MIA

Jackson opened the back door for me as Miles shot us a frustrated look, his lips pursed in that "big brother" way. I smiled awkwardly at Jackson and whispered, "Thank you," as I slid into the backseat. He closed the door for me before walking around to the front, settling in beside Miles.

Then, there was silence.

But not the uncomfortable kind. It was the nice, peaceful kind, where everything felt... right. Miles reversed the car and began driving us home. I kept stealing glances at him in the rearview mirror, waiting for him to start lecturing Jackson or me. But nothing came. He just drove in silence, his face focused, and to my surprise, I didn't mind the quiet.

The ride was short, and before I knew it, we were pulling up in front of our house. I bit my lip, trying to think of something to say to break the tension that I felt building up.

"Umm... are you coming in, Miles?" I asked, my voice a little too eager.

"Nope," he replied flatly, not even glancing back at me. "I have to drop Jackson off. His mom's waiting for him."

"Oh, okay." I nodded, though he couldn't see it. My eyes drifted to Jackson, who was fiddling with his seatbelt. I wasn't sure what to do next. Should I hug him? Wave goodbye? Hugging seemed too much with Miles sitting there, so I decided to go for the safe option.

"See you tomorrow, Jackson," I said, trying to keep it casual as I pushed open the door and stepped out. My heart pounded in my chest, but I didn't dare look back at him. If I did, I'd probably blush and embarrass myself.

Just as my foot touched the ground, I heard him call my name. "Mia?"

I turned, glancing over my shoulder at him. "Yeah?"

His eyes locked on mine, and he flashed me that signature smile that made my heart flip. "How does 5:30 sound?"

I blinked, confused for a second, then realized what he meant-our date. My heart practically jumped out of my chest. "Sounds good," I replied, trying not to sound too excited.

"Good?" He teased, leaning a little closer from his seat.

I nodded, a shy smile tugging at my lips. "Yeah, good."

He mirrored my nod, his smile growing. "Okay, good."

Without thinking, I reached out and cupped his cheek with my hand, leaning in to give him a quick kiss. The warmth of his skin under my fingertips made my heart flutter. The moment my lips brushed his, I pulled back, feeling a rush of adrenaline as Miles groaned loudly from the front seat. Before either of them could react, I scrambled out of the car, shutting the door behind me and darting into the house like my life depended on it.

Once inside, I caught my breath and peeked through the curtains just in time to see Miles driving off with Jackson.

"I'm so proud of you," a voice suddenly whispered from behind me.

"AH!" I nearly jumped out of my skin, spinning around to see Maddy grinning from ear to ear. "Maddy! What are you doing up?"

She sat on the stairs, wearing her favorite pink pajamas and clutching the teddy bear Ethan gave me. "I was waiting for something exciting to happen. And it did!" She wiggled her eyebrows dramatically. "But next time, make it slow."

I blinked, still recovering from the shock. "What?"

"The kiss, Mia. I saw it." She grinned mischievously. "It was cute and all, but a little too quick for my taste."

I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks. "You were spying on me?"

She shrugged. "Just a little. And Jackson wasn't even that shocked by it, which means..." Her eyes narrowed on my lips, and suddenly, she gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. "You two kissed before, didn't you? Under the rain?!"

How did she- Ugh, this girl was way too good.

"Go to bed, Maddy," I groaned, already heading toward the stairs.

Before I could escape, she grabbed my leg, stopping me in my tracks. "Wait! How was it? The kiss, I mean?"

I sighed, knowing she wouldn't drop it until I gave her something. "If I tell you, will you let it go?"

"Sure, until tomorrow morning," she said with a cheeky grin.

I sighed again, this time more dramatically. Where could I even start? Should I tell her how his kisses made me feel like the most wanted person in the world? Or how my heart nearly exploded when he smiled at me and told me he loved me? There was too much to describe, and honestly, I didn't even know where to begin.

"Woah," Maddy said, breaking me from my thoughts. "Just the way you're biting your lip right now says everything."

I quickly released my lip from my teeth, feeling embarrassed. Without another word, I ran up the stairs, determined to escape her teasing.

"Goodnight!" she called out behind me, laughing softly as I disappeared into my room.

Once I was safe behind my door, I cupped my cheeks with my hands, feeling the giddy excitement bubbling up inside me. Tonight was... something. The most amazing something ever. I couldn't help but smile as I flopped onto my bed, my heart still racing from the kiss.

I glanced at the mirror and realized I was still wearing my prom dress. With a groan, I kicked off my shoes and quickly changed into my pajamas before heading to the bathroom for a quick shower. The warmth of the water felt good against my skin, and I let the events of the night wash over me.

A date with Jackson. Tomorrow.

With my Jackson.

The thought made me grin like a fool as I toweled off and slipped into bed. Just as I was settling in, I heard the familiar sound of a car pulling up outside. I peeked through the window and saw Miles stepping out of the car.

