MIA

"Wait, you had a date with Jackson and you didn't tell us!" Ariel's voice boomed through the video group chat, causing me to wince.

"Relax, Ariel," Sydney chimed in, her tone hinting at a sly smile. "Can't blame Mia, though. Being around Jackson can make anyone's brain go fuzzy."

Well, she wasn't entirely wrong.

Clearing my throat, I sat up on the bed. "I...uh...didn't exactly plan on it," I admitted, feeling their eyes roll in unison. "Okay, maybe just a little."

"So, do you like him?" Ariel asked eagerly, her excitement practically tangible.

"Oh, no, it's not like that," I replied, my voice tinged with uncertainty. "I mean, it was kind of awkward at first because...well, I accidentally saw him shirtless–"

"What?!" My body jolted in surprise, almost causing me to lose my balance.

"Okay, hold on," Sydney interrupted, her giggles barely contained. "Start from the beginning. You saw him shirtless? What were you guys doing?"

"You and Miles seriously need help," I muttered, rolling my eyes. "I was searching for him, and when I couldn't find him in his room, I decided to look around. Then, out of nowhere, he came out of the bathroom..."

"Dripping wet?" Ariel raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips.

"Yeah," I replied, my cheeks flushing at the vivid memory of his appearance. I couldn't help but recall how he looked, his skin radiating, the way his pink lips parted in a mixture of surprise and awe upon seeing me, and above all, the sight of his abs. I gulped.

I couldn't forget them if I tried.

"Okay, spill it," Ariel demanded, bringing me back to reality. "How many was it?"

"Huh? Oh, um..." I stammered, momentarily lost in thought. " I... couldn't tell because I ran away but let's just say... It was something,"

"I'm dying to know right now!" Ariel flopped back onto her bed, her excitement palpable even through the screen.

"Well, it's getting late, and don't forget Mia has another date tomorrow," Sydney reminded, causing Ariel to sit back up abruptly. "Oh, right! He's picking you up, isn't he?" Ariel frowned, her gaze fixed on me.

"Yes, I don't know what to do. I can't understand why they don't like each other. I mean, guys form bromances faster than girls," I remarked, standing up to switch off the lights in my room. I couldn't help but notice how late it was. My mom had always been strict about conserving electricity, allowing only the light in my younger brother Max's room to remain on.

"Who knows," Sydney murmured, stifling a yawn. "Mia, I'm getting sleepy. Why don't we continue this conversation tomorrow?"

"Let's meet up at her place. It'll be fun. We'll help you prepare for your first date, so get some rest and sleep early!" Ariel enthusiastically instructed. Sydney and I nodded in agreement. They bid their goodbyes, and I settled back into bed.

"Will he still call?" I whispered into the darkness as it enveloped my room, with only the soft glow of the full moon casting ethereal shadows. Suddenly, it dawned on me that I hadn't given him my number, and I hadn't mustered the courage to ask for his. "Ughhh, what's wrong with you, Mia?! Why couldn't you ask for his number?" I groaned in frustration, hitting my hands and legs against the mattress. Just then, my phone began to ring.

Without bothering to glance at the caller ID, I answered, assuming it was Ariel. "Ariel, I thought we said–" A deep, melodic laugh silenced me. I raised my head immediately, staring at the unknown number displayed on the screen.

"Mia, since when did Ariel's number change to mine?" Jackson's laughter resonated through the phone, making my heart flutter like a gentle breeze against my ears.

"Oh... Sorry... I don't actually have your number," I whispered, mentally berating myself. How could I say that? He might think I'm not interested.

"Oh... I see. I got a new number while I was heading over here," he reassured me, instantly alleviating my concerns.

"So... How did you get my...uh, number?" I asked, pulling the blanket up to my chin.

"I asked Miles for it a few minutes ago. He's already fallen asleep," he chuckled, and I could envision Miles in a comical sleeping position. "Let me guess, his head is almost touching the floor while his legs are dangling off the bed?"

"Bingo," he confirmed, a smile tugging at my lips.

"Take a picture for me. I want to see it," I playfully requested, already planning to use it as future blackmail material.

"No problem. But first, are you on Instagram?" His footsteps were audible, indicating that he was moving around.

"Yeah, why?" I replied, curiosity piqued.

"I... I was hoping you'd want to chat with me there," he admitted, causing my face to break into a smile.

"I wou–" I paused, remembering how my previous attempts to find him on Instagram had been unsuccessful. "Mia, are you there?"

"Oh, yeah," I replied, biting my lower lip. "I'm not sure if it'll work, though. I tried searching for you there, but I couldn't find your name." I revealed the truth, wondering what he would think.

"Really?" Surprise laced his voice.

"Yeah, I... I..." Should I admit this? "I missed you," I blurted out, my heart racing as silence followed.

"Me too, Mia. More than you know," he finally sighed, whispering his words to me. In that moment, he felt both near and distant at the same time.

"What's your username on Instagram?" he asked, bringing me back from whatever alternate universe I had momentarily slipped into. "Just Mia Smith," I replied, my voice filled with a mix of excitement and nervousness.

"And what's your profile picture like?"

"It's embarrassing," I admitted, palming my forehead at the memory of the hasty photo I had used. I had been so focused on finding him that I hadn't cared about the image I put out there.

He chuckled, sounding genuinely amused. "Now I'm even more curious. Come on, tell me Mia," he urged, his voice deepening with every mention of my name. It sent a pleasant shiver down my spine, and all I wanted was for him to keep talking until I drifted off into a peaceful slumber.

I couldn't help but cringe as I recalled the embarrassing profile picture I had hastily chosen. It was a candid shot taken by Ariel during a sleepover. In the photo, I had a silly expression on my face, my cheeks puffed out as I attempted to blow a bubble with a wad of chewing gum.

