the blanket, listening to the storm.

The rhythmic tapping eased the tension in my body.

The warmth of the van wrapped around me like a hug.

And slowly… gently… peacefully…

I drifted off to sleep.

The last thing I heard was thunder rolling softly in the distance... like the sky itself singing a lullaby.