I grabbed my phone and quickly typed out a message to Jackson.

Me: Are you home yet?

I knew he probably was, but I couldn't resist starting a chat with him. I waited for his reply, but none came. He must've fallen asleep.

With a sigh, I sent him a quick Goodnight text and decided to shift my attention to the girls' group chat. I clicked on the voice chat icon and grinned, ready to give Ariel and Britney the gossip of the century.

"Hey girls," I whispered, glancing at the teddy bear Jackson gave me, sitting proudly on my pillow. I smiled, snuggling under the covers. "You won't believe what happened today..."

And with that, I began to spill it all.

---

"Don't forget the project. It's due next week." Mrs Thompson teacher reminded us before she walked out, leaving the class buzzing with end-of-day energy. Almost instantly, Ariel and Britney appeared at my desk, eyes wide and ready to burst.

Guess they listened to the voice note.

"What in baby's butt did I hear in that voice note?" Ariel asked, trying to keep her cool, but it was obvious she was struggling. The last few students were trickling out of the room, making it harder for her to contain herself.

I grinned, already knowing where this was going. "You heard right, Ariel," I teased, slinging my bag over my shoulder as we made our way out of the classroom.

"Mia, this is crazy," Britney squealed, her face lighting up like it was Christmas morning. Her excitement was infectious, making me giggle as we stepped into the hallway and spotted Maddy heading our way.

"Hey, guys!" Maddy greeted, her eyes immediately locking on mine. "Did Mia tell you?" Her eyes were so wide I had to stop myself from reaching out to poke them back into place. But honestly, I was in too good a mood to care.

"Oh, she told us," Ariel smirked, nudging me. "And Jackson told her the three little words!" She squealed again, grabbing my shoulders and bouncing. "Mia, I'm so happy for you I could faint!"

"What's the three-letter word?" Maddy whispered to Britney, who shot her a smug look and whispered back, "You're too young to know."

Maddy scoffed but I was too busy holding Ariel steady. "Don't faint!" I laughed, squeezing her hands. People were starting to stare. "I need you guys to focus and help me get ready for my date. We have..." I quickly checked my phone, "an hour and fifteen minutes."

Ariel froze mid-bounce, her eyes wide with realization. "Oh my gosh, you're practically late! We need to move. Now!" She spun around, scanning the parking lot like we were on a mission. "Where's Miles? He needs to come pick us up ASAP. You need to look drop-dead gorgeous so Jackson doesn't even think about leaving."

Her words were like a pin popping a balloon. The joy I'd been feeling deflated instantly.

"Ariel!" Britney hissed, glaring at her. "Did you have to say that?"

"Why would you bring that up?" Maddy added, her voice sharp as she grabbed my shoulders. "Mia, are you okay?"

I wasn't. Not even close. But I forced a smile, nodding. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"Mia..." Ariel's voice softened as she reached for my arm. "I'm really sorry. I didn't mean-"

I shook my head before she could finish. "It's okay. I just got caught up in the excitement, but I'm fine now." I pointed at a familiar car pulling up near the entrance. "Look, Miles is here."

"Are you sure you're okay?" Britney asked gently, and suddenly, all eyes were back on me.

I gave them a small smile. "I will be. Let's just get home and make me look good for this date."

"Good?" Ariel scoffed, looping her arm through mine as we walked toward the car. "Girl, we're going for goddess mode. You're going to look like a fine wine that Jackson won't be able to resist."

We all burst into laughter as Miles honked from the driver's seat, and we piled into the car. The nervous flutter in my stomach hadn't completely disappeared, but having my friends around made it bearable.

By the time we pulled up in front of my house,the chaos began. Miles parked the car, and as soon as we got inside, Ariel was already dragging me upstairs, Britney and Maddy following closely behind.

"Alright, ladies, operation 'Make Mia Stunning' begins now!" Ariel declared dramatically, throwing open my closet door with so much enthusiasm that it rattled.

"First thing's first-outfit," Britney said, stepping up beside Ariel and scanning the rows of clothes hanging in my closet. "We need something that says 'I'm cute, but also date-worthy.'"

She immediately started raiding my closet, tossing aside anything she deemed 'too casual' or 'not date-worthy'. "Nope. Nope. Definitely not."

"What about this one?" Maddy held up a soft pink dress with a hopeful look.

Ariel shook her head. "Too sweet. We need something that says, 'I'm cute, but I can break your heart if I want to.'" She dove back into the closet.

I sat on the edge of the bed, busting with excitement within but tried to calm down. "You guys are acting like this is prom."

"This is practically prom," Ariel said dramatically, tossing a pile of rejected clothes onto the floor. "The first real date with Jackson since he told you he loves you. It's major."

I smiled, the nerves bubbling up again. It was major. And terrifying. But this was the best terrifying I have felt in a while.