" Don't laugh but It's a photo of me blowing a gum bubble. My cheeks are all puffed out, and I have this  ridiculous expression on my face. My hair is a complete mess, too."

"Can you send it to me?" Jackson asked suddenly, catching me off guard and causing confusion.

"Why? It's on my profile," I replied, puzzled by his request.

"Just send it, Mia," he sighed through the phone. "Okay, but later," I reluctantly agreed, sensing there was more to it.

"Okay, one more thing..." He paused, and my heart raced with anticipation. "Are you still going on that date with Ethan?"

I froze for a moment, unsure of how to respond. Going out with Ethan didn't feel right, and deep down, I wanted to say no and spend time with Jackson instead. "Oh... I guess so. I promised him," I answered, my voice unsure.

Jackson's laughter followed, but it didn't sound genuine. "It's not like it's your official date, right? You've been on dates with other guys, haven't you?" His words felt forced, like he was trying to hide something.

"No, actually," I admitted quietly. "This will be my first date ever. I haven't gone out with anyone else." It felt strange to share this with Jackson, someone I was still figuring out as a friend. But a part of me hoped he would understand.

"Your official first date, and it's with Ethan," he murmured, his disappointment barely audible. It hung in the air, creating a tension between us.

"Jackson..."

"It's getting late. I don't want you looking tired on your first date. Goodnight, Mia," he said calmly, but there was a bittersweet tone in his voice. With that, he hung up, leaving me with a mix of emotions.

.....

"Mia! Where are you?!" Ariel's voice echoed through the house, jolting me out of my thoughts. I hastily finished zipping up my skirt, my phone buzzing incessantly with Ethan's calls. He must have thought I changed my mind about the date, but I hadn't.

Although, a part of me wished I had.

"Mia, you look stunning!" Avery exclaimed, walking into my room with Sydney right behind her, eyeing the grey sweater with the white inner lining. "You look amazing!" Sydney chimed in, hopping onto my bed and grabbing the lip gloss I had left there, twirling it between her fingers.

"Thanks, guys," I smiled at them, stealing one last glance at myself in the mirror. Unexpected sadness washed over me. "Is Jackson still around?" I blurted out, my voice tinged with uncertainty. Sydney and Ariel exchanged glances before Ariel spoke up.

"Mia, don't tell me you've been avoiding Jackson all morning," she raised an eyebrow, her voice filled with disbelief. I lowered my head, sighing. "I kinda have."

"Mia, look at me," Sydney spoke softly, her eyes filled with concern. I turned to face her, searching for answers. "I don't understand what's going on with you, but if you feel like you can't go with Ethan, just come up with an excuse."

"Yeah," Ariel chimed in, her voice full of determination. "Just say your mom grounded you or something. And since it's Saturday and we know she's gone to visit your dad, it's an easy lie."

"Or," Sydney interjected, "just forget it's a date and think of it as hanging out. It might help reduce the anxiety I can sense from you."

"You're right, guys," I nodded, a sense of relief washing over me. "I should just have fun with him. It's not like I haven't hung out with Ethan before." With newfound determination, I stood up from my chair and slipped on my white sneakers.

"Let's go then," Ariel exclaimed, grabbing Sydney off my bed. We rushed out of my room, bounding down the stairs. As we descended, the sound of Max's giggles reached our ears, causing us to pause. Sydney and Ariel followed my gaze, their eyes landing on the living room, where a heartwarming sight unfolded.

"Now say 'kimchi'," Jackson instructed Max, who was tugging at his T-shirt.

"Kimchi!" Max cheered, clapping his hands in excitement. Jackson affectionately patted Max's head. "Adorable."

"Aww," Ariel and Sydney cooed in unison, their hearts undoubtedly melting at the sight.

"Mia, if you don't take him, I swear I will," Maddy joined us, walking up beside me and fixating her gaze on Jackson and Max.

"But you said you wanted Ethan," I rolled my eyes playfully, my attention still lingering on Jackson.

"I can have both," she smirked mischievously, making me what to puke once again.

"Hey, guys!" Jackson greeted us with a warm smile, his eyes locked on me as he approached, carrying Max in his arms. "Mia!" Max exclaimed happily, reaching out for me. I quickly took him from Jackson's embrace and spun him around, his laughter filling the air. I settled onto the couch, setting Max on my lap, and he continued to giggle.

"Hey, my charming prince, how are you doing?" I asked, planting a gentle kiss on his rosy cheeks, eliciting more laughter from him.

"Hey, guys, let me show you the latest movies I found," Maddy chimed in, giving Ariel and Sydney a meaningful look.

"Oh, okay," Ariel responded.

"Let's go," Sydney added, and the two of them headed off, leaving me alone with Jackson and Max. Ever since I caught Jackson's gaze, my heart had been racing nonstop, and it seemed like still he couldn't take his eyes off me.

Breathe Mia.

"Yeppuda!" Max, exclaimed, clapping his tiny hands and bouncing with excitement as he plopped onto my lap. I chuckled, attempting to calm him down.

"What did you teach him this time, Jackson?" I shifted my attention from Max, who was playfully tugging at my hair, to Jackson, whose gaze was locked with mine.

"What?" I inquired, feeling a delightful flutter in my stomach.

"Yeppuda," he replied, his smile growing wider.

"And what does that mean?" I asked, my mind muddled by the unfamiliar word.

"It means... pretty," he revealed, his words causing my heart to skip a beat.

"Pretty Mia," he murmured, and my situation suddenly felt a little bit better.

Should I just ditch Ethan?

......