INT. GODFREY KITCHEN — DAY

Una slides into her usual seat at the kitchen table, a grin on her face. She happily takes a strip of bacon off the plate and bites into it.

HILDA: You're extra chipper this morning. I reckon you had a good sleep?

UNA: Better.

FRIDA: Let me guess: you got tickets.

UNA: Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner!

Aunt Frida lets out a chuckle and rolls her eyes playfully.

HILDA: Tickets? What tickets?

FRIDA: She and Samantha are heading to the city to watch some band called Stillwater.

UNA: The tickets sold out but you were right, Aunt Free! Someone ended up selling their tickets online.

FRIDA: Someone always does.

HILDA: Hold on, why am I only hearing about this now?

UNA: They just announced it this morning. Aunt Frida said I can go if I find tickets, because I got waitlisted and all hope seemed lost... Until...

She claps her hands and squeals, shaking her shoulders.

HILDA: Free, the city is so far. Are you sure this is a good idea?

FRIDA: Well, she's sixteen now. She won't grow if we never let her.

Aunt Hilda glances at Una, who is piling food on her plate and humming to herself.

HILDA: We made a promise to protect her. Surely letting her head out to the city alone is too dangerous?

FRIDA: Well, feel free to accompany them. I, for one, will take the day off from my duties to have a well-deserved spa-day.

Aunt Hilda presses her lips together and turns to Una.

HILDA: Young lady—

UNA: I already told Aunt Free I'd text on the hour, every hour. Really, Aunt Hilds, you have nothing to worry about. Sam and I will be okay.

Aunt Hilda's tense shoulders relax and she manages a small smile.

HILDA: You're really going to watch with Sam?

Una nods.

HILDA: See! I told you. You girls will always find your way back together.

They share wide grins and Aunt Hilda places a comforting hand on Una's.

HILDA: Now eat up. I'll pack you some snacks for your trip.

CUT TO:

INT. GODFREY HOUSEHOLD — DAY

When the bell rings, Una rises from her spot where she was waiting on the couch next to her aunts, hiking her backpack onto her shoulder. She's dressed for the day in red dress with colorful floral print and ruffled details on the shoulder straps and front panel. On her feet are her trusty black Doc Martens. She's packed a denim jacket in her bag for when it gets cold.

UNA: That must be Sam.

Making her way to the front door, Una pulls it open and smiles when she sees her (former) best friend, Sam. Sam is wearing a fitted ribbed crop top in grey with a scoop neck and button-down detailing over a pair of relaxed fit faded black denim jeans. Forever a sneaker girl, Sam is also sporting new shoes with bright colors. Her long dark hair is tied up in a ponytail.

UNA: Sam!

Sam grins at her.

SAM: Hey, Una. Did you get the tickets?

UNA: I did!

A part of Una feels a little sad that Sam hadn't greeted her at all yesterday, but decides to push the thought away. Today is a new day and they were starting over.

SAM: How much do I owe you?

UNA: Don't worry about it.

Behind Una, Aunts Hilda and Frida appear.

SAM: Hi, Aunt Hilda. Aunt Frida.

HILDA: Samantha! You look beautiful as ever. How is your mom doing?

SAM: Good! A bit busy with work, but still good. I'll let her know you said hi.

HILDA: Lovely, thank you.

FRIDA: Well, you two go on ahead before it gets too dark out. Have you got your charger with you, Una?

Una nods.

UNA: Locked away in my front pocket, Aunt Free. You have nothing to worry about.

FRIDA: Alright. You two have fun. We'll be waiting for your updates.

Una steps outside and the door shuts behind her.

CUT TO:

EXT. SIDEWALK — MOMENTS LATER

Sam and Una stand facing each other, smiles on their faces.

UNA: I can't believe we're finally going to see them.

SAM: I know. It feels like a long time coming.

The two begin to walk down the sidewalk towards the bus stop.

SAM (cont'd): So we'll catch the V train to the city and get off at the stop. From there, we walk a couple blocks to the venue. We can wait it out at the coffee shop across until the gates open.

UNA: Wow, you really mapped it out, huh? Pun not intended.

Just then, a bus passes by.

SAM: Crap! There it is! Let's go!

They bolt after the bus, Una's eyes wide. She's not nearly half as athletic Sam is, because Sam's been on the girls' football team for practically her whole life and goes to the gym for fun. Una, on the other hand, defines fun as exerting as little physical effort as possible. Sam waves her arms frantically as if trying to catch the driver's attention.

UNA: I thought we had more time!

SAM: Me, too!

Panting, they make it just in time as the bus slows and the waiting passengers board. Una and Sam are the last to get on, and after swiping their passes, they claim a seat in the middle row, with Una sitting by the window.

CUT TO:

INT. BUS — MOMENTS LATER

The two girls have settled into their seats. Una is sweating slightly, red in the face, while Sam looks unfazed by the run.

UNA: I may have just been reminded of how unfit I am.

SAM: I've been telling you to start exercising but you won't listen.

Una chuckles and pulls out her jug filled with cold water. She offers it to Sam as the bus pulls out of the curb.

UNA: Want some? Aunt Hilda packed us some snacks.

SAM: I brought my own water, but I'm game for some snacks.

Una digs into her bag and smiles when she sees the container filled with cookies and macarons from last night. There's also two small packets of chips, one for each of them, and a wrapped chicken-and-pesto sandwich sliced in two.

SAM: (incredulous, amused, but not surprised) It's an hour-long drive.

UNA: Half my bag's weight is just food.