Finally, Ariel nodded, already pulling out a few options. "How about this?" she asked, holding up a flowy light blue dress. It had a casual but elegant vibe, perfect for a late afternoon date.

Before I could say anything, Maddy chimed in. "Ohh, that's cute! I like that one."

I smiled at her, feeling my nerves calm just a little. "You think so?"

"Definitely." Maddy nodded, her eyes bright.

Britney reached out and ran her hand over the fabric. "And it's soft. Jackson will love this."

I felt my cheeks warm at the thought of him seeing me in that dress. "Okay, okay," I said, holding up my hands in surrender. "I'll try it on."

As I changed into the dress, I could hear the girls rummaging through my makeup drawer and jewelry box, chatting animatedly about what would look best. It was cute how invested they were in this. When I finally stepped out of the bathroom in the dress, Ariel gasped dramatically.

"Mia, you look stunning!" she squealed, clapping her hands together. "Jackson is going to lose his mind."

Britney nodded approvingly. "Yep, this is the one."

I turned to look at myself in the mirror. The dress fit perfectly, accentuating my figure in all the right places. It wasn't too much but just enough to make me feel confident. My hair still needed work, but Ariel was already pulling out the curling iron from her bag, as if she'd planned for this moment.

"Sit down, Miss Cutie," Ariel said, motioning to the chair in front of my vanity. "Let's get your hair and makeup done."

As she worked her magic, curling my hair into soft waves, Britney picked out a light pink lip gloss and some simple eye makeup. Maddy sat on my bed, holding up different pieces of jewelry, trying to find the perfect match for my outfit. The whole scene felt surreal, like something out of one of those teen movies where the main character gets ready for her first big date.

"So," Ariel said as she gently pulled a section of my hair through the curling iron, "are you nervous?"

I bit my lip, glancing at her in the mirror. "A little. I mean, it's Jackson. I don't want to mess this up."

"You won't," Britney assured me from the other side, applying a bit of highlighter to my cheeks. "Mia, He literally told you that he has been in love with you forever so I don't think anything you do will be messed up"

"You think so?" I asked, feeling the nervous energy bubbling up inside me.

Ariel jumped in, her hands waving animatedly. "She's totally right, Mia!" She stepped back, her eyes scanning me critically. "Now, look at yourself." She motioned towards the mirror, and Britney pulled away from my cheeks with a dramatic flair.

I hesitated for a moment before turning to face the mirror. The reflection staring back at me was... well, a completely different person. My light curls fell perfectly, framing my face in soft waves, and the subtle makeup made me look polished and more grown-up without feeling over the top.

"I love it," I whispered, my fingers reaching up to touch one of the curls. I stood up, turning from side to side to get a better look. "I love it so much." My eyes shifted to my friends and Maddy, who were watching me with proud smiles. "Thank you guys. Seriously."

Maddy shrugged like it was no big deal. "No sweat. Just don't forget to send me pics, and, you know, get me something during the date."

I grinned and nodded. "I'll try."

"Okay, okay, enough of the mushy stuff!" Ariel practically dragged me towards the door. "Let's wait for Mr Romeo downstairs. And maybe make some pancakes because I'm starving."

"Same here!" Britney added, chiming in with a grin.

"Me three!" Maddy giggled, already heading toward the stairs.

I couldn't help but laugh as I rolled my eyes at them. "Fine, whatever you guys want."

We all marched downstairs, laughter and chatter filling the air, just in time to see my mom walking into the house with Max cradled in her arms, fast asleep.

The moment her eyes landed on me, she gasped. "Oh, Mia... you look..." She paused, searching for words, and I suddenly felt a little shy under her gaze.

"It was all Ariel and Britney," I said, shifting a bit on my feet.

Maddy fake-coughed dramatically, and I quickly added, "And Maddy too, of course."

Mom chuckled softly, walking over to give me a quick, warm hug. "I hope you have a wonderful time on this date, sweetheart."

I knew what she meant-it wasn't just about the pancakes or the outfit. This date was a big deal. I smiled at her and nodded. "I will."

"Good," she said, turning towards the kitchen with a playful grin. "How about I make you all some pancakes before you head out?"

Ariel gasped, whispering loudly in my ear, "Your mom is a mind reader!"

"What do you think?" Mom called out from the kitchen when she didn't get an answer.

"Yes!" We all yelled at the same time, laughing as we followed her into the kitchen.

Just as we were about to sit down and help, my phone buzzed. I pulled it out, and my heart did a little flip when I saw Jackson's message:

Jackson - I'm outside. :)

And just like that, everything felt real. My heart raced, and a huge grin spread across my face as I quickly typed a reply.

Me - Coming right out. :)

I looked up at my friends, who were all staring at me with knowing smiles. "He's here," I said, trying to keep my cool.

Ariel squealed, "Let's go meet your Romeo!"

Here we go.

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