The next morning, Aria stood in front of her mirror, dressed like someone preparing to rob a flower-themed bank.
Oversized hoodie? Check. Black cap pulled low? Check. Sunglasses big enough to cover half her face? Double check. She looked like she was about to give a TED Talk on how not to be seen.
Her phone buzzed.
[đź’™] "You ready? I'm downstairs. I look criminally suspicious. You'll love it."
Aria peeked out her window. Sure enough, there was Kaelira in the passenger seat of a nondescript black van, waving through the tinted glass with the biggest, goofiest grin—wearing a fluffy bucket hat, face mask, and a hoodie three sizes too big.
They were a walking "guess that celebrity" game. Or rather, two girls just trying to have a normal date in a world that wouldn't let them.
Aria grabbed her tote bag, locked up the flower shop, and slid into the van. Kaelira immediately reached for her hand underneath their sleeves.
"You look like you're going to sneak into a movie theater with snacks taped to your legs," Aria giggled.
Kaelira smirked. "And you look like the mysterious girl in a drama who turns out to be secretly rich."
"Bold of you to assume I'm not."
They both laughed, nerves bubbling under their playful banter as the van drove them through quiet backstreets to a cozy little café in a corner of the city that didn't know their names.
⤹ ❀
The place was perfect.
Warm light filtered through hanging plants, indie acoustic music drifted through the air, and the barista wore a "Be Kind or Leave" shirt. It was nearly empty, just a couple of students typing away and an older couple reading together.
The two girls shuffled in awkwardly like undercover agents. Kaelira's hand brushed against Aria's as they stood in line, and they glanced at each other like it was their first date ever. In some ways, it was.
Aria looked at the menu, nervous and excited. "Should I get the lavender latte or the honey vanilla one?"
Kaelira leaned in, her voice low and teasing. "Get both. We'll share."
Aria's heart did the thing. The warm, fluttery thing.
The barista behind the counter—a guy with curly bangs and heart-shaped glasses—smiled brightly at them. "Hey there! What can I get for… this mysterious duo with identical 'I'm definitely not famous' energy?"
Kaelira coughed. "Uh, lavender latte and a honey vanilla one, please."
Aria gave a small laugh. "And a chocolate croissant."
The barista grinned. "You got it, Power Couple A."
Aria nearly choked. "W-what?!"
He winked. "Don't worry. I won't say a word. You two are safe here. I ship it."
Kaelira gave him a thumbs-up, half-laughing, half-dying. "You're dangerously observant."
"You're dangerously obvious," the barista shot back, already prepping their drinks. "Take a seat. I'll bring it to your table, lovebirds."
They fled to a corner booth like guilty teens who'd just been caught skipping school.
⤹ ❀
Ten minutes later, they were sipping their drinks, legs brushing under the table, Aria stealing bites of the croissant while Kaelira snuck photos of her mid-chew.
"I'm deleting that," Aria warned, crumbs on her lips.
"You're so cute when you're trying to act mad," Kaelira said, unbothered, zooming in dramatically.
Aria glared. "I swear, I will throw this croissant."
"Do it. You'll only make me fall harder."
Aria melted into her seat, hiding behind her cup.
For a moment, they just sat there—watching the street outside, the world moving on as if they weren't two girls pretending to be nobodies for a little while.
"I still get nervous," Kaelira admitted softly. "Being outside like this."
Aria looked at her. "Because of the cameras?"
Kaelira nodded. "Because of what people would say if they knew. But also… because I really, really like you."
Aria reached across the table and gently touched her hand. "We're here now. That's what matters, right?"
Kaelira smiled, eyes warm. "Right."
Then the barista appeared again with two little extra cookies shaped like hearts.
"On the house," he whispered. "For aesthetic reasons."
⤹ ❀
After their coffee date, they wandered into a nearby bookstore.
Aria found herself gravitating to the gardening section (of course), while Kaelira pulled her toward the romance novels with a mischievous grin.
"Let's pick one that sounds like us," she said.
They read blurbs out loud dramatically.
"He was a billionaire CEO with a cold heart—until a florist with a secret past changed his world."
"She was an idol hiding her feelings—until the girl with flower-scented hands touched her soul."
Aria elbowed her, laughing. "That's literally you."
They ended up buying a poetry book with a pressed flower on the cover.
⤹ ❀
Aria they finally returned to the van, the sky was pink with sunset.
Aria leaned on Kaelira's shoulder, Kaelira's head resting gently atop hers. Their fingers interlaced between them on the seat.
"I like your world," Aria whispered.
"I like yours better," Kaelira replied. "It's quieter. But somehow… louder where it matters."
They rode in silence for a while, but it wasn't awkward. It was warm. It was everything.
And when they got back to the flower shop, Kaelira kissed her knuckles before saying goodbye.
"I'll call you tonight."
"I'll be waiting."