Sam shakes her head and picks out a chocolate macaron from the container. When she takes a bite, she lets out a moan and tilts her head back.

SAM: I'd forgotten how good your aunt's macarons were.

UNA: She doesn't make them as often anymore, but yesterday—

Una pauses, unsure if she should broach the topic of her birthday. Sam stiffens then rolls back her shoulders.

SAM: How was... um... your birthday?

Una bites her lip.

UNA: Good. We had a lot of food.

SAM: Did you... do anything fun?

Una shrugs.

UNA: I just wanted to stay home and rest. My aunts aren't exactly fit enough to do escape rooms or laser tag or anything.

Sam snorts.

SAM: I can imagine Aunt Frida complaining throughout.

Una unwraps her sandwich and gingerly takes a bite.

SAM: I'm sorry I couldn't be there.

The part of Una that's still upset wants to snap back at her, to say, "You could have been if you wanted to be." But the rational side of Una is just happy to have her friend back, so instead she nudges her with a smile.

UNA: You're here now.

The two continue to dig into their snacks, breaking into a conversation updating one another on what's been happening in their lives. Sam tells Una all about the drama between the boys' and girls' soccer team, as well as the latest scoop on Sam's sworn enemy, Piper Thompson, while Una tells Sam about this story she's been working on.

SAM: I really still can't believe we're finally seeing them in person.

UNA: (giddy) Me, too. Can you believe we met three years ago because of them?

SAM: Four.

UNA: Has it really been that long?

SAM: Yes. Don't you remember? We were twelve.

UNA: Oh, crap, you're right.

Memories flood Una's mind; her twelfth birthday was also the last birthday she spent with her parents. She was a nervous wreck starting at a new school and adjusting to a new home life, but Stillwater made it easier for her. Then came Sam.

UNA (cont'd): I can't believe we almost missed out. I'm so happy we're doing this, Sam. I missed you.

Sam smiles.

SAM: I missed you, too, Una.

They settle into a comfortable silence as the bus enters the freeway. Una glances out the window when she notices a sign alerting her that they're going in the wrong direction. They've just passed by Montpelier, which is south of Dreary, and Dreary is in-between Montpelier and the city, which means...

UNA: Um... Sam?

SAM: Hm?

UNA: I think we're going the wrong way.

SAM: (confused) What are you talking about?

Una whips out her phone and quickly Googles the bus routes. When it hits her, she smacks her forehead.

UNA: This is the W bus. Not the V bus. That's why we were confused about the times.

SAM: But I saw it! I saw the sign!

Una points out the window.

UNA: Does this look like we're heading up north to you?

Sam leans over her to look outside. When it dawns on her, her eyes widen and she looks towards the driver.

SAM: Crap.

Sam inhales a deep breath.

SAM: Okay, okay, no need to worry. We can fix this. I just need to figure out where this bus is headed and how much time it'll take for us to get back on track. (feigning confidence) Easy. No problem.

Sam fiddles with her phone and pulls up the bus schedules while Una nervously watches her.

SAM: Okay, so we're headed south of the city, which is fine. We'll just have to travel farther but... Oh no.

UNA: What?

SAM: After we get to the first drop-off point, this bus is going to keep going south until it reaches the last point, at which point it's another couple of hours before it'll reach us back again and take us to where we first started.

UNA: (incredulous) Are you serious?

SAM: (defeated) I messed up. I'm sorry.

First Una had to buy tickets from a scalper, now this. Una draws in a deep breath to keep herself from bursting in frustration, but it feels like everything that could go wrong just did. What if they don't make it back in time? They're so close to seeing Stillwater live, yet all of a sudden, so far. What was the point if they made it but didn't get front-row privileges? They're hardly as tall as the rest of the adults that made up Stillwater's fan-base. They'll never see them now!

Sam, seemingly sensing Una's internal battle, places a hand on her leg and lowers her chin to look her directly in the eye.

SAM: Hey, now. No matter what, remember?

Una feels herself relax at the reminder of their friendship motto: No matter what.

SAM (cont'd): I'm sure we'll find a way back to the city. It just won't be one bus ride away anymore. I'll figure something out when we get there.

UNA: Why can't you do it now?

Sam presses her lips together.

UNA: Sam...?

SAM: I'm out of data. I just got the notification now.

Una groans then hands Sam her phone.

UNA: Here, use mine.

Sam unlocks the phone then bites her lip.

SAM: No signal.

UNA: (frustrated) Are you kidding?

SAM: What if we pretend there's an emergency? Maybe we can make this bus turn around.

UNA: (incredulous) And hassle the other riders? No! We can't make other people suffer just because you messed up.

SAM: (hurt) Hey! You should have checked, too.

Una lets out a sigh. This was not how she wanted things to go today, and if she didn't stop now, she might just drive the wedge between them further.

UNA: I'm sorry. I'm just—I don't do well under pressure. I'm sorry I snapped at you.

SAM: I forgive you.

Una sheepishly offers Sam her pinky.

UNA: We'll figure this out together.

Sam smiles and locks her pinky around Una's.

SAM: No matter what?

UNA: No matter what.

* * *

And so we wrap another episode of One Night Only. I'm extra, so I made sets for their outfits for this book. I think you can really tell their differences based on the clothes they wear; Sam's an athlete so her style leans towards sporty-chic or anything she can comfortably move around in; she loves sneakers and so her shoes have a tendency of being the main focal point of her outfit. Una, on the other hand, straddles the fine line between girly and 90s grunge; between the two of them, Una's more likely to experiment with trends and other styles.

As usual, please don't forget to comment and vote if you liked this episode. I'd love to know what you think!