Chapter 8: A Date, A Disaster

Riya couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this nervous. Her reflection stared back at her from the mirror — hair carefully styled, her favorite sweater hugging her frame just right. She adjusted the necklace Miya had once teased her about, calling it her “lucky charm.”

Calm down, she told herself. It’s just Miya.

But that was the problem. It was Miya — her best friend, her everything… and now, maybe something more.

Her phone buzzed.

Miya: You ready? I’m outside.

Riya grabbed her bag and hurried down the stairs. The sight of Miya — standing at the bottom of her driveway in a leather jacket over her usual hoodie — made her heart skip a beat.

“You look nice,” Miya said, her grin lopsided.

“So do you,” Riya replied, smiling back.

---

They chose a quiet burger place — nothing fancy, just somewhere they could laugh without feeling like everyone was watching.

The first half of the night was perfect — jokes, stories, and stolen glances that left Riya’s heart racing.

But things took a turn when Miya’s burger decided to fight back.

“Oh no…” Miya mumbled through a mouthful of lettuce and sauce.

“What?” Riya asked.

Miya grabbed a napkin and frantically wiped at her face. “Ketchup disaster,” she groaned. “Tell me it’s not on my hoodie.”

“It’s on your hoodie,” Riya said, biting back a laugh.

“And my face?”

“Yep,” Riya grinned.

“Awesome,” Miya muttered, sinking lower in her seat. “This is officially the dumbest date ever.”

“It’s not dumb,” Riya said, reaching for another napkin. “Come here.”

Before Miya could protest, Riya leaned across the table and gently wiped a smudge of ketchup from the corner of her mouth.

Miya froze — eyes locked on Riya’s, her smile fading into something softer.

“Better?” Miya asked, her voice quieter now.

“Better,” Riya whispered.

For a second, it felt like the world had stopped — like it was just the two of them in the crowded diner, hearts racing and words stuck somewhere between their thoughts.

And then…

CRASH!

Their waiter stumbled past their table, sending a tray of drinks splashing across the floor — narrowly missing Miya’s shoes.

Both girls jumped, then burst out laughing.

“I told you,” Miya grinned. “Dumbest date ever.”

Riya shook her head. “I don’t know… I kinda like it.”

Miya’s smile softened. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

---

The walk home was quieter — not awkward, just… different.

“You know,” Miya said, kicking a loose pebble down the sidewalk. “I never really thought we’d end up here.”

“Here?” Riya asked.